As the Men in Blue gear up to face the Proteas in the five-match T20I series starting tomorrow, December 9, at the Barabati Stadium, anticipation is at an all-time high. Fresh off a spirited 2-1 victory in the ODI leg, India transitions to the shortest format with a squad brimming with explosive talent and tactical mystery.

With the T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, this series serves as a critical litmus test for Suryakumar Yadav‘s leadership and India’s aggressive template. While the visitors possess a formidable lineup, some Indian stars, in particular, look poised to dismantle the South African challenge.

3 Indian players who can trouble Proteas in the T20I leg

1) Abhishek Sharma

If there is one name that has redefined T20 batting in 2025, it is Abhishek Sharma. The Punjab southpaw recently etched his name in history books during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, becoming the first Indian batter ever to smash over 100 sixes in T20s in a single calendar year. His numbers this year are nothing short of video-game figures: in 36 innings, he has amassed nearly 1,500 runs at a staggering strike rate of 204.22, including three centuries and nine fifties.

Abhishek enters this series in red-hot form, fresh off a blistering campaign in the domestic circuit where he struck at nearly 250 and registered a career-best 148. South Africa’s pace attack, usually their biggest strength, faces a severe test against Abhishek’s high-risk template. Having already hit 47 sixes in just 17 T20Is this year, his ability to clear the ropes from ball one makes him the primary threat the Proteas must neutralize early to avoid a Powerplay demolition.

2) Varun Chakaravarthy

Varun Chakaravarthy‘s resurgence has been the tactical headline of India’s bowling attack this year. The mystery spinner is currently enjoying the form of his life, having been named Player of the Series against England earlier in 2025 where he claimed 14 wickets, including a mesmerising 5/24. His consistency was further cemented in IPL 2025, where he picked up 17 wickets in 13 matches with an economy rate of just 7.66—gold dust in modern T20 cricket.

Crucially for this series, Chakaravarthy has a psychological edge over the hosts. In his last T20I outing against the Proteas in November 2024, he spun a web around their middle order to claim a career-best 5/17. With the Cuttack pitch expected to offer some grip, his unique ability to turn the ball both ways without a discernible change in action makes him India’s trump card to choke the run flow in the middle overs.

Also WATCH: Rohit Sharma hilariously refuses to eat cake after India’s ODI series win over South Africa

3) Suryakumar Yadav

While Suryakumar remains the most feared name on the team sheet, the Indian skipper enters this series with a massive point to prove. The year 2025 has been a tale of two distinct halves for SKY: a sensational IPL campaign where he amassed a staggering 717 runs—including a record-breaking streak of consecutive 25+ scores—versus a perplexing dip in international colors.

The recent stats paint a concerning picture for ‘Mr. 360.’ By late October, Surya had managed only 100 runs in 11 T20Is, languishing with an uncharacteristic average of around 11.11. His struggles to convert starts were evident during the Asia Cup, where he totaled just 65 runs with a high score of 47*, and continued into the series against Australia with modest returns of 39*, 1, 24, and 20.

However, South Africa should not underestimate him based on this slump. With the T20 World Cup approaching, the pressure is on, and SKY is desperate to bridge the gap between his IPL dominance and his international output. A wounded tiger is often the most dangerous, and this series presents the perfect stage for the captain to silence his critics and return to his destructive best.

Also READ: Virat Kohli picks his favourite innings from the South Africa ODI series

KOCHI: The Ernakulam principal sessions court on Monday acquitted Actor Dileepin the high-profile 2017 abduction and rape case.The court found six others, including the prime accused Sunil N S, popularly known as Pulsar Suni, guilty for directly committing the crime.The court also acquitted three other persons in the case. The verdict was delivered by Ernakulam Principal Sessions Judge Honey M Varghese, who had concluded the hearing in the prolonged trial on November 25. The 2017 assault on the actress, who has appeared in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films, shook Kerala’s society. She was allegedly abducted in her car for two hours, during which several persons forced their way into the vehicle before escaping in a crowded area. The ten accused who faced trial were Sunil N S alias Pulsar Suni, Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijesh V P, Salim H, Pradeep, Charly Thomas, actor Dileep (real name P Gopalakrishnan), Sanil Kumar alias Mesthri Sanil, and G Sarath. Police arrested several accused soon after the incident and filed the first chargesheet against seven individuals in April 2017. During the ongoing investigation, Dileep was arrested on July 10, 2017, after authorities alleged that Suni had sent him a letter from jail. He was later granted bail on October 3, 2017.The actress-victim, who has appeared in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films, was abducted and allegedly molested in her car for two hours on the night of February 17, 2017, while traveling from Thrissur to Kochi.

