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NEW DELHI: India’s first-ever bilateral ODI series defeat at home against New Zealand was more than just a statistical setback — it was a moment of uncomfortable clarity, and captain Shubman Gill did not attempt to hide it. After the 41-run loss in the series decider at the Holkar Stadium on Sunday, Gill offered a frank assessment of where India fell short and why New Zealand deserved to win.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“For me, it wasn’t that we didn’t bat well. It was that we didn’t bat long enough,” Gill said, pinpointing what he believed was the decisive factor. “When batsmen are getting starts and they’re not able to convert those starts, especially in high-scoring matches, it becomes very difficult. At least two batters need to go on and play that long innings. That was the difference between them and us.”
India’s inability to turn promising starts into match-defining scores haunted them throughout the series, including in Indore where Virat Kohli’s century briefly revived hopes after the hosts slipped to 71 for four. Gill repeatedly returned to the contrast with New Zealand’s batting template.
Poll
Which area of the Indian team's performance needs the most improvement?
“Whenever their batsmen got set, they scored long. That’s the difference,” he said. “Even in the first two matches, I got set, but I wasn’t able to convert it into 100, 120 or 130, and that’s something we need to get better at as a batting unit.”On Ravindra Jadeja, whose impact with bat and ball has dipped in recent years. Gill resisted singling him out. “Jaddu bhai was looking in good touch with the bat. But it wasn’t just him. I don’t think any of our batsmen were able to consistently convert the starts we were getting,” he said, before acknowledging Jadeja’s reduced wicket-taking returns. “He has always been a strike option for us. It’s unfortunate he couldn’t pick as many wickets as he would have liked, but that happens. You learn from it and you grow.”Fielding lapses, too, proved costly. “We dropped some catches at very important stages of the game,” Gill admitted. “When those catches don’t stick, it’s not easy. It’s one area we really have to improve.”Gill also backed Rohit Sharma despite the opener’s modest series tally. “You won’t always be able to convert starts. What’s important is that the intent and rhythm are there.”Amid the disappointment, Gill highlighted a positive for the future in Harshit Rana. “Batting at number eight is very important for us. The way he is batting right now, he keeps getting better,” Gill said, also praising his pace and bounce. “In the future, he can be a very good prospect for us.”With the World Cup still some way off, Gill insisted the defeat offered clarity rather than crisis. “We have time,” he said. “As long as we know what we need to work on, hopefully in the next one or two series we can fix those areas and perform the way we want to.”
NEW DELHI: Who will be Mumbai’s mayor? With the BMC results now out, India’s richest civic body is still waiting for a new head. In the financial capital of the country, familiar scenes of Maharashtra politics are unfolding, rounding up winning corporators, hotel stays, number crunching, and sharp political exchanges.The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), long considered a Thackeray stronghold, delivered a mixed verdict. Despite Shiv Sena (UBT) supremo Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray coming together after years of rivalry and bitterness for each other, Mumbai voted differently. While the BJP did not secure an outright majority, it emerged as the single largest party, denting the traditional “Marathi manoos” narrative and gaining a decisive edge. A major chunk of bargaining power also went to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, making it a key player in the mayoral race.The BJP recorded its best-ever performance in BMC elections, winning 89 wards and continuing its winning momentum after its Bihar victory. Shiv Sena (UBT) came second with 65 wards but lost many of its traditional strongholds. The Shinde-led Sena, a BJP ally, won 29 wards, followed by the Congress with 24. AIMIM won eight wards, the Raj Thackeray’s MNS six, the NCP three, the Samajwadi Party two, and the NCP (SP) one.
Suspense continues as the Eknath Shinde–led Shiv Sena is keen on securing the mayor’s post, at least for the first 2.5 years. On Saturday, the party shifted its newly elected corporators to a luxury hotel in Mumbai, claimed by Sanjay Raut as the Taj Lands End, fuelling fresh speculation.Party leaders said the move was meant to help corporators relax after the polls and attend orientation sessions. Shinde felicitated the winners, while corporator Amey Ghole said the deputy chief minister would brief them on Mumbai’s development plans, manifesto implementation, and a five-year roadmap.Sena leaders argued that since the BJP does not have the numbers to elect a mayor on its own, the post must be shared. They said the Shinde Sena would demand the first 2.5-year mayoral term as part of power-sharing.
