Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez slammed the United States for the “false” claims about drugs, democracy, and human rights and said that these have been used as excuses for one real goal: “oil.“While addressing the Venezuelan Parliament, Rodriguez said they are open to energy relations where all parties benefit, where economic cooperation is clearly defined in commercial contracts.This remarks came after Trump said that the US is receiving full cooperation from Venezuela’s regime and will control the country and its vast oil reserves for years. Caracas was giving Washington “everything that we feel is necessary” and the US would remain a political overlord there for an indefinite period, the US president said.In a video, going viral, Rodriguez said, “We are an energy powerhouse, we truly are. It has brought us tremendous problems, because you all know that the energy greed of the North wants resource of our country. And we have denounced it all the falsehoods about drug trafficking, democracy, and human rights. They were the excuses because what has always been present is the (threat) that Venezuela’s oil must be handed over to the global North.”Rodríguez also said that her government is open to energy partnerships and commercial agreements with other nations, highlighting the country’s vast oil and gas reserves and willingness to work within international law.“And here we are, our stance has been very clear. Venezuela is open to energy relations where all parties benefit, where economic cooperation is clearly defined in commercial contracts. This is our stance as it the diversity of our energy relations,” she added.Earlier, Venezuela’s interim president defended plans to open up her country’s oil market to Washington.Rodríguez said on Wednesday that the US attack to remove her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, had put a “stain” on the countries’ relations, but that it was “not unusual or irregular” to trade with the US, adding that Venezuela was “open to energy relations where all parties benefit”.US forces seized a pair of sanctions-hit tankers on Wednesday and the administration announced it would manage all sales of Venezuela’s future crude production and oversee the sale of the country’s petroleum worldwide.

NEW DELHI: Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan has strongly spoken out against recent attacks on the minority Hindus in Bangladesh. He shared his feelings on social media after reports emerged about a Hindu widow being brutally assaulted. Dhawan said such acts of violence are wrong and should never be accepted.Posting on his social media account X (formerly Twitter), Dhawan wrote: “Heartbreaking to read about the brutal assault on a Hindu widow in Bangladesh. Such violence against anyone, anywhere is unacceptable. Prayers for justice and support for the survivor.”

Over the past few months, there have been several incidents of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. Since December, reports say that men from minority communities have been killed. The situation has badly affected cricket relations between India and Bangladesh.After public backlashes, the BCCI asked Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad.The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) demanded that their four T20 World Cup matches in India be shifted to Sri Lanka, citing safety concerns.On Wednesday, the BCB confirmed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has stepped in to ensure Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup is not disrupted. The tournament is scheduled to begin on February 7.The BCB said the ICC has replied to their concerns and is ready to work closely with them on security matters.“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has received a response from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the Board’s expressed concerns over the safety and security of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, including the request for relocation of the team’s matches,” the BCB said in their statement.The board added that the ICC wants Bangladesh to take part fully in the tournament.“In its communication, the ICC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the full and uninterrupted participation of the Bangladesh team in the tournament. The ICC has conveyed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns raised and has assured that the Board’s inputs will be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event.“The BCB has also taken note of certain reports published in a section of the media suggesting that the Board has been issued an ultimatum in this regard. The BCB categorically states that such claims are completely false, unfounded and do not reflect the nature or content of the communication received from the ICC.“The Board will continue constructive engagement with the ICC and relevant event authorities in a cooperative and professional manner to arrive at an affable and practical solution that ensures the smooth and successful participation of the team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The Bangladesh Cricket Board remains firmly committed to placing the highest priority on the safety, security and well-being of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team,” the statement read.

Usman Khawaja‘s emotional Test farewell at SCG captivates cricket fans worldwide. The Australian opener’s final outing against England in the Ashes drew tears from wife Rachel in the stands, marking the end of a storied 15-year career.​

Tears flow as Usman Khawaja’s wife Rachel gets emotional in Australian veteran’s final Test

Memories filled the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 8, 2026, when Khawaja made his final walk in Test cricket during the fifth Ashes encounter. As the crowd rose in applause, cameras found his wife Rachel in the stands, tears rolling freely, reflecting the unseen sacrifices that shaped his 88-Test career.