Women in leadership positions

For more than a decade, Indian companies have showcased their lone woman director as a badge of compliance, the corporate equivalent of checking a box and calling it progress. But behind the polished annual reports and celebratory statements lies a quieter, more uncomfortable truth: women have finally entered the boardroom, yet the boardroom has not opened its doors to them.A new report by Khaitan & Co., Aon, and Ladies Who Lead – Presence to Influence: Advancing Women in Indian Boardrooms, forces India Inc. to confront this reality. It reveals that while 98% of BSE-200 companies now have at least one woman director, mandated by the Companies Act 2013, the mandate has birthed visibility, not voice. Representation has risen, but relevance has not.This is the heart of India’s corporate paradox: Women are present, yet power remains elsewhere.

The illusion of progress: When presence becomes symbolic

The data strips away any remaining illusions. Seventy-seven percent of BSE-200 boards have only one or two women, even when board sizes stretch to 15 members or more. These numbers do not reflect diversity; they reflect minimalism, inclusion measured by the smallest acceptable unit.And the disparity deepens as one moves up the ladder of influence. Only 11% of women directors occupy executive roles, compared with 65% of men. This means the overwhelming majority of women on boards are kept at the periphery of strategic decision-making, rarely entrusted with the operational levers that shape a company’s future.The top job is even further away. Just 7% of BSE-200 board chairpersons are women. In the NIFTY-500, the number falls to 5%. These are not simply titles; they are positions that set culture, steer debate, and outline vision. When women are missing from these chairs, they are missing from the command centre of corporate India.

Corporate India’s silent norm: Bias dressed as culture

One of the most striking findings comes not from statistics but from lived experience. More than one in three women directors report persistent stereotyping, dismissive behaviour, and subtle but damaging undercurrents of tokenism, the report reveals. Their presence is acknowledged; their authority is doubted.Interviewees describe interruptions, minimisation of expertise, and unspoken assumptions that they are present to satisfy a statutory checkbox. Many say they must over-prepare, over-deliver, and over-exert simply to be seen as equal. Bias, instead of fading with progress, has evolved — becoming quieter, more coded, and more resistant.This is the emotional labour that never appears in corporate disclosures.Where women lead, diversity follows, the data is unmistakableThe report reveals a telling correlation: Companies helmed by women CEOs have nearly double the female board representation of male-led firms, 31% versus 17.7%. This is not coincidence. It is a cultural cause and effect.When leadership reflects diversity, boardrooms follow. When leadership does not, the board becomes a mirror of entrenched norms.Yet the irony is stark. Women CEOs account for only 6% of leadership across BSE-200 companies, a figure far too small to drive systemic change at scale. The system needs more than outliers; it needs an overhaul.

Four women, five women, six women: The tipping point

Another insight stands out: Companies with 4–6 women directors show stronger, more consistent gender diversity across the organisation. This suggests that diversity has a threshold, a point at which it shifts from symbolic to structural.One woman in the boardroom is compliance.Two is optics.Four or more begin to rewrite norms.It is at this threshold that women stop being “the only one” and start being a collective force, influencing strategy, challenging assumptions, and redefining leadership culture.

The deeper question: What does representation without voice achieve?

India has spent a decade celebrating the presence of women in the boardroom. But presence alone cannot ensure perspective, power, or participation. A seat at the table means little if the chair doesn’t swivel when you speak.The report forces us to confront a harder truth: Compliance laws can open doors, but only culture can let women walk through them with influence.

What must change now

For meaningful gender equity in corporate India, three fundamental shifts are needed:Move beyond the “minimum woman” mindsetMandated representation must evolve into deliberate, strategic inclusion. Companies must expand the number of women on boards, not simply appoint one or two.Build the pipeline to leadership, not just to the boardroomThe scarcity of women CEOs and executive directors is not an accident, it is the result of a broken leadership pipeline. Fixing it requires intentional mentorship, succession planning, and structural support.Dismantle entrenched bias, loudly and publiclyBoards must acknowledge gender bias as a governance issue, not a social one. Blind spots must be named before they can be corrected.

