Ever since returning to the T20I set-up as vice-captain, Shubman Gill has blown hot and cold with the bat. The opener has had a few starts but lacked consistency that he has enjoyed in other formats and for Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Gill was dismissed for a golden duck in the second T20I versus South Africa and could only manage four runs in the five-match series opener in Cuttack. The 26-year-old is drawing a lot of criticism for a tally of 263 runs in last 14 outings in the format but GT head coach Ashish Nehra is “not worried” about the stats and backs his captain to come good. “Look, the player you are talking about. If IPL was 3 weeks away, I wouldn’t be worried. Because you are talking about T20 format. And there are only 2 matches played with South Africa. If I am not wrong. And this is our problem. In such a fast-paced format, whether it is international cricket or IPL, if we start evaluating players like Gill after two-three matches, then it will be difficult. You have many options, If you want to see. You can remove Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill. You can open with Sai Sudharsan and Ruturaj Gaikwad. If you want to remove them, you can do it with Washington Sundar and Ishan Kishan. So options are always there if there are talks about changing players after not good stats but aise karege to bahut mushkil hogi,” says Nehra in a select media interaction.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Apart from Gill, another GT player making a lot of noise with his performances with both bat and ball is Washington Sundar. Retained by the franchise, the all-rounder is playing all three formats for India. There were murmurs of a trade deal involving the youngster and while Nehra rubbished those claims, he lavished praise on the cricketer he expects to grow in confidence after regular outings for India. Nehra feels he is not a finished product yet and hopes the youngster stays in form, and gets better from here.“Washington Sundar, the kind of skill set he has… number one, for me, Washington Sundar is a batsman who can bat from 1 to 6, 7, whatever number you want him to bat. He has the ability to bat that much. And now, as he is playing all three formats for India, he will gain more confidence. It also depends on the conditions. As I said, if there is a little help in the pitch, then Washington Sundar has the full package with both batting and bowling. With the new ball, he has bowled very well from where he started his career. “So it depends on how the team uses him. But overall, Washington Sundar, whether you talk about batting, bowling, or fielding, he is a quick fielder and very deceptive. He is not a finished product. The sky is the limit. He will get better from here. He is only 25-26 years old and has been in the system for so many years. So now his experience is coming in front of you. Because of the combination last year, he was not able to play that much. But next year, I hope he stays in form. Then you will see him playing more than last year,” says Nehra.

GT have retained their core team ahead of the mini-auction in Abu Dhabi next week and Nehra asserts they will approach the bidding with a very open mind. With a remaining purse of Rs 12.9 crores and only five available slots, the franchise is expected to be not very active on the table but will have to ensure some smart buys to fill in the gaps.“Our core team is set and we have released only 4-5 players. So we go in the auction with a very open mind. When you are making a team from scratch, like last year, it’s a different kind of strategy. But right now, pretty much all the slots are filled. So we’ll see what we’ll get, the kind of purse we have because other teams have so much purse. So you have to go with the flow, go with the auction. And this time, again, we are looking to do that only. Our team is set. Rahul Tewatia, Shah Rukh Khan, Washington Sundar, so many middle order batsmen already, Glenn Phillips. You have so many players,” adds the former India cricketer.

Hobart Hurricanes Women and Perth Scorchers Women clash in the Women’s Big Bash League 2025-26 final at Bellerive Oval, Hobart, on December 13. The Hurricanes earned direct entry as regular season toppers with 7 wins in 10 matches, while the Scorchers advanced through recent knockout victories, winning six of their last seven games. This marks the Hurricanes’ first title shot at home, contrasting the Scorchers’ push for a second championship.​

Hobart Hurricanes topped the table with a +0.662 net run rate but haven’t played a full match since early December, relying on rest over rhythm. Perth Scorchers enter hot, beating Sydney Sixers recently and showing depth despite a prior high-chase loss to Hobart.

Perth Scorchers hold a narrow edge in recent WBBL encounters, including a 2024 win at Bellerive where scores tied at 173. Hobart stunned with 203/3 (Lee 150*) versus Scorchers’ 131 earlier, but Scorchers chased down totals effectively in other meetings. Overall, matches often feature close finishes or high chases.

