If fielding highlights had a recurring theme, Glenn Phillips would feature in most chapters. In Vadodara on Sunday, during the first ODI between India and New Zealand, Phillips came close to adding another moment to that collection, nearly pulling off a catch that would have removed Shubman Gill early in the chase.The moment came in the eighth over of India’s innings. Gill, batting on eight, attempted a cut shot off the fourth ball of Zak Foulkes’ over. The delivery was back of a length and outside the off stump. Gill stayed back and hit the ball hard towards the backward point region. Phillips moved quickly to his left, jumped and stretched out his left hand while airborne. He almost completed the catch but closed his palm a fraction early, and the ball fell short. The effort surprised many, and Virat Kohli was seen reacting from the dressing room.Earlier, New Zealand posted 300 for 8 in their allotted overs after choosing to bat first in the opening ODI in Vadodara.Daryl Mitchell anchored the innings with 84 off 71 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes. His knock helped New Zealand recover after losing wickets in the middle overs. Mitchell came in after a solid opening stand between Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls.Conway scored 56 off 67 balls, including six fours and a six, while Nicholls made 62 off 69 deliveries with eight fours. The pair added 117 runs for the first wicket and kept India in check for the first 21 overs.India struck back through Harshit Rana, whose second spell changed the course of the innings. Rana finished with figures of 2 for 65, including two wickets in a spell of 2 overs for 13 runs. From 117 without loss in the 22nd over, New Zealand slipped to 198 for five by the 38th.Mitchell then built partnerships to steady the innings. Debutant Kristian Clarke provided support towards the end, scoring an unbeaten 24 off 17 balls, which included three fours, as New Zealand crossed the 300-run mark.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is closely monitoring escalating unrest in Iran and that he wishes peace and prosperity for the people of Iran. Describing the ongoing situation as “yoke of tyranny”, he said that Israel and the world respect the courage of protestors.In a video released by his office of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said, “We all hope that the Persian nation will soon be freed from the yoke of tyranny, and when that day comes, Israel and Iran will once again be loyal partners in building a future of prosperity and peace for both peoples.”“Israel is closely monitoring events in Iran,” he further added, “The people of Israel and the entire world are in awe of the tremendous courage of Iran’s citizens.”

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also echoes the Israeli PM’s statement in a video he later shared on X. He said, “We also see the people of Iran. And frankly, we wish them much success. We support their struggle for freedom. We think they deserve freedom, we think they deserve a better future.”He further went on to express that Israel has had a “huge problem” with the Iranian regime and accused Iran of being an exporter of terrorism and radicalism.“We don’t have any hostility with the people of Iran. We have a huge problem, which is not only our problem, it’s a regional and international problem with the Iranian regime, which is the number one exporter of terrorism, radicalism. We have just heard what the Americans had described about their deed in Venezuela. It’s a really vicious regime.”The comments came as Netanyahu and US secretary of state Marco Rubio held a meeting focused on Iran’s internal turmoil and discussing possibilities of US intervention in the matter. While details of the discussion were not disclosed, Israeli officials said coordination with Washington remained “critical.”Earlier on Sunday, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that if the United States attacked Iran, “both the occupied territory and centres of the US military and shipping will be our legitimate targets.” An Israeli military official later said the army was “preparing defensively” and would be ready to respond if necessary.The United States has not signalled plans for imminent action, but tensions have risen sharply since Iran accused Washington and Israel of inciting nationwide protests aimed at destabilising Iran.Iran has been gripped by days of deadly demonstrations, initially sparked by rising living costs but quickly expanding into broader anti-government protests challenging the theocratic leadership that has ruled since 1979. Authorities have blamed foreign interference, while protesters have called for sweeping political change.

VARANASI: Senior Congress leader and MP Jairam Ramesh on Sunday condemned the police’s brutal lathi charge on NSUI’s “Save MGNREGA” protest in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency Varanasi. In a post in X, Ramesh criticised the BJP government, calling it “trouble-engine government” rattled by peaceful, democratic protests.

Ramesh wrote, “In Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency of Banaras, students, under the leadership of NSUI’s national president and my young colleague Varun Chaudhary, took out a ‘Save MGNREGA’ campaign march. This was a completely peaceful and democratic demonstration carried out under constitutional rights, but the Yogi-Modi trouble-engine government is so rattled by questions that it unleashed a brutal lathi charge through the police.“The post was accompanied by a video purportedly showing police personnel manhandling National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) national president Varun Choudhary during the march.The allegations came amid Congress’s ongoing nationwide protests against the enactment of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act (VB-G RAM G Act), which replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).Earlier in the day, Congress workers staged a protest under the banner ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ at Townhall Park in Varanasi. Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai, along with party workers, held a symbolic fast near the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar.Speaking to ANI, Rai said, “We are on a fast. Around the Mahatma Gandhi and Bhimrao Ambedkar statue, we are sitting on a fast. This government ended the MGNREGA law, and to protest that each of our Congress workers is sitting on the streets. We want to remove those who want to remove Mahatma Gandhi’s name.”Rai alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to take away the “rights of the people” and claimed that police were deployed to disrupt the protest, including allegedly stopping opposition leaders at their homes. “They want to even suppress our fast. But still, each of our Congress workers will fight for the rights of the poor people, and we will bring back their rights to them,” he said.Ahead of the proposed NSUI march, Uttar Pradesh Police and paramilitary forces had tightened security arrangements outside the Prime Minister’s public outreach office in Varanasi. All routes leading to the office were placed under strict surveillance.On January 3, the Congress had announced a nationwide three-phase agitation titled ‘MGNREGA Bachao’ following the Centre’s enactment of the VB-G RAM G Act. President Droupadi Murmu recently gave assent to the VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025, marking a major shift in India’s rural employment policy, according to a release from the President’s Secretariat.

