Former South Africa wicketkeeper-batter and coach Mark Boucher has cast his eye firmly on the future of world cricket, naming four young players he believes are destined to become global stars. Speaking during ESPNcricinfo’s popular “25 Questions” segment, Boucher was asked to identify three youngsters who could dominate the game in the years to come. Instead, the former Proteas stalwart found it impossible to limit himself to just three, eventually picking a quartet of exciting talents, naming two Indians and as many Proteas young guns.

Mark Boucher picks the star Indian duo as next big thing

Boucher’s inclusion of two Indian batters highlights the remarkable depth of talent emerging from the subcontinent as he went with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma. Jaiswal, widely regarded as a once-in-a-generation prospect, has rapidly established himself across formats. From humble beginnings in age-group cricket, the left-hander has seamlessly transitioned to the highest level, earning praise for his composure, temperament, and hunger for big scores. His ability to dominate bowling attacks in Test cricket while maintaining an aggressive edge in limited-overs formats has marked him out as a long-term pillar of India’s batting order.

Jasiwal’s career in numbers:

• 28 Tests | 2511 runs | 7 hundreds | 13 fifties
• 23 T20Is | 723 runs | 1 hundred | 5 fifties
• 4 ODIs | 171 runs | 1 hundred

Tilak, meanwhile, represents the modern T20-era batter who thrives under pressure. Groomed through the Mumbai Indians system, the left-hander has grown from a reliable middle-order presence into a genuine match-winner for India. His calmness in crunch moments, coupled with the ability to accelerate without undue risk, has seen him rise quickly in the T20I rankings and earn a reputation as one of India’s most dependable young finishers.

Tilak’s career in numbers:

• 40 T20Is | 1183 runs | 2 hundreds | 6 fifties
• 5 ODIs | 68 runs | 1 fifty

Also READ: Vaibhav Suryavanshi to lead India U19 in South Africa tour, Ayush Mhatre named captain for U19 World Cup 2026

Boucher names exciting Proteas pair to complete his list

On the South African front, Boucher named two players he knows intimately from his time in the national setup – Tristan Stubbs and Dewald Brevis. Notably, Stubbs has carved out a niche as a versatile batter capable of adapting to multiple roles. Whether anchoring an innings in red-ball cricket or finishing games in T20s, Stubbs’ flexibility makes him an invaluable asset. His athletic background and strong technique have allowed him to slot seamlessly into different formats, reinforcing his reputation as a modern all-format player.

Stubbs’ career in numbers:

• 14 Tests | 759 runs | 2 hundreds | 3 fifties
• 42 T20Is | 822 runs | 2 fifties
• 15 ODIs | 392 runs | 1 hundred | 3 fifties

Brevis, often nicknamed “Baby AB” for his shot-making flair, is arguably the most explosive talent among the four. Renowned for his fearless approach, Brevis has already produced jaw-dropping performances in T20 cricket, clearing boundaries with ease and breaking records at a young age. His clean striking and confidence against elite bowling attacks have positioned him as one of the most exciting white-ball prospects in the world.

Brevis’ career in numbers:

• 4 Tests | 138 runs | 2 fifties
• 19 T20Is | 469 runs | 1 hundred | 1 fifty
• 9 ODIs | 230 runs | 1 fifty

Also READ: SA20 2026: Full list of commentators and presenters at South Africa’s explosive T20 cricket league

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Stock market today (AI image)

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, opened in green on Monday. While Nifty50 was above 26,050, BSE Sensex was above 85,000. At 9:17 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 26,074.75, up 18 points or 0.069%. BSE Sensex was at 85,082.51, up 41 points or 0.048%.Stock markets are likely to see increased volatility in this week as calendar year 2025 ends and a new year begins, coinciding with the December derivatives expiry. Investors will closely track a string of domestic data releases, including November industrial production numbers, government budget value figures, external debt data and the final HSBC Manufacturing PMI reading, which are expected to guide near term sentiment.Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “The standout feature of 2025 has been India’s stark underperformance compared to most developed and emerging markets. This underperformance is set to change in 2026 supported by solid fundamentals: India’s macros are in Goldilocks setting with robust economic growth and stable financial construct. The more important factor from the market perspective-earnings growth- is set to recover from Q3 FY26 onwards.” “Even though these are favourable factors, these are not sufficient to trigger a rally soon. A strong rebound in the market needs a trigger like a US- India trade deal with favourable thrills for India. There is no clarity yet on when this will happen. Therefore, a consolidation phase is likely in the near-term, and investors can utilise this consolidation phase to slowly accumulate high quality stocks giving priority to largecaps.”Global markets provided mixed cues in thin holiday trade. World stocks are hovering close to their record highs. Silver prices briefly touched a fresh peak before paring gains as lower liquidity amplified price swings. Oil prices moved up in early Asian trade on concerns over Middle East tensions that raised fears of potential supply disruptions. However, uncertainty surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war continued to cap gains and keep traders cautious.Precious metals saw renewed interest, with silver rising above $80 an ounce on Monday, supported by supply constraints, robust industrial demand and expectations of additional US Federal Reserve rate cuts. Platinum also touched a record high during the session before easing.On the domestic institutional front, foreign portfolio investors remained sellers, offloading shares worth Rs 318 crore on Friday. Domestic institutional investors, in contrast, provided support to the market with net purchases of Rs 1,772 crore.(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)

