NEW DELHI: As Sarfaraz Khan continues his rich vein of form in domestic cricket, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has backed the right-hander to become a regular batter for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.Ashwin’s endorsement comes after Sarfaraz smashed a blistering 157 off 75 balls against Goa in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT), an innings that included nine boundaries and 14 sixes and underlined his power-hitting prowess.

Sarfaraz brought up his hundred in just 56 balls in what was a breathtaking knock. Ashwin also highlighted the batter’s performances in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), where he amassed 329 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 203.08 and an average of 65.80.In a post on X, Ashwin wrote, “100*(47), 52(40), 64(25), 73(22) in the SMAT. That form’s transitioned seamlessly into the Hazare with scores of 55(49) followed by a blistering 157(75) today with 14 sixes. It’s particularly impressive how he murders spin in the middle overs with his sweeps and slog sweeps. ‘Avan kadhava thattala, idichi odachitu irukaan.’ ( He is not knocking on the door, he is breaking it open ) CSK should look at riding his purple patch by slotting him into the Playing XII surely? A genuine problem of plenty with the bat for the men in yellow this season! Can’t wait for IPL 2026.”

Following his exploits in the SMAT, five-time IPL champions CSK secured the services of the right-handed batter for Rs 75 lakh at the IPL 2026 mini-auction earlier this month.Chennai Super Kings Squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad, MS Dhoni, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Urvil Patel, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Jamie Overton, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Noor Ahmad, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shivam Dube, Shreyas Gopal, Khaleel Ahmed, Sanju Samson Akeal Hosein, Prashant Veer, Kartik Sharma, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar, Zak Foulkes.

Oil marketing companies have raised the prices of commercial LPG cylinders from today, reversing recent reductions. The increase is set to push up operating costs for hotels, restaurants and other service providers across the country.The price of a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder has been hiked by Rs 111 nationwide. In Delhi, the retail price now stands at Rs 1,691.50, up from Rs 1,580.50. Mumbai saw prices rise from Rs 1,531.50 to Rs 1,642.50, while Kolkata’s rate increased from Rs 1,684 to Rs 1,795. Chennai recorded a sharp rise in prices, climbing from Rs 1,739.50 to Rs 1,849.50. Prices of 5-kg free trade LPG (FTL) cylinders were also raised by Rs 27.The increase is expected to significantly impact operating expenses for businesses that rely heavily on cooking gas, particularly in the hospitality and catering sectors, which had seen some relief last month due to successive reductions.Household consumers, however, have been spared from the latest revision. Domestic LPG cylinder prices (14.2 kg) remain unchanged, continuing at Rs 853, where they have stayed since a Rs 50 hike in April last year.The hike comes after a phase of moderation in commercial LPG prices. Since April 2025, commercial cylinder rates had seen six reductions amounting to a cumulative cut of Rs 223 per cylinder, including small rollbacks in November and December. In contrast, Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices were reduced from January 1, offering some respite to airlines after months of elevated fuel costs. In Delhi, ATF prices were cut from Rs 864.35 to Rs 791.48 per kilolitre, a move expected to ease pressure on airline operating costs, where fuel accounts for nearly 40% of total expenses, according to ET. Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum revise LPG and ATF prices on the first day of every month, based on international fuel prices and currency movements.

Amazon is allowing employees stranded in India due to visa processing delays to work remotely until early March, marking a rare exception to CEO Andy Jassy’s strict five-day return-to-office policy that took effect in January 2025. The company informed affected workers through an internal memo that those in India as of December 13 and awaiting rescheduled visa appointments can work remotely until March 2, according to Business Insider, which obtained the document. However, the arrangement comes with significant restrictions: employees cannot code, make strategic decisions, or interact with customers.The move highlights how the Trump administration’s rapid changes to the H-1B visa program are forcing major tech companies to adapt their policies. New requirements mandating consular officers to review visa applicants’ social media posts before approval have created substantial processing delays, with some US embassies and consulates rescheduling appointments as far out as 2027.

