The opening day of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 was a spectacle only modern greats can provide, as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli reminded everyone of their class by slamming commanding centuries for Mumbai and Delhi, respectively, on December 24.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s performances did more than just win matches for their respective teams; but they brought experience, confidence, and inspiration into the domestic circuit. This masterclass drew rich praise from Harbhajan Singh, who highlighted their immense value to the domestic circuit.

Harbhajan Singh’s ‘Net Practice’ Verdict on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Goes Viral

Harbhajan said that seeing modern-era legends like Virat Kohli and Rohit play domestic cricket is a big boost for young players. He felt that sharing the dressing room with such experienced cricketers helps youngsters learn and gain confidence and adds great value to domestic tournaments.

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Harbhajan Singh said in a video on his YouTube channel, “It’s good to see, really good to see, that big players are also turning up for tournaments like these. When you go and play alongside domestic players, obviously it boosts their confidence as well. Kohli going into Delhi’s dressing room is obviously a big, big learning experience for all those kids sitting there.

It’s a huge lesson for them to see what Kohli does. Similarly, Rohit Sharma has gone into Mumbai’s dressing room. Although Mumbai has always been a very big team and has won a lot, I still feel that Kohli playing and Rohit playing are, in themselves, very big things.”

Rohit Sharma’s Blistering Knock for Mumbai

Rohit Sharma played a breathtaking innings against Sikkim in Mumbai’s opening match in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. He smashed 155 runs from just 94 balls, hitting 18 boundaries and 9 sixes.

The former Indian captain’s stunning knock cruised Mumbai to an eight-wicket victory over Sikkim. His dominant knock earned him the Player of the Match award and gave a perfect start to Mumbai’s VHT campaign.

Score: 155 runs
Balls: 94
Fours/Sixes: 18/9
Strike Rate: 164.89

Virat Kohli’s Signature Chase Masterclass

Kohli showcased why he remains the ultimate chase master. The former Indian captain walked in at 55/1 and delivered a stunning knock for Delhi against Andhra Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 clash in Bengaluru.

Chasing a tricky target of 299, he smashed 50 off 47 balls and then paced up his innings and smashed the next 81 runs off just 54 balls. Kohli held the innings together with a fluent 131 off 101 balls. His stunning knock helped Delhi secure a four-wicket win over Andhra Pradesh.

Score: 131 runs
Balls: 101
Fours/Sixes: 14/3
Strike Rate: 129.70

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Why These Centuries Matter for Team India’s Future

Meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh felt that Rohit and Kohli scoring centuries is a very positive sign for India, keeping in mind the upcoming 2017 World Cup. He stressed that domestic matches are real contests, not practice sessions, and making hundreds in such conditions matters a lot.

Harbhajan signed off by saying, “This isn’t net practice. Scoring a hundred here is a big deal in itself. It becomes a habit, a good habit. When you know how to score runs, when you know how to make hundreds, that’s a good habit to have. It doesn’t matter whether you are playing domestic cricket, international cricket, or even fewer matches, because that same thing is what you carry forward. And for them today, this is a really big thing.”

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File photo: PM Modi (Picture credit: ANI)

LUCKNOW: Mounting yet another scathing attack on Congress, PM Narendra Modi Thursday accused past govts of glorifying one family while neglecting contributions of other national icons, and practising political untouchability. BJP govt freed the country from the “tendency” to attribute every achievement to just one (Nehru-Gandhi) family, he said.Speaking after inaugurating Rashtra Prerna Sthal, a memorial dedicated to Jan Sangh stalwarts, on the 101st birth anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Lucknow, Modi also said, “BJP is proud that our govt had the opportunity to tear down the wall of Article 370”. He said the legacy of good governance created by BJP-led NDA govt was now being taken to new heights at both central and state levels. “After Independence, a tendency emerged to associate all the good work that took place in India to the same family. Be it books, govt schemes, institutions, streets, roads or squares, it was all connected to the pride of one family… “…Our govt, serving Mother India, is giving respect to her every child, to everyone’s contribution.” he said.Rashtra Prerna Sthal houses 65-ft tall statues of Vajpayee, Syama Prasad Mookherjee and Deen Dayal Upadhyay. Constructed at a cost of Rs 230 crore, the memorial sprawling over 65 acres also houses a lotus-shaped museum depicting the life and journey of the stalwarts.Reiterating BJP’s sharp narrative contrasting dynastic politics with merit based recognition, the PM asserted his govt was honouring national icons who were ignored earlier across party lines.BJP did not let the legacy of B R Ambedkar be undermined, he said, referring to the ‘panchteerth’ associated with the Dalit icon. He accused Congress of attempting to dismantle Ambedkar’s legacy.