England team at MCG; and Sunil Gavaskar

NEW DELHI: The Melbourne Cricket Ground, long celebrated as one of the sport’s grand theatres, became the stage for another uncomfortable debate about pitch quality after the Boxing Day Test ended inside two days, prompting biting sarcasm from batting great Sunil Gavaskar.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!What was expected to be a five-day spectacle unraveled at alarming speed. All 20 wickets fell on the opening day as the ball swung extravagantly and jagged sharply off a surface that offered uneven bounce and relentless movement. The carnage continued on day two, and by the evening session England had sealed a four-wicket win — their first Test victory in Australia since January 2011.

In total, 36 wickets fell in just 142 overs. The rapid finish not only shocked fans but also delivered a heavy financial blow. Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg estimated the shortfall from the Melbourne Test at over AUD 10 million, compounding the damage after the Perth Test earlier in the series also finished within two days. It is the first time in 129 years that the same series has produced multiple two-day Tests.MCG head curator Matt Page admitted he was in a “state of shock” watching the mayhem unfold. Ten millimetres of grass had been left on the pitch, a decision that produced excessive seam movement and bounce, making survival with the bat a near-impossible task.Gavaskar, however, cut through the official explanations with trademark wit and sting. Reacting to yet another short-lived Test in Australia, he pointed to the irony of the Perth pitch earlier in the series receiving a glowing assessment.

“Another Test match in Australia has finished in less than two days of cricket,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar. “The Australian Cricket Board’s CEO says it is not good business and most, if not all, cricket fans in the sub-continent (read India) are screaming blue murder about the quality of the pitch given in Melbourne.”He expressed astonishment at the earlier verdict on the Perth surface, adding: “They were astonished when the first Test match pitch in Perth was given a very good rating by the match referee Ranjan Madugalle.”Turning his attention to Melbourne, Gavaskar sharpened the blade further. “Since there is a new match referee, Jeff Crowe, for the Melbourne and Sydney Test matches, the rating could be different,” he wrote. “Since 36 wickets fell in the Melbourne Test instead of 32 in Perth, Crowe might drop the word ‘very’ from the ‘very good’ that Madugalle gave for the Perth pitch and rate the MCG pitch as good. Surprises never cease, of course, so we may get another rating.”With tongue firmly in cheek, Gavaskar also toyed with Crowe’s background. “Since he is a Kiwi and we all know that the Oz vs Kiwi clashes often have more passion in them than an Ashes contest… will the Kiwi in him want to let the Aussies have it?” he asked, before adding that Crowe now lives in the USA and “the passion may have calmed down a bit.”He concluded by defending the MCG turf staff while skewering perceived double standards. “The curators… may make a human error and get it slightly wrong,” Gavaskar wrote, but they are not treated like the “devious” groundsmen in India. “Tut tut,” he signed off — a gentle phrase, delivered with an unmistakable bite.

NEW DELHI: Former England cricketer Monty Panesar has criticised India’s Test captain Shubman Gill, saying the youngster is complacent and not yet equipped to handle the demands of all three formats at the international level.While acknowledging Gill’s natural talent, Panesar pointed out that the batter tends to play “lazy shots” during matches and lacks the intensity that defined Virat Kohli’s game across formats.

“He is a complacent cricketer. He has a lot of talent, but he starts playing lazy shots in the game. Virat Kohli’s intensity and aggression are evident in all formats. Shubhman Gill can’t do that. Too much burden for him. He can’t be the captain of all formats. It is too much for him,” Panesar told ANI.Panesar’s remarks come at a time when India have struggled in Test cricket under head coach Gautam Gambhir, with the side suffering two whitewash defeats — 3-0 against New Zealand and 2-0 against South Africa.Speaking about Gambhir’s tenure, Panesar said the former India opener has proven himself as a white-ball coach but still needs time and experience in red-ball cricket.“Gautam Gambhir is a good coach in white-ball cricket because he has been successful. He could become the Ranji Trophy coach, and he should talk to the coaches who have coached in the Ranji Trophy about how you build a team in red ball cricket. Right now, the Indian team is weak in Test cricket. This is the reality. It’s not that strong. It will take time. When you retire three big players, it becomes difficult to keep the remaining players ready,” the former England cricketer said.Panesar also underlined Virat Kohli’s absence in the longest format, stating that while India have managed without him in white-ball cricket, his impact is clearly missing in Tests.“In white-ball format, you won’t miss Virat Kohli that much. But yes, in Test Cricket, it’s evident that Virat Kohli is not there, and the team’s intensity is lower.”The former left-arm spinner further claimed that Indian cricketers are not adequately prepared for red-ball cricket, arguing that the focus of young players is largely on securing IPL contracts rather than putting in the hard yards required in four-day cricket.“Indian players are not ready for Test Cricket. In India, players who perform well in T20 and ODI don’t perform well in Test Cricket,” he said.Highlighting systemic issues, Panesar added that the gap between domestic cricket and the national Test side remains wide.“The gap between Ranji Trophy and India’s Test team is significant. The Ranji Trophy system is also very weak. The boys just want to play in IPL. They want to get a big contract. They want to play in T20I and ODI. It takes a lot of hard work in 4-day cricket. That’s why they want to give less time,” Panesar said.“They make more money in T20 cricket. They make less money in Test Cricket. But the reality is that the domestic cricket of the Ranji Trophy is very weak. It will take some time for India to make a comeback in Test cricket,” he added.

