It’s tough to pinpoint the exact reason why a team goes on to win a long tournament like the World Cup. It will almost always be a culmination of many small things working well together for the team to be successful at that level.To win a Cricket World Cup, all your elements — batting, bowling and fielding — need to collectively work well. Consistency in team efforts, along with a few individuals’ standout performances, makes a team the World Champion.But sometimes a decision, technical or tactical, during the buildup to such a mega event turns out to be a trump card for the team, leading them to massive success. One such tactical decision was made by the Sri Lankan side in the lead-up to the 1996 ODI World Cup, co-hosted by India, Pakistan and the island nation.Little did they, or the cricketing world at large, know back then that the decision to promote wicketkeeper-batter Romesh Shantha Kaluwitharana as an opener in the final series before the mega-event would change their fortune in such a quick time.On This Day, thirty years ago — January 9, 1996 — Kaluwitharana batted as an opener against Australia in Melbourne for the first time in his over five-year ODI career. He had a clear mandate — to blast from the get-go — and he did the same in style.Australia had posted 213 for 5 in their 50 overs after electing to bat first at the MCG, with Ricky Ponting top-scoring with 123 off 138 balls. Ponting added a record 159 runs for the fifth wicket with Michael Bevan, who contributed 65 not out off 87 balls.Sri Lanka lost two early wickets and were at 39/2, but Kaluwitharana kept the scoreboard ticking with captain Aravinda de Silva (35) and added 88 runs for the third wicket. Kaluwitharana was the next wicket to fall, scoring a 75-ball 77 laced with 12 fours. Sri Lanka then lost three more wickets quickly, but Roshan Mahanama (51) and Kumar Dharmasena (28) guided the visitors to victory in the day-night encounter by three wickets with 15 balls to spare in the Benson & Hedges World Series, which included West Indies as the third team.Kaluwitharana had a decent run in the series as an opener as he stitched together a string of good scores. Even though he ended the series with a duck in Sydney, his scores read — 77 (75), 20 (27), 50 (54), 74 (68), 13 (9) & 0 (2).That one tactical move on January 9 inadvertently started a pinch-hitting plan for the Lankans. And within ten weeks from that fateful day, despite Kaluwitharana’s below-par contributions individually, the impact of attacking from the word go played a big part in bringing the World Cup home for Sri Lanka.Opening with Sanath Jayasuriya, who won the Man of the Series at the World Cup, Kaluwitharana was a menace for new-ball bowlers in that tournament. He started the World Cup with a duck against Zimbabwe in Colombo, but the co-hosts persisted with the opening pinch-hitter in Kaluwitharana.His 1996 World Cup record reads — 20 (16) vs India in Delhi, 33 (18) vs Kenya in Kandy, 8 (3) vs England in Faisalabad, 0 (1) vs India in Kolkata and 6 (13) vs Australia in Lahore. He scored just 73, but it came at a 140.38 strike rate, well before the concept of T20 cricket came into being, and along with Jayasuriya’s 221 at a 131.54 strike rate, new-ball bowlers were hit hard by the Lankans.In fact, Sri Lankan batters were trendsetters in that tournament, with De Silva (448 at a 107.69 strike rate) and Arjuna Ranatunga (241 at 114.76 SR) making bowlers search for cover.At a time when a 100 strike rate was a rare commodity, four of Sri Lanka’s top batters were cruising well above it thirty years ago, setting a template widely followed these days even in T20 cricket, especially with powerplay field restrictions.The outcome of the tactical decision was an inadvertent one, but it was a happy move for Sri Lanka and world cricket.

