Defending champions Karnataka have officially named their squad for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy, signaling their intent to secure a record-extending sixth title. As one of the most successful sides in the history of India’s premier domestic one-day tournament, the state team enters the 2025-26 season with a powerful combination of seasoned international experience and emerging young talent. After clinching a dominant victory in the previous edition, the squad will be looking to maintain their white-ball supremacy as they prepare to kick off their campaign in Ahmedabad.

KL Rahul headlines Karnataka squad for Vijay Hazare Trophy

The 16-member squad feature the return of star India internationals KL Rahul and Prasidh Krishna. The inclusion of Rahul is a significant boost for the state side. Rahul, who has not featured in the Vijay Hazare Trophy since 2019, brings a wealth of experience and a formidable List A record for Karnataka, averaging nearly 45 in the tournament. He is expected to be available for key fixtures in early January before joining the national squad for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand.

Similarly Prasidh will lead the bowling attack as his ability to generate high pace and bounce makes him a lethal asset in the 50-over format. His presence, alongside the reliable V. Vyshak and Abhilash Shetty, gives Karnataka one of the most balanced pace batteries in the competition.

Also READ: Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma headline Punjab’s 18-man squad for Vijay Hazare Trophy

Mayank Agarwal to lead the strong unit

The squad remains anchored by captain Mayank Agarwal, who was instrumental in Karnataka’s title victory last season, finishing as one of the tournament’s top run-getters. The middle order looks equally robust with the presence of Devdutt Padikkal, Karun Nair, and the hard-hitting Abhinav Manohar.

The selection committee has also rewarded domestic consistency, handing call-ups to youngsters Harshil Dharmani and Dhruv Prabhakar following their impressive performances in the U-23 State ‘A’ Trophy. Shreesha Achar will lead the spin department as the primary specialist slow bowler, supported by the all-round capabilities of Shreyas Gopal.

Placed in Group A, Karnataka will begin their campaign on December 24 in Ahmedabad. They face a challenging group that includes prominent sides like Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.

Karnataka squad for Vijay Hazare Trophy: Mayank Agarwal (c), Karun Nair (vc), Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Prasidh Krishna, R. Smaran, KL Shrijith, Abhinav Manohar, Shreyas Gopal, V. Vyshak, Manvanth Kumar, Shreesha Achar, Abhilash Shetty, B.R. Sharath, Harshil Dharmani, Dhruv Prabhakar.

Also READ: Mumbai announces squad for Vijay Hazare Trophy; Rohit Sharma makes historic return

Asian equity markets mostly traded in green on Tuesday, extending the upward rally as investors sentiments were eased by hopes of US interest rate cuts and a concerns around artificial intelligence cooled. At the same time, gold and silver climbed to fresh record levels, adding to the upbeat mood ahead of the festive break.Taiwan gained 160 points or 0.5%, to trade at 28,310. Shanghai and Shenzhen were also up 5 and 50 point respectively. South Korean Kospi also gained 11 points to trade at 4,117 at 11:50 AM IST.HSI, meanwhile, dipped 37 points to 25,764. Nikkei also followed in red, plunging 60 points. Markets were also supported by US economic data showing a rise in unemployment alongside easing inflation, developments that have strengthened the case for the Federal Reserve to begin lowering borrowing costs. The figures helped revive sentiment after a recent pullback in equities.Technology shares led gains again at the start of the week, with companies such as Nvidia and Tesla among the strongest performers on Wall Street, in the absence of major new catalysts. In commodities, precious metals continued to surge as expectations of US rate cuts made non-yielding assets more attractive. Gold prices moved to just below $4,500 an ounce, while silver edged close to $70 an ounce. Geopolitical tensions, including the US blockade against Venezuela and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, added further support. Oil prices, meanwhile, edged lower after rising more than 2% on Monday amid concerns over Washington’s actions towards Caracas. The United States has seized two oil tankers and is pursuing a third, following President Donald Trump’s order last week to impose a blockade on “sanctioned” tankers travelling to and from Venezuela.