WBBL|11 Final, HH-W vs PS-W: Match details

• Dates: December 13, 2025
• Venue: Bellerive Oval, Hobart
• Start Time: 1:40 pm IST/ 8:10 am GMT/ 07:10 pm Local

Probable XI of both the teams

Perth Scorchers: Beth Mooney (wk), Katie Mack, Sophie Devine (c), Paige Scholfield, Maddy Darke, Freya Kemp, Alana King, Chloe Ainsworth, Lilly Mills, Ruby Strange, Amy Edgar.

Hobart Hurricanes: Lizelle Lee (wk), Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Nicola Carey, Elyse Villani (c), Heather Graham, Rachel Trenaman, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Molly Strano, Lauren Smith, Linsey Smith

Also READ: Perth Scorchers secure WBBL|11 final spot as Beth Mooney and Alana King star in Challenger win over Sydney Sixers

Broadcast and Live Streaming details for WBBL 2025

• India: Star Sports, JioHotStar app and website
• USA & Canada: Sling TV – Willow TV (sign up here)
• Caribbean & South America: SportsMaxx
• United Kingdom & Ireland: Sky Sports, TNT Sports
• Australia: 7 plus, Foxtel, Kayo Sports
• New Zealand: SKY Sport NZ
• Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport

Also READ: WBBL|11: Beth Mooney’s blistering knock powers Perth Scorchers into the Challenger after eliminating Melbourne Stars

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

NEW DELHI: House Oversight Committee Democrats on Friday released a set of photographs obtained from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, revealing images of several high-profile figures who had interacted with the disgraced financier over the years, including President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, Steve Bannon, Bill Gates, Richard Branson and others.The photos, 19 in total, were part of a larger cache of more than 95,000 images the estate turned over to congressional investigators. While many of the individuals shown had previously been linked to Epstein, the newly released images offered additional glimpses into their associations. None of the photographs depicted sexual misconduct or involved underage girls, and it remained unclear when or where they were taken.Among the images was a bowl of novelty condoms featuring a caricature of Trump labelled “Trump condom 4.50,” with each packet printed with the phrase “I’m HUUUUGE!” Another showed Trump with a group of women whose faces were redacted. Additional photos included Epstein and Steve Bannon posing in a mirror, Bill Clinton alongside Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Bill Gates with the former Prince Andrew, and images of former Harvard President Larry Summers and attorney Alan Dershowitz.The Republican-led committee had obtained the images as part of its ongoing probe into Epstein’s network and influence. Lawyers for the estate told the panel in a letter that the materials spanned photos and videos taken at any property owned or used by Epstein between 1990 and 2019. They added that only minimal redactions had been applied for nudity. Democrats said the production included “over 95,000 photos, including images of the wealthy and powerful men who spent time with Jeffrey Epstein” as well as thousands of images of women and Epstein properties.Rep Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, said, “It is time to end this White House cover-up and bring justice to the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and his powerful friends. These disturbing photos raise even more questions about Epstein and his relationships with some of the most powerful men in the world. We will not rest until the American people get the truth. The Department of Justice must release all the files, NOW.”Republicans pushed back, accusing Democrats of selectively releasing images to create a misleading narrative about Trump. A committee spokesperson said, “We received over 95,000 photos and Democrats released just a handful. Democrats’ hoax against President Trump has been completely debunked. Nothing in the documents we have received shows any wrongdoing. It is shameful Rep Garcia and Democrats continue to put politics above justice for the survivors.”CNN has reached out to representatives for Trump, Clinton, Bannon, Gates, Summers, Dershowitz, Richard Branson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Clinton has never been accused of wrongdoing related to Epstein, and his spokesperson has said he severed ties well before Epstein’s 2019 arrest. Gates’ representatives have also repeatedly denied that Epstein ever worked for him, and Gates has previously called his interactions with Epstein “a huge mistake.”Trump and his aides have portrayed the renewed focus on his past connection to Epstein as politically motivated. In earlier emails released by the committee, Epstein claimed that Trump “spent hours” with accuser Virginia Giuffre and “knew about the girls,” assertions Trump has dismissed as false, with White House officials calling the claims a “hoax.”The fallout from associations with Epstein has extended far beyond politics. Larry Summers stepped back from teaching at Harvard and left the OpenAI board, saying he was “deeply ashamed” of maintaining ties with Epstein. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor relinquished the use of his royal titles after public scrutiny intensified, though he has denied misconduct allegations.The latest disclosures add to the growing trove of documents, emails and images shaping the committee’s widening inquiry into the late financier’s network of influence, which continues to cast a shadow over figures across politics, academia, technology and global business.

