Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is likely to be rested for the home ODI series against New Zealand. The all-rounder has hence turned to Baroda for his 50-over comeback for the final three matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

India are gearing up for the ICC T20 World Cup, and hence they have considered resting some of their players from the ODIs to ensure their focus in the T20Is. One of the names is of all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who returned to competitive cricket against South Africa in the T20I series.

Pandya had missed the Asia Cup 2025 final due to a quadriceps injury, and the injury escalated, which caused him to miss the white-ball tour to Australia. After his recovery, Pandya featured in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Baroda and picked up some form before making his international comeback.

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Hardik Pandya’s Vijay Hazare Trophy return confirmed

Veteran Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has almost been confirmed to be rested for the ODIs against New Zealand; hence, the premier all-rounder has confirmed his participation in two of the last three league stage matches for Baroda in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

“Yes, it’s confirmed that Hardik will turn out for Baroda in their Vijay Hazare games on January 3 and 8, which are against Vidarbha and Chandigarh,” a source familiar with the matter told IANS on Tuesday.

However, the premier all-rounder would manage his workload wisely, as he has not considered playing all games, as he needs to be cautious of his injuries, with the T20 World Cup around the corner.

“He’s not there for the clash against Jammu & Kashmir on January 6, as he needs ample break to manage his load in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup,” the source added.

Hardik Pandya advised to rest from the New Zealand ODI series by the BCCI selectors

Hardik last featured for India in an ODI game back in March 2025, which was in the ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand. He has not played a single ODI since then, and India has managed decently without him.

Ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, he, alongside Jasprit Bumrah, has been asked to rest for the ODIs against New Zealand, since both these players are indispensable to India’s T20 World Cup title defence. Bumrah has also been exempted from featuring in the VHT.

“Hardik was wishing to turn out in ODIs against New Zealand, but the team think-tank advised him to rest from the series, as they want him in fine fettle for the subsequent T20I series and the all-important T20 World Cup,” revealed the same source to IANS.

Will Nitish Kumar Reddy be picked as the all-rounder in the New Zealand ODIs?

In Hardik Pandya’s absence during the Australia tour, Nitish Kumar Reddy was picked as the replacement for the veteran all-rounder. He even featured in the first two games for India. However, later, he was snubbed owing to injuries.

The Andhra skipper is currently playing a handsome hand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Though not massively with the bat, Reddy has been effective with the ball. The all-rounder is once again in line for a team India recall as Hardik Pandya’s replacement.

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CJI Surya Kant (File photo)

NEW DELHI: If a citizen faces a legal emergency or is threatened with arrest by probe agencies at unearthly hours, the person will be able to seek a hearing from constitutional courts even in the dead of night for protection of fundamental rights and liberties, the Chief Justice of India said. “My endeavour is and will be to make the Supreme Court and high courts people’s courts which can be approached at any time beyond working hours in legal emergencies,” CJI Surya Kant told TOI. The CJI said one of his priorities is to set up as many constitution benches as possible to deal with pending petitions raising several important constitutional issues – like the one thrown up by a bunch of petitions challenging validity of special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which started from Bihar and is now being carried out in a dozen states. The bench on SIR would take up the issues after conclusion of the countrywide updation of electoral rolls.

‘Want approachable people’s courts’

CJI Kant said he would also examine the feasibility of setting up a nine-judge bench to decide many petitions that articulate the clash between religious freedom and women’s rights. The issue arises in three categories of cases, including petitions seeking review of the SC order allowing women of all ages into Sabarimala temple. By custom, women of menstruating age were barred from going inside Sabarimala shrine. Another set of pleas challenge the practice of female genital mutilation among Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community and the ban on entry of women into mosques, and, the third set question denial of entry into Agiary (Zoroastrian temple) of Parsi women who marry outside the community.Now, lawyers can’t argue for days in high-stake cases In another significant development, it would no longer be permissible for renowned lawyers to argue for days together in high-stake matters. CJI Surya Kant has decided to enforce strict timelines for advocates to complete arguments. “The constitutional courts will function like hospitals with emergency wards. In case of a legal emergency, a citizen, irrespective of status, can knock on the doors of Supreme Court even at midnight to seek redress of an urgent grievance and seek protection of individual rights and liberty,” CJI Kant said. There will never be another case like the one arising from settlement dispute between Ambani brothers in which lawyers argued for 26 days in SC. “This is to ensure that poor litigants not only get free legal assistance but also an equal share of court time during hearing of their cases,” the CJI said. Apart from mandatory submission of written submissions not exceeding five pages at least three days prior to the hearing, SC has issued a circular saying, “Senior advocates, arguing counsel and/or advocate-on-record, shall submit the timelines for making oral arguments in all post-notice and regular hearing matters, at least a day prior to the commencement of the hearing of the case.” To speed up hearing in pending cases, the CJI said, “Various special categories have been identified for priority listing to send a message that Supreme Court is a people’s court.”

