Choreographer-director Farah Khan recently welcomed Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, as the latest guest on her vlog. In a fun and unexpected moment, Farah brought along her cook, Dilip, to Gadkari’s Delhi residence, where Dilip jokingly made a rather direct request to the minister.

A warm and humorous welcome

As the vlog began, Farah greeted Nitin Gadkari with a handshake, while Dilip showed his respect by touching the minister’s feet. Introducing the moment with her trademark humour, Farah said, “Itne bade aadmi hamare vlog pe kabhi nahi aaye hain. Iski ek request hai. Ye baar-baar aapko irritate karega, aap sun lena.” (We have never had such a big personality on our vlog before. Dilip has a request, and he might keep irritating you—please do hear him out.)

Dilip’s straightforward demand

Without missing a beat, Dilip made his appeal, saying, “Sir, mere gaon mein na ek road banwa dijiye!” (Please get a road built in my village.) Dilip hails from Darbhanga in Bihar, making the request all the more personal.

Farah’s priceless reaction

Reacting instantly, Farah playfully smacked her forehead and quipped, “Aree! Sir itne bade-bade flyover, expressways bana rahe hain!” (He is busy building massive flyovers and expressways!) Dilip added that proper roads in his village would be a huge help as well, prompting Gadkari to smile at the earnest plea.

How Farah’s vlog journey began

Farah also revealed that her cooking vlogs started during the waiting period before her upcoming film went on floors. She launched her YouTube channel in 2024, with the cooking-centric content gradually building a loyal fanbase.Dilip’s candid exchanges and unfiltered charm quickly won hearts online, turning him into a viral sensation. Following his popularity, Dilip has appeared in multiple advertisements with Farah and even shared screen space with celebrities such as Shah Rukh Khan.

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has sparked a fresh debate around the future of ICC tournaments by delivering a blunt assessment of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Ashwin believes that the sheer frequency of ICC events, combined with one-sided fixtures involving vastly unequal teams, could significantly reduce fan interest in the marquee tournament.

Ravichandran Ashwin on why fans won’t watch T20 World Cup 2026

Ashwin did not mince his words while discussing the structure and appeal of modern ICC competitions. The former off-spinner argued that early-round matches featuring top-ranked nations against relatively inexperienced sides fail to capture the imagination of viewers.

According to Ashwin, contests such as India facing associate teams in the opening stages do little to build excitement. He remarked that such fixtures risk driving fans away rather than drawing them in, as the competitive balance is often missing. In his view, these mismatches undermine the very essence of a World Cup, which is meant to showcase high-intensity cricket at the highest level.

“No one is going to watch the ICC T20 World Cup this time. India vs USA, India vs. Namibia—these are games that will literally pull you away from the World Cup,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Loss of anticipation around global events

Ashwin also highlighted how the traditional charm of ICC tournaments has eroded over time. He recalled an era when World Cups were staged once every four years, allowing anticipation and narrative to build naturally. Back then, early-round clashes between heavyweight teams like India, England, Sri Lanka, or Australia were major attractions in themselves.

Now, however, Ashwin feels that the overexposure of global tournaments has dulled that excitement. With fans seeing World Cups and ICC events almost every year, the sense of occasion has diminished. The former India star suggested that scarcity once made these tournaments special, a factor that is largely missing in the current calendar.

“World Cups used to happen once every four years. Because of that, the interest is used to build. India used to play England or Sri Lanka in the first round, and that was a lot more fun,” added Ashwin.

Also READ: Ravichandran Ashwin picks 2 standout players for India in 2025

Overcrowded ICC Schedule Under Scrutiny

Since 2010, ICC tournaments have been staged with remarkable regularity, with hardly a year passing without a major global event. The T20 World Cup scheduled for 2020 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and eventually held in 2021, followed by another edition in 2022. The ODI World Cup took place in 2023, the T20 World Cup followed in 2024, the Champions Trophy took place in 2025, and now another T20 World Cup arrives in 2026.

Also READ: 3 T20I superstars who bowed out before the T20 World Cup 2026

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday welcomed BCCI’s decision to instruct Shah Rukh Khan owned Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh player Mustafizur Rehman from their roster ahead of Indian Premier League.BJP leader Sangeet Som thanked BCCI for its decision and hailed it as a “victory of the Hindus of the entire nation.”