Adil Rashid of Sharjah Warriorz

Sharjah Warriorz kept their playoff hopes alive with a nerve-jangling four-wicket win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Monday. The victory lifted the Warriorz to six points and ensured a tight scramble for the remaining playoff spots ILT20 Season 4.The Knight Riders were rocked early after opting to bat, collapsing to 10/4 as Taskin Ahmed and Wasim Akram tore through the top order. Adil Rashid later tightened the noose with a decisive three-wicket haul, limiting the Knight Riders to 134/9 despite Sherfane Rutherford’s lone resistance of 44 off 36 balls.

In response, the Warriorz also endured a shaky start. Jason Holder removed Johnson Charles for a duck, while Ajay Kumar struck soon after to leave them two down early. Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Tom Abell steadied the innings briefly, but disciplined bowling from Sunil Narine and Olly Stone kept the chase under control, with the Warriorz reaching just 58/3 at the halfway mark.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Narine eventually broke the stand by trapping Kohler-Cadmore LBW, but Sikandar Raza kept the Warriorz in the hunt. James Rew then shifted the momentum, counterattacking with timely boundaries and rotating the strike smartly alongside Raza. Their 57-run partnership off 35 balls brought the equation within reach.

James Rew of Sharjah Warriorz plays a shot during Match 25 of the DP World ILT20 between the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and the Sharjah Warriorz

Raza fell in the 18th over, and a superb penultimate over from Holder left 12 needed from the final six balls. Rew, however, held his nerve, finishing unbeaten on 42 off 29 balls, and with support from Rashid, guided the Warriorz home off the final delivery.Earlier, after the early collapse, Sherfane Rutherford and Alishan Sharafu attempted a recovery, but the Knight Riders continued to lose wickets through the middle overs. A late counterattack from Andre Russell and Holder briefly lifted hopes, but Rashid closed out the innings with two wickets in the final over to cap a match-winning all-round display.

Sherfane Rutherford of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders plays a shot during Match 25 of the DP World ILT20 between the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and the Sharjah Warriorz

Player of the Match Rashid credited clear plans and experience against elite finishers for his success at the death. “It was pleasing to contribute in a situation where things could easily have gone the other way, especially bowling the 18th and 20th overs. Having played against Jason and Andre for a long time does help — they’re world-class players — but thankfully the plans came off for me,” said Rashid.Knight Riders captain Holder admitted his side fell short with the bat despite a spirited bowling effort that took the game deep. He said: “We didn’t put enough runs on the board, although full credit goes to our bowlers for the way they fought and took the game deep. We needed a few moments to go our way, particularly keeping wickets intact during the powerplay. Sunil Narine’s spell was vital, and if we had picked up one or two more wickets there, the momentum could have shifted.”

Brief ScoresAbu Dhabi Knight Riders: 134/9 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 44, Unmukt Chand 24; Adil Rashid 3/18, Wasim Akram 2/12, Taskin Ahmed 2/41)Sharjah Warriorz: 135/6 in 20 overs (James Rew 42 not out, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 30, Sikander Raza 28; Ajay Kumar 2/29, Jason Holder 2/25)

Video released by Ukraine army (Video/Facebook)

Ukrainian forces have released video footage showing Russian soldiers advancing toward frontline positions on horseback. The footage is being cited as evidence of Russia’s growing equipment shortages on the battlefield.The Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) said servicemembers of the 5th Assault Battalion of the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade detected the group of Russian soldiers and tracked their movement using drones, as reported by Kyiv Post. The video, shared on the 92nd Brigade’s official Facebook page, includes commentary from Ukrainian troops involved in the operation.According to the brigade, Russian forces are losing military equipment so rapidly during repeated assaults that they are increasingly resorting to unconventional methods of movement. “Russian occupiers are losing equipment so quickly during their ‘meat assaults’ that they are forced to move on horseback. But even this does not help them,” the brigade said. The statement added that the drone operators “neutralize the enemy as soon as they see a target.”The video shows a Russian soldier riding across open ground while being tracked from above by a drone. Moments later, the drone strikes as the soldier attempts to flee. The footage then shows another rider being targeted, with the blast knocking the horse to the ground and throwing the rider off.Ukrainian officials said that the riders were killed as Ukrainian positions were defended using drones.Ukrainian commentators described the incident as a sign of Russia’s difficulty in finding ways to break through heavily monitored and defended areas. FU servicemember and civic activist Mykola Voroshnov reacted to the footage by calling the scene extraordinary. “Cavalry assaulting our positions. This is insane,” he wrote. Voroshnov added that such incidents are now being discussed and confirmed within closed military pilot groups. He also expressed sympathy for the animals involved.The development follows earlier reports that Russian ground forces, facing shortages of vehicles and equipment, have been using donkeys for transportation and logistics in some areas of the conflict.