India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur with teammate Shafali Verma at the end of play after India defeated Sri Lanka during the third T20 International cricket match (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India opener Shafali Verma has once again shown why she is one of the most exciting batters in women’s cricket. After a series of strong performances against Sri Lanka, the 21-year-old has moved up to sixth place in the latest ICC Women’s T20I batting rankings.Shafali, who was once the world No. 1 batter in T20Is, jumped four spots after scoring runs consistently in the ongoing series.

She played a match-winning knock of 69 not out off just 34 balls in the second T20I. She followed it up with two more unbeaten innings of 79, one off 42 balls and the other off 46 balls, in the third and fourth matches in Thiruvananthapuram.Her aggressive batting at the top has given India quick starts and put pressure on the Sri Lankan bowlers early in the innings.India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana also had a positive outing. After struggling for runs earlier, she returned to form with a smooth 80 in the fourth T20I. Mandhana has managed to hold on to her third position in the ICC rankings. Meanwhile, middle-order batter Jemimah Rodrigues slipped down one place and is now ranked 10th.In the bowling department, experienced all-rounder Deepti Sharma continues to lead the charts. She remains the No. 1 T20I bowler in the world. Fellow Indian pacer Renuka Singh Thakur has also made good progress. Renuka climbed eight places to reach joint sixth after her brilliant spell of four wickets for 21 runs in the third match. Her performance helped India win the game by eight wickets and seal the series.India’s young left-arm spinners have also impressed. Shree Charani moved up 17 places to reach 52nd position, while Vaishnavi Sharma made a massive jump of 390 places to reach 124th. This is Vaishnavi’s first international series, and her rise reflects India’s strong bench strength as they prepare for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2026, to be held in England and Wales.Sri Lankan players also saw some improvement. Opener Hasini Perera moved up 114 places to 71st after steady scores of 22, 25 and 33. All-rounder Kavisha Dilhari also climbed three spots to reach 79th in the batting rankings.

JALPAIGURI: Grief over former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia’s death on Tuesday travelled well beyond Dhaka, reaching Jalpaiguri, a north Bengal town nearly 434 km away, where memories of her early life still lingered. For the people here, it was a loss of one of their own.Khaleda Zia was born in Jalpaiguri in 1946 and spent her early life in the town, attending two primary schools before her family eventually moved to what was then East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.“Zia’s father, Mohammad Iskandar, used to work as an agent at my father’s tea trading firm, Das & Co. Khaleda Zia was born at their Nayabasti house in the town. Even after Partition, her family continued to reside in Jalpaiguri, and family moved to erstwhile East Pakistan only in the 1950s,” recounted Jalpaiguri resident and businessman Nilanjan Dasgupta.

Bangladesh’s first woman PM to embattled mass leader

According to Jalpaiguri-based historian Umesh Sharma, Zia’s early education began in the town. “Zia was sent to Jogmaya Primary School in Nayabasti, where she studied up to Class III, and was then admitted to Sunitibala Sadar Girls’ School in Samaj Para,” he said. “By then most of their relatives moved to East Pakistan, and Zia’s father migrated there,” Sharma added.Sharma said the family’s departure followed a formal exchange of property. “Iskandar went for a property exchange with one Amarendranath Chakraborty and moved to East Pakistan. Chakraborty’s family still lives in the house at Nayabasti,” he said.Those who remember her family recall the emotional ties that endured long after her departure. “Siyon Mandal, who became a teacher at Sishu Niketan Prathamik Bidyalaya, was her best friend during primary school days. I remember how Siyondi was elated when Zia came to office in Bangladesh. The news of her demise has left people who knew her sorry,” said Dasgupta, a former proprietor of now-defunct Das & Co.Neighbours, too, spoke of a bond that survived borders and decades. “Zia’s niece came only a couple of months ago to see Zia’s birthplace. We talked about how good it would have been if the country was never partitioned. Her loss is mourned by people in Bangladesh as well as here,” said Suhrid Mandal, Zia’s Jalpaiguri neighbour.

