Rohit Sharma. (Image: Agencies)

NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma‘s renewed focus on fitness has silenced lingering doubts about his place in India’s ODI set-up, with former spinner Amit Mishra strongly backing the Indian opener and challenging conventional perceptions around body type and athleticism.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Questions around Rohit’s conditioning had resurfaced despite his outstanding leadership and batting during India’s Champions Trophy triumph. With an eye on the next ODI World Cup in 2027, the former Indian skipper used his break time from cricket to take matters into his own hands, working closely with a former India assistant coach on his fitness. The effort resulted in Rohit shedding close to 10 kilograms, and he has looked visibly leaner and sharper recently.

However, Mishra believes the narrative around Rohit’s fitness has long been misplaced. Speaking on MensXP, the veteran leg-spinner said Rohit was always capable on the field, even when labelled “heavy” by critics.“Rohit Sharma has made a comeback and is fit. He was fit before as well. I have played with him. People called him heavy but I never felt that he was slow on the field or could not score runs. It was not like he would bat and go out, he would field as well and was active. Everyone have their opinion and perspective,” Mishra said.Mishra used Rohit’s example to broaden the debate on fitness, stressing that people often judge players by appearance rather than output or durability.

“Everybody’s body is not the same. There is a difference. The type is different. Fitness is judged more on looks these days — to look lean,” he said. “It is better to have a genuine body and maintain your fitness. Eat well, work hard, you will stay fit. Take care of your diet and do things naturally.”The former India spinner also warned against short-term transformations driven by optics rather than sustainability. “Don’t be fit to just look fit. There are many examples of those who made themselves look fit in a short time, I will not take names, but later they have faced many issues with their body,” Mishra noted, adding that good sleep, natural training, outdoor running and the right mindset were just as important as gym work.Rohit’s performances have matched his physical transformation. In the recently concluded ODI series against Australia, he was named Player of the Tournament after scoring 202 runs, including a century in Sydney. Against South Africa at home, he followed it up with 146 runs.

Legendary investor Michael Burry who is known for its 2008 financial prediction is back with another warning. Burry recently issued a stark warning on America’s artificial intelligence strategy. In a series of posts shared on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Burry argued that the US is structurally disadvantaged in the AI race it if continues to heavily rely on Nvidia’s increasingly energy-intensive chips, whereas China accelerates its power-generation buildout. Burry shared some charts showing how China has managed to install electricity generation capacity which has surged far being the US and Europe since the early 2000s. “It is not just the total power advantage. It is the slope,” Burry wrote, highlighting China’s rapid expansion compared to America’s slowing grid development.” He further contrasted China’s “build-at-will” model of transmission infrastructure with the US, where permitting issues have slowed grid expansion.

Nvidia’s roadmap is equal to power consumption roadmap

Burry has also criticised Nvidia’s dominance in AI computing in the posts. Burry said that the chipset major’s roadmap is mainly a ‘power consumption roadmap.’ He also warned that innovation has become bout ‘how to power and cool bigger, hotter silicon.’ He further added that efficiency improvements have failed to keep up pace with the sheer growth in computing, pushing electricity needs ever higher. Burry said the U.S. is on the wrong path if its AI strategy continues to rely on increasingly energy-intensive Nvidia chips. Power hungry Nvidia chips are not the way forward,” Burry cautioned.

Burry feels America is taking structural risk

As per Burry, the US companies are heavily investing in the AI arms race. He believes that the companies are ’structurally positioned to lose’ if brute-force scaling remains the dominant strategy. He urged a pivot toward AI-tuned ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits) and more efficient designs rather than massive, power-hungry data centers.Along with this, Burry has also raised some questions Nvidia’s soaring valuation. Nvidia’s market cap presently stands at $4.40 trillion, making it the most valuable company in the world. In the month of October the company briefly crossed the $5 trillion milestone. Nvidia shares have gained 30.86%, and over the past five years, the stock has surged 1,293.30%.In the latest quarterly results the company showed $57 billion in revenue, up 62% year-on-year. Burry is of the opinion that Nvidia may be using accounting tactics to inflate its valuation, adding to his broader warning that America’s reliance on the chipmaker could prove unsustainable.

