Giriraj Singh (ANI image)

NEW DELHI: BJP leader and union minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday defended Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar after a video showing him pulling down the hijab of a woman doctor during an official programme went viral. He claimed that there was “nothing wrong” in the chief minister’s action. His remarks came amid sharp criticism from opposition parties, which have termed the incident inappropriate and humiliating.

Speaking to reporters, Singh argued that the incident should not be viewed through a religious lens and justified Kumar’s action as procedural. Giving context to his remarks, Singh said the chief minister acted like a guardian while verifying the identity of a beneficiary at a government event. He said: “Nitish Kumar has done nothing wrong. If someone goes to collect their appointment letter, will they not show their face? Is this an Islamic nation? Nitish Kumar did this as a guardian. Do you not show your face when you go to the passport office? Do you not show your face when you go to the airport? This is India and it will be governed by the rule of law. What Nitish Kumar did is correct.”The controversy stems from an incident earlier this week during an appointment letter distribution programme for newly recruited AYUSH doctors at the chief minister’s residence in Patna. A video shared by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on X shows Nitish Kumar on stage alongside deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary and health minister Mangal Pandey.When a woman doctor, identified as Nusrat Parveen, approached the stage with her face covered by a hijab, Kumar appeared displeased, remarked “What is this?”, bent down and pulled the veil down.The woman was seen visibly flustered as an official moved her aside, while Samrat Choudhary appeared to tug at Kumar’s sleeve, seemingly trying to restrain him. According to the Chief Minister’s Office, the programme involved the distribution of appointment letters to 1,283 AYUSH doctors, including Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Unani practitioners, with only 10 receiving letters in person and the rest online.The video triggered an immediate political backlash. The RJD questioned Kumar’s conduct and mental state, writing on X, “What has happened to Nitish Ji? Has his mental state completely deteriorated, or has Nitish Babu now become a 100 per cent member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh?”RJD MP Manoj Jha said the visuals were “unsettling” and raised serious concerns, adding that such actions did not send a good message from the state’s top constitutional authority.The Congress also came down heavily on the Bihar chief minister, calling the act “shameless” and “vile” and demanding his resignation. Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat said the incident was condemnable and violated traditions and faith, while the party said publicly humiliating a woman at a government event raised questions about women’s safety and dignity.“This does not seem appropriate from any angle. Treating a woman like this is condemnable,” Bhagat said.Leaders from other opposition parties echoed similar concerns. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said no one, regardless of position, had the right to publicly humiliate an adult woman for her choice of attire, stressing that equality must be rooted in consent. The AAP also criticised the incident, warning against normalising control over women’s choices.Amid the outrage, the BJP sought to counter the criticism by sharing an old video of former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot removing a woman’s ghoonghat, arguing that the opposition was being selective in its outrage. BJP leaders also accused opposition parties of politicising the issue for electoral gains.The row further escalated after Uttar Pradesh minister Sanjay Nishad made controversial remarks defending Kumar, which were widely criticised as misogynistic. Nishad later said his comments were misunderstood due to translation issues and offered to withdraw them if they had hurt sentiments, even as opposition parties continued to demand an unconditional apology.

India’s AM Green and Japan’s Mitsui & Co are exploring a strategic partnership for the energy transition. This collaboration includes potential investments in AM Green’s integrated green aluminium platform, aiming to support the world’s first fully integrated green aluminium production facility. Discussions also cover offtake agreements for low-carbon aluminium.