Motta Maadi Music Sober Party, started by Chennai-based musician Badhri Narayanan Seshadri, is a New Year’s concert for teetotaller

For years, New Year’s Eve came with a familiar script: you drink, you party, you recover (or regret it) later. But a growing number of Indians are now opting for a ‘sober’ start to 2026. “There was a time I drank to drown my sorrows,” says 45-year-old Mumbai-based entrepreneur Madhu Gupta. This New Year’s Eve, though, her plans look very different: an early dinner at a hotel, followed by a ‘Stranger Things’ marathon with her teenage daughter. Alcohol doesn’t figure anywhere. Even her 30-year-old niece in Bengaluru is skipping the usual party scene. Gupta and her niece are part of a growing global sober curious movement – people who are reshaping their relationship with alcohol. For some, it means giving it up entirely and for others, it might mean a shift to low-alcohol options. Health reasons and the desire to have more meaningful interactions/experiences without being wasted are driving the shift.‘Wanted to show how one can have fun without booze’For this crowd, the perfect Dec 31 is about music, community, and being home before the streets get wild. That’s the spirit behind the Motta Maadi Music Sober Party, started by Chennai-based musician Badhri Narayanan Seshadri as a mischievous jab at New Year’s excesses. Seshadri is quick to clarify that it wasn’t planned as an anti-alcohol event. “The entire team is largely teetotallers, so this is how we celebrate. Otherwise, where do teetotallers go on Dec 31? Watch television?” he laughs. This year, their Dec 31 show will be held at Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall, with two performances at 3pm and 7pm, both featuring Tamil film music. The evening ends not with a countdown. “We finish with ‘Ilamai Idho Idho’, a popular New Year song by Ilaiyaraaja,” says Seshadri. The shift is also showing up in how venues are programming the night. In Hyderabad, rooftop cafe Ce La Vie is advertising a ‘sober and sensational’ New Year’s party complete with a DJ, a midnight countdown and an elaborate mocktail menu. In Indore, Kaner Baag is hosting a sober New Year’s Eve built around a familiar party template – a DJ night, live dhol, unlimited buffet, zero-proof cocktails and a midnight countdown with fireworks – just without the booze. The event is aimed at “families, couples and groups looking for a safe, elegant, and premium alternative to crowded club parties”. For 21-year-old Raj Dashore, a partner at Kaner Baag and one of the organisers, the idea is a pushback against how celebrations in the city have changed over generations. “In our parents’ generation, drinking became the centre of every celebration in Indore. Every month, there’s a new pub launching,” he says. “At Kaner Baag, we wanted to show that you can be surrounded by nature, have fun and feel calm without alcohol.“ Dry doesn’t mean dull. Across the country, mixologists are leaning into technique-driven creations – think beetroot negronis and kiwi collins – designed to deliver flavour, not buzz. Hyderabad-based Meera Girija Tadimeti, an architect-turned-chef who specialises in homestyle Telugu food, says this New Year’s Eve she will simply sip sparkling water or soda. “There is more research now that shows no amount of alcohol is safe, so I made a conscious decision to say no to alcohol,” says Tadimeti, who was a social drinker earlier. “I don’t succumb to social pressure and respect my body’s limitations,” she adds. Others are stepping away from the pressure to “do something big” altogether. Instead of hosting traditional New Year’s Eve events, Kolkata’s The Barge Company is planning a ‘River Reset’ weekend on Jan 3, 4 and 11 aboard its heritage vessels, Riviera and the restored Bengal Paddle. “The first weekend of Jan should be a sober weekend. We wanted to do that by channelling the tranquillity of the river with activities like sound bath, yoga flow and iceberg mind mastery on the cruise,” say Rishika Das Roy, marketing director at The Barge Company. “As for drinks, we will have tea-tasting and mushroom coffee,” she says.