The Ashes 2025-26 have been retained, the celebrated urn remains in Australian hands today. A clinical 3-0 lead has been forged in Adelaide over the visitors England. Yet, the jubilant mood ahead of the iconic Boxing Day Test match the MCG, starting on December 26, is tempered by a captain Pat Cummins‘ strategic caution.

Cummins now faces a pivotal medical decision point. Managing a lumbar stress injury requires a cold and calculated long-term logic. With the series secured, the risk of a festive breakdown is simply far too high. “I doubt I’ll be playing Melbourne,” the weary skipper admitted to the press. His absence leaves a massive void in the world’s most feared pace-bowling unit. National selectors will now look to choose a successor to maintain the 5-0 whitewash.

“I doubt I’ll be playing (in) Melbourne.”

🗣️ Pat Cummins on his #Ashes availability pic.twitter.com/fm5ISOt1ON

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 21, 2025

Ashes 2025-26: 3 leading candidates to replace Pat Cummins in Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test match against England

Three hungry contenders now stand ready to storm the hallowed MCG turf. Here are the leading candidates to replace Cummins this Boxing Day.

1. Jhye Richardson

The most significant development leading into the Boxing Day Test is the report from Code Sports Australia confirming that Jhye Richardson has left his BBL commitments with the Perth Scorchers to fly directly to Melbourne. This move indicates he is the primary target to replace Pat Cummins. Richardson has spent the last four years battling shoulder and soft-tissue injuries, but his recent form suggests he has rediscovered his elite rhythm.

• The Numbers: Richardson recently dismantled the England Lions for Australia A, finishing with figures of 4/35 while consistently clocking speeds of 140 km/h.
• The Pedigree: He is no stranger to Ashes heroics, having famously claimed 5/42 in the second innings of the 2021 Adelaide Test to secure an Australian victory.
• The Tactical Fit: His ‘skiddy’ trajectory and natural outswing are considered a perfect match for the MCG, where the drop-in pitch often rewards bowlers who can extract life through sheer pace and a lower release point.

2. Michael Neser

If the selectors opt for reliability and control over raw pace, Michael Neser is the undisputed frontrunner. Neser has already made a massive impact this summer, justifying his call-up with a maiden Test five-wicket haul during the second Test at Brisbane. He could be the most ‘Cummins-like’ bowler in the domestic circuit due to his relentless accuracy and ability to move the ball both ways.

• The Numbers: Neser has been the gold standard of the Sheffield Shield, boasting an extraordinary average of just 21.00 over the last two seasons. In the current 2025/26 Ashes series, he already has 1 five-wicket haul to his name.
• The Pedigree: With over 100 Shield wickets and a growing international reputation, he is considered a ‘plug-and-play’ option who requires no adjustment period.
• The Tactical Fit: Neser provides elite-level swing and acts as a “genuine” all-rounder at number eight, potentially cushioning the batting blow dealt by Cummins’ absence.

Also READ: England captain Ben Stokes opens up on another Ashes series defeat in Australia

3. Brendan Doggett

Brendan Doggett represents the ‘incumbent’ depth of the current squad, having made his long-awaited Test debut in the series opener at Perth earlier this summer. A tall, bustling fast bowler from Queensland, Doggett provides the ‘heavy ball’ that Australian captains crave to break stubborn partnerships in the middle overs.

• The Numbers: While his specific series wicket tally is lower than Neser’s, Doggett’s role has been to hit the deck hard and maintain pressure, often bowling at 142+ km/h to unsettle the England top order.
• The Pedigree: His rise through the Indigenous XI and the Sheffield Shield has been built on stamina; he is capable of bowling the long, grueling 7-to-8 over spells required if the MCG pitch proves to be a flat “road.”
• The Tactical Fit: If Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland are tasked with the early swing and seam, Doggett is the ideal “enforcer” to bowl cross-seam and extract reverse swing as the ball scuffs up on the abrasive Melbourne surface.