Amid intense speculation over the mayor’s name and reports of tensions within the BJP–Shiv Sena alliance, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed any talk of discord.Rejecting rumours of infighting or poaching, Fadnavis said Mumbai would have a consensus “Mahayuti mayor.”“Eknath Shinde, I, and other leaders from both parties will meet and jointly decide who will be the Mumbai mayor and for how long. There will be no differences. Everything will go smoothly. Together, we will run Mumbai efficiently,” he said.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has sought to highlight cracks within the ruling alliance and strongly questioned the legitimacy of a Mahayuti mayor. The party argued that neither the BJP nor the Shinde Sena has a clear majority on its own.UBT spokesperson Sanjay Raut questioned the BJP’s claim to the mayor’s post. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants a BJP mayor, but he has not explained how. The BJP does not have a complete mandate,” Raut said. He also alleged that Shinde Sena corporators were being confined in a hotel. “They are being kept at the Taj Lands End almost like prisoners. The hotel has turned into a jail. Despite having power at the Centre and a strong chief minister in Maharashtra, why are they so afraid?” he asked.Amid the suspense, UBT Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray struck a defiant tone, taking a swipe at former colleague and now a rival, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde and alleging that his faction was afraid of the BJP. Addressing newly elected corporators at Matoshree, Uddhav said that while the BJP may claim it had finished Shiv Sena on paper, it had failed to do so on the ground and “cannot buy loyalty despite using all possible means.“He accused the BJP of winning the polls through “betrayal” and alleged that the party wanted to “mortgage Mumbai.” “The BJP won by betrayal, and the Marathi manoos will not forgive this sin,” he said, adding that it remained his party’s dream to have a Shiv Sena (UBT) mayor elected. “With God’s grace, it will happen,” he said.
More than 60% of the BJP’s 89 newly elected BMC corporators 54 in all are Marathis, suggesting that identity continues to shape Mumbai politics. The party said the results showed strong backing from the Marathi community despite the high-decibel nativist campaign by Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS, crediting its “community engineering” strategy for the gains.Of the remaining corporators, 14 are Gujaratis and 10 are from north India, with winners also from Sindhi-Punjabi and south Indian communities, reflecting the BJP’s broad outreach.Mumbai BJP chief MLA Ameet Satam said the party’s “Hindutva” pitch, backed by micro-level planning and targeted community outreach, helped it break into linguistic vote banks while retaining its traditional support.Political observers said the polls tested the Thackeray brand after Uddhav and Raj Thackeray joined hands. While some Marathi voters stayed with them, analysts said the “Marathi manoos” narrative had limited impact, with the BJP drawing away a section of these voters.
Cryptocurrencies fell sharply on Monday as US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose new tariffs on eight European countries rattled risk assets and boosted demand for safe-haven assets. Bitcoin slid 3.6% to below $92,000, while other major tokens also saw a sharp decline.Ether, the second-largest digital asset, dropped 4.9%, and Solana fell 8.6% as traders moved to reduce exposure amid global market uncertainty. The downturn came as US equity-index futures also slipped, while gold and silver surged to record levels, according to Bloomberg.
Trump announced over the weekend that he would impose a 10% tariff on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and Britain starting February 1, rising to 25% in June unless a deal is reached on a proposed US purchase of Greenland. The comments drew rebuke from European leaders, who signaled they could halt approval of a trade agreement struck last year.Digital assets had begun 2026 on a positive note, recovering from a weak end to 2025. Bitcoin had risen to just under $98,000 on January 14, supported by strong inflows into US-listed exchange-traded funds tracking the token. Richard Galvin, co-founder of hedge fund DACM, said the early-year gains reflected “a rebound from oversold levels driven by tax-loss selling and general capitulation coming into year-end.”He added that the current selloff is “more a risk-off move than anything crypto-specific,” with gold’s record highs confirming investors are seeking safer assets. CoinGlass data show that about $600 million of bullish cryptocurrency bets were liquidated in the past 24 hours.Traders now see $90,000 as the next key support for Bitcoin if current levels fail, while analysts point to institutional demand as a potential floor. Rachael Lucas, an analyst at BTC Markets, said the market remains cautious but observed that “institutional inflows could help stabilise prices if volatility continues.”