India’s IPO market gains momentum, boosts PE exits: KPMG report

India’s IPO market has shown strong momentum in 2025, emerging as a key exit route for private equity (PE) investors, according to KPMG’s Pulse of Private Equity Q3’25 report.The report noted that India’s stock markets have performed exceptionally well so far in 2025, creating a favourable environment for IPO activity. Companies operating in in-demand sectors have achieved strong exit-day multiples, often higher than those available in other jurisdictions.“This has led more PE firms to target India-based IPO exits for their portfolio companies — particularly companies based in India or with strong roots in India,” noted the reportThis strength in capital markets has encouraged a growing number of private equity firms to pursue IPO exits in India for their portfolio companies, particularly those headquartered in India or with strong domestic roots.The presence of a robust base of domestic institutional investors with a strong appetite for PE-backed assets has further supported this trend.KPMG noted that the improving IPO environment comes at a time when private equity investment in India has experienced short-term softness in 2025 due to geopolitical and trade-related uncertainties.Despite this, India continues to be viewed as an attractive PE destination, supported by strong macroeconomic fundamentals, a large working-age population, and growing domestic consumption.The report added that the revival in IPO activity is particularly significant for the broader PE ecosystem, as exit volumes globally have remained subdued in recent years. In India, however, the strength of equity markets is helping unlock value for PE investors and providing a viable pathway for exits.Looking ahead, KPMG expects the current dip in PE investment to be temporary, with interest in India-based assets projected to rise over the next few years. A sustained improvement in IPO activity is expected to play a critical role in driving future PE dealmaking and exits in the country.

Salesforce, one of the world’s most valuable enterprise software companies, is pulling back from its heavy reliance on large language models after encountering reliability issues that have shaken executive confidence. Sanjna Parulekar, Senior Vice President of Product Marketing, acknowledged that trust in AI models has declined over the past year, according to a report by The Information.“All of us were more confident about large language models a year ago,” Parulekar stated, revealing the company’s strategic shift away from generative AI toward more predictable “deterministic” automation in its flagship product, Agentforce. This admission comes after Salesforce reduced its support staff from 9,000 to 5,000 employees—approximately 4,000 roles—through AI agent deployment, as CEO Marc Benioff disclosed in a podcast appearance.The company is now emphasizing that Agentforce can help “eliminate the inherent randomness of large models,” marking a significant departure from the AI-first messaging that dominated the industry just months ago.

Models are failing, customers report missing surveys

Salesforce encountered several critical technical challenges with large language models during real-world applications. Muralidhar Krishnaprasad, Chief Technology Officer of Agentforce, pointed out that when given more than eight instructions, the models begin omitting directives—a serious flaw for precision-dependent business tasks.Home security company Vivint, which uses Agentforce to handle customer support for 2.5 million customers, experienced these reliability problems firsthand. Despite providing clear instructions to send satisfaction surveys after each customer interaction, The Information reported that Agentforce sometimes failed to send surveys for unexplained reasons. Vivint worked with Salesforce to implement “deterministic triggers” to ensure consistent survey delivery.

Another challenge emerged in what executive Phil Mui described as AI “drift” in an October blog post. When users ask irrelevant questions, AI agents lose focus on their primary objectives. For instance, a chatbot designed to guide form completion may become distracted when customers ask unrelated questions.