Also READ: WTC 2025–27 Standings: New Zealand climb to second after dominant series win over West Indies

J-K Students Association writes to PM Modi, seeking safety of Indian medical students amid protests in Bangladesh

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], December 23 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Monday wrote to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking urgent intervention to ensure the safety and well-being of Indian medical students currently studying in Bangladesh amid ongoing protests, tensions, and incidents of violence, particularly in Dhaka and surrounding regions.In the letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the Association urged him to intervene to ensure the safety and protection of Indian medical students in view of the prevailing unrest and uncertain conditions in Bangladesh.

National Convenor of the Association, Nasir Khuehami, said that there are around 9,000 Indian students pursuing medical education in various colleges across Bangladesh, among them over 4,000 students from the Kashmir Valley. Khuehami said, “We have been told by students studying in Dhaka that they have been advised to hide their identity for their own safety, which is deeply disturbing and unacceptable for young Indians who have gone abroad solely to pursue education.” He added that the reported “death and lynching of a student leader has further shocked and alarmed the entire student community and their families back home,” underlining the gravity of the situation and the potential risks faced by Indian students on the ground.Highlighting the plight of students, the Association said, “Many students are confined to hostels and accommodations, facing restrictions on movement, lack of clarity, and fear of being caught in violence. Parents in India are living in constant anxiety, unsure about the safety of their children. The prevailing conditions are unsafe and uncertain, and students feel vulnerable and stranded.”Khuehami said the Association has been receiving distress calls and messages from students and their families, who are extremely anxious about the rapidly deteriorating situation and the atmosphere of fear and uncertainty prevailing there.Urging immediate action, Khuehami said, “We urge the Prime Minister to kindly intervene to ensure the immediate safety and protection of Indian medical students in Bangladesh. We request the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian High Commission in Dhaka to urgently take up this matter with the Government of Bangladesh and seek firm assurances for the security, dignity, and well-being of our students.”The Association also appealed for evacuation if the situation worsens, stating, “If the situation of tension and violence continues or worsens, the Government of India should kindly consider making arrangements to evacuate and bring back Indian students safely to India, so that no young life is put at risk. Timely evacuation, if required, will go a long way in preventing any untoward incident and in reassuring anxious families across the country.“Reposing faith in the leadership of the Prime Minister, the Association said, “India has always stood by its citizens abroad in times of crisis. We are confident that every possible step will be taken to protect our students and uphold India’s responsibility towards its youth. These students are future doctors who will serve the nation, and their safety must remain our highest priority.”

Sam Curran, part of the Desert Vipers in the ILT20, has been pivotal in the team’s qualification for the playoffs. (Image: Creimas)

In the ongoing fourth season of the ILT20, where confidence and clarity have defined the Desert Vipers’ charge to the playoffs, few players embody that momentum better than Sam Curran. The England all-rounder has enjoyed a stellar run so far, topping the run charts for the Vipers while contributing crucial wickets as the franchise have picked seven wins in nine matches and are into the playoffs.Vipers started the season with six wins in a row and have looked one of the most settled sides this ILT20 season — a balance Curran credits to continuity, conditions and collective performances.

Beyond the immediate success in the UAE, the timing of Curran’s form is significant. With the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka approaching in February–March, the 27-year-old is firmly in the spotlight.In this wide-ranging conversation, Curran reflects on form, franchise cricket, pressure, evolution, and what continues to drive him at this stage of his career.​​Excerpts:​Q. How is UAE and the ILT20 Season 4 treating you?Sam Curran: All has been good. We’ve had a good start to the tournament so the team is in a good place. Six out of seven wins, sitting at the top of the table. Looking forward to the next few games to hopefully finish the season well.Q. Can you talk about what you guys are doing well? I mean it’s been a brilliant start you’re already through to the playoffs.Sam Curran: Yeah I think we’ve had a nice mix of everyone performing at different times. We’ve kept six or seven players from last season so lots of guys who know the conditions and I guess same coaching staff and things like that so we’ve managed to put in some good wins and win some close games as well which always helps.

