Indian cricket fans awaiting the return of star batter Shreyas Iyer will have to wait a little longer. Despite promising signs of recovery at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE), the 30-year-old middle-order mainstay is expected to miss the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting January 11, 2026.

While Iyer has resumed batting in the nets, a combination of medical caution and physical benchmarks has forced the selection committee to hit the pause button on his international return.

Reason why Shreyas Iyer will not play the New Zealand series

The primary reason for Iyer’s exclusion is the failure to secure the mandatory Return to Play (RTP) clearance. According to media reports, while Iyer’s batting appears “pain-free” and fluent, his overall physical conditioning hasn’t yet reached the elite standards required for international cricket. The medical staff is particularly concerned about his ability to field for a full 50-over match. High-intensity movements—such as diving, sliding, and rapid-fire throwing—put significant strain on the abdominal region, which is still healing from his recent surgery.

Notably, the spleen laceration with internal bleeding that Iyer suffered in October was a life-threatening injury. The subsequent recovery and surgical procedure led to a significant physical setback. He has reportedly lost approximately 6 kg during his time in the hospital and early rehab. A more pressing concern for the BCCI trainers is the loss of muscle mass, which has directly impacted his “optimum strength levels.”

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A blow to Mumbai’s Vijay Hazare hopes

To prove his fitness, Iyer was slated to play for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on January 3 and 6. However, without the CoE’s green signal, he will miss these crucial competitive games. The current plan now sees him potentially returning only for the knockout stages of the domestic tournament (starting January 12), which effectively rules him out of the New Zealand ODIs.

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Warren Buffett stepped down as chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway today, bringing to an end one of the longest and most influential leadership runs in modern corporate history.The transition, announced earlier this year at Berkshire’s annual shareholders’ meeting, hands day-to-day control to vice-chairman Gregory Abel from January 1. Buffett, now 95, will remain chairman and has said he will continue coming to the office, but his withdrawal from operational leadership closes a chapter that reshaped both Berkshire and the wider landscape of American capitalism, according to ET report.What Buffett leaves behind is a company transformed beyond recognition. Once a struggling textile maker, Berkshire is today the ninth-most-valuable company in the United States, the country’s second-largest property and casualty insurer, and a sprawling conglomerate with nearly $700 billion in tradable stocks, bonds and cash, alongside ownership of roughly 200 operating businesses. Those span railroads, utilities and consumer brands, with the annual shareholder meeting in Omaha evolving into a ritual gathering for investors from around the world, ET noted.

An investor who resisted labels

Buffett was often described as the world’s greatest investor, though he resisted easy categorisation. He began with classic value investing, buying companies trading below the accounting value of their assets, and later embraced businesses with enduring competitive advantages capable of compounding value over decades.That evolution produced some of the most successful investments of modern times, including Apple, accumulated between 2016 and 2018 and now Berkshire’s most profitable holding. His emphasis on “economic moats” shaped a portfolio anchored by global franchises across banking, consumer goods and financial services.Yet Buffett’s most consequential insight lay not only in what he bought, but in how he paid for it.

Insurance float as quiet genius

The acquisition of National Indemnity in 1967, followed by GEICO and a major reinsurance operation, gave Berkshire access to insurance float — premiums collected before claims are paid. That pool of capital became the engine behind Berkshire’s growth, financing landmark deals such as the acquisition of BNSF and the company’s large stake in Occidental Petroleum, ET reported.This structure allowed Berkshire to deploy vast sums patiently, without dependence on short-term market funding, reinforcing Buffett’s reputation for disciplined capital allocation.

A succession shaped by continuity

The move to Gregory Abel marks a shift in style rather than a break in philosophy. Abel, who rose through Berkshire’s energy and utilities businesses, inherits a decentralised organisation built on trust and autonomy. Buffett’s hands-off approach — avoiding forced synergies and central control — now stands as a defining legacy Abel must steward.The transition comes amid mixed performance across some operating businesses and renewed scrutiny of Berkshire’s unusually large cash holdings. How that capital is deployed in the years ahead will be closely watched, but the company enters the handover with financial strength few peers can match.

More than a company

Buffett leaves behind more than a balance sheet. He leaves a way of thinking about business — patient, long-term and grounded in common sense. He spoke often about enjoying the work itself, once remarking, “I have a lot of fun doing what I do every day.”He was equally candid about wealth and responsibility, urging restraint and purpose rather than excess. Last month, he accelerated the transfer of Berkshire shares to foundations run by his three children, amounting to about $1.3 billion. In his Thanksgiving letter, he reminded readers that “kindness is costless but also priceless,” ET reported.As Berkshire enters this historic handover, much remains unchanged: the offices, routines and culture endure. What departs is the singular presence that held them together, and the assurance that came with it.