Khawaja managed only 6 runs before chopping on to Josh Tongue, yet the moment went far beyond numbers. He dropped to his knees and kissed the pitch, then lifted his bat in farewell as his children and family looked on. The touching scenes quickly spread across social media, praised as cricket’s most heartfelt goodbyes. Speaking later to Channel 7, the 39-year-old admitted spotting Rachel and said her unwavering emotional support made everything possible.

#UsmanKhawaja has finally drawn the curtain on his illustrious career. Dismissed for 6 runs in his last Inn, Khawaja walked back to pavilion on weary legs, offering a heartfelt prostration in gratitude to the Almighty. A touching moment as wife Rachel Khawaja was seen in tears pic.twitter.com/eof4lejbI7

— Shakeel Khan Khattak (@ShakeelktkKhan) January 8, 2026

“You don’t always get the fairy tale where I score the runs in the end. And I kind of like that in some respect. When it happened, I got over that after a few seconds. I looked over and saw Rachel. You know, my family was up there, gave them kisses and the love because without her I wouldn’t be here right now,” Khawaja stated post-match.

Here’s the video:

Thanks, Uzzy ❤️ #Ashes pic.twitter.com/h9HPM4arJy

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 8, 2026

Also WATCH: Australia veteran Usman Khawaja gets a Guard of Honour in his farewell game as emotions run high on Day 5 of Sydney Test

Khawaja’s illustrious Test career legacy

Born in Islamabad and migrating to Australia as a child, Khawaja debuted at this very SCG in the 2010-11 Ashes, notching 37 and 21 against England, showcasing the elegant left-handed style that defined him. Retiring with 6,229 Test runs at 43.25, including 16 centuries, he ranks 14th on Australia’s all-time list, plus 40 ODIs and nine T20Is, as the nation’s first Muslim and Pakistan-born Test cricketer inspiring south-Asian pathways.

His SCG full-circle exit, near his childhood home, overcame early struggles, racism advocacy, and highs like key Ashes knocks, leaving Pat Cummins urging one final ton, though reality delivered grit over fairy tale. Khawaja’s candid reflection, “No perfect ending, but gratitude, resonates, cementing his off-field impact as much as his blade-like batting.

Also READ: WTC 2025-27 Points Table [UPDATED]: Australia stays on top with Ashes Test series win over England; India below Pakistan in rankings

India’s Ruturaj Gaikwad (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil)

Ruturaj Gaikwad delivered one of the finest List A knocks of the season on Thursday, producing a composed yet commanding 134 off 131 balls in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and rewriting several records along the way. It was an innings built on patience, timing and authority, and one that once again underlined why Gaikwad continues to be rated among India’s most consistent domestic performers.𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗷𝗮𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝘆15 – Ruturaj Gaikwad (57 inngs)*15 – Ankit Bawne (94 inngs)13 – Devdutt Padikkal (36 inngs)13 – Mayank Agarwal (79 inngs) With this century, Gaikwad drew level with Ankit Bawne for the most hundreds in Vijay Hazare Trophy history. Both now sit on 15, but the context makes Gaikwad’s achievement stand out. He reached the mark in just 57 innings, while Bawne needed 94. The Maharashtra batter’s ability to convert starts has been a defining feature of his career, and Thursday’s knock was another example of that trait.