“Thanks to BCCI for its decision in view of the 100 crore Sanatanis of India,” Som said.“We said yesterday that cognisance will be taken of this matter because the sentiments of 100 crore people cannot be taken lightly. This is the victory of the Hindus of the entire nation,” he added.Earlier in the day, BCCI secretary Devjit Saikia said that the decision was taken “due to the recent development going all across.”“Due to the recent developments which is going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchise KKR to release one of their player Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh from their squad and BCCI has also said that if they ask for any replacement, BCCI is going to allow that replacement,” Saikia told news agency ANI.Recently, spiritual leaders had launched a broadside against KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan in context of the recent targeting of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.Devkinandan Thakur criticised Shah Rukh Khan after KKR acquired right-arm pacer Mustafizur for a massive amount of Rs 9.20 crore during the IPL auction.“In Bangladesh, Hindus are being brutally murdered, their homes are being burned, and their sisters and daughters are being raped. After witnessing such brutal killings, how can someone be so heartless, especially someone who calls himself the owner of a team? How can he be so cruel as to include a cricketer from that very country in his team?” he said.Meanwhile, Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, the Chief Imam, All India Imam Organisation, also demanded that Shah Rukh Khan apologise to the nation for inclusion of the Bangladesh pacer in the KKR Squad.Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi said that KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan should give a statement condemning the atrocities being committed against Hindus in Bangladesh and also remove Mustafizur from his team.“Does Shah Rukh Khan have no information regarding the atrocities being committed against Hindus in Bangladesh?… It is a matter of regret that despite having information regarding the atrocities being committed against Hindus in Bangladesh, KKR selected a Bangladeshi player in the IPL auction. Shah Rukh Khan should apologise to the nation…He should also give a statement condemning the atrocities being committed against Hindus in Bangladesh,” Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi told ANI.Earlier, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam had urged KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan to remove the Bangladeshi player from his team before the before he becomes a target.“When the entire country is enraged and angry at Bangladesh, anyone in India who has even the slightest connection to Bangladeshis could become a target of that anger. If there is a Bangladeshi in Shah Rukh Khan’s team, before he becomes a major target, we request that Shah Rukh Khan remove the Bangladeshi from his team. This will be for his own good and will also protect India’s interests,” Sanjay Nirupam told ANI.Reacting to the controversy, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said the focus should be on who permitted Bangladeshi players to be included in the IPL auction in the first place.“First of all, I want to ask who put the Bangladeshi players in that pool. This question is for the BCCI and the ICC. Home Minister’s son, Jay Shah, should answer who put the Bangladeshi players in the pool where IPL players are bought and sold, the pool where the players’ auction takes place… he is the ICC’s chief and the main decision-maker in cricket all around the world,” she said.This comes as Bangladesh saw a series of violent incidents targeting members if Hindu community. Last month, two Hindu youths were lynched in separate incidents. Dipu Chandra Das, a garment factory worker in Mymensingh district, was beaten to death over alleged blasphemy charges on December 18, after which his body was reportedly hanged and set on fire.In another case, a Hindu youth identified as Amrit Mondal was lynched in Hosendanga village of Kalimohor Union in Rajbari’s Pangsha sub-district over an alleged extortion dispute.These incidents have triggered widespread outrage and condemnation from political leaders, religious organisations and minority groups in both Bangladesh and India.

As 2026 gets underway, it’s advisable to check the bank holiday calendar before planning a visit to the branch. Missing a holiday can quickly turn a bank visit into a wasted trip, particularly in the early days of the year when people are getting back to work and managing their finances. Banks in India observe a mix of national and state-specific holidays, which means branch closures can differ from one state to another.

Are banks closed on January 3?

On Saturday, January 3, banks in Uttar Pradesh are closed to observe the birthday of Hazrat Ali. Usually banks are shut only on second and fourth Saturdays of the month according to the RBI calendar.

More holidays in January:

January 12: Banks in West Bengal will be closed to mark the birthday of Swami Vivekananda.January 14: Banking services will be suspended in Gujarat, Odisha, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on account of Makar Sankranti and Magh Bihu.January 15: Banks in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh will remain shut in observance of Uttarayana Punyakala, Pongal, Maghe Sankranti and Makara Sankranti.January 16: Banks in Tamil Nadu will be closed for Thiruvalluvar Day, followed by another closure in the state on January 17, 2026, due to Uzhavar Thirunal.January 23: Banks in Tripura, Odisha and West Bengal will remain shut in observance of the birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Saraswati Puja (Shree Panchami), Vir Surendrasai Jayanti and Basanta Panchami.January 26: Banks will remain closed nationwide on the occasion of Republic Day.Being aware of bank holidays in advance can help customers plan essential financial transactions and avoid last-minute disruptions. However, a bank holiday does not mean that no banking activity is available. Even when branches are closed, customers can continue to access online banking services, ATMs, mobile banking apps and UPI for fund transfers, bill payments and other routine transactions. However, services that require a physical visit to the branch, such as large cash deposits, cheque clearances and the issuance of demand drafts, will not be available. To avoid inconvenience, account holders are advised to plan such activities ahead of time and rely on digital banking options during bank closures.