The bottom line: India doesn’t have a talent problem; it has a gatekeeping problem

Indian companies do not lack qualified women. They lack the will to put them in positions that shape decisions rather than decorate them.Meaningful representation is not a moral aspiration, it is a business imperative. Companies that include women meaningfully in leadership consistently outperform those that don’t. The data proves it. The global evidence confirms it.India has made progress. But progress without power is performative.If corporate India truly wants to modernise its boardrooms, it must confront its own contradictions, and recognise that the future of governance cannot be built on a foundation that keeps half the talent pool waiting in the corridor of influence.The question now is not whether women deserve a place in leadership.It is whether India Inc. is finally ready to listen when they get there.

GOA: The owner of Birch by Romeo Lane, Saurabh Luthra, remains absconding following a devastating fire at his North Goa nightclub that claimed 25 lives and left several others injured. Until last year, Luthra had aimed to launch 50 restaurants across India. His LinkedIn profile lists him as “Chairman at Romeo Lane, Birch and Mama’s Buoi.”

Activist Tahir Noronha described Luthra as “like a ghost,” saying he rarely stays in Goa and often avoids legal proceedings, sending representatives in his place. Survivors and staff also described him as aloof, with one kitchen worker noting that Luthra visited the club only once a month and rarely interacted with employees.Management expresses sorrowIn a 1st statement released after the tragedy, the management of Birch by Romeo Lane expressed profound grief and said it was “deeply shaken” by the loss of lives. “In this hour of irreparable sorrow and overwhelming distress, we stand in unwavering solidarity with the families of the deceased as well as those injured,” the statement said.The management added that it would provide “every possible form of assistance, support and cooperation” to the bereaved and affected individuals during this period of “immense anguish and adversity.”“The management expresses profound grief and is deeply shaken by the tragic loss of lives resulting from the unfortunate incident at Birch.In this hour of irreparable sorrow and overwhelming distress, the management stands in unwavering solidarity with the families of the deceased as well as those injured, and conveys its heartfelt condolences with utmost sincerity.The management further affirms that it shall extend every possible form of assistance, support and cooperation to the bereaved and affected individuals, as they navigate through this period of immense anguish and adversity.”Manager heldEarlier today, Goa police detained another manager associated with the nightclub, identified as Bharat, who reportedly handled the daily operations of Birch by Romeo Lane. Authorities are investigating the full sequence of events that led to the blaze.Fire outbreak and aftermathAt the time of the fire, between 100 and 200 people were on the dance floor. Some patrons attempted to escape by running to the kitchen area, where they became trapped along with staff members. Investigations continuePolice have launched efforts to trace Luthra brothers as investigations into the incident continue and a look-out circular has been issued.The focus remains on accountability, safety compliance, and providing assistance to victims and their families during this period of immense distress

England team after losing the second Test in Brisbane (Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: England cricket is under intense scrutiny following a 0-2 deficit in the 2025-26 Ashes series against Australia, with captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum’s ‘Bazball’ approach coming under fire. England lost both matches convincingly, with the first Test finishing in just two days and the second at the Gabba ending in an eight-wicket defeat.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Former England player Geoffrey Boycott, writing in The Telegraph, delivered a scathing critique of the team’s performance, pointing to flaws in batting, bowling, and fielding.

“After just six days of Ashes cricket, England need a miracle,” Boycott wrote.“Brisbane was a horror show: irresponsible batting, bowling too short, too wide or too full and catches dropped,” he stated, adding, “With this sort of batting and bowling, they couldn’t win an egg cup, let alone the Ashes urn.”Boycott also criticised the team’s reluctance to accept external advice despite years of preparation for Australia.“What a load of bulls—. We can’t believe anything Ben or his team say. None of them wants to listen to anyone outside of their own camp,” he wrote. “They are up their own backsides convinced that Test cricket has changed so much that only they know anything about the modern game.”He highlighted the repetitive nature of the team’s messaging.“All we ever hear from the captain is attack, and from the coach, keep the faith,” he noted.Individual performances came under fire as well, including Harry Brook and Ollie Pope.“So far in tight situations, Harry has let the team down… So far the penny has not dropped, maybe it never will,” Boycott wrote about Brook.Regarding Pope, he said: “You need to sell your wickets dearly. Too many times, Ollie gives it away…. He never learns, and he never fails to disappoint.”The bowling strategy was also criticised.“Why were we not bowling in the corridor of uncertainty… That is our strength, not bombarding the batsmen with short stuff,” Boycott wrote, while noting that Brydon Carse “was trying to knock a hole in the middle of the pitch.”He further questioned Will Jacks’ credentials as a Test player.With England needing to win the remaining three matches to reclaim the Ashes, Boycott described their ‘Bazball’ philosophy as existing in a bubble.