India’s AM Green and Japan’s Mitsui & Co on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding to explore strategic collaboration across the energy transition, including potential investments in low-carbon aluminium, the companies said, according to PTI.Under the MoU, Mitsui will assess possible investments across the value chain of AM Green Aluminium Metals and Materials, a wholly owned AM Green subsidiary developing an integrated green aluminium platform. The collaboration could support equity funding for what the companies describe as the world’s first fully integrated green aluminium production facility.“Under the MoU with Mitsui, the parties will assess potential investment in the AM Green Metals value chain. Mitsui investment will support equity requirements to build the world’s first integrated green aluminium production platform,” the companies said in a statement.“As part of the discussions, AM Green and Mitsui will explore a range of commercial and strategic opportunities, including offtake of low-carbon aluminium (including potential access to offtake rights associated with AM Green’s green aluminium business) and supply of auxiliary materials for green aluminium smelter and alumina refinery.”AM Green Metals is building a 1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) primary aluminium smelter, along with 2 MTPA of alumina refining and mining capacity. In November, AM Green signed an agreement with the Andhra Pradesh government to set up a 1 MTPA green aluminium complex in the state.The aluminium smelter and alumina refinery are planned to be powered entirely by renewable energy from wind and solar, firmed by pumped hydro storage. In May, Coal India signed an MoU to supply 4.5 gigawatts of renewable power to AM Green for its businesses, including green metals.As part of the discussions with Mitsui, the companies will also explore offtake arrangements for low-carbon aluminium and the supply of auxiliary materials for the aluminium smelter and alumina refinery.“AM Green is building globally competitive platforms across molecules and materials to enable industrial decarbonisation at scale,” said Mahesh Kolli, founder of Greenko Group and AM Green. “We are pleased to partner with Mitsui to explore collaboration pathways that can accelerate low-carbon aluminium and expand market access for green products.”AM Green was established by Greenko founders Anil Chalamalasetty and Mahesh Kolli as a dedicated energy transition and decarbonisation platform. It holds a stake in the Greenko business, its Power2X portfolio—covering green ammonia, green hydrogen, green metals and aluminium, and green chemicals—and its Bio2X businesses, including 2G ethanol, SAF, dissolving pulp and lignin.Greenko has a near-term operational renewable energy capacity of over 12 GW across solar, wind and hydro, and is building 100 GWh of single-cycle pumped hydro storage capacity by 2030 across India.AM Green is committed to producing 5 MTPA of green ammonia by 2030, representing one-fifth of India’s green hydrogen production target and 10% of Europe’s green hydrogen import target, and to building 1 MTPA of green aluminium capacity.Mitsui & Co, a global trading and investment group operating in more than 60 countries, has businesses spanning energy, metals, infrastructure and chemicals, and works with partners worldwide to build long-term sustainable value, the statement said.

Anaya Bangar, the child of former India batter Sanjay Bangar, shared a moment of joy after close friend Sarfaraz Khan secured an IPL return with Chennai Super Kings at the IPL 2026 mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Sarfaraz, who last featured in the IPL in 2023, was picked up by CSK at his base price of Rs 75 lakh. The signing marked a significant moment for the batter, who has endured repeated setbacks at the auction table in recent years. Soon after the announcement, Sarfaraz took to Instagram to express his gratitude, posting a video on his story with the message, “Thank you so much, CSK for giving me new life.”

Anaya reacted to CSK’s welcome post for Sarfaraz by dropping fire and clapping hand emojis in the comments, reflecting her excitement at the development.

Anaya Bangar comment

The bond between the two goes back several years. During IPL 2025, Anaya had visited Sarfaraz’s residence to spend time with him and his family. She later shared pictures on social media featuring Sarfaraz and his father, Naushad Khan. In a photo posted by Anaya, Sarfaraz mentioned that the friends were meeting after a gap of two to three years. Anaya captioned the post by recalling their early days, writing that they held bats before phones and had been friends since the beginning.

Anaya Bangar insta post

Last year, Anaya had publicly spoken about her personal journey following hormonal replacement therapy and gender reaffirming surgery. Formerly known as Aryan, Anaya is an athlete and had played age-group cricket, following in her father’s footsteps. Sarfaraz, meanwhile, has backed his IPL comeback with strong performances on the domestic circuit. In the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he has scored 256 runs from six innings, averaging 64.00 with a strike-rate of 182.85.

The Ashes 2025-26 series in Adelaide was plunged into chaos on Day 2 as technical glitches and inconsistent umpiring decisions ignited a fierce debate over the future of the Decision Review System (DRS). The flashpoint occurred during the morning session of the third Test, where a series of contradictory Snicko readings left both teams fuming and prompted a blunt assessment from veteran Australian pacer Mitchell Starc.

