India’s Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal (PTI Photo/Kamal Kishore)

For Yashasvi Jaiswal, the memories of his India debut in the West Indies extend far beyond the runs he scored. What has stayed with him most clearly is the calm assurance he received from Rohit Sharma long before he stepped onto the field. Speaking in an interview with journalist Vimal Kumar, Jaiswal explained how Rohit’s conversations helped him feel settled and confident ahead of his first Test. “He spoke to me really well. He said a lot of things that gave me a lot of confidence,” Jaiswal said. “He kept telling me, ‘You’re free—go out there, play freely, play your shots with confidence. But try that if you get set, then make it a big innings.’ So there were many such conversations.”

What stood out was how early Rohit made his intentions clear. As the Indian squad travelled to Dominica, the captain ensured Jaiswal knew his role well in advance. “Almost fifteen days before, he had already told me,” Jaiswal recalled during the interview. “He said, ‘I won’t tell you just one day before that you’re playing. I’m telling you fifteen days in advance—you’re going to play. Prepare yourself. We’ll prepare together, and we’ll do it properly.’ That was his thought process.” That clarity helped Jaiswal absorb the moment without panic. “So the moment I found out that I was going to make my debut, it was a very special moment for me,” he said. “I had never played for India before, and this was my first time.” The preparation showed on the field. At just 21, Jaiswal marked his Test debut at Roseau with a remarkable 171 against the West Indies, displaying patience, control and maturity. Two years on, he has made an impressive start to his Test career, featuring in 28 matches and scoring 2,511 runs at an average of 49.23. Jaiswal also spoke with deep admiration for Rohit’s role beyond tactics and selection. “What can I even say about Rohit bhai? I honestly don’t have words for him,” he said. “What a person he is. What a guy. He’s like an elder brother—he teaches you, he inspires you.” Being part of a dressing room that included senior figures only added to the experience. “It’s a dream for so many people to play alongside Rohit bhai, Virat paaji, Hardik bhai,” Jaiswal said, referring to Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya. Above all, he highlighted the values passed down by the senior players. “They teach us that this is Indian cricket and that we must take care of it, carry it forward, and give our best in our own way,” he said. Looking back, Jaiswal’s debut was not just about a memorable hundred. It was shaped by early trust, careful preparation and leadership that allowed a young batter to walk out with clarity rather than fear.

Ajit Pawar’s NCP & Sharad Pawar’s fraction to contest together in Pimpri Chinchwad

PUNE: Deputy chief minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar on Sunday announced that NCP and NCP (SP) will contest the upcoming Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections in an alliance.Addressing a campaign rally in Talawade for party candidates, Pawar said, “In Pimpri Chinchwad, NCP, the party with the clock symbol and NCP, the party with the trumpet symbol, will contest the civic election in an alliance. A parivar [family] is coming together as many people wanted this to happen.”Pawar said the seat-sharing arrangement between NCP and NCP (SP) has been finalised and will be announced within the next two days. “We come from a farming family; farming is our caste. Some decisions must be taken in the larger interest of Maharashtra,” he said.This marks the first official announcement of an alliance between the two parties, even as discussions continue for alliances in other municipal corporations, including Pune.During the rally, Pawar announced the party’s candidates for Ward 12, where the undivided NCP had won all four seats in the 2017 elections. The candidates are Pankaj Bhalekar, Sharad Bhalekar, Seema Bhalekar, and Charulata Sonawane. Later, at a public meeting in Chikhali for Ward 1, he announced Yash Sane, Vikas Sane, Sadhna Netaji Kashid, and Sangita Tamhane as party candidates.In his address, Pawar also credited NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar for bringing the IT park to Hinjewadi, saying the decision played a key role in the development of the twin city. It may be noted that under Ajit Pawar’s leadership, first Congress between 1992 and 1999 and then the undivided NCP ruled Pimpri Chinchwad between 1999 and 2017. The BJP wrested control of the civic body in 2017, winning 77 of the 128 seats, while the NCP finished second.He said that despite his party being in power for 25 years, PCMC never took loans for development works.“PCMC was considered one of the richest municipal corporations in Asia. Today, it is burdened with debt and allegations of corruption, which were never part of its earlier history,” he said.Pawar said the NCP would ensure representation for candidates from all communities, drawing inspiration from the ideologies of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shahu Maharaj, Jyotiba Phule, and BR Ambedkar. The candidate list, he said, would include a balance of youth and experienced leaders.Without naming individuals, Pawar also alleged that political opponents in Pimpri Chinchwad were threatening aspirants by warning that their construction projects would be stalled. “Women are being threatened, and such poaching politics has been never seen before.People have told me they were warned that their construction works would be stopped. Residents should not tolerate this, and justice must be ensured,” he said.