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Ranveer Singh’s latest release, ‘Dhurandhar’, directed by Aditya Dhar, hit cinemas on December 5. The film marks Dhar’s return to direction after his 2019 debut ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’, which starred Vicky Kaushal. The film is doing well at the box office. It has crossed Rs 90 crore up till Sunday evening and if there’s growth in the night shows, the film may cross Rs 100 crore mark within its first three days.As ‘Dhurandhar’ continues gaining momentum at the box office, social media has exploded with discussions and theories, especially around a detail that has sparked curiosity, whether Dhar has linked the film to ‘Uri’ through a shared universe. Here’s the connection which the internet was quick to find out.

Disclaimer: Spoiler ahead!

In ‘Uri’, there is a memorable scene where Vicky Kaushal’s character, Vihaan, meets Flight Lieutenant Seerat Kaur, an Air Force pilot whose Army officer husband was killed in an ambush. The role was played by Kirti Kulhari. This particular scene resurfaced after ‘Dhurandhar’ released, because Seerat reveals her husband’s name, Jaskirat Singh Rangi of the Punjab Regiment, who died in the Naushera Sector operation.Meanwhile, ‘Dhurandhar’, Ranveer Singh plays Hamza, chosen by the intelligence chief (played by R Madhavan) to secretly penetrate gangster Rehman Dakait’s network in Pakistan’s Lyari. The twist arrives in the climax, when it is revealed that Hamza is actually a prisoner named Jaskirat Singh Rangi, given this mission as part of redemption. Fans immediately spotted the shared name and began speculating online. Several videos of the ‘Uri’ scene and Ranveer’s character in ‘Dhurandhar’ have gone viral on the internet. One comment read, “Dhurandhar and Vicky Kaushal Uri are connected, with Ranveer Singh’s character Jaskirat Singh Rangi (Hamza) introduced in Uri. He’s an Indian spy who infiltrates Pakistan’s underworld to take down a gangster-ISI nexus,” while another said, “Can’t be a coincidence. Both films are directed by Aditya Dhar.”However, several fans dismissed the theory, noting that the timelines do not match. Many believe the name overlap could simply be accidental. For now, it remains a fan-made assumption, and any real answers about Hamza’s backstory are expected to unfold in ‘Dhurandhar 2’.The sequel to ‘Dhurandhar’ has already been announced and is scheduled for release on March 19, 2026.

South Africa Women wrapped up the three-match T20I series with a game to spare after a commanding 65-run win over Ireland Women in the second T20I in Paarl. A composed half-century from Faye Tunnicliffe and a late-overs assault from Dane van Niekerk powered the hosts to a formidable 201 for 5, before Ireland’s chase faltered despite resistance from Orla Prendergast and Leah Paul.

Faye Tunnicliffe anchors South Africa’ start before Dane van Niekerk delivers a fiery finish

Making her return to international cricket, van Niekerk smashed 41 off just 19 balls, turning a solid South African innings into a daunting total. Her blitz featured three fours and three sixes, lifting the scoring rate past ten an over. She eventually fell to Arlene Kelly, but not before pushing South Africa beyond the 200-run mark for the second straight match.

Her late fireworks perfectly complemented opener Faye Tunnicliffe, who struck her maiden T20I fifty – a measured 40-ball half-century. Alongside Sune Luus, the pair put on a crucial 78-run opening stand, giving South Africa the ideal platform.

Chloe Tryon then added a rapid 16 not out off seven balls, also overtaking Lizelle Lee’s record for the most sixes by a South African in women’s T20Is (49).

Ireland seamer Aimee Maguire was the standout bowler for the visitors, claiming 3 for 43, including the wickets of Tunnicliffe, Luus and captain Laura Wolvaardt.

Ireland’s cautious start undermines their chase

Chasing 202, Ireland began conservatively, crawling to 33 without loss in the powerplay. The slow tempo proved costly as Tryon removed both openers – Amy Hunter and Gaby Lewis – to leave Ireland struggling at 35 for 2.

Although Ireland never threatened the target, they found stability through a determined third-wicket partnership. Leah Paul (40 off 29) and Orla Prendergast (51 not out off 43) put on 76 runs, showcasing composure but little acceleration as the required rate soared beyond reach.

Also READ: Fans react as Laura Wolvaardt’s century powers South Africa to commanding 105-run victory over Ireland in 1st T20I

Prendergast eventually reached her half-century in the final over, but by then the match had long drifted away. Ireland finished on 136 for 3, well short of the daunting total.