MADURAI: “We didn’t take a headcount. Perhaps you could try counting from the photograph we clicked in front of our ancestral home,” said C Thirugnanan, one among the 300-odd family members who came together to celebrate their 100-year-old home in Karaikudi in Sivaganga district on Sunday.A total of 65 families, some based in Dubai, Malaysia and Canada, were in attendance at the house in Velangudi village. Built by Periyannan Ambalam and his younger brother Subbiah Ambalam from 1922 to 1926, the house stands on an acre with 30 rooms and four kitchens. “When they built it, our forefathers wanted it to stand tall even after 100 years, and wished our family live here together. Even though many reside in different countries, we came together on this day,” Thirugnanan said.“If not for this house, we doubt if all 300 of us would have been connected the same way,” said Saravanan Solaimalai, a fourth generation of Periyannan Ambalam, who is based in Dubai. He initiated renovation work on the house and organised the centenary ceremony. “It was in 2016 that some of us came to the house for a function. We then decided that 10 years later the centenary would be celebrated in a grand manner,” he said. Planning, renovating, and collecting money began a year prior to the D-day, he said. “I used to run around in this house and my ayya (father) would scold me that the house may get damaged if I ran so fast,” said Leela Solaimalai, Saravanan’s 79-year-old mother. “Memories from even 50 years ago are distinct in my mind,” she said. She makes sure to spend at least 10 days every year in the house, especially during Navratri and Pongal.Saravanan said they wanted to pass on the legacy to the sixth generation. Among old photographs of family members are one with the army of Subhas Chandra Bose in Malaysia. “300 people living together in a house could be difficult. But even today there are families in Karaikudi who live in joint families,” said 21-year-old Anvitha S. “My father often drew the family tree and explained it to me, but I never met them or knew their faces,” she said. At the ceremony, Anvitha met her cousins, practised dance, and performed it in front of the family. Various competitions for children, like singing and dance, and pattimandram (debate) for older people were organised on the occasion, she added.“Building a house is an emotion. Everyone builds a house thinking that their family must live in it for 100 years. We are glad to make it a reality,” Saravanan added.

In a recent massive development, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced the appointment of Lasith Malinga, the legendary fast bowler, as the fast bowling coach for the Men’s National team. He has been appointed to help Sri Lanka with preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup.

Sri Lanka crashed out of the previous edition of the T20 World Cup after some helpless bowling; hence, this time around, as the hosts of the tournament, they have taken measures to prepare their players better for the World Cup.

The Lankans struggled with their performance in the Asia Cup as well, where they failed to advance into the finals after having made it to the Super-4 stage of the Asia Cup 2025. They lost all matches against India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the super-4 stage.

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Lasith Malinga’s appointment is a massive step by Sri Lanka Cricket

The Lankan pace attacking deck has many stars, but what they lack is experience. Sanath Jayasuriya brought back hope within the Lankan side; now, Lasith Malinga’s appointment can be equally effective for the two-time T20 World Cup champions. Lasith Malinga is Sri Lanka’s most successful bowler in T20s and is also a World Cup-winning skipper for the Lankans.

Malinga’s experience of T20 cricket can come in handy for pacers like Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thusara, and Dusmantha Chameera in the Lankan T20I side. His appointment is temporary, from the 15th of December to the 25th of January, and his role would be limited to the preparation for the World Cup.

They will be using Malinga’s immense expertise as a death bowler, particularly in the shortest format of the game. Malinga, during his career, featured for several franchises across different leagues in the world.

Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce the appointment of Lasith Malinga as the Consultant – Fast Bowling Coach for the National Men’s Team.
His appointment is on a short-term basis for a period of one month, effective from 15th December to 25th January 2026.
Malinga will support…

— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket) December 30, 2025

Sri Lanka is placed in the same group as Australia, Oman and Ireland

The tournament is scheduled to start on the 7th of February, and the tournament will begin at the SSC in Colombo on the 7th of this month. The co-hosts of the tournament have been placed in the same group alongside Australia, Oman, Ireland and Zimbabwe.

They will play the first match against Ireland on the 8th of February in Colombo, while the second match will be played in Pallekele against Oman and Australia on the 12th and 16th of February. They will conclude their campaign against Zimbabwe on the 19th of February in Colombo.

Sri Lanka Preliminary Squad for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup

Rest assured that Dasun Shanaka will be named as the captain of the Sri Lankan side for the ICC T20 World Cup. Spin bowling all-rounders have formed the core of the team, as Wanindu Hasaranga, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis and Dunith Wellalage offer balance with both the bat and ball.

A total of 13 players from the T20 World Cup squad for 2024 have been retained for this edition as well. The squad was announced back on the 19th of December, and several players will be snubbed to pick a final 15-member squad for the World Cup.

Sri Lanka 25-member Preliminary Squad for T20 World Cup: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Milan Rathnayake, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga, Dushan Hemantha, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, and Traveen Mathew.

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