The innings also carried a milestone of even greater significance. Gaikwad became the fastest player in professional List A cricket to score 20 centuries, achieving the feat in just 95 innings. No other batter has reached 20 List A hundreds in fewer than 100 matches. The previous benchmark of 129 innings was jointly held by Mayank Agarwal and Khurram Manzoor, while modern greats like Babar Azam and Virat Kohli took 131 and 143 innings respectively to get there.𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁-𝗔 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 (𝗺𝗶𝗻 𝟱𝟬 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗴𝘀)58.83 – Ruturaj Gaikwad 57.86 – Michael Bevan 57.76 – Sam Hain57.67 – Virat Kohli 57.01 – Cheteshwar Pujara Gaikwad’s consistency is reflected not just in his centuries but also in his numbers across formats. He currently boasts the best batting average in List A cricket among players with at least 50 innings, sitting at an impressive 58.83. That places him ahead of names such as Michael Bevan, Sam Hain, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, a list that highlights the quality of company he now keeps. Against Goa, Gaikwad’s knock was both fluent and controlled. He struck eight fours and six sixes, anchoring the Maharashtra innings as they posted 249 for 7. The match went down to the wire, with Maharashtra eventually clinching a tense three run victory. During the course of the innings, Gaikwad also became the fastest batter to complete 5,000 List A runs, adding another landmark to an already memorable day. Despite his growing list of achievements, Gaikwad was a surprise omission from India’s squad for the upcoming three match ODI series against New Zealand in January. The exclusion came shortly after he scored his maiden ODI century against South Africa in December 2025, making the decision even more puzzling for many observers. At 29, Gaikwad finds himself at a crucial phase of his career. His domestic numbers continue to make a strong case for sustained opportunities at the international level, while his leadership credentials are also on the rise. He is set to lead Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2026 season, a role that reflects the trust placed in him by the franchise.

Former Multan Sultans owner Ali Khan Tareen and Mohsin Naqvi

NEW DELHI: Former Multan Sultans owner Ali Khan Tareen has decided to stay away from the auction for the two new Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises. The auction is being held today in Islamabad at the Jinnah Convention Centre, where the league is expanding from six to eight teams.

Just hours before the bidding began, Ali Tareen shared his decision on social media platform X. He wrote, “After careful consideration, my family and I have decided not to participate in today’s PSL franchise auction.” The announcement surprised many, as Tareen was expected to be one of the prominent bidders.In his message, Tareen explained that his journey with the PSL was never only about business or team ownership. “Our time with Multan Sultans was never just about owning a cricket team. It was about South Punjab. About giving a voice to a region that had been overlooked for too long,” he wrote. He said this sense of purpose guided everything they built while owning the Multan Sultans.Tareen made it clear that his connection to South Punjab remains strong. “If I come back to PSL, it has to be for the same reason. South Punjab is where my heart is. It is home,” he added. For now, he plans to enjoy the league as a fan rather than an owner. “This year, I’ll be in the stands. Cheering for players on and celebrating with the fans,” he said.He also hinted at a possible return in the future, especially if Multan becomes available again. “And when the Multan team is being sold, we’ll be ready,” he wrote, while wishing the current bidders well. “Wishing all the bidders the best. May the most outspoken owner win!”The PSL auction will decide ownership of two new teams, with bidders allowed to choose names from cities including Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, and Sialkot. After Tareen’s withdrawal, nine parties remain in the race.

