New Delhi: Highway commuters won’t have to stop to pay user fee at national highway toll plazas by 2026-end as the govt rolls out the multi-lane free flow (MLFF) system, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday. He added that the FASTag annual pass launched in Aug, which allows private vehicles to cross 200 plazas, has also come as a big relief for people.Gadkari said over 40 lakh private car owners have subscribed to the FASTag annual pass. “People will be rid of stopping or slowing down at toll plazas as we roll out the MLFF toll system. Cameras above the road will read the number plate and user fee will be automatically debited from the vehicle FASTag account. All this will happen even when someone is driving at a speed of 80 kmph. I made this announcement in Rajya Sabha today,” he said.Earlier in the day, he said in RS that the new system will help save fuel worth Rs 1,500 crore and increase toll revenue by Rs 6,000 crore. The system will make toll collection transparent and corruption-free, he said.Gadkari also said that a system is being put in place where vehicle owners will have to clear all dues, including pending toll fee and e-challans when they sell their vehicles or renew registration.On the next major focus of highway development in the country, Gadkari said that now there is more thrust on building greenfield highways, which is key to reduce logistics cost. “In India, earlier the logistics cost was 16%. But the latest study by IIM-Bangalore, IIT-Kanpur and IIT-Madras indicates that our logistics cost on road has reduced by 6%. The report was out three-four months back. So, I am confident that by now this logistics cost is in single digit at 9%,” he said.He said govt’s focus on infrastructure is driving India’s economic growth. “For the growth of any country, infrastructure is important. Roads, water, power, transport and communication, without developing this infrastructure, we can’t get capital investment in industry and trade & business. And, without investment, we cannot create jobs… Without jobs, we cannot eradicate poverty,” he added.

Mumbai: Due to endometriosis, a painful condition that affects 1 in 10 women, a Congolese woman underwent a 12-hour surgery performed by surgeons from three different specialities using a robotic arm in a city hospital.Endometriosis is relatively common, but the extensive and aggressive disease that the 35-year-old patient had is rarely seen, said the doctors from Jaslok Hospital on Pedder Road who treated her. She underwent an open surgery a year ago in her hometown, but it was abandoned midway because of the extensive disease.It’s estimated that endometriosis—where tissue like the uterine lining (endometrium) grows outside the uterus —affects 42 million women in India. The condition is not easy to diagnose in the early stages, resulting in patients often seeking medical help only after it has spread.The Jaslok patient, Josephine Chantal (name changed), said, “Years of infertility and relentless pain stole my hope.” She also suffered from bladder and bowel difficulties, along with intense nerve-related symptoms such as shooting leg and pelvic nerve pain.Gynaecologist Dr Abhishek Mangeshikar, who treated Chantal, said an MRI scan revealed one of the most aggressive forms of deep endometriosis, which engulfed the right side of her pelvis. It also infiltrated the bladder wall and surrounded the vagina and rectum. Her right ureter, the tube that drains urine from the kidney, was blocked and damaged her right kidney. Her right kidney was, in fact, functioning at only 8% and had to be removed during the 12-hour surgery conducted on Nov 21.“She had internal scarring from the previous open surgery that made surgery difficult, but robotic tech helped increase precision,” he said.Urologist Dr Malav Modi removed the kidney, a section of the bladder, and then reconstructed the bladder wall. Dr Mangeshikar removed tissues from across the pelvis, around the bladder, vagina, and pelvic walls, and freed trapped nerves. Colorectal surgeon Dr Chintamani Godbole removed a portion of the intestine and then reconnected it. “Travelling here gave me a second chance. After the robotic surgery, my pain has eased, my strength is returning, and I finally see the possibility of motherhood again,” said the patient. Dr Mangeshikar said the chance of recurrence was low. Senior gynaecologist Dr Kiran Coelho, who was not associated with the case, said cases of endometriosis are rising in urban areas. “Often, a multi-specialty approach is necessary as many organs could be involved. Care has to be taken to ensure the patient doesn’t need a second surgery.”