Deepika Padukone was in New York city, not just to enjoy the festive season and to celebrate her birthday, but to also become a bridesmaid for her friend’s wedding.

Deepika Padukone turns bridesmaid

Days after photos of the actress, attending a wedding with her hubby Ranveer Singh turned up online, her friend took to social media to share an official image that saw DP ecstatic to be a bridesmaid. For the intimate wedding, the bride stunned in a red saree, while her girls rocked intricate sarees for the wedding celebrations. Sharing the photo, she wrote, “Four pieces of my heart, and my ride or die for life.”

Deepika Padukone’s photo goes viral

ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.Deepika and Ranveer turned heads at the intimate bash. While the actress matched the other bridesmaids with a similar-hued sareer, she also added a subtle detail to her ensemble to match her hubby. Deepika opted for a blue choker necklace, while Ranveer rocked an all-blue suit.

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh’s photos go viral

The actress, has been spending time in New York, on a personal getaway wiith her family. While there, she has been seen out and about, enjoying her time in the big city, getting into the Christmas spirit, going pub hopping and even celebrating New Year at a local restaurant. While both DP and Ranveer has shared any glimpses from their trip, fans have been flooding social media with photos and videos of their various spottings around town. The star couple also paid a surprise visit at a local Indian restaurant to indulge in south Indian comfort food and made the staff’s day by posing with the lot for a cute selfie.

Deepika Padukone’s work slate

Deepika is expected to return to India soon, after which she will resume work on her upcoming film projects, including Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film ‘King’. She also has her project with Atlee in the works.

As the countdown to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 begins, the defending champions are bracing for a high-stakes title defense on home soil. Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka starting February 7, the tournament will see 20 teams battling across 55 matches in subcontinental conditions that historically favor strategic mastery.

While the “Men in Blue” boast a star-studded lineup, former captain Sourav Ganguly has pointed to one specific specialist whose unique skill set could dictate the team’s fortunes in the middle overs. Speaking from Cape Town, Ganguly emphasized that India’s success will hinge on a spin-heavy arsenal capable of exploiting wearing surfaces. With the grand finale set for March 8, the pressure is on the hosts to leverage their home advantage and clinical bowling depth. India enters the fray as the team to beat, with experts agreeing that a single ‘mystery’ element in their attack might be the difference between a trophy and a heartbreak.

Sourav Ganguly’s X-factor for India in T20 World Cup 2026

As per the Times of India, Ganguly officially named mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy as the player who holds the keys to India’s success in the upcoming global event. Currently sitting at the top of the rankings as the ICC’s No. 1 T20I bowler, Chakravarthy has undergone a sensational career resurgence, becoming the “middle-over cheat code” for captain Suryakumar Yadav.

Ganguly noted, “Yeah, nothing (home WC) gets bigger than that, and India is always my favourite team. They have a strong spin attack and if Chakravarthy is fit, then it’s good for India,” highlighting that his ability to deceive batters with subtle variations is uniquely suited for the dry, spinning tracks expected in Chennai, Mumbai, and Colombo. Having dismantled top orders throughout 2025 with an incredible average of just 13.19, his presence allows India to attack even when the powerplay ends, making him more vital to the tactical blueprint than traditional raw pace.

The road to the T20 World Cup 2026 Title: India’s Group A schedule and key matchups

India begins its journey in Group A, a pool that requires clinical consistency before a high-voltage showdown in Sri Lanka. The defending champions will play three of their four group matches in India before crossing the border for the tournament’s biggest rivalry. Below are the confirmed fixtures for India’s opening round:

Also READ: Shubman Gill speaks out on T20 World Cup 2026 exclusion as India gears up for New Zealand ODIs

India’s 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup

The selection committee has moved away from traditional anchors, opting for a squad built on explosive power and specialist wicket-taking options to suit the modern T20 tempo.

• Batters: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Ishan Kishan (wk).
• All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vc), Washington Sundar.
• Spinners: Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav.
• Pacers: Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana.

Also READ: Tamim Iqbal under fire for questioning BCB’s decision to move Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup games from India

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