Leading bourse NSE has published its official trading holiday calendar for 2026, offering traders and investors an early roadmap for days when equity and derivatives markets will remain shut. The circular, as reported ET, issued under exchange bye-laws and F&O regulations, lists 15 full trading holidays—one more than in 2025—and also details festivals falling on weekends and the date of Muhurat Trading.Fifteen market holidays across segmentsEquity, equity derivatives and currency markets will be closed on 15 days next year. The holiday list begins with Republic Day on January 26, followed by major festivals:

In the second half, markets will shut for Muharram (June 26), Ganesh Chaturthi (September 14), Gandhi Jayanti (October 2), Dussehra (October 20), Diwali Balipratipada (November 10), Guru Nanak Jayanti (November 24) and Christmas (December 25).A notable detail in the circular is the absence of a Diwali holiday, as Diwali Laxmi Pujan falls on a Sunday.Weekend festivals and Muhurat TradingFour prominent festivals in 2026—Mahashivratri (February 15), Eid-ul-Fitr (March 21), Independence Day (August 15) and Diwali Laxmi Pujan (November 8)—coincide with weekends and therefore do not trigger a market shutdown.The exchanges will hold the customary Muhurat Trading session on November 8 (Sunday). The one-hour auspicious trading window’s timing will be announced closer to Diwali.Why the holiday calendar matters for tradersA clear view of non-trading days helps market participants plan:

Holidays often influence weekly and monthly index expiries and can alter short-term trading behaviour, especially for options traders.Market outlook for 2026Brokerages expect 2026 to be a recovery year for Indian equities after a volatile 2025. Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs have indicated that markets could regain lost ground as earnings stabilise and policy support strengthens, ET reported.ICICI Direct projects the Nifty could move toward the 30,000 level in 2026, citing technical breakouts and historical patterns of strong rallies following corrective phases. Kotak Securities has outlined a more bullish target of 32,032 for the Nifty by December 2026, with a preference for BFSI and IT stocks.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

R Praggnanandhaa (PTI Photo)

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa believes the traditional world championship will remain dominant despite the upcoming Total Chess World Championship Tour, which will begin its pilot phase next year.The Total Chess World Championship Tour will become an annual event from 2027, featuring competitions in Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz chess formats, while the World Championship continues with the Classical format.

“I honestly haven’t really read through the regulations properly, so I don’t know how everything is shaped,” Praggnanandhaa told PTI during the Dharavi Chess Championship here on Friday.“But I do know that the winner of that will be qualified as a Candidate so that essentially means that the World Championship is still the priority,” he said when asked if the new competition would pose any challenge to the existing World Championship.Norway Chess CEO Kjell Madland has confirmed a long-term agreement with the International Chess Federation for the Chess World Championship Tour, which has received official FIDE approval.Praggnanandhaa welcomes the new tournaments as they create more opportunities for players to earn from the sport, including those focusing on Rapid and Blitz formats.“I am happy to see that there are new opportunities for the players to play, and since we have so many players, getting more opportunities for them to play is amazing, in that way it is great to see new tournaments coming up,” he said. “In terms of format, there are constant shifts which is happening. I am not sure if it is a good thing or a bad thing, but as a player, I think it is sometimes difficult to adjust to each format,” he said.“But it is also good that we have so many tournaments around, that players can participate in and they can make a living out of playing,” he added.Praggnanandhaa, who qualified for the 2026 Candidates Tournament after winning the FIDE Circuit 2025, plans to maintain his usual preparation approach.“Everything (including rest and mental preparation) is important, I will try to focus on everything and try to prepare well for it and we will see how it goes,” he said.“I am just going to take one game at a time, it is too far fetched to think about winning already — of course I want to do it — that’s the goal and I think I can do it, I have the ability so I will just try to give my best and see,” he added.ALSO READ: The rise of ‘Queen’: From ages 8 to 18, how an all-girl team is bringing free chess to rural India