BENGALURU: Shocked by his wife’s suicide two days ago, hounded by public sentiment and charged with dowry harassment and abetment to suicide, a 30-year-old Bengaluru resident died by suicide in a Nagpur hotel early Saturday after undertaking a 1,000km circuitous road journey along with his family members.Suraj Shivanna, a franchise owner of an online delivery service, and his family fled Bengaluru on Dec 25, and after a brief stopover in Hyderabad, reached Nagpur on Friday evening. They checked into their two rooms in a hotel around 9.30 pm.

Suraj was found hanging in the hotel room by his 60-year-old mother, Jayanti, around 12:30am. Shattered to see her son dead, she too attempted to hang herself. She, however, survived as the noose snapped, and her cries alerted the hotel staff and other family members. Her elder son, Sanjay Shivanna, 36, lodged a police report. Suraj was taken to AIIMS-Nagpur, where doctors confirmed his death.Sanjay, a businessman based in Bengaluru, told police the family was forced to flee due to escalating threats from Suraj’s in-laws following the suicide of his wife, Ganavi. “Around 30 people stormed our house searching for Suraj, who was named in an FIR for dowry harassment. We were traumatised and in fear,” said Sanjay.Suraj had married Ganavi, an MBA graduate, on Oct 29. Family sources revealed Ganavi was reportedly reluctant as she was pressured into the union by her aunt. The couple went on a 10-day honeymoon to Sri Lanka, but the trip turned sour as revelations about Ganavi’s pre-marital friendship surfaced, leading to heated arguments, said family sources. The couple returned to Bengaluru after five days.On their return, attempts by family, including Sanjay, to mediate failed. Ganavi left for her father’s home and hours later, hanged herself, following which her family lodged a complaint against Suraj and his relatives of torturing her for dowry. Talking to TOI, Sanjay denied the dowry allegations. “We did not make any demands. We covered all wedding expenses. It’s shocking on their part to hurl such allegations. Instead, Ganavi’s family had started issuing death threats to us. My brother was scared and apologetic,” Sanjay said, referring to Suraj’s in-laws’ visit to their home on Dec 22. Suraj’s autopsy report is awaited.

Hobart Hurricanes will face the Melbourne Renegades in the fifteenth match of the Big Bash League. This article provides details about the Hobart Hurricanes’ Playing 11 vs Melbourne Renegades for the fifteenth match of the tournament.

Hobart Hurricanes Playing XI vs Melbourne Renegades- BBL 2025-26, Match 15:

Openers: Mitchell Owen, Tim Ward

Hobart Hurricanes will hope to replicate the same performance that they delivered in the previous match against the Perth Scorchers when they take on the Melbourne Renegades for the second time in the ongoing season.

The Nathan Ellis-led side would look to maintain their strong record against this particular opposition, having won four of the last five games that they have played against them in the Big Bash League by registering another win.

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The onus will be on the openers to get the team off to a good start and get the Renigades bowlers under pressure.

The pair of Mitchell Owen and Tim Ward would look to bat well in partnership and make full use of the first four overs with fielding restrictions in play.

In addition to that, both batters would also be backed to make meaningful contributions individually as well, to be in good rhythm for the matches to come.

Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Nikhil Chaudhary, Ben McDermott, Matthew Wade (wk), Macalister Wright, Chris Jordan, Rehan Ahmed, Nathan Ellis (c), Rishad Hossain

If we talk about the performance of Hobart Hurricanes’ middle order, it has also done its job with different batters contributing in different games and taking the team over the line from situations that have been quite challenging, with the team losing quick wickets.

Having said that, the Hurricanes are expected to be without the services of experienced batter Tim David for the match in question, as he picked up an injury while batting against the Scorchers.

However, the team has got enough power in their batting lineup with Matthew Wade likely to replace Tim David at that particular position, or might slot in down the order depending on the state of the game.

The team management will trust the likes of Nikhil Chaudhary and Ben McDermott to carry the form that they have shown in the tournament so far, and for Macalister Wright and Chris Jordan to give them good support.

Bowlers: Chris Jordan, Riley Meridith, Nathan Ellis, Rehan Ahmed and Rishad Hossain

As far as the bowling lineup of the Hurricanes is concerned, it comprises six bowling options, including fast bowling all-rounder Mitchell Owen and five specialist bowlers.

Names like Chris Jordan, Riley Meridith, and Nathan Ellis will take care of the team’s fast bowling department and would want to deliver a similar performance that they came up with in the last match against the Perth Scorchers.

Jordan and Meridth are expected to take the new ball, with Ellis taking charge in the middle overs along with the spinners.

The spin bowling department of Hobart Hurricanes will be taken care of by Rehan Ahmed and Rishad Hossain, both of whom bowled well in the previous match and would hope to do so in the next game as well.