Mitchell Starc calls for snicko technology to be ‘Sacked’ after Jamie Smith incident on Day 2 of Adelaide Test

The reliability of “Snickometer” technology reached its breaking point on Thursday after two separate incidents involving England wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith exposed deep flaws in the system’s calibration. In the first instance, a sharp short ball from Pat Cummins appeared to brush Smith’s glove before popping up to Usman Khawaja at first slip; however, despite replays showing the glove ripple, Snicko remained entirely flat, leading third umpire Chris Gaffaney to rule it as a helmet-strike. In a baffling reversal of luck just two overs later, Smith was given out caught-behind after attempting a pull shot, even though slow-motion replays showed a visible gap between bat and ball.

Frustrated by a sequence of events that saw a visible glove-impact ignored by the audio graph, Starc was captured on the stump microphone delivering a scathing verdict: “Snicko needs to be sacked. That’s the worst technology there is… they made a mistake the other day and made another today.” His outburst highlighted a growing lack of confidence in the technology, which had already been under fire after a high-profile error on Day 1 that allowed Alex Carey to escape a clear edge and go on to score a match-defining century.

This time, the Snicko graph produced a spike a full frame after the ball had passed the bat, which Gaffaney deemed sufficient evidence to uphold the dismissal. The England camp, led by a visibly fuming captain Ben Stokes, was left in disbelief as they watched their batter trudge off to a decision that defied the naked eye.

Here’s the video:

Also WATCH: Ashes 2025-26: Glenn McGrath’s reaction breaks the internet as Nathan Lyon surpasses him on Australia’s all-time wicket-taker list | Adelaide Test, Day 2

Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins dominate as England’s hopes fade

Australia’s vice-like grip on the Ashes tightened significantly on Day 2 in Adelaide as England’s batting lineup crumbled under relentless pressure from a rejuvenated home attack. Resuming at 326/8, Australia added a vital 45 runs to reach a final total of 371, headlined by Starc’s aggressive 54 and Jofra Archer’s spirited 5/53.

England’s response was immediate and disastrous, as they plummeted to 42/3 before lunch, with Nathan Lyon removing Ben Duckett (29) and Ollie Pope (3) in a single historic over to surpass Glenn McGrath on the all-time wickets list. Pat Cummins, returning from injury with figures of 3/54, claimed the prize scalp of Joe Root for just 19, while Harry Brook’s defiant 45 was cut short by a tactical masterstroke from Cameron Green.

A late-order collapse saw the visitors slide from 159/5 to a precarious 168/8 as Scott Boland (2/31) dismantled the tail with surgical precision. Only a gritty, unbeaten 55-run partnership between captain Stokes (45* off 151 balls) and Archer (30*) prevented a complete capitulation, guiding England to 213/8 at stumps. Despite this rearguard action, the tourists remain a massive 158 runs behind with just 2 wickets in hand, facing the daunting reality that Australia needs only a few more sessions to effectively retain the urn.

Also READ: Adelaide Test: Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon put Australia on top with early wickets on Day 2 – Ashes 2025/26

PM Modi with Ram Sutar (Image/X@narendramodi)