Strict limitations apply to remote work arrangement

The temporary remote work permission includes extensive constraints that limit what employees can actually accomplish. Workers are barred from any coding activities, including troubleshooting and testing, and cannot work from or visit Amazon buildings. They also cannot negotiate contracts, make hiring decisions, or perform activities related to managing customer, partner, or vendor relationships.“All reviews, final decision making, and sign offs should be undertaken outside India,” the memo states, adding that “in compliance with local laws, there are no exceptions to these restrictions.”For technical employees whose roles center on coding and development, the limitations raise questions about productivity. One Amazon software engineer told Business Insider that 70-80% of their job involves coding, testing, deploying, and documentation—all prohibited under the remote work terms.

Amazon among largest H-1B program users facing delays

The visa delays pose particular challenges for Amazon, which filed 14,783 certified H-1B applications during the 2024 fiscal year, making it among the largest users of the program. The situation has prompted Google, Apple, Microsoft, and other tech companies to issue travel advisories warning US employees with visas to avoid international travel.Amazon’s normal policy allows employees traveling abroad for visa renewals to work remotely for up to 20 business days, but the memo doesn’t address employees whose appointments extend beyond March 2 or those stranded in other countries.

NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday extended greetings for the DRDO Day to scientists, personnel, and their families, lauding their “commitment and scientific excellence.“In an X post, the Defence Minister hailed the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), noting that developing indigenous technologies reinforces India’s “strategic autonomy.”He wrote, “On DRDO Day, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all @DRDO_India scientists, personnel and their families. Their unwavering commitment, scientific excellence and sense of national duty are vital to strengthening India’s defence preparedness and advancing Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence.”“By developing indigenous, future-ready technologies, DRDO is reinforcing our strategic autonomy and the confidence of our armed forces. I wish the entire DRDO family a year of meaningful breakthroughs and continued service to the nation,” the Union Minister added.January 1, 2026, marks the 67th Foundation Day of DRDO. According to the defence ministry, the DRDO was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO).Back then, DRDO was a small organisation with 10 establishments or laboratories. Over the years, it has grown multi-directionally in terms of the variety of subject disciplines, number of laboratories, achievements and stature.Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi also extended wishes to all DRDO personnel and their families on the occasion.“General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS and All Ranks of the Indian Army extend warm wishes and greetings to all DRDO personnel and their families on the occasion of DRDO Day,” ADG PI wrote on X.DRDO has marked several achievements in 2025, including the recent successful conduct of a salvo launch of two ‘Pralay’ missiles in quick succession from the same launcher off the coast of Odisha on Wednesday morning.According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the flight test at about 10:30 hrs was conducted as part of user evaluation trials. Both missiles followed the intended trajectory and met all flight objectives, as confirmed by tracking sensors deployed by the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur. The terminal events were confirmed by telemetry systems installed on board the ship, deployed near the impact points.‘Pralay’ is an indigenously developed solid propellant quasi-ballistic missile employing state-of-the-art guidance and navigation to ensure high precision. The missile is capable of carrying multiple types of warheads against various targets.

Tobacco stocks saw a sharp sell-off on Thursday after the finance ministry formally notified February 1 as the date for imposing additional excise duty on tobacco products, along with a health cess on pan masala. Shares of Godfrey Phillips India plunged as much as 10% in morning trade, while ITC fell over 8%.On the BSE, Godfrey Phillips India was trading at Rs 2295, down 16% or 465 points. ITC also plunged 8% to trade at Rs 368 around 12:35 PM. The fall followed a notification by the finance ministry, which announced fresh excise duty rates on cigarettes in the range of Rs 2,050 to Rs 8,500 per 1,000 sticks, based on the length of cigarettes. Under the new framework, the additional levies on tobacco and pan masala will be charged over and above the Goods and Services Tax (GST). These will replace the existing GST compensation cess, which is currently imposed on ‘sin goods.‘ According to the notification, pan masala, cigarettes, tobacco and similar products will attract a GST rate of 40%, while bidis will be taxed at 18%. Alongside this, pan masala will have a Health and National Security Cess while tobacco and related products will face an extra excise duty. After the implementation, cigarette makers like ITC and Godfrey Phillips India will be forced to raise prices, ET reported. The move follows the government’s approval in December of the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which replaces a temporary levy on cigarettes and tobacco products. An order issued late on Wednesday clarified that excise duty will be imposed on cigarettes in addition to the 40 per cent GST. At present, taxes make up about 53% of the retail price of cigarettes in India, including a 28% GST and a value-based levy linked to cigarette length. This is significantly lower than the World Health Organization’s recommended benchmark of 75%, aimed at curbing tobacco consumption. Separately, the finance ministry also notified the Chewing Tobacco, Jarda Scented Tobacco and Gutkha Packing Machines (Capacity Determination and Collection of Duty) Rules, 2026, on Wednesday.

