More than 1,300 players have registered for the Indian Premier League (IPL) mini-auction, turning the December 16 event in Abu Dhabi into one of the most competitive bidding days. According to a Cricbuzz report, a staggering 1,355 players feature on the 13-page auction register, reflecting a massive surge in both domestic and overseas aspirants eager to secure IPL contracts.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!From India, several well-known names such as Mayank Agarwal, KS Bharat, Rahul Chahar, Ravi Bishnoi, Akash Deep, Deepak Hooda, Venkatesh Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Mavi, Navdeep Saini, Chetan Sakariya, Kuldeep Sen, Prithvi Shaw, Rahul Tripathi, Sandeep Warrier and Umesh Yadav have thrown their hats into the ring. Only two Indians — Ravi Bishnoi and Venkatesh Iyer — have entered the auction with the highest base price of Rs 2 crore.

The overseas aspirants are equally star-studded. Australia’s Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Matthew Short have registered. England’s Jonny Bairstow, Jamie Smith, New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra, and Sri Lankan stars Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana headline the long list of overseas entries. In all, 43 overseas players have set their base price at Rs 2 crore.The diversity of the list stands out, with players from 14 countries, including rare entries from Malaysia and the USA. Among them is India-born Malaysian all-rounder Virandeep Singh, listed at a base price of Rs 30 lakh.Following the November 15 retention deadline, the 10 IPL teams collectively hold Rs 237.55 crore to spend. Kolkata Knight Riders lead with a wallet of Rs 64.30 crore, followed by Chennai Super Kings with Rs 43.40 crore. A total of 77 slots, including 31 overseas places, will be up for grabs, ensuring a highly competitive and closely watched auction day.

NEW DELHI: What if spotting a cluster of fevers or sudden diarrhoea cases in your neighbourhood could help stop an outbreak? A new nationwide system launched by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is now making that possible — by turning ordinary citizens into the country’s earliest disease sentinels.At the heart of the system is a simple QR code. Anyone can scan it from the Health Ministry or NCDC website, or from posters and materials being rolled out across states. Once scanned, the user enters basic details and selects what they’re reporting — a fever cluster, recurring diarrhoea, jaundice, dog bites, suspected food poisoning or any other unusual health event. Photos or short videos can also be uploaded. The moment a report is submitted, the alert lands simultaneously in district, state and national surveillance dashboards, where officers verify it and initiate investigations if required.Dr Ranjan Das, director NCDC said that the tool fills a critical gap in India’s surveillance network. Many outbreaks begin silently in homes, neighbourhoods or small gatherings well before patients reach hospitals. A citizen report — sometimes within hours — can help health authorities intervene early, contain spread and prevent large-scale outbreaks.Dr Himanshu Chauhan, additional director and HOD IDSP call this a “game changer,” especially during dengue, diarrhoea, influenza and waterborne disease seasons. But they caution that the system will work only if citizens use it responsibly — and consistently.To protect users, all submissions are routed through secure government servers, with personal data safeguarded under national cyber-security protocols. False or irrelevant reports are filtered through a combination of automated checks and manual verification by trained district teams.The Community Reporting System, introduced in January 2024 under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), was envisioned to give communities a direct role in early outbreak detection. Despite being launched in 2024, the tool remained largely unknown due to poor efforts to popularize it, resulting in only about 100 valid reports so far. The low utilisation highlights the gap between technology and public engagement, though officials say even this early trickle shows that once people know the platform exists, they are willing to report.The message from NCDC is clear: public health isn’t just a government job — it needs citizen vigilance too. Sometimes, a QR scan and 30 seconds may be all it takes to stop the next outbreak.

New Zealand will face West Indies in the opening Test of the three-match series at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval from December 2 to 6.

New Zealand boast formidable numbers at this ground, registering nine Test wins, driven by experienced pacers who thrive in home conditions. Among the current players, Matt Henry relishes bowling in Christchurch, pairing effectively with his fellow pacers to build relentless pressure through accuracy and movement. With conditions again favouring seam, New Zealand’s pace battery will be central to their game plan.

For West Indies, young quicks like Jayden Seales could exploit the early swing and seam, but their batters face a significant challenge – only two visiting teams have won here in 15 matches. Surviving the first session against the new ball will be key, as most successful chases at Hagley have been below 200, demonstrating the difficulty of batting fourth on this pitch.