Mumbai: Observing that the accused’s action of accelerating his motorcycle while being held by police officer amounted to using criminal force, a sessions court convicted and sentenced a 24-year-old Borivli businessman to two years’ simple imprisonment for using criminal force to deter a public servant from performing duty and voluntarily causing hurt. The accused, Sagar Gosaliya, was also fined Rs 7,500. The judge rejected the defence argument that no assault occurred. “I find that the accused had disobeyed the order of public servant, and therefore, being his duty to stop the accused, he caught hold of the accused’s forearm. Still, the accused did not stop and accelerated his motorcycle. This behavior and action of the accused definitely amounts to use of criminal force to deter the informant from discharging his duty,” said additional sessions judge KR Deshpande on Tuesday.The judge further said that merely because the accused did not assault Zende, it did not mean that the provisions of Indian Penal Code (IPC) 353 — assault or criminal force used to deter a public servant from performing their duty — are not attracted in this case. “On the contrary, it is clear cut case of using the criminal force by accelerating the motorcycle.”Regarding the charge of voluntarily causing hurt (section 332), the judge said that the intent to deter the officer from his duty was evident in the accused’s actions. “The accused dragging the informant by breaking the command caused simple injuries to the informant. I find that the provisions of both these sections are very well attracted in this case.”The FIR was registered on April 21, 2015, at the Borivli Police Station. Police constable Jagdish Zende was on duty at an anti-chain snatching point around 12.15pm. He grew suspicious of a motorcycle approaching from Sudhir Phadke Bridge and stopped the rider, later identified as Sagar Gosaliya. He was not carrying the vehicle documents.Gosaliya claimed his documents were nearby and requested permission to fetch them. Zende gave him Rs 30 for an autorickshaw and instructed him to go. However, instead of taking the auto, Gosaliya suddenly turned his motorcycle towards Devidas Lane, Borivli (W) and attempted to flee by accelerating.Zende deposed in court that he caught hold of Gosaliya’s arm, but he increased the speed, causing the cop to fall and be dragged for about 100 feet. Public assistance helped catch the accused. In the process, Zende suffered injuries, his spectacle frame was broken, and his uniform was torn. During the trial, the defence argued that the ingredients of Sections 353 and 332 of the IPC were missing, claiming there was no ‘assault’ and that Zende sustained simple injury only because he had grabbed the accused’s forearm.The judge, however, said “the prosecution established both the charges against the accused beyond all reasonable doubts.” The conviction was based on the consistent testimonies of Zende and eyewitness Arun Rathod, who corroborated the dragging incident.

Ayesha Curry and Stephen Curry (Image via: stephencurry30/ Instagram)

Stephen Curry’s wife, Ayesha Curry, sent shock waves in the NBA world after a candid confession about her marriage. The popular entrepreneur diverted media attention for all the wrong reasons. As of now, both Ayesha Curry and her NBA husband haven’t spoken about it publicly or on social media. Despite all this, Ayesha has always posted about Stephen Curry and her kids on social media. Recently, the Sweet July Skin owner shared a glimpse of a mother-daughter night out with Riley and Ryan all the way from their favorite K-pop-inspired girl group, KATSEYE. Even the Golden State Warriors’ cornerstone shared the post on his Instagram story too.

Ayesha Curry shares a happy mother-daughter moment with Riley and Ryan

Stephen Curry’s wife, Ayesha Curry, loves posting about her NBA husband and kids. Recently, the International Smoke owner recently shared a happy mother-daughter moment with Riley and Ryan during their favorite K-pop-inspired group, KATSEYE. The proud momma posted an adorable picture and captioned it as, “Took my baby girls to see their FAVORITE KATSEYE World … a mommy-daughter night to remember. Swipe to the end to see our forever mood!” The snaps included sweet highlights of both Riley and Ryan enjoying the night out with their entrepreneur mom, Ayesha Curry while capturing the adorable moments away from the usual family routine.

Everything you need to know about the global pop group KATSEYE

The popular six-member global pop group KATSEYE came into existence from Netflix’s Pop Star Academy, and since then there’s been no looking back. The reputed group includes six members, Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia, and Yoonchae, who represent different cultures, walks of life, and countries. KATSEYE’s breakout song, Gnarly, went on to garner more than 100 million streams this year, and the six-member global music group has been performing extremely well with packed stadiums and millions of audience members across different venues in the U.S. during their Beautiful Chaos Tour. With the growing popularity of KATSEYE, it is quite understandable that Stephen Curry’s daughters, Riley and Ryan, are crazy about it. The concert attended by Ayesha Curry and her daughters even featured lively outfit changes and fan-favorite songs, including Time Lapse, Gabriella, and Torch, along with a colorful stage. Also Read: Stephen Curry limps off court as Golden State Warriors suffer another defeat against Houston Rockets