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed deep grief over the passing of legendary sculptor Ram Vanji Sutar, offering condolences and remembering him as an artist whose creations gave enduring form to India’s history, culture and national pride. Sutar, best known as the designer of the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue, passed away at his Noida residence late on Wednesday night. He was 100 and had been suffering from age-related ailments.The Prime Minister also shared photographs with Sutar, recalling his monumental contribution to Indian art and public memory.In a post on X, PM Modi wrote: “The passing of Shri Ram Sutar Ji has left me deeply saddened. Through his unique sculptures, India has been gifted with several prestigious landmarks, among which the Statue of Unity at Kevadia stands out as a particularly remarkable symbolic creation. His artworks vividly showcase India’s history, culture, and collective consciousness. By giving eternal form to national pride, he has created an invaluable legacy for future generations. His creations will continue to inspire artists and citizens forever. I express my condolences to his family, admirers, and all those affected by his great life’s work. Om Shanti.”Sutar’s son Anil Sutar confirmed his death in a note shared with the press, stating that the renowned sculptor passed away peacefully at home around midnight on December 17.Born on February 19, 1925, in Gondur village of Dhule district in present-day Maharashtra, Ram Vanji Sutar showed an early inclination towards sculpting despite coming from a humble background. A gold medallist from the Sir JJ School of Art and Architecture, Mumbai, Sutar went on to build an extraordinary career spanning several decades, earning global recognition for his mastery of bronze and realistic sculptures.Among his most celebrated works are the Statue of Unity at Kevadia in Gujarat, a 182-metre (522-foot) tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first deputy prime minister and home minister. His other iconic creations include the seated meditative statue of Mahatma Gandhi and the equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the Parliament complex. Sutar’s busts of Mahatma Gandhi have been installed in over 450 cities worldwide, further cementing his international stature. He was also associated with major upcoming and ongoing projects, including the Lord Ram statue in Ayodhya and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Mumbai.In recognition of his immense contribution, Sutar was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016. Recently, he was conferred the Maharashtra Bhushan Puraskar, the highest civilian award of the state. Earlier this year, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, along with deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, presented the award to him in Noida.Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath expressed sorrow over the “irreparable loss to the art world,” describing Sutar as the artisan behind the world’s tallest statue. In a post on X, he wrote: “The demise of the great sculptor, the artisan of the world’s tallest statue ‘Statue of Unity’, ‘Padma Bhushan’ Shri Ram V Sutar Ji, is extremely sorrowful and an irreplaceable loss to the art world… Om Shanti!”President Droupadi Murmu also condoled Sutar’s death, remembering him as an artist whose work significantly enriched India’s cultural heritage. In a post on X, she said: “Saddened by the passing of Shri Ram Sutar Ji, Padma Bhushan recipient and an eminent sculptor whose exceptional contributions have enriched India’s artistic and cultural heritage. His monumental works, including the Statue of Unity, stand as great symbols of India’s enduring legacy. His art will continue to inspire generations of artists. I extend my deepest condolences to his family members and admirers.”Union home minister Amit Shah termed Sutar’s passing “extremely heartbreaking,” highlighting his role in creating historical sculptures and restoring artworks at Ajanta and Ellora. BJP president JP Nadda remembered him as one of India’s most respected sculptors, noting that while the artist is no longer with us, his works will continue to keep his legacy alive.Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the nation had lost an “artist par excellence,” recalling Sutar’s work on the statues of Lachit Barphukan in Jorhat and Gopinath Bardoloi in Guwahati. He praised the sculptor’s personal involvement and exceptional craftsmanship in bringing Assam’s heroes to life.The Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office later announced that Sutar’s mortal remains would be accorded full state honours during the funeral rites in Noida, following a request made to the Union Home Minister and the Uttar Pradesh government.Often compared to masters like Rodin and Michelangelo, Ram Vanji Sutar leaves behind a towering artistic legacy that shaped India’s public spaces and collective imagination. His monumental creations, admired both in India and abroad, will continue to inspire generations to come.

Google DeepMind CEo Demis Hassabis has once again warned that the present wave of AI startup valuations is unsustainable. He also raised concerns that there are chances that the tech sector is heading towards a correction. Speaking on Google DeepMind: The Podcast, Hassabis said many early-stage companies are now raising tens of billions dollars before even launching product. He believes that this trend exposes cracks in the valuation model. “Some startups basically haven’t even got going yet,” Hassabis said. “It’s sort of interesting to see how can that be sustainable. My guess is probably not, at least not in general.” This increase in speculative funding has drawn comparisons to past bubbles, such as the dot-com boom and the crypto frenzy, where companies raised massive sums on hype rather than proven business models.