Mumbai: Shiv Sena led by deputy CM Eknath Shinde is trumpeting a cluster redevelopment policy aimed at rehabilitating 17 large slum pockets in Mumbai—areas which the party says are predominantly Maharashtrian settlements.Buttressing the argument that the civic body must be run by parties governing the state, the Sena has made housing revamp its main poll plank in the civic elections. “Because we control urban development, it will be easier for us to get this implemented. This is the main thrust of our BMC manifesto which will be unveiled on Saturday,” said the party’s ex-MP Rahul Shewale, speaking to TOI. The Sena hopes to counter Sena (UBT)-MNS’s attempts at appealing to Marathi manoos by focusing on basic housing rights. At the heart of the outreach is implementation of the 2034 Development Plan through a cluster-based approach, with Ramabai Nagar cited as a template. “The model for this whole plan is the Ramabai Nagar project, where they have moved out 4,000 people and given rent to them,” Shewale said, referring to transit accommodation and rental support provided in redevelopment.Shewale said 17 clusters, each around 15 hectares, will be developed on the lines of the Ramabai Nagar model. “Instead of isolated vertical slum buildings, we will create township-like neighbourhoods with housing, parking, open spaces, healthcare, schools and commercial zones,” he said.He also said seven additional clusters are planned in Prabhadevi and Dadar, including the Khandke building precinct—an area of symbolic importance. “This is where Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray groomed the Shiv Sena in its initial days,” Shewale said.Shewale said Sena will also focus on economic empowerment of Marathi entrepreneurs. As a tribute to Balasaheb Thackeray on his birth centenary on Jan 23, the party plans to partner with emerging entrepreneurs by offering seed capital. “Many Marathi entrepreneurs have ideas and skills but lack seed capital. Govt-backed seed funds, credit guarantees and partnership models will be created,” he said.“Economic empowerment of Marathis is central to preserving Mumbai’s character,” Shewale said, arguing that rising real estate prices over the past decade have pushed original residents out of the city. He said special provisions for pagdi tenants—long a contentious housing issue—are also being considered.Shewale pointed out that Mumbai’s scale requires strong state-level leadership, and that the civic body alone cannot deliver mega projects. “Mumbai’s infrastructure and housing needs cannot be addressed by the civic body alone. Coordination between the state and Centre is critical,” he said, adding that key clearances ultimately rest with the chief minister.On the economy, Shewale said Mumbai must develop IFSC and FinTech hubs to generate more employment.BOX: Utility tunnel network in the worksOne ambitious intervention, which is part of the Shiv Sena manifesto, is a Rs 50,000-crore utility tunnel network to house water pipelines, power cables, gas lines and fibre optics. “This will end repeated road digging and ensure durable roads for decades. Global cities have adopted this model and Mumbai must do the same,” said ex-MP Rahul Shewale.

NEW DELHI: Researchers, policymakers, clinicians, investors and AI health-tech innovators gathered at IIT Delhi on Friday to examine how artificial intelligence can responsibly transform healthcare and life sciences at AI Impact in Biotech and MedTech Innovation – The Next Frontier, a curtain-raiser to the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Pitch sessions featured student-led health-tech solutions addressing gaps in care, diagnostics and delivery. Innovations included a non-invasive device to manage post-treatment lymphoedema in breast cancer patients; a solid-state, IoT-enabled vaccine cooling carrier powered by battery and solar energy for remote areas; and a smart protective belt designed to reduce fall-related hip injuries among the elderly. Women’s health solutions included a smartphone-based, AI-powered cervical cancer screening tool that enables frontline health workers to detect early abnormalities offline. The forum focused on AI’s growing role in diagnostics, disease management, cancer care and scalable health solutions. The agenda featured two expert panel discussions, pitch sessions by 12 AI health-tech startups and curated networking with over 15 potential investors. Discussions highlighted AI’s ability to extract faster insights from large datasets and improve access to advanced analytics suited to India’s healthcare realitgies. Tarun Chaturvedi, COO of the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer, IIT Delhi, said AI is boosting healthcare innovation by converting large datasets into actionable insights. “India is likely to see a surge in successful AI startups over the next three to five years,” he added. Diagnostics emerged as a major focus area, with startups showcasing point-of-care testing platforms capable of analysing over 25 parameters related to kidney, cardiac and pancreatic conditions at significantly lower costs. Sandeep Nailwal, founder of Blockchain For Impact, said India has the potential to take AI-driven healthcare solutions global, provided technologies are implemented at scale and reach the grassroots level.