MUMBAI: The scourge of match-fixing has hit cricket, or more specifically, Indian domestic cricket, again. In a sensational development, the Assam Cricket Association secretary Sanatan Das informed the media on Friday that it had suspended four of its players — Amit Sinha, Ishan Ahmed, Aman Tripathi and Abhishek Thakuri — with immediate effect after allegations emerged that “they were involved in corrupt practices relating to the game of cricket” during the league stage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy.“The above four players, who have represented Assam at various stages, are accused of influencing and attempting to instigate some of the current Assam team players, who took part in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 held in Lucknow from Nov 26 to Dec 8. Following the emergence of these allegations, the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) of the BCCI conducted an enquiry. The ACA has also initiated criminal proceedings. Prima facie, there appears to be involvement of the aforementioned four players in serious misconduct, affecting the integrity of the sports,” Das stated in the release on Friday.

The ACA stated that it had also lodged an FIR at the Crime Branch, Guwahati, against the four players on Friday. The ACA, incidentally, happens to be the home association of BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia. “The BCCI follows a zero tolerance policy regarding any kind of misdeeds or corrupt practices by any of the players, irrespective of which state they come from. Our anti-corruption unit is quite efficient to find out these kind of activities which is indulged by some players or bookies. We will continue our drive against those kind of persons who are involved in trying to malign the game of cricket,” Saikia told TOI. “We will not allow that to happen. As I said, our (anti-corruption) team is very efficient and is constantly working on this,” he added.Placed in Elite Group A, Assam, captained by India allrounder Riyan Parag, finished seventh out of eight teams, winning three games and losing four out of the seven matches they played in the competition. None of these four players accused of “indulging in corrupt practices” were a part of the Assam team in SMAT 2025.Amit Sinha, a batsman, has featured in 32 first-class matches (1208 runs at 22.79), 46 List A games and 31 T20s for Assam. Thakuri, a wicket-keeper batsman, has played 12 first-class matches (451 runs at 23.73), including two Ranji Trophy matches this season, besides having represented Assam in 11 List A and 10 T20s.“There was no particular match in which they were in fixing. These players were not there in the Assam squad for SMAT. They (allegedly) approached our team’s players with an intention of fixing. Those players approached the Assam captain (Riyan Parag), who reported it to the BCCI’s anti-corruption & Security unit. The BCCI’s ACSU investigated it and found that something was foul in the case. After conducting an investigation, the BCCI’s ACSU reported the matter to us. We have therefore suspended all these (accused) four players. If the names of more players emerge in the investigation (of the BCCI’s ACSU), then we will take action against them too. As of now, these four players have been found to be involved (in making a corrupt approach). They have admitted to us that they tried to make these corrupt approaches about producing a certain ‘performance’ from the players,” ACA president Taranga Gogoi told TOI from Guwahati.“We are all completely against corruption in cricket,” he added.The ACA secretary stated: “The suspension of the players was done to curtail any scope of further deterioration of the situation. Accordingly, during the suspension period, the players are barred from: Taking part in any State-level tournament or match conducted under the Assam Cricket Association, District Units or affiliated clubs. Participating in any cricket-related activity, including officiating as match referee, coach, umpire etc. The suspension will continue til the final outcome of the investigation and/or any further decision of the Association. All District Associations are directed to ensure strict compliance with this order and to inform clubs and cricket academies under their jurisdiction for the necessary action.”“The ACA reiterates its commitment to safeguarding the integrity and spirit of the sport and will continue to uphold the highest standards of transparency, discipline and ethical conduct,” concluded Das’ statement.