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India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant’s poor run with the bat, along with failures from Delhi’s senior batters, brought an end to the team’s unbeaten streak as Odisha registered a 79-run win in a fourth-round Group D match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Wednesday.With national selectors set to name the squad for the five-match ODI series against New Zealand in the first week of January, attention was firmly on Delhi captain Pant. However, the India batter managed only 24 as Delhi’s much-talked-about batting line-up collapsed, folding for 193 in 43.3 overs while chasing Odisha’s 272 for 8, a target that looked within reach.Delhi’s campaign this season has largely depended on one strong batting effort in each game. The absence of such a performance on Wednesday not only cost them the match but also their position at the top of the points table, a setback that could affect them later in the tournament.Odisha moved to the top of the table with 12 points and a strong net run rate. Delhi also have 12 points but slipped to fourth place, with Railways and Haryana moving above them on net run rate.This was the first time this season that Delhi failed to cross the 200-run mark. Earlier, the target had looked routine when Virat Kohli scored a century against Andhra in the opening match, and opener Priyansh Arya struck 78 against Saurashtra in the previous game.Pant, who had scores of 5, 70 and 22 earlier in the tournament, could add only 24 from 28 balls before being dismissed by pacer Debabrata Pradhan, who finished with figures of 3 for 28. Pradhan, along with young right-arm pacer Sambit Baral (3/34), played a key role in triggering Delhi’s collapse.Odisha’s total was anchored by captain Biplab Samantray, who scored 72 off 74 balls after the team lost three wickets before crossing 100. Contributions from the lower order added useful runs and tested the Delhi bowlers, including India players Navdeep Saini and Nitish Rana. Off-spinner Hrithik Shokeen was the pick of the Delhi bowlers with figures of 4 for 27 from his 10 overs.Delhi’s chase got off to a poor start as openers Priyansh Arya and Sarthak Ranjan were dismissed for single-digit scores, leaving the side at 6 for 2. Pant’s wicket reduced Delhi to 50 for 3 in the 11th over, and the situation soon worsened to 55 for 5.From there, a comeback was unlikely, though Harsh Tyagi (43) and Hrithik Shokeen (32) showed resistance and delayed the end with some determined batting.

Indian players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill. (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma)

The Indian team for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand will be picked on Jan 3, TOI has learnt. India’s ODI squad will assemble in Vadodara on Jan 7. The series will begin on Jan 11 in Vadodara, with the next two matches scheduled to be held in Rajkot on Jan 14 and Indore on Jan 18. “The national selection committee, headed by (former India pacer) Ajit Agarkar, will hold an online meeting on Jan 3 to pick the squad,” a source in the BCCI said.

The ODI leg of the series is expected to draw significant attention, particularly as it will feature superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who will be in action for the first time since the ODI series against South Africa in Dec. India have already picked the squad for the five-match T20I series against the Kiwis, which will start on Jan 21, while New Zealand have also named both their squads. Having recovered from a neck injury, skipper Shubman Gill, who was recently dropped from India’s squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, is set to lead the team. However, India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer’s return to action has been delayed, as he will undergo rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence for another week. In a move aimed at workload management, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah are likely to be rested for the New Zealand series. Both have missed the last two ODI series, and with the T20 World Cup drawing closer, the team management is keen to manage their fitness carefully. It will be interesting to see if the selectors pick Uttar Pradesh’s in-form wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who has scored 307 runs in three matches at an average of 153.5, including 160 not out off 101 balls against Baroda in Rajkot on Dec 29, or Ishan Kishan, if they look to replace Rishabh Pant as the second wicketkeeper.