A shocking video from Ghaziabad is going viral on social media. It shows a cook at a roadside restaurant apparently spitting on rotis while making them. The clip got a lot of attention from both the public and local authorities, and people are now questioning how clean these eateries really are.

Cook arrested after video circulates

Police acted quickly after the video surfaced and arrested the cook seen in the clip. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Kavinagar) Suryabali Maurya confirmed the arrest and said:“Today, dated 08.01.2026, a video came to light from the Vardhman Puram outpost area of Madhuban Bapudham police station, in which it was claimed that rotis were being prepared by spitting by a person working at the shop. The video was immediately taken cognisance of, and upon viewing it, at first glance, it appeared that the person was indeed spitting while making rotis. Acting promptly, the accused, Javed Ansari, son of Chand (deceased) and a resident of the Muradnagar police station area, was taken into custody. A case has been registered under relevant sections, and necessary legal action is underway.”The accused cook has been identified as Javed Ansari, a resident of Muradnagar town.

Investigation extends to eatery owner

The restaurant, A1 Chicken Point, is owned by Waseem. Police are looking into whether the owner was present during the incident. Authorities are also checking the eatery’s license and have reported the matter to the food safety and health departments for necessary action.“Reports have also been sent to the food safety and health departments for appropriate legal action against the eatery owner,” Maurya added.

People worried about food safety

The video has made many people worry about how clean roadside restaurants are. Officials have said they are looking into the matter and will take action to stop something like this from happening again.The police are checking everything carefully to make sure people stay safe and responsible for any mistakes are held accountable.Thumb image: X

Mumbai Indians clawed their way back into the WPL 2026 contest through a moment of sheer class from Amelia Kerr, as the off-spinner produced a decisive over to derail Royal Challengers Bengaluru‘s chase at the DY Patil Stadium. With RCB looking settled at 90/5 in pursuit of 155 and the asking rate still manageable, the game hinged on one breakthrough to shift momentum. Kerr delivered exactly that, and more, by striking twice in the same over, removing the dangerous Richa Ghosh and cleaning up Radha Yadav with a beauty. The double blow left RCB needing 65 runs from 43 balls, suddenly exposed in the lower middle order. It was the kind of over that doesn’t just take wickets, but flips belief. MI’s body language lifted instantly, the crowd found its voice, and the chase tilted sharply.

WPL 2026, MI-W vs RCB-W: Amelia Kerr removes Richa Ghosh and Radha Yadav in the Same Over 

The big strike was the Richa one, and Kerr knew it. Tossing the ball up full and just outside off, she tempted Richa Ghosh into going aerial over long-off, a shot RCB desperately needed in that phase. Ghosh didn’t quite get under it, and the ball flew flatter than intended, allowing Alex Carey to judge it perfectly, move left, leap, and complete a sharp catch under pressure. Ghosh’s reaction said it all, head thrown back, disbelief written across her face, because MI had just removed RCB’s most explosive finisher for 6 off 6 balls.

Just a few deliveries earlier, Kerr went quicker and smarter, unleashing a perfectly disguised googly to Radha. Bowled on a teasing length outside off, the ball dipped late, spun viciously, and left Radha completely clueless as she lunged forward, playing for turn that never came. The googly ripped past the inside edge and crashed into middle and leg, a dismissal that underlined Kerr’s control, deception, and confidence under pressure. Two wickets in an over, both different in execution, both devastating in impact. From a steady chase to a nervy scramble, RCB suddenly found themselves relying on tail-end resistance.