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India’s men’s cricket schedule for 2026 promises a thrilling mix of high-stakes tournaments, home comforts, and challenging overseas assignments, setting the stage for another blockbuster year in white-ball and red-ball formats.

The calendar kicks off with a bilateral white-ball tour against New Zealand in January, featuring three ODIs followed by five T20Is across picturesque venues from Vadodara to Thiruvananthapuram. This serves as the perfect appetiser before the marquee ICC Men’s T20 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, where Suryakumar Yadav’s men aim to defend the title after lifting the trophy under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy in 2024.

Team India schedule 2026: Full fixtures for Indian men’s cricket team

January: New Zealand in India

• 3 ODIs vs New Zealand: Jan 11 (Vadodara), Jan 14 (Rajkot), Jan 18 (Indore).
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• 5 T20Is vs New Zealand: Jan 21 (Nagpur), Jan 23 (Raipur), Jan 25 (Guwahati), Jan 28 (Visakhapatnam), Jan 31 (Thiruvananthapuram).
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Feb-Mar: T20 World Cup 2026 (India & Sri Lanka)

Group matches:

• vs USA – Feb 7, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
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• vs Namibia – Feb 12, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.
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• vs Pakistan – Feb 15, R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
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• vs Netherlands – Feb 18, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
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Super 8s, semi-finals and final (if India qualify) run through to March 8.
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June-August: Afghanistan (home), England (away), Sri Lanka (away)

• June: Afghanistan tour of India – 1 Test, 3 ODIs (venues TBA, all in India).
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• July 1-19: India tour of England – 5 T20Is and 3 ODIs at venues including Chester-le-Street, Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol, Southampton, Birmingham, Cardiff and Lord’s.
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• August: India tour of Sri Lanka – 2 Tests (venues and exact dates to be announced).​

Also READ: Who is Khushi Mukherjee? The actress who made bold claims against Suryakumar Yadav

September-October: Afghanistan, West Indies & Asian Games

• Sept: India tour of Afghanistan – 3 T20Is in Afghanistan.
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• Sept-Oct: West Indies tour of India – 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is at home
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• Sept 19-Oct 4: Asian Games (T20 format) in Aichi/Nagoya, Japan; India men to participate in the cricket event.

Oct-Dec: New Zealand (away) & Sri Lanka (home)

• Oct-Nov: India tour of New Zealand – 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 5 T20Is across venues like Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch.
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• December: Sri Lanka tour of India – 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is to finish the year at home.

Also READ: Saeed Ajmal picks top 5 spinners of modern-day cricket

Paarl Royals captain David Miller spoiled the Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s New Year’s Eve celebrations with a captain’s knock that delivered his side their first win of SA20 Season 4 at St George’s Park on Tuesday.Chasing a modest target of 150, the Royals found themselves in serious trouble early as Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje tore through the top order. Jansen reached a milestone during the spell, becoming the first bowler to claim 50 wickets in SA20 history. Paarl slipped to 35 for four, with Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Asa Tribe, Rubin Hermann and Kyle Verreynne all dismissed cheaply.

