As the IPL 2026 mini-auction approaches, Australian all-rounder Cameron Green is one of the most coveted players, with several teams like KKR and CSK reportedly preparing to engage in a bidding war for the 26-year-old. With his explosive batting and handy bowling skills, Green’s price could exceed Rs. 18 Crore.

Why Cameron Green will command a high price at IPL 2026 Auction

Cameron Green is widely expected to be one of the most sought-after players in the IPL 2026 mini-auction, scheduled for December 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi. Teams like Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), both of which have large purses, are expected to lead the charge for Green’s signature. His all-around ability makes him a valuable asset in T20 cricket, especially with KKR needing a replacement for Andre Russell and CSK looking to add more firepower in their foreign player contingent.

In the previous mini-auction, foreign players like Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins fetched record amounts. Green’s performance in the 2023 auction, where he was bought by Mumbai Indians (MI) for Rs. 17.5 Crore, further adds to his market value, and many predict that his price could easily cross the Rs. 20 Crore mark. However, there’s a catch: no matter the bidding war, Green’s final price cannot exceed Rs. 18 Crore, thanks to a new IPL policy.

Reasons why Cameron Green’s IPL 2026 auction price is unlikely to cross Rs. 18 crore

However, due to a new IPL rule introduced last year, Green cannot be sold for more than Rs. 18 Crore, no matter how high the bids go. The rule in question was introduced by the IPL to ensure fairness in the auction process and to address concerns about overseas players registering only for mini-auctions to secure inflated bids. According to the rule, the maximum salary for any overseas player in a mini-auction is capped at the highest retention price or auction price for an Indian player from the previous mega-auction.

In IPL 2025, the highest retention amount for an Indian player was Rs. 18 Crore. As a result, no foreign player in the mini-auction, including Green, can be paid more than this amount, regardless of the final bid. This rule aims to curb the tendency of overseas players opting out of mega-auctions for the higher payouts typically seen in mini-auctions. If Green’s bid exceeds Rs. 18 Crore, the excess amount will not go to him. Instead, it will be diverted to the BCCI for player welfare. This ensures that while Green can still fetch a high price, his earnings remain capped at Rs. 18 Crore.

Also READ: 5 franchises that can target Cameron Green in the IPL 2026 mini-auction

IPL 2026 Auction: How the cap affects teams and Green’s earnings

While this cap limits Green’s direct earnings, it also impacts the bidding strategy of franchises. If a team bids more than Rs. 18 Crore, they will still have to bear the entire cost, but the amount beyond Rs. 18 Crore will be deducted from their auction purse, with the extra funds allocated to player welfare.

This new rule, introduced to ensure a more level playing field in the mini-auction, has certainly stirred the auction dynamics. Teams can still aggressively pursue high-profile overseas players like Green, but their spending will be limited by the cap, ensuring that the funds are used more equitably across all franchises.

Despite the rule that caps his earnings at Rs. 18 Crore, Green’s IPL 2026 auction is still likely to be one of the most talked-about events of the season. Given the demand for foreign all-rounders and the competitive nature of IPL mini-auctions, his final price will likely hover near the upper limit. However, even if bidding crosses the Rs. 18 Crore mark, Green will only pocket that capped amount, with the excess going to the BCCI for the benefit of the players’ welfare. This ensures a unique dynamic in the upcoming IPL auction that balances team finances with the well-being of players.

Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction: 350 players to go under the hammer; Cameron Green, Prithvi Shaw, Steve Smith among the big players

Microsoft India and South Asia President Puneet Chandok had made a bold prediction of the careers that would shape the upcoming generations. Chandok believes that the rampant use of artificial intelligence (AI) means this will be the last generation that will enjoy “stable, long-term careers.” Addressing the Microsoft AI Tour, which also featured a speech from the software giant’s CEO Satya Nadella, Chandok claimed that AI itself will not steal jobs. However, he did point out that the actual threat to employment will come in the form of “refusal to learn.” He added that the new technology will actually “unbundle” tasks within the existing roles. “Will AI steal jobs? I don’t think AI will steal jobs. It will dissect jobs. It will unbundle jobs,” he explained.As AI is rapidly integrated across all sectors, he argued that the “industrial age era” template, the idea of learning once and using that knowledge for a lifetime career, is now breaking down. He added, “You and I are the last generation to have stable, long-term careers,” adding that “our kids will do a portfolio of things.”