An audio clip of an Alaska Air pilot who tried to shut the flight down mid-air under the influence of “mushrooms” has surfaced on the internet. The audio dates back to October 2023, which reveals the moment when the man cut off the fuel of the aircraft that was carrying 84 people.The audio captures the panic at the moment as the pilots could be heard cussing vehemently before they asked the ATC for an emergency landing in Portland, audibly out of breath.“We need to make an emergency landing,” the pilot said. “We got a jump seater who just tried to shut our engines off. We need to go direct to Portland now.”The video then cuts to the man being transported as he is visibly handcuffed. He can be heard mumbling, “I want to take accountability, but I want to be forgiven for being so stupid.”On October 22, 2023, Joseph Emerson, a former Alaska Airlines pilot who was sitting in the jump seat due to the flight being full. It was then, when he went under the influence of a psychedelic mushroom that he had consumed two days earlier. Aboard Flight 2059, he went to pull the red handle in the engine control, which is used to cut off the fuel of the aircraft in case of fire.The crew was able to subdue him successfully and make a safe landing.CBS reported that after talking to Emerson, he revealed that he did not mean to make the flight crash.“No, no. I had no intention of crashing the actual airplane. I wanted to wake up,” Emerson said, “I was convinced I wasn’t going home to my wife and kids. It wasn’t reality.”He further went on to reveal that he was mourning the loss of his best friend and initially sought comfort in alcohol before eventually trying psilocybin mushrooms for the first time.“It didn’t wake me up, right. It, I was in reality. I know that now,” he said. “It’s the most consequential three seconds of my life.”Emerson admitted to a federal charge of interfering with a flight crew and separately entered no-contest pleas to state counts of endangering an aircraft and 83 people.The federal plea resulted in a sentence of time served, 46 days in jail, along with three years of supervised release, while the state case concluded with time served and five years of probation.

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise, entering the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction with the second-highest purse of ₹43.40 crore and a significant rebuilding task following a bottom-place finish in 2025, has sparked massive speculation through a cryptic social media video. This short film, featuring the franchise mascot Leo on a shopping trip, has been widely dissected by fans and media, leading to strong suggestions about their top three targets while simultaneously hinting at a potential shift away from the widely touted chase for Cameron Green.

Decoding CSK’s cryptic top 3 IPL 2026 auction targets

The entire speculation hinges on the climax of the one-minute, 37-second video, where the mascot, Leo, makes three specific purchases at a vegetable market, placing them in a bag. These three items have been universally decoded as direct clues to the franchise’s intended acquisitions:

• Kiwi Fruit (New Zealand Link): The purchase of the kiwi fruit is seen as a clear and almost unanimous hint towards pursuing a major New Zealand player. Given CSK recently released former New Zealand stars Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, this suggests the franchise is intent on bringing a high-impact Kiwi player back into the squad. Ravichandran Ashwin even fuelled speculation by suggesting the target could be pace bowler Matt Henry.
• Apples (The J&K Connection): The apples are interpreted as a deliberate reference to the fruit’s strong association with Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). This clue points directly toward the uncapped domestic talent Auqib Nabi. Nabi, a fast bowler from J&K, has recently gained significant recognition in the domestic circuit, notably becoming the first bowler in Duleep Trophy history to claim four wickets in four balls. His strong performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and subsequent trial with the Mumbai Indians suggest he is a prime uncapped target for teams looking to boost Indian seam-bowling depth.
• Local Mixture Packet (The Tamil Nadu Root): The local ‘mixture’ snack packet is widely viewed as a signal that CSK is targeting a player with strong local connections to Tamil Nadu. Fans quickly linked this clue to the Indore-born all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, who was released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after an ordinary IPL 2025 season. Despite playing for Madhya Pradesh, Iyer has family roots in Tamil Nadu, and the ‘mixture’ may signify the franchise’s desire for a versatile, domestic all-rounder.

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

The Cameron Green dilemma and alternative all-rounder strategy

The most talked-about omission from this cryptic three-item shortlist is the absence of any obvious hint towards Australian all-rounder Cameron Green, who is widely predicted to be the most expensive player in the auction. Reports noted a curious detail in the video where the mascot Leo ignores or turns away from shops selling green vegetables and chillies.

This subtle rejection has led to two main theories among the fan base:

1. No Green Chase: One school of thought suggests that CSK’s management is convinced by Green’s immense expected cost, which could consume a majority of their ₹43.40 crore purse, and has therefore decided to drop the chase, exploring more cost-effective options.
2. General All-Rounder Hint: The opposing theory holds that the ‘mixture packet’ is a broader, more generic hint indicating that CSK’s primary goal is to acquire a top-tier all-rounder to fill the void left by released players like Sam Curran, regardless of whether that is Green or another target like Liam Livingstone.

While CSK’s actual auction strategy remains a mystery, the video clearly suggests a focus on securing a New Zealand star, an exciting domestic fast bowler from J&K, and a left-field domestic all-rounder with local ties, while leaving the question of the high-profile Cameron Green chase purposefully ambiguous.

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