New Delhi: IndiGo was quizzed on Wednesday by a parliamentary committee over the misery inflicted on passengers by its mass-cancellation of flights, but it blamed a variety of factors, including system glitch and adverse weather conditions, while DGCA and the aviation ministry parried off criticism of their role in the fiasco.Some committee members termed replies of different stakeholders as “unconvincing” and aimed at washing their hands of the crisis, encapsulated by the response of a govt official that he first came to know of the unfolding ordeal through media reports.The panel, headed by JDU’s Sanjay Jha, decided to wait for the report of an inquiry ordered by DGCA before coming to a conclusion and make its recommendation. It will hold another meeting and is expected to call these stakeholders again. The DGCA-ordered committee was constituted on Dec 5 and was asked to submit its report in 15 days.Captain Sam Thomas, president of Bengaluru-based Airline Pilots Association of India, created flutter at the meeting by alleging corruption in DGCA and was asked by members to refrain from making sweeping allegations without producing evidence. He alleged that one can commit any wrong, but stay safe if he touched right feet.A committee member said IndiGo, which has offered apology for the ordeal, was far from apologetic in its response before the panel. It told the panel that several factors combined to derail its operation, including a glitch in system, which needed rebooting, and adverse weather that had their pilots stuck in different zones.IndiGo was represented by its COO Isidre Porqueras, while officials of Air India, Akasa Air, Spice Jet and Air India Express appeared before the panel as well. Civil aviation secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and top functionaries of other stakeholders were part of the deliberations.Replying to a query, IndiGo said all luggage, except 52 which remained unclaimed, have already been delivered.The panel’s meeting came against the backdrop of the suspicion, subject of investigation, that IndiGo remained resistant to the implementation of guidelines (Flight Duty Time Limitation) that allowed more rest for pilots in line with global norms aimed at ensuring flyers’ safety.It has been accused of engineering the disruption, leveraging its market dominance, to force the ministry to roll back the regulation as implementing it would have required the airline to hire more pilots. Faced with chaos caused triggered by disruption of IndiGo’s operations, DGCA had to relax the implementation of the guidelines.IndiGo management is reported to have denied allegation in meetings with ministry.

Football icon Lionel Messi has shared a one-minute video montage from his recent visit to India on his official Instagram account, capturing highlights from the three-day trip. While most of the clips focused on his interactions with children and fans, one celebrity who made the cut, was Kareena Kapoor Khan with her two sons, Taimur and little Jeh.

Messi adds Kareena, Tim and Jeh to his video

Taking to his handle, Messi posted the video with the caption, “Namaste India! What incredible visits to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Thanks for the warm welcome, great hospitality and all the expressions of love throughout my tour. I hope football has a bright future in India!”The video does not feature any of the high-profile meetings that the footballer had; instead, he chose some rather candid clips. Among the celebs who appeared in the clip was Bollywood actress Kareena and her boys Tim and Jeh, who won hearts during their brief interaction with the Argentine superstar.

Jeh has his fan-moment with Messi

Kareena made headlines after attending the stadium event with her two sons for a special meet-and-greet with Messi. During the interaction, Jeh stole the spotlight as he appeared to be over the moon to be in the footballer’s presence. The cutie, who has won hearts for his antics, was seen unable to look away from Messi. Dressed in the footballer’s number 10 jersey, Jeh was seen mischievously stepping away from his mother to stand beside Messi, who warmly patted him on the head before Kareena took him by the arm and guided him off the stage to make way for others waiting their turn.

Kareena Kapoor reacts to Messi’s video

Kareena was quick to take note of the video mention and shared the same on her Instagram stories, while dedicating the special moment to her son, Taimur. She shared the clip and wrote, “Ok Tim then this happened. For you.”

In a heartfelt message to his fans, Messi said in the clip, “First of all, I’d like to thank India for all the love they’ve shown over the last few days. It was a great experience for us to be able to share. It was intense and short, but it was beautiful to receive all the love. I already knew it was coming, but to receive it in the first place was amazing. It’s crazy what they’ve done for us over the last few days. We’ll take all the love and we’ll be back. Hopefully, one day, we’ll be able to play a game. But we’ll be back to visit India. Thank you very much.”Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar also featured in the video, seen presenting the footballer with his cricket jersey in a symbolic exchange.

In a gripping BBL 2025-26 encounter on December 17, 2025, at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Adelaide Strikers triumphed over Sydney Sixers by 3 wickets with just 4 balls remaining. Chasing a target of 160, the Strikers secured their win with a clinical performance, led by Jamie Overton’s all-round contribution. Overton, who was awarded Player of the Match for his 2/22 and 30 runs off 20 balls, played a crucial role in both the bowling and batting departments. The Strikers’ victory sees them earn two valuable points, while the Sixers are left to regroup after posting a modest total of 159/9.

Sydney Sixers’ inconsistent batting falls short as Babar Azam flops again

The Sixers were restricted to 159/9 in their 20 overs after being put in to bat first. Despite a solid start by Josh Philippe, who top-scored with 46 off 28 balls, the Sixers couldn’t capitalize on the momentum. Early wickets kept falling, including Babar Azam (9) and Daniel Hughes (11), as the Strikers’ bowlers applied constant pressure. Jamie Overton and Luke Wood were the standout performers, with Overton taking 2 wickets and Wood finishing with 3/26. In the middle order, only Jack Edwards (32) and Moises Henriques (20) made meaningful contributions, but the late-order collapse saw them fall short of a competitive total.