Big tech vs early-stage hype

Hassabis emphasised that these seed-stage valuations with investments by established companies like Google, which he said are backed by “a lot of real business.” While Big Tech’s AI bets are supported by revenue streams and infrastructure, many startups are relying solely on investor enthusiasm.He added that AI is “overhyped in the short term” but “underappreciated in the medium to long-term,” suggesting that while the technology’s potential is profound, the current funding frenzy may not reflect sustainable growth.Reflecting on DeepMind’s own early days, Hassabis noted how technological shifts often swing from skepticism to obsession, inflating valuations quickly. “It’s almost an overreaction to the underreaction,” he said, pointing out that investor sentiment can flip dramatically once a technology gains traction.

Demis Hassabis makes his stand clear on AI scaling

Recently, Google DeepMind CEO also made his stand clear on the debate over how far AI scaling laws can take the industry.As reported by Business Insider, speaking at the Axios AI+ Summit in San Francisco, Hassabis said that scaling current systems must be pushed to the maximum, calling it a critical path towards artificial general intelligence (AGI). “The scaling of the current systems, we must push that to the maximum, because at the minimum, it will be a key component of the final AGI system. It could be the entirety of the AGI system,” Hassabis told the audience.AGI is still a theoretical form of AI which is capable of reasoning as well as humans. AGI is also the ultimate goal for leading AI companies that are driving billions in spending on infrastructure and talent. Scaling laws suggest that the more data and compute an AI model receives, the smarter it becomes.

Jasprit Bumrah (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Jasprit Bumrah‘s explosive pace and unorthodox action make him one of world cricket’s most lethal weapons — but they also place an enormous strain on his body, a reality India must manage with care, former international cricketer Robin Uthappa has warned.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking on JioStar’s Cricket Live, Uthappa underlined the importance of workload management for India’s pace spearhead, describing Bumrah as both a priceless asset and a physical risk if overused. “He is an absolute match-winner, and managing his workload is crucial,” Uthappa said. “Fast bowling is probably the toughest skill in the sport, and Bumrah does it at high pace with a demanding action.”

Bumrah was rested for the recent ODI series against South Africa and earlier against Australia, decisions that reflect India’s cautious approach. His return to the T20I side, however, had immediate impact, with the 32-year-old playing a key role in India’s emphatic 101-run victory in the series opener at Cuttack.“You want to protect that, but at the same time, you want him to play enough cricket,” Uthappa added. “We’ve seen glimpses of his brilliance, and hopefully he can build consistency over the next few games heading into the World Cup.”

The series itself has had its share of disruption, with the fourth T20I abandoned without a ball bowled due to dense smog, pushing the focus to the series decider in Ahmedabad — a must-win game for South Africa if they are to level the contest.Uthappa felt the visitors have shown competitiveness despite inconsistency. “South Africa have been very competitive, but a bit hot and cold. Their bowling has been good, but their batting has let them down at times,” he said, adding that the final match promises a fierce contest as the Proteas look to finish the tour strongly.Former South African pace legend Dale Steyn echoed that view, saying his team had “exceeded expectations” on the tour. “Winning the Test series was outstanding,” Steyn said. “If India win the T20I series, they deserve it. They’ve been the better team overall.”Steyn also reserved special praise for India’s young batting talent, singling out Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill. “I love watching a classical cover drive,” he said. “Gill, when he gets going, is elegant and pleasing on the eye. Even when you’re losing, you enjoy watching someone like that bat.”

NEW DELHI: As the old adage goes, “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” The line fits perfectly with the journey of Delhi batter Sarthak Ranjan, who on Tuesday was roped in by three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for Rs 30 lakh at the Indian Premier League (IPL) mini auction in Abu Dhabi.Moments after his son got a bid, Sarthak’s father — Rajesh Ranjan, popularly known as Pappu Yadav — an influential political leader from Bihar, wrote on X: “Ab Sarthak ke naam se banegi humari pehchaan (Now people will know us by Sarthak’s name).” The Congress politician, a six-time Member of Parliament (MP), was also referring to his wife, Ranjeet Ranjan, a three-time MP.