Sam Curran is the leading run-scorer this ILT20 season with 260 runs. (Image: Creimas)

Q. You’ve also been one of the top performers this season. 260 runs – top-scorer – and seven wickets. Personally, what are you doing well?Sam Curran: I guess it’s just a tournament I enjoy playing and I guess the conditions and the grounds we play at I really enjoy so I’m really just enjoying the environment, enjoying the season and most importantly I’m really hoping we can win the trophy this year.Q. UAE is a very unique place to go and play. The pitches are slower, there’s evening dew, the schedules are packed. I mean that’s true for all T20 leagues but how is ILT20 any different compared to the other franchise leagues that you’ve played?Sam Curran: I think the big difference is obviously having nine international players well. Being able to have a lot of players from around the world that’s a big difference and I guess the conditions with Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi are all slightly different so that makes it unique, no flying, no travel in terms of other franchise tournaments which is quite nice.We’re able to settle into one hotel and enjoy the team environment so I guess those are the advantages of the ILT20.Q. You were the most expensive overseas signing in the IPL at one point. That record now sits with Cameron Green after this mini-auction. Does that number itself come with baggage going into a season?Sam Curran: Yes and no. I think it’s not the player’s fault that they go for that kind of price. They obviously value the player. Cameron Green’s a fantastic player so I’m sure he will have a great season but yeah the IPL is just getting bigger and bigger so I guess every year each record is just going to keep getting broken. It comes with its pressures but at the same time I guess as a player you can have that mindset of if you go for a big price there’s a reason why. You’re playing well and obviously the team really wants you so it’s a good feeling.Q. And now you’re being traded to another team, how does that compare. In terms of your own expectations and what you think the world sees of you as a cricketer?Sam Curran: Yeah I’m really looking forward to the new challenge. Obviously the trade happened with Chennai (Chennai Super Kings) and Rajasthan (Rajasthan Royals) so I guess the chats that I had is looking forward to the opportunity. I know Kumar Sangakkara really well, the head coach at Rajasthan, so I had some nice conversations with him and same with Chennai as well so I guess hopefully I’ll play a big part at Rajasthan. Unfortunately last year Chennai I didn’t play too many games so hoping for a nice full season and hopefully a successful one for Rajasthan.

Q. You’ve been around a lot of elite cricketers, you’re a family of cricketers basically. At this stage of your career what still excites you to get up and keep playing cricket?Sam Curran: I guess it’s just experiencing new countries, new places and just enjoying the sport. I guess it’s great that my two brothers are still playing as well so hopefully one day we all play in the same team.Q. Do you guys discuss techniques or discussions about how to play? Or even pick on each other that you’re not doing this right?Sam Curran: Yeah we chat a lot, we chat most days about cricket so just try and help each other out. Tom’s playing in the Big Bash (BBL in Australia) at the moment so I’m supporting him there and then Ben’s in Zimbabwe at the moment playing there so we chat lots and just want them all to do very well.Q. Jimmy Nishan called the Impact Player rule as ‘crap’ and that he wants it gone. What are your thoughts on it?Sam Curran: I think the Impact Player rule is more of a tactical thing more than anything. Generally if your team’s struggling with the bat, they’ll put an extra batsman [batter] in. If you bat well they’ll put an extra bowler so I think it’s more of a tactical rule than anything.I think the game is moving with lots of ideas so there a few teams where you can kind of use the Impact Player rule and sometimes you don’t have to.The thing about it is (that) everyone uses it differently. People like it, people hate it but I guess I think if you’re a good team you don’t really need an Impact Player.

Sam Curran has scored 260 runs and picked seven wickets so far in the ILT20 Season 4. (Image: Creimas)

Q. Would you rather see the back of the rule or would you still stick with it?Sam Curran: I think if it’s used in the right way, I’d probably just keep it because I think it’s a good tactical decision and it gives an opportunity to somebody else so you can technically play 12 players.Q. At 27 you’ve seen a lot of things in your cricket career already. You’re a World Cup winner, you’ve had injury issues, there’s been criticism. What does success mean to you now as compared to when you were starting out?Sam Curran: I still feel very experienced but just trying to be a person who can win as many games as possible for their team, win lots of trophies, County championships and win lots of games for England so I like to keep me (myself) driven by winning tournaments, trophies and yeah just keep enjoying the game that we love.Q. How much of an importance are you giving to the T20 World Cup that is there in a couple of months now?Sam Curran: Right now my focus is here at the ILT20 to try and win this and after this we’ll see where the next few stages go but I would love to be a part of that and then hopefully England can go all the way and win the tournament.