Strikers’ bowlers dominated the innings with tight lines and key wickets at crucial junctures. The Sixers were left to rue their inability to build partnerships as they could only manage a total of 159/9 in the allotted overs. This was far from the total they had hoped for, considering the potential in their squad.

Also READ: Big Bash League 2025-26: Complete squads of all 8 teams in the BBL|15

Adelaide Strikers chase down the target with Jamie Overton’s heroics

In reply, Strikers chased down the target of 160 in 19.2 overs, winning by 3 wickets. The chase started shakily with early wickets falling, including the big scalp of Chris Lynn (5) and captain Matthew Short (15). However, Liam Scott’s explosive knock of 51 off 32 balls helped stabilize the chase. His three sixes and three boundaries propelled the Strikers forward, and despite losing wickets at regular intervals, they remained on track to reach the target.

Overton (30 off 20) added crucial runs, and along with Wood (18*), guided the Strikers over the line with 4 balls to spare. Sixers’ bowlers, despite some good spells, failed to stop the steady flow of runs towards the end. Ben Dwarshuis and Jafer Chohan took key wickets but couldn’t halt the Strikers’ progress in the latter stages. The win was a testament to Strikers’ resilience and their ability to finish the game with composure.

🔥 Adelaide Strikers Edge Out Sydney Sixers! 💥

With 4 balls to spare, Adelaide Strikers win by 3 wickets in Sydney! What a game! 🏏💥

Scorecard: https://t.co/SE3ql5VsAy#WBBL2025 #Cricket #AdelaideStrikers #sydneysixers pic.twitter.com/4s2UXZwWd6

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) December 17, 2025

💥 Jamie Overton Delivers All-Round Performance for Adelaide Strikers! 🏏

30(20) with the bat

2/22(4) with the ball

2 catches

What a fantastic display from Jamie Overton in the BBL! 💛#BBL2025 #AdelaideStrikers #JamieOverton #SydneySixers pic.twitter.com/nUyjFrsEvs

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) December 17, 2025

Also READ: BBL 2025-26: Broadcast, Live Streaming details – When and where to watch the Big Bash League in Australia, India, USA, UK & other countries

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Ashok Sharma celebrates after taking a wicket in the Ranji Trophy (Special Arrangement)

NEW DELHI: Rajasthan head coach Anshu Jain vividly recalls his first impression of Ashok Sharma when he saw him bowling in the nets in Jaipur.“Erratic but fast,” Jain tells TimesofIndia.com.

The 23-year-old Rajasthan pacer was roped in by Gujarat Titans for ₹90 lakh at the IPL 2026 auction held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. But Ashok isn’t making headlines for the money — he’s in the spotlight for his raw pace. The young fast bowler shattered an 11-year-old record in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and, with 22 wickets, finished as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“I’m not surprised at all. He has worked on his length, and now with the speed, there is accuracy as well. In our match against Hyderabad, he didn’t pick any wickets in one over, but all six balls he bowled were above 145 kph, with one touching the 150 mark,” says Jain, who has closely tracked Ashok’s rise since his U-19 days.

Ashok Sharma has clocked 150 kph in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (screengrab)

For Ashok, who hails from a farming background, fast bowling came naturally — inspired by his elder brother Akshay Sharma.“I was naturally quick. Ever since I started bowling, I’ve always had good pace,” Ashok tells TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.“I’ve learnt everything from my elder brother Akshay. He was a bowler. I used to watch his school matches. He taught me the basics of fast bowling and even took me to the academy,” he says.Growing up in Rampur, a village near Jaipur, the Sharma family had to make a tough decision about the future of their sons. Nathulal, a farmer, wanted them to either focus on education or help in the fields. Akshay stepped up, sacrificed his own cricketing ambitions, and convinced their parents to let Ashok pursue the game.

Ashok Sharma with his elder brother Akshay Sharma (Special Arrangement)

“He sacrificed his career. We come from a farming background, and only one of us could play. My brother is my everything,” says an emotional Ashok.Ashok found a mentor in Vivek Yadav, a former Ranji Trophy cricketer, who took him under his wings and was instantly drawn to his pace — much like Anshu Jain.“He played a big role in my life. When I joined the academy, I was 17. He supported me a lot. On my very first day in the morning nets, he asked me what I did. He watched me bowl, put me straight into the senior team of the academy and told the coach that I must play all matches. He supported me in everything. I could talk to him like an elder brother — ask him anything — and he always helped me,” Ashok shares.But during the Covid-19 pandemic, Vivek Yadav — a part of Rajasthan’s back-to-back Ranji Trophy title-winning teams in 2010–11 and 2011–12 — passed away in a Jaipur hospital due to complications. The loss devastated Ashok.