South Africa takes 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series #cricket #SAWvIREW #T20I pic.twitter.com/r78FtOhioY

— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) December 8, 2025

With the series now sealed at 2-0, South Africa’s dominant batting displays – built on depth, aggression and van Niekerk’s impactful return – have been the standout story. Ireland, meanwhile, will look for sharper intent and improved powerplay execution in the final T20I to avoid a whitewash.

Also READ: “I need to clarify that…” – Smriti Mandhana calls off her wedding with Palash Muchhal

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

A science teacher at Donna Klein Jewish Academy in Boca Raton, Palm Beach County, Florida, was arrested after investigators said he used a shared Google Doc to communicate secretly with a student before engaging in sexual acts with her at the school and in his flat, according to an arrest affidavit. Elias Gordon Farley, 26, was taken into custody after the student reported the alleged abuse on November 18, Fox News reported.Farley is charged with unlawful sexual activity with a minor and offence against a student by an authority figure. He was booked into the Palm Beach County Main Detention Centre on Dec. 4 and is being held on a $500,000 bond.According to the affidavit, the student told detectives the interactions began as casual conversations during the previous school year but that over the summer Farley created a shared Google Doc in which they exchanged messages. Investigators said the file later contained explicit entries describing sexual activity and planning when they would meet privately.The student said the relationship became physical in mid-September inside Farley’s office, where he touched her beneath her clothing. She told detectives the encounters continued for weeks in both his office and a classroom. By late September and into October, she said the pair engaged in sexual acts, including oral sex and intercourse inside a classroom on campus.She also described visiting Farley’s flat twice in early November after recognising details he had mentioned about its location and layout. Deputies said several sexual encounters occurred during those visits.Detectives executed a search warrant and found bedding, condom wrappers and furniture matching the student’s description. Farley’s flatmate confirmed he had not been home on the dates the student said she visited. School surveillance video reviewed by deputies showed Farley and the student entering his office together on Nov. 7 and later entering a classroom for about an hour.The situation came to light after the student confided in an art teacher on Nov. 14 and showed bruises and bite marks she said were inflicted by Farley. Administrators were informed the next day, suspended Farley immediately and reported the matter to child welfare authorities.Farley refused to speak with detectives after being read his Miranda rights, according to the affidavit.In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, Donna Klein Jewish Academy said it is cooperating fully with the investigation and called the situation “a difficult time for all of us at Donna Klein.” “We are approaching this serious situation with the utmost care, keeping the well-being of our students, faculty and families at the forefront,” a spokesperson said. The spokesperson said no additional details would be released “out of respect for the privacy of our community” but that Farley is no longer employed at the school.

NEW DELHI: Police on Monday detained another manager linked to the tragic Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire in Goa that claimed 25 lives.The accused was identified as Bharat. According to police, he used to run daily operation of Birch by Romeo Lane at the club.

Owner still abscondingThe owner of Birch by Romeo Lane, Saurabh Luthra, remains absconding following the devastating fire at his Arpora nightclub on Saturday night, which claimed 25 lives and injured six others. Until last year, Luthra had aimed to launch 50 restaurants across India, but his weekend property turned into the site of one of Goa’s worst nightlife tragedies.

Saurabh Luthra

Luthra’s LinkedIn profile lists him as ‘Chairman at Romeo Lane, Birch and Mama’s Buoi’. Activist Tahir Noronha described him as “like a ghost,” saying he rarely stays in Goa and often avoids legal proceedings, sending representatives in his place.“He is out of touch with the impact of his ventures,” Noronha said. Socialites and staff also described him as aloof; Jayesh Diukar, a kitchen staffer who survived the fire, said Luthra visited the club only once a month and rarely interacted with employees.At least 100-200 persons were on the dance floor of a nightclub in North Goa when a fire broke out there, and in an attempt to escape, some of them ran downstairs to its kitchen where they got trapped along with the staff.While the state police said the blaze occurred at the nightclub due to a cylinder blast after midnight on Sunday, some of the eyewitnesses claimed the fire started on the club’s first floor, where tourists were dancing.Most of the dead were the club’s kitchen workers, and included three women, chief minister Pramod Sawant said. There were “three to four tourists” among those killed, he added.“There was a sudden commotion as the flames started erupting. We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” Fatima Shaikh, a tourist from Hyderabad, told PTI at Arpora in the wee hours of Sunday.