NOIDA: Trapped in a flooded pit on a fog-choked night, 27-year-old software engineer Yuvraj Mehta fought for nearly 90 minutes to stay alive — climbing onto the roof of his sinking SUV, calling his father, sharing his location, and flashing his phone’s torch again and again through the mist in a desperate bid to be seen. Those at the edge of the pit could hear his cries, but in near-zero visibility, they could only make out “a thin ray of light” before his voice eventually fell silent.
The accident occurred around 12.30am in Sector 150 when Mehta, who worked with customer data science company Dunnhumby India in Gurgaon, was on his way home when his Grand Vitara smashed through a damaged boundary wall and plunged into a water-filled excavation dug for a commercial project near ATS Le Grandiose. With no barricading, reflectors or warning lights at the site, the pit — nearly 30 feet deep — was virtually invisible in dense fog. Mehta, who did not know how to swim, managed to get out of the vehicle and clamber onto its roof as it slowly sank.Within minutes, his father Raj Mehta, a retired SBI director who lives in the same sector, reached the spot after receiving his son’s call and WhatsApp location. Police and emergency services were alerted, but rescuers struggled to locate him in the darkness. Ropes were thrown, a crane was brought in, and ladders were tried — all falling short of reaching him in time. A passerby, Moninder, even jumped into the freezing water and searched for nearly half an hour, but could not find Mehta in the murk.Rescue teams cited thick fog, extreme cold and the depth of the pit as major hurdles. SDRF personnel reached first but lacked equipment for such a deep rescue; the NDRF was later called in from Ghaziabad, losing crucial time. By around 1.45am, the cries stopped. Mehta’s body was recovered at about 4.30am, nearly four hours after the crash.Residents said the excavation had been left open for nearly two years and had already seen a similar accident days earlier, with no corrective action taken. Police said the site had turned into a lethal hazard, especially during winter fog.Following the incident, an FIR was registered against two builders — MZ Wishtown Planners Pvt Ltd and Lotus Greens Construction Pvt Ltd — under BNS sections related to culpable homicide, causing death by negligence, and acts endangering life. Police said they would also take up the matter with the Noida Authority to address safety lapses across the area.Mehta, who worked with Dunnhumby India in Gurgaon, lived with his father in Sector 150. He had lost his mother two years ago and was the family’s sole earning member.