Why Microsoft India head Puneet Chandok thinks employees need to keep learning

Emphasising the importance of continuous learning, Chandok said, “The real pink slip in this new AI era is not automation. That is what we are worried about. The real pink slip is refusal to learn.”Comparing learning to an oxygen mask, he said: “We are fighting guerrilla warfare against irrelevance every day” and must keep learning new things.The business leader also appeared to be referring to Delhi’s air pollution problems when he added that no one understands the importance of oxygen masks better than someone living in Delhi.In his speech, Nadella also questioned whether AI models are becoming a “commodity” and claimed that data is the most valuable resource for any company in the AI era.“In the experience layer, data is one of the most strategic assets, and it is one of those things that is super important in the age of AI. But you have to use that data contextually to the AI,” said Nadella, who is on a three-day visit to India.He said Maharashtra has been using Microsoft’s AI tools for cyber safety, and that the Nagpur project has cut cybercrime investigations by 80%.In addition, the company is now working on AI projects with several other customers, such as Adani Cement, Yes Bank, Aditya Birla Group, and LTIMindtree, among others, Nadella said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep shock and distress over the chaotic mismanagement at Salt Lake Stadium during Lionel Messi’s visit

KOLKATA: ‘I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi,’ West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said after thousands of fans who had gathered to catch a glimpse of the football icon were left disappointed, sparking chaos at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.In a post on X, Banerjee said “I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium. I was on my way to the stadium to attend the event along with thousands of sports lovers and fans who had gathered to catch a glimpse of their favourite footballer, Lionel Messi.

“I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident. I am constituting an enquiry committee under the chairmanship of Justice (Retd.) Ashim Kumar Ray, with the Chief Secretary and the Additional chief secretary, Home and Hill Affairs Department, as members,” she wrote.

“The committee will conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future. Once again, I extend my heartfelt apologies to all sports lovers,” she added further.

What triggered the chaos

Thousands of fans at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium were left frustrated on Saturday after Argentine football star Lionel Messi cut short his appearance at a ticketed event, sparking scenes of chaos.Videos circulating on social media showed spectators breaking barricades, throwing bottles and chairs, and venting their anger inside the stadium. Many fans said they could not get a proper view of Messi despite paying between Rs 5,000 and Rs 25,000 for entry.“The minimum price of the ticket was 5 thousand, and why were the VVIPs around Messi? We couldn’t even see him… Why weren’t the police taking action? Everyone was furious. We want the refund,” one frustrated fan said. Another described the event as an “absolute disgrace,” claiming Messi did not take a full lap of the stadium as expected.

THANE: In a year-long crackdown, the Thane City Traffic Branch recovered 15 stolen vehicles worth nearly ₹1 crore, including a luxury Audi car and an expensive Harley-Davidson motorcycle.The traffic officer said the operation was carried out between January 1 and December 9, 2025, during routine traffic inspections. All seized vehicles and arrested suspects were handed over to the respective police stations, officials said.The Thane Police Commissionerate covers Thane, Dombivli, Kalyan, Vitthalwadi, Ulhasnagar, Ambernath, Badlapur, and Bhiwandi. Across this jurisdiction, 18 traffic units operate under 35 police stations. These teams regularly conduct checks to enforce traffic rules and curb violations. During inspections this year, our traffic personnel detected 15 stolen vehicles, including one Audi, one Harley-Davidson, ten two-wheelers, and four autorickshaws, said a police officer.The traffic police said it was on November 13, 2025, that traffic personnel in Ulhasnagar intercepted a high-end Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Traffic Constable Vishnu Shinde and Warden Naresh Dalvi were regulating traffic near Jawahar Hotel when they noticed three youths riding a motorcycle without a number plate toward Forward Line Chowk.When asked to halt, the trio rammed the vehicle into the constable and fled toward Ambernath. Using the chassis number, the police traced the registration details and owner. The motorcycle, valued at around ₹3.5 lakh, was found to belong to Kunal Keni of Mulund. The vehicle has since been handed over to the Navghar police station.“During traffic regulation, our personnel also verify vehicle documents. These checks often feel inconvenient or troublesome to motorists. However, every rider must carry a helmet, valid licence, and all relevant vehicle papers to avoid difficulties during inspections,” said Pankaj Shirsat, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Thane Traffic Department.