Panaji: Indian Super League (ISL) clubs have told their foreign players they are free to chase opportunities elsewhere for the rest of the season with the top-tier league yet to kick off here. The ISL normally starts in September and concludes in April, but football has come to a standstill this season as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) does not have a marketing partner. The commercial rights for the top league did not find any takers. Without any competitive football, foreign players are growing restless and have chosen to make a move during this month’s transfer window, even though it’s for lesser money. “The situation has become untenable for my family and me,” said FC Goa midfielder Borja Herrera who has moved to Indonesia after four seasons in India. “Those in charge have pushed me to make this decision, as after countless meetings, they still haven’t made a real decision.” Herrera, the only player to win three Super Cups in a row, wasn’t the first from Goa to quit the club. Javier Siverio packed his bags for Greece even before the club could play their concluding AFC Champions League Two group-stage clash against FC Istiklol at home. His parting message: “Have some shame, AIFF.” Kerala Blasters too have seen departures. While Portuguese striker Tiago Alves mutually parted ways with the club after playing just three competitive games in three months, captain Adrian Luna is headed to Indonesia on loan till end of season, and Moroccan winger Noah Sadaoui is almost certain to join him in the Indonesian Super League later this week. “In a normal situation, we would have wanted the players to stay with us, but we are being pragmatic and don’t want to create hurdles,” said Kerala Blasters CEO Abhik Chatterjee. “The players want to prolong their careers and need to be playing competitive football, particularly when approaching a certain age. Everyone is now trying to ascertain what is best for them. The players are looking at opportunities.” Scottish midfielder Connor Shields, Chennaiyin FC’s captain last season, waited for an update from Indian football for several months before deciding it was best for him to continue his journey with Cambodian Premier League champions Svay Rieng FC. East Bengal and Bengaluru FC are also expecting to lose their foreign players for the rest of the season, though widespread speculation about Argentine defender Kevin Sibille leaving the Kolkata giants is incorrect. Fiji striker Roy Krishna, a previous winner of the ISL Golden Ball, decided to ply his trade in the Super League Kerala with Malappuram FC, and with no sign of ISL kicking off, preferred to move home where he is now the first marquee signing for Bula FC. “For the foreign players, we have provided them with an option that they are free to move if there are offers,” said NorthEast CEO Mandar Tamhane. “Some of our foreign players are young and their futures are at stake. If they don’t play, it’s difficult to find offers (for next season).”

As Australia prepare for the final chapter of the Ashes 2025–26 series, emotions are running high in the home camp with Usman Khawaja set to play his final international match. Ahead of the fifth Test at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground, Australian captain Pat Cummins shared a heartfelt message for his longtime teammate, making a special request that perfectly captured the sentiment surrounding Khawaja’s swansong.

Pat Cummins’ message for a departing Usman Khawaja

Pat Cummins, who leads Australia in both Tests and ODIs, took to social media to congratulate Khawaja on a distinguished international career. Along with his message, Cummins shared a photograph featuring the pair and expressed a simple yet powerful wish — for Khawaja to sign off with one more century at his home venue.

“Congratulations on an incredible career, mate. One more home century to go,” Cummins wrote, echoing the hopes of fans and teammates alike as Australia brace for an emotional farewell.

A full-circle moment at the SCG

The Sydney Test carries deep significance for Khawaja. It was at the same ground back in 2011 that he made his Test debut against England during the Ashes series, stepping in after Ricky Ponting was ruled out through injury. Nearly 15 years later, Khawaja will walk out at the SCG once more, this time knowing it will be his final appearance in international cricket.

Statistically, Sydney has been Khawaja’s fortress. He has amassed 875 runs from nine Tests at the venue, averaging an outstanding 87.50, with four centuries and a half-century to his name. Few Australian batters have enjoyed such dominance at the historic ground, making Cummins’ request far from unrealistic.

Also READ: Usman Khawaja announces retirement from international cricket, SCG Test to be his final bow

The comeback that defined Usman’s legacy

One of the defining moments of Khawaja’s career also came in Sydney. During the Ashes 2021–22 series, he returned to the Test side after more than two years away and announced himself in emphatic fashion by scoring twin centuries at the SCG. That performance reignited his international career and laid the foundation for a prolific two-year run at the top level.

Khawaja carried that form into overseas conditions, playing a crucial role in Australia’s memorable 2–2 Ashes draw in England in 2023. He finished that series as the leading run-scorer with 496 runs, underlining his importance at the top of the order.