Q: How did this book come about? A: We all remember the lockdown… We had no idea when that would end. We really had no notion of what was going on. It was all completely unknown… My then publisher said to me, why don’t you write about what is around you, the flowers of the Himalaya, so that people like me who are in a house in the middle of London will get to wander those mountains, at least in our minds, even though we are physically not allowed out. And I had plenty of mind blocks against that. The main one was that I am not a botanist… But I sort of began to make notes on particular plants anyway. But as soon as I started doing that, I realized that I couldn’t separate the plants from the people around them or the animals who grazed on them and prevented them from growing, or the animals who did. So the whole book became more about my entire surroundings than only about the flowers. And I was all along painting as well. Q: Gardening has been at the core of your being. A: As I say in one of the essays chapters in the book, my father was an extremely dedicated gardener. Wherever we went, we moved in our life to all sorts of places because he was a geologist and he would keep moving. And from my earliest life, I remember he’d come back from his field surveys with dried leaves, fossils, all sorts of things from the earth. And then when he began to be posted in small towns. All through after that, in each place, in a house we would rent, he would create a garden which would have vegetables, flowers, all sorts of things. And however small the area, he would really manage to create a lovely, growing, thriving garden into which birds would come. And my mother would feed these birds and give them water… In my student room (at university) I found that I had plants where mostly people just had posters… And when we came to the mountains, I finally had a patch of earth instead of flower pots on a veranda. So that’s when it actually began. Q: There’s a gentleness and a tremendous sense of peace. A: When we came here, the small patch of land around the house was completely covered in garbage, to which was added the waste from whatever repair, reconstruction we had to do. It was absolutely barren apart from nettles and weeds. And everybody assured me that nothing would grow here because it’s north facing, it’s not got much sunshine, it has huge deodar trees right around the house which form a canopy and the whole place gets showered by pine needles all through the year. So I often came up against absolute walls and frustration, trying so hard to grow things and failing again and again. But even in that, I think what I read later was that if you put your hands into soil, there’s a particular kind of bacteria that comes into contact with your skin and that creates a chemical response in your body that leads to feelings of contentment or peace. So I think it was this connection with the soil that kept me going in the garden and which keeps me going as a potter too. Q: I love the way you narrate the belief in yourself and the determination with which you kept pulling up all kinds of muck. A: One of the people I quote in that chapter about the soil is Anna Pavord. Her most famous book is about the tulip, but she’s written many, many other books about gardening and plants. She had cancer and had to have quite a lot of surgery and treatment, which left her inside the hospital for a long time. And she narrates how the first thing she did when she was able to get up was to crawl along the floors of the hospital to the outside, where she managed to touch some soil in the garden. And this is what made her feel as if she could go on. Q: You started writing this when all of us had that collective grief of Covid; you’realso remembering people like your father who got you onto this track. A: I have been trying for years to work out in my head how to write about a garden in terms of the people who are in it, not physically, but as presences through the plants… And I would look at these plants around me and feel that each one was attached to a memory of a person or of a time. I knew precisely where I had got it, how I had planted it, and so on. And so, in a sense, that although there is this great sense of loss in not having those people or animals near me, and yet they do still live on because I have their lilies or I have their cacti... So it’s almost like a sort of photo album that lives for you, and it’s for you alone, because any casual visitor to a garden will, of course, experience it differently. Q: Well, as you see, everything happens in its own time. A: The woman who said that to me is a neighbor of mine. When she said that about the garden, she didn’t really mean it in a philosophical manner. She meant it in the way of predicting failure. And I’ve always been astonished in many things I’ve done, how people predict failure when you’ve begun… And that is the beauty about a garden. A garden grows and it teaches you to fall in rhythm, fall in step, grieve the loss of the plant you’ve been trying to nurture, such as those plants you brought from abroad. But the thing is, it also teaches you the joy and to appreciate and live in the moment and say, I did it. Not single handedly, I did it with the soil, with nature, with sunlight, with water. You live in that ecosystem, you don’t operate in isolation.

As Mela completes 25 years since its release in 2000, Aamir Khan has addressed the serious allegations made by his brother Faissal Khan, who recently claimed that Aamir had locked him inside his Mumbai residence for over a year citing schizophrenia. The actor’s remarks come amid renewed scrutiny of their fractured relationship and the film that was meant to relaunch Faissal’s career.

“Kya karein? That is my destiny”

Responding to Faissal’s claims, Aamir spoke to Bollywood Hungama and said, “Kya karein? That is my destiny. You can fight the world, but how can you fight your own family?”

The statement follows Faissal Khan cutting off ties with Aamir and the rest of the family last year while levelling multiple allegations against them. At the time, Aamir and his family released an official statement calling Faissal’s remarks “hurtful” and maintaining that all decisions concerning him were taken collectively by the family based on medical advice.

“The failure of Mela definitely made a difference to me”

While addressing the controversy, Aamir also reflected on Mela, the 2000 film he produced to relaunch Faissal. The actor admitted that the film’s failure affected him deeply.“I was obviously disappointed by its failure to achieve its potential,” he said. “Every film I do means a lot to me. The failure of Mela definitely made a difference to me. It was hard on Faissal, but it was hard on me as well. I’m not comfortable with the idea of any of my films not realising their full potential. The entire team had worked very hard. We were all disappointed.”Mela went on to perform poorly at the box office, with director Dharmesh Darshan later publicly blaming Aamir Khan for the film’s fate.