BIR (KANGRA): A tandem paragliding pilot crashed soon after takeoff and died at the famed Bir Billing adventure sports site on Friday. This is the third fatal paragliding accidnt this year after a Gujarati tourist died in July and a Canadian pilot was killed in October.Police identified the dead pilot as Mohan Singh, a resident of Barot, around 30km from Bir Billing. According to a colleague, pilot Partap Singh, Mohan was flying tandem with a woman tourist, who survived the crash. The tragedy sent shockwaves through the paragliding community and left tourists apprehensive.

As a mark of respect, pilots at Bir Billing observed a complete no-flying day on Saturday. The accident raises questions over safety standards, exposes the precarious working conditions of paragliding pilots and calls for an in-depth look at whether safety SOPs are being followed.Deputy commissioner Hemraj Bairwa said multiple versions of the incident have emerged, and the Baijnath SDM is conducting an inquiry. Officials have stressed the need for strict adherence to SOPs.Authorities also stressed proper screening of passengers for fitness, weight limits, and medical conditions, noting that indemnity forms alone are insufficient.According to Partap, nearly 400 paragliders operate in the Bir Billing region, but their earnings remain uncertain and seasonal. During peak tourist rush, a pilot may manage three to four flights a day, while during lean periods, many get only one flight a day or even in two days. A pilot gets anything between Rs 800 to Rs 1,000 per flight.Tourists are charged around 2,500-Rs 3,000 per flight. Shubham, a tourist from Delhi who arrived with friends to celebrate Christmas and New Year, said the incident shook them. They had completed one flight by the time of the accident, but are reconsidering their plan to take another.

Hobart Hurricanes host Melbourne Renegades in the 15th match of Big Bash League 2025-26 at Bellerive Oval on December 29. Both teams sit mid-table with three wins from multiple outings, making this a key clash for ladder momentum.​

Hobart Hurricanes hold third place after four matches, winning three including a recent six-wicket chase against Perth Scorchers. They also dominated Renegades earlier this season by seven wickets with 37 balls remaining. Melbourne Renegades, eighth with one win from two starts, defended 212 successfully against Brisbane Heat but lost heavily to Hurricanes at Geelong.

HH vs MR, BBL|15: Match details

• Date and Time: December 29 (Monday); 1:45 pm IST / 8:15 am GMT / 7:15 pm Local
• Venue: Bellerive Oval, Hobart

HH vs MR, Head-to-Head Record in BBL

Matches played: 22 | Melbourne Renegades won: 09 | Hobart Hurricanes won: 13 | No result/Tied: 0

Bellerive Oval Pitch Report

Bellerive Oval in Hobart presents a balanced pitch for Big Bash League encounters, offering early assistance to pacers through seam movement and bounce under the new ball. The surface, known for good carry and short boundaries, eases as the game progresses, favoring batters with strike rates around 138 and average first innings scores of 147-166. Recent BBL stats show chasing teams winning most matches (10 of 20), with competitive totals between 150-190 proving defendable. Fast bowlers dominate early, while spinners find grip later; expect a run fest if dew arrives.

Squads:

Hobart Hurricanes: Nathan Ellis (c), Tim David, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade, Beau Webster, Jake Weatherald, Chris Jordan, Rishad Hossain, Rehan Ahmed, Mac Wright, Iain Carlisle, Nikhil Chaudhary, Fergus O’Neill, Ollie Peake

Melbourne Renegades: Will Sutherland (c), Tim Seifert, Adam Zampa, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Caleb Jewell, Jason Behrendorff, Josh Brown, Harry Dixon, Brendan Doggett, Nathan Lyon, Hassan Khan, Ollie Peake, Mohammad Rizwan, Tom Rogers

Also READ: Max Bryant and Xavier Bartlett lead the charge as Brisbane Heat clinch thrilling win against Adelaide Strikers in BBL|15

HH vs MR, BBL|15: Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

• Melbourne Renegades wins the toss and bowls first
• Hobart Hurricanes’ powerplay score: 45-55 (6 overs)
• Hobart Hurricanes’ total score: 170-180

Case 2:

• Hobart Hurricanes wins the toss and bowls first
• Melbourne Renegades’ powerplay score: 55-65 (6 overs)
• Melbourne Renegades’ total score: 180-190

Match result: Team bowling first to win the contest

Also READ: BBL|15: Tim David’s injury sours Hobart Hurricanes’ win over Perth Scorchers