India has relaxed visa norms for China the two countries take steps to mend relations strained by the eastern Ladakh border standoff in 2020. In its latest push, India will now make entry easier for Chinese professionals visiting for short-term.According to sources cited by PTI, Chinese nationals coming to India for limited durations will no longer need to apply for long-validity employment or “E” visas. Instead, they will be eligible for business visas meant for shorter stays, a shift aimed at cutting down approval timelines. All applications for business visa will be processed within three to four weeks. However, as norms for professionals ease, other applicants will have to pass existing security screening.While the revised norms are applicable across nationalities, Chinese professionals are expected to gain the most from the change. The move is expected to ease travel for Chinese technical experts required by Indian companies that rely on Chinese machinery and equipment. Over the past few months, both countries have taken steps focused on people-to-people engagement. India restarted the issuance of tourist visas to Chinese nationals in July, while direct flights between the two countries resumed in October. Other agreed measures include facilitating visas, resuming the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and marking 75 years of diplomatic relations. High-level diplomatic engagement has also accompanied these moves. Back in August, PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to strengthen bilateral engagement to address current challenges and seek a “fair” resolution to the border dispute. During their interaction in Tianjin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Summit, the two leaders also committed to boosting trade and investment to help stabilise global commerce. The momentum continued ahead of PM Modi’s China visit, when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi travelled to New Delhi. The visit resulted in the announcement of several confidence-building measures aimed at a “stable, cooperative and forward-looking” relationship, including maintaining peace along the frontier, reopening border trade and encouraging investment flows.

NEW DELHI: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday questioned the Centre’s reported decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), arguing that the exercise would lead to unnecessary expenditure of government resources without delivering any clear benefit.Her remarks came a day after the Union cabinet approved a Bill to rename the scheme and increase the number of guaranteed workdays. According to these sources, MGNREGA will be renamed the ‘Poojya Bapu Grameen Rozgar Yojna’, with the annual work guarantee raised from 100 days to 125 days.

Also read: Union Cabinet approves renaming MGNREGA as Pujya Bapu Gramin Rojgar YojnaSpeaking to reporters, Priyanka Gandhi said she could not understand the rationale behind changing the name of a flagship rural employment programme enacted in 2005. “I can’t understand what mentality is behind this. First, this is Mahatma Gandhi’s name, and when it is changed, the government’s resources are spent on it again. From offices to stationery, everything has to be renamed, so this is a big, costly process. So what’s the benefit of doing this unnecessarily? I can’t understand,” she said, as quoted by ANI.MGNREGA, also known as NREGA, is one of India’s largest social welfare schemes, aimed at enhancing livelihood security in rural areas. It guarantees at least 100 days of wage employment each financial year to rural households whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work. Any Indian citizen aged 18 or above and residing in a rural area can apply, with employment to be provided within 15 days. Wages are deposited directly into bank or post office accounts, with equal pay for men and women, and the scheme covers the entire country except fully urban districts.The proposed renaming has also drawn criticism from other opposition leaders. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi described the move as a “distraction” and accused the Centre of trying to divert public attention. “Because of the frustration, such decisions are being made. This is another way to distract attention,” she said, adding that those who know history “will always respect the Gandhi family for their contributions”.Chaturvedi also welcomed Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s call for a parliamentary discussion on air pollution, arguing that urgent issues affecting public health were being sidelined. Rahul Gandhi earlier urged all parties to work together to address what he described as a crisis destroying children’s futures, saying, “Most of our major cities are living under a blanket of poisonous air… This is not an ideological issue.”

Google has announced Disco, an experimental browser that automatically generates custom web applications from your browsing activity. The launch represents a direct challenge to the growing field of AI browsers, particularly OpenAI‘s ChatGPT Atlas, which was positioned as a Chrome competitor despite running on Chromium—the open-source technology Google created and maintains. While competitors have focused on integrating chatbots into traditional browsing experiences, Google’s approach with Disco attempts to fundamentally reimagine what a browser does when AI sits at its core.The launch comes weeks after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman positioned Atlas as a challenger to Chrome’s market dominance, claiming that OpenAI’s Atlas would end Chrome’s “17-year monopoly.” But while Atlas essentially wraps ChatGPT around a conventional browser, Google’s approach rethinks how browsers could function with AI at their core.