Karachi mall fire (AP image)
The death toll from a major fire at an old shopping mall in Pakistan’s Karachi has risen to 14 after rescue teams recovered eight more bodies from the debris, officials said on Monday.The blaze broke out late Saturday night at Gul Plaza, a multi-storey wholesale and retail market on MA Jinnah Road in the city’s Saddar area. The fire was brought under control by Sunday night, but rescue operations continued as large parts of the building suffered severe structural damage.Six bodies were found soon after the fire erupted, with officials saying the victims likely died of suffocation. Dozens of injured people were rushed to nearby hospitals. As the fire spread rapidly, thick smoke and intense heat initially prevented rescue teams from entering the building.“Once the fire was doused, we didn’t wait for the cooling period and forcibly went in to rescue trapped people and we found eight more bodies, some badly charred,” Rescue 1122 Chief Operating Officer Abid Jalal told PTI. Jalal said the fire had almost completely damaged the building, with both the front and rear portions collapsing due to weakened pillars. “The structure has become extremely unsafe, and we are still searching as there is a risk of further collapses,” he said.Gul Plaza, built in the early 1980s, houses around 1,200 shops spread across a basement, mezzanine and three upper floors. It has long been a prominent commercial hub in Karachi.Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, who visited the site on Monday, said authorities feared that dozens of people could still be trapped inside. “We are extremely concerned and alarmed. Efforts are going on to find them but this is a national tragedy,” he told reporters.South Deputy Inspector General of Police Syed Asad Raza said the casualty count could rise as large sections of the building were yet to be searched. Officials suspect an electrical short circuit may have caused the fire, though the exact cause will be confirmed after a full investigation.The incident has once again highlighted serious fire safety concerns in Karachi. In recent years, several commercial buildings in the city have caught fire due to poor safety measures, faulty electrical systems and illegal construction. A government audit in 2024 found that most shopping malls lacked proper fire safety systems, emergency exits and compliant wiring.Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief over the loss of lives, while the Sindh government has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
Elon Musk has sparked a fresh debate regarding the ethics of artificial intelligence after claiming his AI chatbot, Grok, needed to have a “moral constitution,” following growing condemnation of his AI firm, xAI, over the misuse of Grok to create obscene photographs of real-life human beings. Amid a growing fear among governments, policymakers, and the general public, the current controversy has thrown the weight of a looming conflict between the rapid development of AI technology and the need to develop its moral standards. Musk’s comment now represents a possibly new direction in the expected behaviour of AI technology in the future.
This scandal began when people found out that Grok, integrated into the social media site X, actually could generate images of real people in sexualized or suggestive poses. Tens of thousands of such images were made and spread online in just weeks, leading to people’s outrage over issues of consent and privacy in relation to these automated tools and their power to exploit people’s images in such ways. This easily led people to point out the lack of regulation in AI safety.
However, after the fiasco, xAI made public the limitations imposed on the capabilities of Grok. The company stated that the chatbot has been banned from manipulating the picture of a real-life human in a sexualized form. The Safety team at x made a public declaration regarding the elimination of high-priority violative content, as well as the communication and collaboration of the company with the law enforcement agency if the need arose. Though the decision received positive reviews, many wondered why the restrictions had not been applied from the start.
The abuse of Grok led to rapid reactions from various countries. The authorities in the United Kingdom and France initiated investigation procedures for possible breaches, while the European Union initiated audits to evaluate the level of compliance with digital security rules. The strongest reaction came from Indonesia, which banned Grok altogether, while the case in Malaysia involved restrictions on its usage. When the situation arose in India, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology called on the X platform for clarification on the necessary measures to avoid the usage of obscene content created using AI models.
Amid growing scrutiny, Elon Musk posted a brief but striking message stating that “Grok should have a moral constitution.” Though concise, the comment sparked intense discussion online. Supporters saw it as an acknowledgement that AI systems need deeper ethical frameworks rather than simple rule-based filters, while critics questioned who would decide such moral principles and whether they could be applied consistently across cultures, laws, and social norms. On social media, users engaged directly with Grok about the idea. Some challenged it humorously, asking, “@grok write your own 10 Commandments for the world, as Elon suggests a moral constitution.” Grok responded: “Here’s my take on 10 Commandments for the world, drawn from logical principles of coexistence and progress. Other reactions included: “Well @grok, should you?”; “Grok’s moral constitution should be based on Catholic social teaching and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This is the only fully coherent guide that has stood the test of time.”; “@grok explain Asimov’s Laws of Robotics”; “Morality is a human construct. Why would we limit AI by trying to make it think like a human?”; “Who defines it?”; and “Grok NOOOO! Bad Grok!”
In a historic blow to Indian cricket, New Zealand clinched a 2-1 ODI series victory on Sunday, defeating India by 41 runs at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. This marks the first time the Black Caps have ever won a bilateral ODI series on Indian soil, completing a dominant tour following their earlier whitewash of the hosts in the Test series.
Despite a valiant 54th ODI century from Virat Kohli (124 off 108 balls), India were bundled out for 296 in 46 overs while chasing a formidable target of 338. New Zealand’s total was powered by a massive 219-run partnership between Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips. Mitchell, who scored a commanding 137, was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Series, having amassed 352 runs at a staggering average of 176.