From Raja Hindustani to a troubled reunion

Aamir Khan and Dharmesh Darshan had first collaborated in 1996 on Raja Hindustani, a film that went on to become a blockbuster. Starring Karisma Kapoor, the film was made on a modest budget of Rs 5.75 crore and earned Rs 76.34 crore, cementing Aamir’s position as a leading star and strengthening his association with the director.Encouraged by the success, the duo planned Mela the same year. This time, Aamir had a personal objective—to give his brother Faissal Khan a second chance after his debut film Madhosh (1994) failed to make an impact.

Allegations, delays and a legacy under scrutiny

Often described as a loose adaptation of Sholay, with Aamir’s character drawing parallels to Dharmendra’s Veeru and Faissal’s to Amitabh Bachchan’s Jai, Mela faced multiple delays during production. Both Dharmesh Darshan and Faissal Khan later alleged that Aamir’s interference contributed to the film’s troubled making.While Aamir has consistently maintained that his intentions were solely to help establish his brother’s career, Faissal has alleged that Aamir deliberately destroyed his prospects—claims that have gained renewed attention in light of the recent allegations.

NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday said he and his cousin Raj Thackeray would “never part ways,” days after the previously estranged cousins announced their reunion ahead of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections and 28 other municipal corporation polls in Maharashtra.The Thackerays announced their alliance on December 24 last year, almost exactly 20 years after Raj left the then-undivided Shiv Sena to launch the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).“We have come together after much thought and understanding. Now, we will never part ways and stay united,” Uddhav Thackeray told news agency PTI.He wondered why people first asked why they weren’t reuniting, and now ask why they have come together.“Till the time we came together, people used to ask us why we were not reuniting. Now they are asking why we have come together and for how long we will stay together. These things don’t mean much,” the former Maharashtra chief minister said.Thackeray, an avid photographer, also recalled that his uncle Shrikant—Raj’s father—gave him his first camera.“I am originally an artist. I am the son of a cartoonist (Sena founder Bal Thackeray). You can buy a work of art, but you can’t buy art. Art has to be in the blood. I am a person who is at home in the arts,” he added.The polls for the 227-seat Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the civic body of Mumbai, Maharashtra’s capital and India’s foremost financial hub, will be the first BMC elections for Shiv Sena (UBT). As an undivided party, it had controlled the BMC for 25 years, from 1997 to 2022. The BMC is the country’s richest civic body.The Sena suffered a major split in June 2022, when Eknath Shinde broke away to ally with the BJP, leading to the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government. The Election Commission recognises the Shinde faction as the “real” Shiv Sena.

Australia‘s emphatic 4-1 Ashes victory, finalized on January 8, 2026, served as a clinical masterclass in pressure cricket, leaving England’s “Bazball” era under heavy fire. While the emergence of Jacob Bethell, who struck a defiant 154 in the final Test, provided a flicker of optimism, it could not mask the systemic failures that plagued the tourists throughout the summer.

From the lightning-fast spells of Mitchell Starc, who spearheaded the attack with 31 wickets, to the aggressive batting of Travis Head, Australia exploited every crack in the England armor. England’s tour was defined not by a lack of talent, but by a catastrophic inability to execute under fire, resulting in their sixth consecutive series defeat on Australian soil. As the dust settles at the SCG, the gulf between the two sides has rarely looked wider, as evidenced by these five critical reasons for England’s downfall:

5 critical reasons for England’s downfall in Ashes 2025-26 against Australia

1. A broken opening partnership between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett 

England’s foundation was non-existent, as the opening pair of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett failed to provide a single century stand across ten innings. The tone was set in the very first over of the series in Perth, where Mitchell Starc dismissed Crawley for a duck, a nightmare that repeated itself in 4 out of 10 innings where an opener fell in the opening over. Duckett’s form was particularly alarming, averaging a dismal 16.16 until the final Test, as he repeatedly fell victim to the extra bounce. This constant early exposure meant Joe Root was effectively opening the batting, coming to the crease with fewer than 10 runs on the board in nearly half of the series.