With the chase threatening to unravel, Miller produced a masterclass in composure and controlled aggression. The left-hander anchored the innings with an unbeaten 71 off just 38 balls, timing his acceleration to perfection. He found a reliable partner in rising star Keagan Lion-Cachet, who played a crucial supporting role with a mature 45 off 40 deliveries.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The pair stitched together a match-turning 114-run partnership for the fifth wicket, steadily draining the pressure from the Sunrisers. Lion-Cachet fell late in the chase, but Miller ensured there were no further hiccups.Drama lingered until the final moments, with the St George’s Park crowd hoping for a Super Over. Those hopes were dashed when Lewis Gregory bowled a costly wide, sealing the Royals’ victory with two balls to spare.Earlier, Paarl’s bowlers had laid the platform, led by teenage sensation Nqobani Mokoena. In just his second SA20 appearance, the 19-year-old seamer delivered career-best figures of 4/34, including the prized wicket of Quinton de Kock during the Powerplay. Ottneil Baartman complemented him well, returning figures of 3/36 against his former side.

Jonny Bairstow (33) and Jordan Hermann (47) offered resistance for the Sunrisers, but regular wickets restricted them to 149 all out. Despite the loss, Sunrisers remain top of the table on 10 points, while the Royals climbed off the bottom with a timely win.Brief Scores Sunrisers Eastern Cape: 149 all out in 19.4 overs (Jordan Hermann 47; Nqobani Mokoena 4/34, Ottneil Baartman 3/36) Paarl Royals: 150 for 5 in 19.4 overs (David Miller 71 not out, Keagan Lion-Cachet 45; Anrich Nortje 2/21, Marco Jansen 2/25)

INDORE: A probe into the water contamination incident in Bhagirathpura, Indore, has exposed severe lapses in the city’s water supply system, with the death toll reaching seven on Wednesday and 162 patients undergoing treatment across 27 hospitals, both government and private.Indore draws its water from the Narmada river, sourced from Jalud in Khargone district, about 80 km away, through pipelines. key lapses:

Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav said a leakage was detected in the main water supply pipeline in Bhagirathpura, above which a toilet had been constructed, leading to possible contamination of drinking water.Dileep said, “We found that the illness was spread across the area, thus suspected that the contamination was near the main line, before it branched. The contamination point was identified near Bhagirathpura police check post, where a newly-constructed toilet was dumping waste in a pit instead of a proper septic tank. The pit was directly above the water supply line, which had a joint. We found that the joint was also loose. It was repaired.”The IMC is now flushing the water pipeline and has advised residents to avoid using the water until Friday. Around 60–70 water tankers have been deployed to supply drinking water in the area. Additionally, ASHA workers are conducting door-to-door surveys to monitor new cases.Confusion, however, persists over the exact number of fatalities. While city mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava stated that seven people had died, chief minister Mohan Yadav, speaking at a press conference after visiting patients in multiple hospitals, put the toll at four. “As of now, the number of deaths recorded is four. Patients have been admitted to different hospitals. Government has a system of collecting records. We have initiated a probe and the final figure would be clear once the report is filed,” the CM said. He added, “But why should even one person die? The episode has left us hurt and saddened.” Yadav visited Verma Hospital, Beema Hospital, DNS, MY Hospital, and Shalby Hospital during his tour.The health department has officially reported three deaths, but Mayor Bhargava said, “According to my information, seven persons have died after falling ill in Bhagirathpura area.” Verma Hospital officials confirmed that 162 patients are currently admitted across 27 hospitals.The Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, hearing a public interest litigation filed by Indore High Court Bar Association president Ritesh Inani, directed the local municipal corporation and state government to ensure an immediate supply of clean drinking water. The court also mandated free treatment for residents suffering from vomiting and diarrhea and ordered both authorities to submit a detailed status report by January 2, including the number of affected residents, hospital admissions, and the medical care being provided.The incident highlights serious lapses in sanitation and water safety management, with both the civic body and state authorities facing scrutiny as families demand accountability for the preventable deaths caused by contaminated water.