Salesforce CEO Benioff’s AI ambitions collide with market reality

The retreat from large language models represents an ironic twist for CEO Marc Benioff, who has aggressively bet on AI transformation. Benioff had recently told Business Insider that he’s drafting the company’s annual strategic document with data foundations—not AI models—as the top priority, explicitly citing concerns about “hallucinations” without proper data context.Benioff even suggested the company might rebrand itself as “Agentforce,” telling Business Insider “that would not shock me,” after learning from focus groups that customers no longer want to hear about cloud computing. However, this rebranding enthusiasm contrasts sharply with the technical challenges executives are now acknowledging.The company’s stock has declined approximately 34% from its December 2024 peak, though Agentforce is projected to generate over $500 million in annual revenue. Salesforce’s partial retreat from large models could impact thousands of enterprises currently relying on this technology, as the company navigates the gap between AI innovation and practical business implementation.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has long been a stage where young talents transition into global stars, and for 22-year-old Cooper Connolly, the 2026 season represents the ultimate breakthrough. After being acquired by Punjab Kings for Rs 3 crore during the high-octane auction in Abu Dhabi, the Australian spin-bowling all-rounder is set to make his maiden appearance in the world’s most prestigious T20 league.

IPL 2026: Cooper Connolly on learning from Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer

One of the most anticipated aspects of Connolly’s maiden IPL stint is the opportunity to play under the astute leadership of Shreyas Iyer. Having reached the IPL final with three different franchises and captaining Kolkata Knight Riders to a title just a year ago, Iyer is widely regarded as one of the finest tactical minds in the T20 format. Connolly revealed that he had already initiated contact with the Mumbaikar during Australia A’s recent tour of India, where he was immediately struck by Iyer’s professional aura and “world-class” approach to the game.

The young Australian is keen to understand the nuances of captaincy and match awareness that have made Iyer a perennial success in the league. As per quoted by ESPNcricinfo, Connolly expressed his excitement and he further believes that these interactions will be crucial for his adaptation to the high-pressure environment of the IPL, “When I was over there for Australia A vs India A, I spoke to Shreyas a little bit and just watching him go about his work – and even watching him in Australia – he’s a world-class player. So I’m keen to pick his brains a little bit and understand how he goes about it and what makes him successful.” 

Also READ: Not CSK! Amit Mishra predicts the semifinalists of IPL 2026

Not Glenn Maxwell! Cooper Connolly reveals the Punjab Kings superstar who inspired him the most

The connection between Connolly and Punjab runs deeper than a simple auction purchase, as he steps into a franchise where his idol, Shaun Marsh, created a lasting legacy over nearly a decade. Marsh was the inaugural Orange Cap winner for the franchise in 2008 and remains a beloved icon for the Punjab fans, a status that Connolly hopes to eventually emulate through his own performances.

“Shaun Marsh was a hell of a player; if anyone has half of his career, you’ve done well. I still speak to him occasionally. I think the main thing I’ve taken from him is his ability to handle situations – no matter whether it’s three for not many or one for something – just being able to control his emotions and do whatever the team needs. I’m sure over the next couple of months, I’ll speak to him about his time over at Punjab, how he enjoyed it, and what worked for him. But yeah, I’d like to leave a legacy at Punjab. If I get the opportunity, hopefully I can sort of etch my name in history and win the trophies for Punjab.” Connolly added.

Beyond the Marsh connection, many fans have begun comparing Connolly to the legendary Glenn Maxwell, given their shared roles as high-impact spin-bowling all-rounders who have been central to Punjab’s history.

However, the 22-year-old remains grounded, acknowledging that while he bats and bowls with the same versatility, he still has a significant journey ahead to match the ‘Big Show’s’ international accolades. Addressing these lofty comparisons, Connolly remarked, “Yeah, I think the comparisons to Maxi, I’ll take it. But he is a world-class player. I’m a long way from being as good as him.”

Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction: Josh Inglis faces Punjab Kings owner’s wrath over unprofessionalism claims