Here’s the video:

Also WATCH: Dream start for Lauren Bell at RCB as Amelia Kerr becomes first wicket of WPL 2026

Kerr’s twin strikes Put Mumbai Indians firmly in control against RCB

Mumbai have seized a strong grip on the opening night of WPL 2026 as Bengaluru find themselves under mounting pressure at 118/6 after 16.3 overs, still needing 37 runs from 21 balls. What once looked like a competitive chase has steadily slipped away from RCB, largely due to MI’s disciplined middle-overs bowling and timely breakthroughs.

Kerr has been the standout, conceding just 13 runs in her four overs while picking up two massive wickets, effectively stalling RCB’s momentum when the game was finely balanced. Her dismissals of Richa and Radha in the same over triggered a collapse that RCB have struggled to recover from. Earlier, the chase promised fireworks as Grace Harris smashed 25 off just 12 balls and Smriti Mandhana struck a fluent 18, racing RCB to 57/2 inside the powerplay. However, once Shabnim Ismail and Nat Sciver-Brunt applied the brakes, the tempo dipped sharply.

The loss of Mandhana, Harris, Hemalatha and then the quick double blow from Kerr reduced RCB to 65/5 inside eight overs, completely shifting the pressure onto the lower order. Nadine de Klerk has fought admirably with an unbeaten 32 off 28 balls, anchoring the innings, while Arundhati Reddy supported her with a gritty 20, but the required rate has crept beyond 10 an over. MI’s fielding intensity has been equally decisive, highlighted by sharp catches from Carey and Ismail that snuffed out any hopes of a late surge.

Also READ: WPL 2026: Here’s why Hayley Matthews is not playing today’s MI-W vs RCB-W match