But being Sarthak Ranjan was never easy.Growing up, it was difficult for Sarthak because he was always identified through his parents despite grinding hard in age-group cricket. So far, he has played only two first-class matches, four List A games and five T20s for Delhi but was a heavy run-scorer in the age-group circuit for the state.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Being the son of influential political leaders became a burden he had to fight every single day — a shadow that threatened to eclipse his own identity. He enjoys a decent following on social media, drives a luxury car, is not shy to flex the muscle and likes to test his vocal chords with impromptu solo singing sessions. There are multiple tattoos on his body and the style game remains quintessential Delhi! He knows there is no escaping the pressure of the surname, and has chosen to see it as a blessing. “If I start complaining about this — ki kaafi kuch sunna pada (that I had to listen to so many taunts) — then I’d be selfish, because I always look at things this way: I’m blessed to have a family like this. I’m more than grateful to have a family like this and for the things I’m able to have and achieve without even working that hard. I have a home, I have food to eat — I can’t take that away,” Ranjan tells TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.

Sarthak Ranjan after scoring a century in the DPL.

On his maiden IPL selection, the Delhi batter says, “More than happy and more than grateful right now. I’m not thinking about anything that is due. Everything comes at its own pace, at its own time. So I’m just more than happy and grateful that God has blessed me with this opportunity.”Sarthak plays for North Delhi Strikers in the Delhi Premier League (DPL), and the league gave him a second wind by helping him showcase his talent. In the first season of the DPL, he scored 252 runs in 10 innings. There was spark, but consistency was missing. He turned it around in the second season, amassing 449 runs in nine matches, including a century and four half-centuries — performances that caught the attention of KKR scouts.“After the first season, I realised I needed to upgrade my batting. It was required. After the first year of the DPL, I spoke to Ayush Badoni and Priyansh Arya about what was happening at that level — the IPL level. My game required certain changes, especially in my batting — a few strokes and my fitness as well,” he says.

Sarthak Ranjan plays for North Delhi Strikers in the DPL

“So I kept working on those things throughout the year. God has been kind, and I’m blessed with this opportunity. I’m really grateful that I’m able to give this interview right now,” he adds.The 29-year-old draws inspiration from Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya and how they approach the game.“We all learn from our seniors — someone as big an inspiration as Virat Kohli — and I’m a big fan of Hardik Pandya. You learn from them. I’ve picked a few things from both: how they rotate strike while also hitting big sixes and boundaries.“So how to unsettle a bowler — you make plans according to your own game. That kind of planning, like every batsman does, has helped me,” he explains.There was a time when Sarthak almost decided to quit cricket. He went through a dark phase in his life and sought help.

Sarthak Ranjan with the player of the match award in the DPL

“It’s a happy moment, sir. Let’s just keep that… it was a bad time,” he says.A few seconds later, Ranjan takes a deep breath and opens up about how his parents’ societal status became a hurdle in his cricketing career — and about his personal struggles.“Their presence had a big impact on my cricket. I would say it wasn’t great, because a lot of times people looked at me only because of my parents. They thought I wasn’t good enough to be at whatever level I was playing. That took a toll on my health, and I had mental issues a few years back. But I’m more than grateful to have a life like this. These were learnings — lessons God wanted me to learn through this — and I’m very grateful,” he says.Sarthak emerged from those dark days by fighting back, and it was the very sport he fell in love with as a six-year-old that gave him the strength to overcome his demons.“I love cricket. I want to enjoy my game. Initially, I started playing cricket because I loved it, but then it became so hard on my life that I started hating it,” he says.“And it’s been a love-hate relationship with cricket. The zeal that kept me pushing was that I so desperately wanted to get out of the shadows of my parents’ name that I just couldn’t settle for anything less.