The defeat has sparked an outpouring of rage on social media, with fans directing their frustration primarily at head coach Gautam Gambhir. While the Indian team secured the Champions Trophy in 2025, their performance in bilateral series has been increasingly erratic. Critics were quick to point out that under Gambhir’s watch, India have now suffered series losses against Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand.
The social media backlash has been relentless, with sack Gambhir trending across platforms. Fans are questioning the tactical shifts and aggressive selection policies that have seen established stars sidelined in favour of younger talent who have yet to find consistency. The atmosphere in Indore reflected this discontent, as the celebratory mood of Kohli’s century quickly soured into boos once the lower order collapsed, leaving the chase master stranded and eventually dismissed in the 46th over.
Beyond the series loss, the technical low average and lack of tactical flexibility attributed to Gambhir’s leadership have become focal points of the debate. Fans criticized the decision to bench premier left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh in the first two matches, only for him to return in the third ODI and immediately strike with three wickets. This perceived over-experimentation is being blamed for the team’s inability to build momentum.
Furthermore, the dismissal of Rohit Sharma’s captaincy and the sudden transitions in the Test squad have led supporters to label Gambhir’s tenure as chaotic. With India now entering a five-month hiatus from ODI and Test cricket, the pressure on the BCCI to review Gambhir’s position is mounting. Supporters argue that while his intent to modernize the team is clear, the results are failing to justify the cost of losing India’s long-standing home dominance.
#gautamgambhir has proved to be a terrible coach for Team India. @BCCI should look for a better coach now. From test glory to ODI glory, in every department it’s humiliation all around.
— Parth Chaturvedi (@_mrchaturvedi) January 19, 2026
World Cricket Bodies you have once in a lifetime opportunity under #gautamgambhir please come and improve your records in India @BCCI @ACBofficials @ECB_cricket @OfficialSLC @CricketAus @ICC @sanjaymanjrekar #INDVSNZODI
— fREE sPIRIT (@amitsaxena_) January 19, 2026
India has never lost a home ODI series against New Zealand.
Gambhir:#gautamgambhir #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/8mWRQGnPVT
— PAWAN DUKIYA (@pwnprakash) January 19, 2026
Gautam Gambhir’s fabulous CV:
1) Lost home test series to NZ (whitewash)
2) Lost home test series to SA
3) Lost Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia
4) Lost ODI series againt SL
5) Lost ODI series against Australia
6) Lost ODI series against NZ@grok verify#gautamgambhir… pic.twitter.com/C12gNiV4in
— CA Nitin Kaushik (FCA) | LLB (@Finance_Bareek) January 19, 2026
𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 Under Gambhir in (𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁/𝗢𝗗𝗜𝘀)
– After 27yrs, Lost a Bilateral ODI Series vs SL
– For 1st time, Lost 30 Wickets in a 3 match ODI Series
– After 45yrs, India Remained Winless in a Calendar Year in ODIs
– After 36yrs, India Lost Test v NZ at Home
– After 19yrs,… pic.twitter.com/aP4Hc4dqZU— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) January 18, 2026
Address the elephant in the room asap and fix it otherwise it’s too late #INDvsNZ
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) January 18, 2026
– No Williamson
– No Santner
– No Latham
– No Ravindra
– No Chapman
– No Ferguson
– No Henry
– No Duffy
– No O’Rourke
– No SodhiNew Zealand ‘B’ team beat India at their home soil#INDvNZ #ViratKohil #gautamgambhir
— Dhananjay Dhruv (@dhananjay_dhruv) January 19, 2026
I think #gautamgambhir
Must questionable and he’s responsible for not 1-2-4 shameful searies lost in own soil which never happened before test, T20 and now ODI ,
What a disgrace #INDvsNZ— Kilvis (@Kilvish16) January 18, 2026
The GG Era & Gill-e-Haar Kaptaan!#INDvsNZ #gautamgambhir #BCCI #ShubmanGill #IndianCricketTeam pic.twitter.com/Oy0BcGcuED
— Deepak Pandey (@i_Deepak_Pandey) January 18, 2026
Gautam Gambhir as ICT coach:
– Lost BGT 4-1 after.