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

In an exclusive pre-poll interaction with the Times group on Friday, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke on a range of subjects. Excerpts: Q: The Thackeray cousins questioned your right to speak about Mumbai saying you were not born here.A: Who understands Mumbai? One of the great names that comes up is the late Balasaheb Thackeray, but he was not born in Mumbai. His father Prabhodankar Thackeray too was not born in Mumbai. The understanding of Mumbai which Balasaheb Thackeray had, no one has. Those born in Mumbai administered the BMC for several years, what did they do? Mumbai may not be my janmabhoomi but it’s been my karmabhoomi since 1999. Q: BJP is strong in Mumbai, so why the need for an alliance?A: Though we are strong, taking the Shiv Sena along is our moral responsibility because today when we see the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray, it is clearly with (Eknath) Shinde. In such circumstances it is not proper to fight against each other. Secondly, they have created a vote bank, we also have a big vote bank. It is a win-win situation for both. So when we sit for seat sharing talks, it’s a give-and-take. We compromised in Kalyan-Dombivli; in Jalgaon we had won 57 seats earlier, but we settled for 47 seats.Q: How about honouring the legacy by giving them (Shiv Sena) the mayor’s post for 2.5 years?A: Why 2.5 years? We can give it to them for any number of years. We can give them the mayor’s post for five years also. The mayor will be of the Mahayuti.Q: Will your alliance with Shiv Sena and NCP continue till the end of the assembly term?A: Yes absolutely. This election has no effect on our alliance. We sat together and decided that in several municipal corporations we will contest separately because the entire political space is with us. Why should we concede political space to somebody else? That’s our understanding. We are together till 2029 and hopefully thereafter also.Q: Your relations with NCP, are there times when you regret it?A: We carefully thought it over before forming an alliance with the NCP. In one city when we come face to face, I have decided not to speak against our alliance partners. He does speak but Ajit Pawar is a practical person. He knows where to go forward, where to step back, stay flexible… we live in political realism. In 2019 all came together and distanced us….we were the single largest party and they still made us sit in the opposition. If we simply sit with our principles then in our lifetime we will never come to power to implement our principles. Therefore, we made some compromises.Q: Women party workers have got upset over seat distribution and this is reflected on social media.A: After every election a new generation (of political workers) is created. This happened in 2017 and then in 2022 but there were no elections in between. So now there are two generations of party workers and the number of seats is constant. For every seat there are four contenders and whosoever is given a seat, others feel betrayed. Earlier it would not come out in the media. But that is not a bad thing. Women have become assertive. There is 50% reservation for women, but 55% seats have been given to women.Q: What about the Ambernath tie-up with Congress?A: It was 100% wrong. Sometimes what happens is local leaders have their enemies and artificially you cannot bring them together. In Ambernath, our party president who was elected, Sena candidates fought against his family members and the enmity is very strong. I had made it clear: wherever required, go with Shinde Sena or NCP, but here they decided not to go with Sena. Some of those elected on Congress tickets are BJP rebels and came back (to BJP). Congress pre-empted them by removing them from the party. Even the alliance with AIMIM was wrong. In Akot, our nagar president was elected. We needed 2-3 people for a majority. We did an alliance with the NCP which had an alliance with the AIMIM. Technically they (AIMIM) became our alliance partners. The people at the lower level do not realise the repercussions. As soon as I learnt of it, I told them to break it and we even served suspension notices.Q: Unopposed victories in local body polls this time are being attributed to muscle and money power.A: If muscle and money power were being used, it would have happened in Mumbai also. Maximum unopposed elections happened in Kalyan-Dombivli because…Congress has been wiped out there, so also NCP. Even an Islamic party independent candidate got elected unopposed there. We are such big parties and we had no candidate against him.Q: What is your roadmap for Mumbai?A: The DCPR-2034 takes care of every aspect. All DP roads will be concretised. We have a new design for footpaths. Mumbai is landlocked and there is no option but to go vertical but there is a limit to it. All global cities have used this strategy. For BMC a platform for clearing building proposals using artificial intelligence is on the way. Unlike Auto DCR where 4-5 human interventions are required and there is human subjectivity, on this platform it won’t happen. The proposal will be scrutinised by AI, flag provisions that are not as per DCPR, and even provide a 3D model of the project. Using technology we shall try to make it transparent.Q: Despite Govt’s focus on big infrastructure projects, there’s a perception that quality of life has not improved much in Mumbai in terms of air quality, pedestrian space, and traffic. Would it have been better to focus on smaller, intelligent solutions in different neighbourhoods?A: Ease of living comes from ease of commuting, which means you need clean means of transportation and so we have planned over 400 kms of metro. Improved suburban railway services, improved frequency of trains, passenger amenities are being provided with 50% funding by the state. For second class passengers, the train fare will remain the same. We have also introduced electric buses, new roads which will decongest Western Express Highway. The Worli-Sewri connector will be ready by Dec 2026. To clean up sewage flowing into the sea, treatment plants have got approvals. Q: In doing redevelopment in Dharavi, why resettle residents on a dumping yard (in Deonar) which has a toxic environment and will take decades to clear even after scientific closure. Previously, slum rehab schemes in Mahul have had to be abandoned because of such pollution.A: Whatever happened in Mahul was a scam. All those who are eligible will be rehabilitated in Dharavi. Those ineligible, if we simply remove them, then that is no solution because they will settle elsewhere. So we decided to provide them 12 years of rental housing in different places, thus abiding by the court order. One of the places is the dumpyard…in Nagpur there is a Symbiosis and next to it is the NM campus. Both have come up on Nagpur’s dumping yard. We did bio-mining, capping and reclaimed the land. There is no smell, no gases.Q: What about slums on Central govt land?A: We are in talks with the Centre for redevelopment of slums on central govt. For airport land we have almost convinced the Centre that if slums are redeveloped in-situ then we shall free up 50-100 acres. Our efforts are on for railways as well. They will never be able to remove all the slums on railway land. But as long as railways has enough and a little more for its projects, it should do.Q: We elect political representatives to a local body, but we can never pick a bureaucracy. Can you reform the bureaucracy at the lower levels in BMC?A: It is a challenge. They know we (politicians) are around only for 5 years…we are working on inter-corporation staff transfers – from Thane to Pune, etc – but there is no other corporation in the state of the size and scale of the BMC.