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Police killed 48 alleged criminals in encounters in 2025, the highest annual figure in the last eight years, according to official data released on Wednesday.Addressing a press conference at the police headquarters here, DGP Rajeev Krishna shared the data, covering police action between March 20, 2017, and December 29, 2025.Yogi Adityanath took charge as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in March 2017.The data showed that 266 accused persons were killed in police encounters since 2017, reflecting the state police’s emphasis on what the DGP described as a zero-tolerance policy against crime, in line with the chief minister’s instructions.In 2025 alone, police conducted 2,739 operations, during which 3,153 accused were injured, while 48 were killed in encounters. One policeman was also killed during these operations, the data showed.The number of alleged criminals killed in police operations stood at 41 in 2018, 34 in 2019, and 26 each in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, the figures dropped to 13, before rising to 26 in 2023 and 25 in 2024, the data showed.Over the eight-year period since 2017, police carried out 16,284 operations in total, in which 10,990 accused were injured and 266 killed.During these actions, 1,783 police personnel were injured and 18 lost their lives, according to the data.The figures showed that 2025 recorded the highest number of accused killed in police action when compared to each of the previous seven years, including 2024, when 25 alleged criminals were shot.The Uttar Pradesh Police has consistently maintained that the operations were carried out in self-defence and in accordance with law, as part of a broader crackdown on organised crime and repeat offenders.Sharing details of action against illegal religious conversions, DGP Krishna said that between January 1 and December 20, 2025, 475 cases were registered under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, and 855 accused were arrested.According to the current status, chargesheets have been filed in 379 out of 409 cases, he said.On action against cow smuggling and cow slaughter, the DGP said that during the same period, 1,197 cases were registered across the state, leading to the arrest of 3,128 accused.Chargesheets have been filed in 958 of these cases, he told reporters.In 71 cases, action was taken against 613 accused under the Goonda Act, while proceedings under Section 14(1) of the Gangster Act were initiated against 1,273 accused, the DGP said.“Assets worth Rs 7.38 crore were seized as part of these actions,” the officer added.Sharing details of recoveries in cases of theft, robbery, dacoity and house-breaking, the top cop said that between January 1 and December 20, 2025, a substantial amount of property was seized across the state, reflecting effective crime control and successful detection.Police recovered 8,543 two-wheelers and 911 four-wheelers in cases related to theft, robbery, dacoity and house-breaking in 2025, the officer said.In addition, Rs 28.69 crore in cash, jewellery valued at Rs 52.27 crore and other property worth Rs 58.17 crore were seized in connection with these crimes, he said.Sharing details of recovered cellphones, the DGP said that 54,995 mobile phones with an estimated value of Rs 84.25 crore were recovered from across the state in 2025.Of these, 49,404 mobile phones, estimated to be worth Rs 76.59 crore, were returned to their rightful owners.On disposal of case property, the data showed that between January 1 and December 20, 2025, police disposed of 1.16 lakh vehicles, cash amounting to Rs 50.97 crore, jewellery with an estimated value of Rs 76.42 crore and 3.36 crore worth of electronic items.In addition, narcotic substances weighing 84,790 kg and 9.61 lakh litres, along with other property valued at Rs 39.53 crore, were also disposed of in accordance with the legal provisions, the DGP said.

Khushi Mukherjee, a Bollywood actress and reality TV star known for MTV Splitsvilla, has ignited social media buzz by claiming Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav messaged her frequently in the past. The remark, made at a recent event amid questions about dating cricketers, quickly went viral, sparking searches and speculation online. While Khushi later clarified their bond as purely friendly, the revelation highlights the intersection of cricket stardom and entertainment glamour.​

Suryakumar Yadav controversy unfolds as Khushi Mukherjee makes bold claims

At a promotional event, reporters quizzed Khushi on romance with cricketers, prompting her candid response: “I don’t want to date any cricketer. There are so many cricketers after me. Suryakumar Yadav used to message me a lot.”

She also added they no longer stay in touch, framing it as past casual interaction tied to his tough match phase. The clip exploded online by December 28, 2025, amassing views amid India’s T20 World Cup defense buildup.​

Khushi swiftly clarified in a News 24 interview, emphasizing friendship: “There was nothing like that between us. We were only good friends… He lost a match, and it made me sad. That’s all.“​

Also READ: Bollywood actress makes startling claim about past messages from India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav

All you need to know about Khushi and her rise to fame

Khushi first stepped into the spotlight through modelling before transitioning to acting, debuting in Tamil cinema with Anjal Thurai in 2013 and Hindi films like Shringaar the same year. Her reality TV breakthrough came with MTV Splitsvilla X in 2017, followed by MTV Love School 3 in 2018, where her bold personality and unfiltered opinions won her a young fanbase.

These appearances catapulted her visibility, leading to TV roles such as Jwala Pari in SAB TV’s Baalveer Returns (2019) and Kaikeyi in &TV’s Kahat Hanuman Jai Shri Ram (2020).​

Beyond television, Khushi carved a niche in the digital space with web series like Gandu (2019), Noorie (2020), Fatherhood (2021), Devika (2023), and recent hits Jungle Mein Dangal (2024) and Kasturi.

Her entrepreneurial side shines through her production house, blending acting with content creation in the OTT boom.

Active on social media with lifestyle posts, she positions herself as an influencer blending fashion, fitness, and materialism. Her journey from regional films to national TV and web stardom reflects resilience in a competitive industry.​​

Khushi’s profile, already rising via fashion-forward red carpet turns and web projects, gains fresh momentum. With no bad blood indicated, the buzz fades into typical showbiz chatter, yet it spotlights her knack for staying relevant.

Also READ: Aakash Chopra names Indian cricket’s top 5 defining moments of 2025