Google’s future of web browsers include building apps instead of answering questions

Disco’s defining feature is GenTabs, powered by Gemini 3, which analyzes your open tabs and creates interactive applications tailored to whatever you’re doing. Researching vacation destinations generates a trip planner with maps and itineraries. Studying complex topics produces visualization tools and learning aids. Planning meals creates recipe organizers with shopping lists.The system differs markedly from competitors like ChatGPT Atlas, Perplexity’s Comet, and Microsoft Edge with Copilot, which primarily add AI chat sidebars to traditional browsing. Atlas offers context-aware right-click menus and can perform tasks like booking reservations through an agent mode, but fundamentally operates as a conventional browser with AI assistance bolted on. Comet and Edge follow similar patterns—integrating their respective AI models into familiar browsing interfaces rather than reimagining how browsers work. GenTabs, by contrast, treats AI-generated applications as first-class browser elements rather than supplementary features.Users can refine these generated apps through natural language commands, and all content links back to source material. Early testers are using GenTabs for project planning, research synthesis, and educational tasks that typically require managing dozens of tabs simultaneously.

Strategic timing in browser wars

Google is accepting waitlist signups for macOS users only, positioning Disco as a “discovery vehicle” for testing concepts that may eventually reach Chrome or other products. The company acknowledges limitations in this early phase.The competitive dynamics are notable. OpenAI, Perplexity, and Microsoft are all building AI browsers on Chromium—the open-source foundation Google created and maintains. This approach limits how deeply AI can reshape the browsing experience, constraining innovation to features layered atop architecture designed for pre-AI web navigation.Whether GenTabs represents genuinely superior innovation or simply a different approach remains to be seen. Google Labs has a history of launching experimental projects that never reach wider audiences. What’s clear is that the browser wars are intensifying, with multiple companies betting heavily on AI integration as the next competitive battleground. Google’s ownership of Chromium gives it structural advantages, but translating experimental features into products users actually adopt is a different challenge entirely.

The IPL 2026 mini-auction is currently facing an unprecedented challenge with a notable number of veteran overseas superstars electing to bypass the bidding process entirely. This unexpected exodus includes high-profile, long-time IPL participants such as Moeen Ali, Faf du Plessis all of whom have chosen to register for the rival Pakistan Super League (PSL) due to a direct clash in tournament schedules. This shift has prompted former England cricketer David Willey to offer a candid explanation for this choice, framing the decision as a pragmatic trade-off.

David Willey uncovers the real reason why veteran overseas stars are moving from IPL to PSL

Former England international Willey, who has experience playing for both Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), precisely identified the key motivational factor driving veteran players to favor the PSL over the IPL, which he confirmed is a search for guaranteed match participation. Willey emphasized that the IPL’s rigid restriction of only four overseas players in the starting eleven creates a substantial risk of high-profile players spending the entire season on the bench, making the PSL’s offering of more consistent playing time far more appealing to seasoned professionals who prioritize on-field activity. Willey offered a clear, direct quote on the individual nature of this decision:

“I think it’s very individual. You may never quite know how the IPL auction will pan out. I think there’s a little bit more certainty and security with the PSL for players. And, you know, depending on individual circumstances, people might feel like they’ve got more chance of actually playing in the PSL rather than just sitting on the sidelines for 10-11 weeks, which can be a defining factor for people.” Willey was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.

This sentiment directly addresses the reality that even top-tier overseas bowlers, such as Nathan Ellis, were often confined to the sidelines, featuring in only one match during the entire IPL 2025 season. The auction’s inherent unpredictability and high competition among younger, currently in-form players further increase the risk of older or recently struggling stars going unsold,  historical precedent set by legends like Chris Gayle in the 2011 auction. Therefore, the security of a guaranteed playing contract and a defined role in the PSL is increasingly viewed as a more valuable commodity than the potential, yet uncertain, larger paycheck from the highly competitive IPL auction.

Also READ: Has India-Pakistan rivalry lost spark? Tickets for the T20I World Cup 2026 ‘biggest clash’ begin at THIS price

Willey’s dual presence in both IPL and PSL 

Willey, the English bowling all-rounder, has maintained a dual presence in the world of franchise cricket, representing multiple teams in both the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) throughout his career. In the IPL, Willey has notably played for the CSK, where he first debuted in 2018, and the RCB, where he featured in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, later also being associated with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

Across his entire IPL career spanning 11 matches, Willey has scored 53 runs with a highest score of 20 against KKR in 2023, while his bowling performance has yielded 6 wickets overall, with a best figure of 2/16. Conversely, his presence in the PSL has been marked by stints with teams including Islamabad United, Quetta Gladiators, Multan Sultans and most recently opted out of the IPL 2025 auction to play in the PSL 2025 season.

Also READ: No Cameron Green! CSK drops big hint regarding Top 3 potential targets for IPL 2026 mini-auction