Also READ: Ashes 2025-26: Shoaib Bashir returns as England unveil squad for the SCG Test

Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has stepped in amid the growing political storm surrounding Kolkata Knight Riders’ signing of Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, asking the franchise to release the left-arm pacer from its squad ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League season. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the development to PTI, stating that the board had communicated its decision to KKR in light of the prevailing situation. The intervention follows days of mounting pressure after KKR moved to rope in Mustafizur during the IPL auction, a decision that triggered sharp reactions beyond the cricketing sphere.

KKR had acquired the services of the 30-year-old left-armer for Rs 9.20 crore from a base price of Rs 2 crore after an intense bidding war with Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals at the players’ auction last month. The franchise viewed Mustafizur as an experienced overseas option capable of bolstering its bowling attack. A political controversy erupted soon after the signing, with sections of the Bharatiya Janata Party and several religious organisations objecting to the inclusion of a Bangladeshi player in a Kolkata-based IPL franchise. The backlash has been rooted in the current strain in India–Bangladesh relations, as well as concerns being raised around reports of violence in the neighbouring country. Addressing the situation, Saikia clarified that KKR would be permitted to name a replacement player if required. “The BCCI has asked Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from its squad. They can ask for a replacement if needed, and upon request, the BCCI will allow a replacement player,” Saikia told PTI on Saturday. When asked about the reason behind the decision, the BCCI secretary said, “Because of recent developments all across.” The pressure on the board had been intensifying over the participation of the Bangladesh cricketer, particularly in the wake of the recent killing of a Hindu man in the country and India’s expression of concern regarding the safety of minorities there. What began as a cricketing call eventually evolved into a wider debate, drawing the league, the franchise and the BCCI into a sensitive geopolitical conversation.

India’s Sumit Nagal (AP/PTI)

Bengaluru: Sumit Nagal dropped his kit bag and stared at it for a moment before reaching for his rackets. He could barely look at the graphite sticks. A part of him wanted to obliterate them. The 28-year-old had just lost in straight sets to Frenchman Geoffrey Blancaneaux in the first round of an ATP Challenger in Lyon in early June. It was a defeat that stung — Nagal hadn’t dropped a set in four previous meetings with Blancaneaux.

Sensing the storm brewing inside India’s No.1, coach Sascha Nensel stepped in. He grabbed the bag and told Nagal to take a break, to simply get away from the tennis court. “Those back-to-back tournaments in Heilbronn and Lyon were bad,” Nagal says six months later, leaning forward in his seat at a luxury hotel in Bengaluru. “I was playing such bad tennis. I was missing, making a lot of errors. I’m hitting the ball, but I don’t know where it is going. It’s the worst place to be for a tennis player. Lyon was rock bottom.” From there, Nagal and Yash Pandey, friend and sports physiotherapist, drove nearly 370 km to the Swiss resort town of Interlaken. Over the next five days, the duo hiked through the Bernese Alps. They spoke occasionally, and slowly the weight Nagal had been carrying through the first half of 2025 began to lift. The slump had consequences. Nagal’s ranking fell out of the top 300 in the second half of last year, pushing him out of even the qualifying fields of Grand Slams. The slide felt steep because it came on the heels of his best season yet, when he had climbed to a career-high No.68. In a sport where the number beside a name becomes the player’s identity, the drop has meant that, for the first time in two years, Nagal, ranked No.277 this week, will miss the Australian Open from Jan 18. Instead, he will start his 2026 campaign next week in Bengaluru at an ATP 125 Challenger, where he’ll hope to kickstart his return to the top 100. “You are top 100, you don’t play well and in four months you are 180,” Nagal says. “Nobody likes to be 300 whatever. The tournaments are very different, prize money is different. The hardest part for me was that I wasn’t playing at the level I wanted to play. The mental part too is a challenge; you struggle with motivation.” A low-grade temperature early in 2025 disrupted Nagal’s schedule. It didn’t help either that he didn’t have much of a pre-season. “Going forward, I will do pre-seasons for four to six weeks, playing a maximum of one league, because that’s what works best for my body and my game,” he says. Some of the missteps, Nagal admits, came down to inexperience at that level. “This was the first time I was 68 in the world,” he says. “There were some matches when I was 80 or 90 that I could have done better in. It was a learning experience.” At 5 ft 11, Nagal relies heavily on his legs and all-round consistency. In hindsight, he feels he should have put the rackets away even for a week the moment mental focus began to slip. “I should have come home, for some love and ghar ka khana — mooli parathas, cheeni roti…” he says, laughing, his eyes lighting up.