2. England’s third grade fielding standard

The series was arguably lost in the cordon. England’s fielding was described by critics as third-grade standard, with 14 major chances put down at pivotal moments. Ben Duckett and Harry Brook were the primary culprits; Duckett grassed two crucial chances at gully in the Gabba day-night Test, while Will Jacks’ drop of Travis Head on 121 in Sydney allowed the Australian to reach 163. These errors were not just isolated misses; they were ‘momentum killers’ that allowed Australia’s elite to turn 20s into match-winning hundreds, effectively draining the spirit of the English bowlers who had worked tirelessly to create those opportunities.

Also READ: WTC 2025-27 Points Table [UPDATED]: Australia stays on top with Ashes Test series win over England; India below Pakistan in rankings

3. The England captain Ben Stokes’ batting crisis

While Ben Stokes remained a talismanic leader, his personal output with the bat was a shadow of his 2019 heroics. Battling a recurring groin injury that eventually saw him limp out of the final Test, Stokes averaged only 18.40 for the series. His struggle to move freely limited his ability to dominate the crease, and his trademark clutch innings were replaced by nervous starts and brain-fade dismissals. Without Stokes firing in the middle order to counteract the Australian surge, England lacked the fear factor required to unsettle a disciplined pace battery led by Scott Boland and Pat Cummins.

4. Psychological fragility at close out tight sessions

As Stokes admitted himself, England’s biggest weakness was their inability to close out tight sessions. In the Perth Test, England were 105 runs ahead with nine wickets in hand and still managed to lose the game by the end of the day. Similarly, in Brisbane, they collapsed from a position of relative strength, losing 5 wickets for just 54 runs during the floodlit session, where they slumped from 65/1 to 99/6 in a single session. This repeated failure to cash in when ahead meant that even when England were competitive, they were never truly in control. Australia’s veterans, led by Cummins and Steve Smith, displayed a superior situational awareness, navigating through high-pressure periods that England’s Bazball philosophy often attempted to attack with too much aggression and too little caution.

5. Poor preparation and inadequate warm-ups

England’s build-up to the series was described as a gross lack of preparation. The team played only one three-day practice match against their own “Lions” squad, which failed to replicate the intensity of a Test match against a full-strength Australian attack. This lack of acclimatization was evident in the first Test at Perth, where the team looked physically and mentally under-prepared for the bounce and heat. The decision to skip a pink-ball warm-up before the Adelaide day-night Test further compounded this, resulting in players like Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith playing their first-ever first-class pink-ball match under the intense pressure of an Ashes battle, leading to substandard performances.

Also WATCH: Ashes 2025-26: Australia veteran Usman Khawaja gets a Guard of Honour in his farewell game as emotions run high on Day 5 of Sydney Test

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) is in discussions with the Indian Gas Exchange (IGX) to develop and launch Indian natural gas futures, an initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s natural gas market ecosystem, PTI reported.The proposed futures contract is expected to provide market participants with a transparent, efficient and robust risk management tool aligned with India’s evolving natural gas pricing framework, the exchange said.The collaboration seeks to combine NSE’s experience in the derivatives market with IGX’s role in spot natural gas trading, price discovery and physical market development. Once launched, the contract is expected to benefit gas producers, city gas distribution companies, power generators, fertiliser manufacturers, industrial consumers, traders and financial participants by enabling effective hedging against price volatility and supporting long-term planning.“The proposed collaboration with IGX marks a significant step in NSE’s efforts to deepen India’s commodity derivatives markets,” said Sriram Krishnan, Chief Business Development Officer of NSE.According to him, natural gas is emerging as a critical transition fuel in India’s energy mix, and a domestic futures contract would enhance price transparency, strengthen risk management capabilities and help build a credible gas price benchmark aligned with Indian market fundamentals.“By leveraging NSE’s market infrastructure and IGX’s physical market expertise, we aim to create a futures product that is relevant, liquid and trusted by the entire gas value chain,” Krishnan added.Subject to regulatory approvals, NSE and IGX will work with stakeholders to ensure a smooth launch of the proposed derivatives contract. Further details on contract design and timelines will be announced in due course, the exchange said.