Vandals target Christmas decorations at Assam school, mob attacks mall in Raipur

GUWAHATI/RAIPUR: Right-wing vandals smashed Xmas decorations in Assam and Chhattisgarh on Christmas Day, leading to the arrests of four people in Nalbari, Assam, and an FIR in Raipur against 25-30 activists.The arrests in Assam — three activists of VHP and one of Bajrang Dal — took place after Christmas decorations were smashed at St Mary’s School in Nalbari. A group of Hindutva activists stormed the school, tearing down and burning banners and posters. They also targeted nearby shops in Nalbari town selling Christmas items and dismantled a Nativity crib on the school premises.Nalbari SSP Bibekananda Das confirmed the four arrests. “We earlier identified three active members, though the group was larger. All were locals of Nalbari district,” Das said. The case was registered after Fr Baiju Sebastian, the school principal, filed a complaint. He claimed that around 2.30 pm on Wednesday, miscreants entered the school premises, and damaged decorations, lights and plant pots, and set other articles on fire.Those arrested are VHP district secretary Bhaskar Deka, VHP district vice-president Manash Jyoti Patgiri, and VHP assistant secretary Biju Dutta, and Nayan Talukdar, a Bajrang Dal district convener. The activists shouted “Jai Shri Ram” and warned school authorities against celebrating Christmas. They allegedly threatened school officials and asked whether they celebrated Saraswati Puja on campus. “From this year, you have to stop Christmas celebrations,” one activist told a school official, according to a purported video of the event.In Raipur, stick-wielding members of a fringe outfit stormed Magneto Mall during Thursday’s Chhattisgarh shutdown against the violence around Kanker burial and alleged religious conversions. They vandalised property, gilded Christmas decorations, and damaged a Christmas tree and a Santa Claus figure. The mall management said they had suffered losses running into lakhs.The mall management claimed 40-50 people with rods and hockey sticks, allegedly asked staff and others inside, “Are you Hindu or Christian? What is your caste?” They even checked ID cards and badges of staff, officials said.An FIR was lodged based on a complaint by the mall.

The India ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has taken a positive step toward returning to the field ahead of the white-ball series against New Zealand. Shreyas Iyer had his first proper batting session in Mumbai on December 24 since his career-threatening injury on the Australia tour.

However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and National Cricket Academy (NCA) medical team are adopting a cautious approach, as Iyer will undergo 4-6 days of intensive monitoring.

Shreyas Iyer Injury Update: Latest News on Back Spasms & Recovery Timeline

As reported by the Times of India, Iyer batted for nearly an hour and did not feel any pain or discomfort, which is a big relief for both the batter and the Indian team management.

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After this encouraging session, the right-handed batter is now heading to the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to continue his recovery and prepare for his much-awaited comeback.

At the moment, there is no fixed timeline for the Mumbaikar’s return to competitive cricket. However, the 31-year-old is keen to get back as soon as possible, and the seasoned batter is pushing to make his comeback in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26.

Shreyas Iyer to make comeback with Vijay Hazare Trophy!!

A BCCI official was quoted as saying by the Times of India, “Shreyas Iyer had a very unfortunate injury in Australia, and it made him miss a lot of competitive cricket. The good sign is that he is pain-free at the moment and batted without any trouble in Mumbai on Wednesday.

India next plays New Zealand, and while that could still be touch and go, a return in the later stages of the Vijay Hazare Trophy can’t be ruled out at this stage.”

The final decision on Iyer’s return timeline will be taken after detailed check-ups at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. It is being said that the Indian vice-captain will stay in Bengaluru for around four to six days. During this time, the medical and support staff will closely monitor his fitness and workload and give more clarity on his return to the action.

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Shreyas Iyer “won’t be rushed back” to action

Shreyas Iyer’s availability for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand at home remains uncertain for now. The series will get underway on January 11, with the team for the series expected to be announced in the first week of January, most likely around January 2 or 3.

The official further added, “He is already back to regular training in the gym. So no red flags there at the moment, but it all depends on the CoE assessment. He will be there for anywhere between four and six days. Like with every player, he won’t be rushed back, but efforts will be directed towards his speedy return.”

Notably, Iyer has been out of action since October 2025. He last played in the three-match ODI series against Australia, where he suffered a blow to his abdomen. Because of that injury, Iyer missed the entire Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 and also the ODI series against South Africa.

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh government has made newspaper reading compulsory for students of all state-run secondary and basic schools to cultivate reading habits, reduce screen time and develop critical, and logical thinking skills among them.An order issued by additional chief secretary (basic and secondary education) Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma, on December 23 says newspapers, both English and Hindi, should be made an integral part of the daily reading culture of schools.This is in continuation of an earlier order in November, which had discussed ways to inculcate reading culture among students. Discouraging excess screen time, the December 23 order advises students to read “physical” newspapers as it would help them enhance their focus and concentration.“A 10-minute slot should be allocated for ‘news reading’ from newspapers during the daily morning assembly. Students, on a rotational basis, will read out the main points of editorial articles and major positive news from national, international, and sports events,” says the December 23 order.

Asked about the directive, Sen Sharma told TOI: “These are directions as well as advice, to be followed by state-run schools, but others can also follow if they find sense.”The order lists manifold benefits of regular newspaper reading. “To begin with, it will strengthen students’ GK and understanding of current affairs, which is extremely important for future competitive examinations. Second, regular reading improves vocabulary and language style. Reading various types of articles and editorials develops their writing skills.”Sen Sharma stressed that reading diverse perspectives “develops critical thinking and the ability to distinguish between right and wrong in students, making them aware in the era of fake news”.Another benefit of reading newspapers is that students become aware of their local community, events, and public projects. “This connects them to their surroundings and helps them understand how local events are connected to national and global issues,” the order states.In addition, human interest stories and news related to social issues published in newspapers help students understand the experiences and challenges of others. This develops empathy in them and guides them towards becoming responsible citizens. Sudoku, crosswords, and word puzzles available in newspapers are not just for entertainment; they train students’ brains for logical challenges and problem-solving, the order says.The order says students focus on favourite subjects, while newspapers exposes them to science, culture and sports.