NZ vs WI, 1st Test: Pitch Report

The Hagley Oval pitch is expected to offer classic seamer-friendly conditions when Fresh green grass and cool weather are forecast to assist swing and seam movement, particularly on Day 1, before the surface settles into a more balanced track.

Historically, teams bowling first have enjoyed significant success at the venue, winning 9 of 15 Tests (60%), underlining how crucial the toss and new-ball periods can be. The average first-innings score sits around 284, but scoring becomes increasingly difficult later in the match, with fourth-innings totals averaging just 179, reflecting Hagley Oval’s consistent assistance to pacers throughout the game.

The surface at Hagley Oval is known for its true bounce and pronounced seam movement, especially in the opening session. With pacers claiming nearly 90% of the wickets historically at the ground, both teams are expected to lean heavily on their fast-bowling units.

The grass cover can sometimes deceive captains at the toss, but experts warn that while the pitch appears extremely green, the sharpest movement often fades after Session 1. Once set, batters can accumulate meaningful totals – as seen in England’s massive 499 posted at the venue recently. However, sustained discipline is crucial, as any lapse in technique is quickly punished by the seamers.

Spinners, on the other hand, traditionally play minimal roles, averaging just three wickets per Test, making pace combinations the likely go-to strategy. As a result, captains have opted to bowl first 60% of the time – a trend that could continue in this Test.

Also READ: Kane Williamson returns as New Zealand announce 14-man squad for first Test against West Indies

Hagley Oval Test Stats and Records

• Total matches: 16
• Matches won batting first: 4
• Matches won bowling first: 10
• Average 1st innings score: 288
• Average 2nd innings score: 315
• Average 3rd innings score: 271
• Average 4th innings score: 173
• Highest total recorded: 659/6 (158.5 Overs) by New Zealand vs Pakistan
• Lowest total recorded: 95/10 (49.2 Overs) by South Africa vs New Zealand
• Highest score chased: 286/8 (70 Overs) by New Zealand vs Sri Lanka
• Lowest score defended: 227/10 (93.5 Overs) By New Zealand vs South Africa
• Most runs scored: Tom Latham (971)
• Most wickets: Tim Southee (61)

Also READ: Breakdown of Andre Russell’s IPL salary since his debut – From 2012 to 2025

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LUDHIANA: A 32-year-old businessman who was caught in a shootout between gangsters invited to a wedding in Ludhiana on Sunday night died trying to shield his wife and their three-year-old son. Vasu Chopra’s pyre was lit by the toddler Monday as the victim’s mother broke down: “ Mainu apne naal leja ,Vasu (Vasu, take me along with you).” The toddler was heard asking relatives to let him talk to his father on phone as he “hadn’t seen him since last night”.

Around 30 rounds were fired at the wedding, attended by VIPs, including politicians and at least one MLA. Ludhiana police commissioner Swapan Sharma said it “wasn’t a gang war”, but a “fight between local boys for supremacy”. The prime accused are wanted in several cases, including attempted murder.Ludhiana police commissioner Swapan Sharma said it “wasn’t a gang war”, but a “fight between local boys for supremacy”. The prime accused are both criminals, wanted for several cases, including attempted murder.But the criminal record of the prime accused — Shubham Arora alias Mota and Ankur — make it clear they are no amateurs. Shubham faces as many as 18 FIRs, including for attempted murder. His rivalsAnkur, Rubal and Jasvir Singh Jassa have a shorter crime history but they too face cases of attempted murder. Now, it’s double murder.Vasu fell victim to the senseless shootout at his friend’s wedding. The groom’s aunt, Neeru Chhabran, was also killed, shot in the face. Both of them died on the spot.Vasu’s family said he, his wife and son were eating dinner when the criminals started firing. Vasu picked up his son, grabbed his wife’s hand and started running into thewedding hall, keeping them both shielded by his body. A bullet hit him on the left of the stomach, killing him on the spot. Ankur was arrested on Monday, along with four people who allegedly harboured him. One of them is a woman. Three private security guards at the wedding venue have also been arrested for “allowing armed people to enter”.Of the 18 accused, six of whom are identified, only two are in custody — Ankur and Jatindar Kumar Dawar, whose licensed pistol was allegedlyused in the shootout. Shubham is on the run.Vasu’s brother-in-law Parul Malhotra, a local Congress functionary, said, “Those criminals were firing gunshots brazenly, without any fear, and people were running for their lives.” He said he counted at least 30 spent bullet shells at the wedding venue.“My sister lost her husband. They have two little kids. Vasu lost his father a year ago and he was the sole earning member.”