Pappu Yadav’s tweet after his son got picked in the IPL

“I just wanted that ray of sunlight — to get out of my parents’ name and make a name for myself, so people stop calling me by their name. This is the first step God has given me, and I’m so happy,” he says.Sarthak admits that despite having the skills and runs in age-group cricket, he lacked mental toughness.“Definitely, mental toughness was missing. I take every hurdle as a learning curve. Every setback has been a lesson, and I’ve tried to come through it. The mental aspect is always bigger than skills — I’ve always believed that,” he shares.“And mentally, coming from the background I come from, I think that has only made me stronger,” he adds.

Sarthak Ranjan in full flow in one of his knocks during the DPL

At 29, Sarthak has found a new lease of life through the DPL and now with this IPL contract. He wants to make the most of it by working with Abhishek Nayar, whose coaching style he deeply admires.“I’ve always looked forward to working with him. Even when I had no idea I’d be picked by KKR, I was fascinated by the way he thinks about the game and coaches. I’m more than glad I’ll be able to learn from such a sharp cricketing mind,” he says.Asked whether his parents scold him for playing rash shots, Sarthak replies with a laugh: “No, no — not at all. I don’t get into politics, and they don’t get into cricket.”

Borrowing a line from his father’s tweet: “Apni pratibha ke dum pe pehchaan banao, apni chahat puri karo (Build your identity on the strength of your own talent, and fulfil your dreams).”That is exactly what Sarthak Ranjan has always wished for — and with this IPL breakthrough, he has finally begun carving out an identity defined by his cricket, not his surname.

West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder may be best known for his calm presence on the cricket field, but when asked to imagine life beyond the pitch, his choice was anything but conventional. In a recent interaction, Holder revealed that if given the chance to swap lives with any athlete in the world for a day, he would choose not a fellow cricketer, but a superstar from National Basketball Association (NBA).

Jason Holder picks an athlete he would love to swap lives with

The candid exchange took place during a light-hearted question posed by Grace Hayden. When asked who he would swap lives with for a day, Holder’s answer came without hesitation as he picked the superstar from NBA, LeBron James. Holder reveals a personal passion that goes beyond cricket by expressing his desire to swap lives with NBA legend LeBron for a day.

The West Indies all-rounder highlights his interest in basketball and his confidence in his own ability, saying he would love the chance to actually play in an NBA game. This remark reflects Holder’s admiration for elite athleticism across sports and shows a lighter, more curious side of him, where the excitement of competing at the highest level in a different sport is the main attraction.

“One athlete I would probably love to swap lives with for one day. I’d love to swap lives with LeBron James for one day, just to play an NBA game as well because I feel I’m a pretty good basketball player,” said Holder.

Holder shifted focus from the thrill of playing basketball to the deeper realities of life as a global sporting icon. He explained that he would want to experience an entire day in LeBron’s life, from morning to night, to understand the constant pressure and scrutiny that comes with such fame. Holder’s words underline his respect for the mental strength required to cope with relentless expectations, media attention, and public judgment, making it clear that his admiration for LeBron is rooted not just in performance, but also in resilience and leadership.

“So I would love to play an NBA game. I’d just go through one day of his life, in terms of the time he wakes up to the time he goes to sleep. I would love to be in that and just feel how much added or extra pressure he has when people always constantly have him under scrutiny. So, yeah, LeBron is my guy, I would love to do it,” added Holder.

Holder’s admiration for LeBron highlights the mutual respect that often exists between elite athletes across different sports. LeBron, a four-time NBA champion and global sporting icon, is known not only for his on-court brilliance but also for handling relentless media attention and expectations over a two-decade-long career.

Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction: Complete squads of all 10 teams after the bidding event

Holder set for new chapter with Gujarat Titans in IPL T20

While dreaming of NBA hardwood floors, Holder’s immediate focus remains firmly on cricket. The West Indies all-rounder is set to represent Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 after being snapped up for a hefty ₹7 crore at the mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi.

Entering the auction with a base price of ₹2 crore, Holder triggered an intense bidding war, particularly with Chennai Super Kings, before Gujarat Titans emerged victorious. The franchise made him their most expensive signing of the auction, underlining the value they place on his experience and versatility.

Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction: Complete list of sold players with their price