Ashok Sharma with his late mentor Vivek Yadav, who passed during the Covid in 2021 (Special Arrangement)

“That was the last time I shed tears. I thought my career was over. He wanted me to play for India. He used to say, ‘You’ll play for India very soon, you’ll play top-level cricket very soon,’” he says.After Vivek’s passing, Anshu Jain, then the coach of the Jaipur district team, picked Ashok for the inter-district tournament, backing him despite resistance.

Ashok Sharma with Rajasthan head coach Anshu Jain (Special Arrangement)

“He was quick even then, but the problem was line and length. He bowled a bit short. Selectors didn’t like him because he leaked runs. But he was an X-factor. I used to have big fights with selectors. How many 140-plus bowlers do you see? There aren’t many,” Jain recalls.“I was the U-23 coach last year, picked him again and played him in all matches. He worked hard on his length. He bowled well in the Ranji Trophy, and now in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, everyone is praising him. He must have bowled around 300 overs this season. He’s a gun fielder, has very strong hands, is quick and agile, and can hit big sixes with the bat as well,” Jain adds.

(L-R) Harshit Rana, Tim Southee, Pat Cummins and Ashok Sharma (special arrangement)

Ashok landed his first IPL deal in 2022 when Kolkata Knight Riders signed him for ₹55 lakh. He was later released and spent a season as a net bowler with Rajasthan Royals. In the 2025 mega auction, Royals picked him for his base price of ₹30 lakh, only to release him again without giving him a game.Despite the ups and downs, one thing remained constant — the advice he received from Pat Cummins during his stint with KKR.“I never thought about slowing down. I just wanted to keep my pace and hit the right length. In 2022, I spent a lot of time with Pat Cummins,” Ashok recalls.“I spoke to him about length and what I could do better. He asked me a simple question: ‘What is your strength?’ Every bowler has one — some swing it, some seam it. He asked me what I felt my strength was. I told him I could hit a hard length at good pace. He told me to stick to that. Whenever I practise, I remember his words. They still echo in my ears.”

Ashok Sharma with former India bowling coach Bharat Arun during their KKR days (Special Arrangement)

At KKR, former India bowling coach Bharat Arun also fine-tuned Ashok’s action and run-up.“When I was picked, I knew nothing. My only thought was to bowl fast. Bharat Arun sir taught me what it takes to stay fit as a fast bowler — diet, training, recovery and how to take care of my body,” Ashok says.Jain vouches for the transformation he’s seen over the last two years.“He’s very particular about training and diet. He bowls long spells. Even though modern fast bowlers are advised against it, you need overs under your belt to get accuracy right. This season, he’s bowled with the old ball as well. I’ve seen batters get scared. I strongly believe he will play for India,” Jain says confidently.Despite the praise, Ashok remains grounded.“The one person I miss the most is Vivek bhaiya,” he says softly.“Ab jisne mujhe itna ready kiya, itna kaam kiya, mujhe ready kiya, ab woh hi nahi hai dekhne ko, toh bura lagta hai (The person who prepared me so thoroughly, who worked so hard to make me ready, is no longer here to see it — that hurts deeply),” he adds.“There’s an extra responsibility on me now. I regularly talk to Vivek bhaiya’s family. His mother, wife and daughter — I keep visiting them,” Ashok says.Bowling fast is Ashok’s obsession, and he wants to get quicker. But one dream tops even speed — meeting Dale Steyn.

Ashok Sharma with Dale Steyn (Special Arrangement)

“My brother and I are big Dale Steyn fans. We had his poster in our room. I met him during the IPL when I was with KKR and he was Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowling coach. Unse ek-do dafa mulaqat hui — baat nahi ho paayi — but saamne se mile, hello hua, utna hi kaafi hai. Jinko TV pe dekh ke bade hue, jinki poster deewar pe lagayi, unse milna hi sab kuch hota hai (I met him once or twice. We didn’t really get to talk, but even meeting him face to face and exchanging a hello felt enough. To meet the people you grew up watching on TV, whose posters were on your wall — that itself means everything),” Ashok laughs.The 2025–26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has largely belonged to batters, with records tumbling across the tournament. Amid the run-fest, only a handful of bowlers have stood out — and Ashok Sharma is one of them. Capable of clocking speeds up to 150 kph, Jain believes there’s even more pace to come. If Ashok sustains his form through the rest of the domestic season and the IPL, the doors of Indian selection may not remain shut for long.