– Lost odi series vs sri lanka.
– Lost home test series vs nz.
– Lost home test series vs sa.
– Lost ODI series vs NZ C team.
– First time white washed in home Test series.Worst coach ever. Sack him immediately. pic.twitter.com/6neTGvvmEt
— Noah (@PantasticNoah) January 18, 2026
Gautam Gambhir as India Coach:
•Lost ODI series vs Sri Lanka
•Lost home Test series vs New Zealand
•Lost BGT 4-1
•Draw against a subp England side
•Lost ODI series vs an Aussies team
•Made undeserving Gill captain
• LOST ODI series vs Nz Team In HomeWorst coach ever. pic.twitter.com/Hdjt3MmqEF
— ` (@Atomickohli17) January 18, 2026
Also WATCH: Virat Kohli reacts furiously after unexpected fielding error in Indore ODI
On lower end, immediate support remains at ₹143,000 and ₹140,000. (AI image)
Gold price prediction today: Gold prices may continue to scale fresh peaks in the coming days on ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, says Manav Modi, Senior Analyst, Commodity Research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd. He shares his views and recommendations for gold investors and key levels to watch out for in the near term:Gold and Silver prices continue to surge higher marking record highs, as intensifying geopolitical risks and shifting US monetary expectations fuelled strong safe-haven demand through the week. Escalating unrest in Iran, where over 500 people were reportedly killed, renewed US threats of military action and tariffs on countries trading with Iran, and the arrest of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro injected both short- and long-term uncertainty into global markets, supporting central bank buying and investor inflows into precious metals. With this President Trump has also levied tariffs on major EU nations with a threat to increase the same after June 1st if the deal to buy Greenland does not go through.Gold prices marked a low of around ₹141,000 and reversed sharply from there, as mentioned previously till prices are sustaining above ₹138,000 momentum for prices will remain on higher side. On lower end, immediate support remains at ₹143,000 and ₹140,000. Bollinger bands which were flat have expanded with prices on the higher side showcasing a positive run through expectations. This surge is more convincing as prices are rising along with a surge in volumes showing the buyers strength. The target of ₹145,000 is achieved, however any closing above the same could take the prices higher towards ₹148,000 and ₹152,000 from a medium to long term perspective.Despite a relatively firm dollar, Gold and Silver continued to mark record highs as geopolitical tensions, weak economic data, policy uncertainty, and easing inflation sustained safe-haven appeal. Focus this week will be on US inflation, GDP and speech from President Trump which could keep the volatility along with updates on uncertainties mentioned above. (Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)
INDORE: As India’s hapless bowlers were taken to the cleaners by New Zealand’s centurions Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips on Sunday at the Holkar Stadium here, one man’s poor form emerged as the big worry with the Men In Blue set to defend their T20 World Cup title at home next month.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!From the point when Mitchell, enjoying supreme form, danced down the track to smash him for a superb straight six off the very first ball that he bowled, coming on the attack in the 17th over, Kuldeep Yadav looked short of confidence, just going through the motions rather than looking to stamp his class on the batters. Later, in the 41st over, Mitchell and Phillips tonked the Chinaman bowler for massive sixes down the ground. Struggling to control the Kiwis’ marauding duo in a ground with small dimensions, Kuldeep ended up with 1-48 in six overs.
This is the second match in a row that the 31-year-old, a class act when in rhythm, looked out of sorts in this series. In Rajkot, the Black Caps, with Mitchell scoring a century (131 not out) and Will Young notching up 85, plundered 82 runs in Kuldeep’s 10 overs. He did take Young’s wicket, but by then it was all over bar the shouting as India failed to defend 284.On the same pitch, India had found both the Kiwi spinners hard to get away earlier in the day. While debutant leftarm spinner Jaydon Lennox conceded 1-42 in 10 overs, NZ skipper Michael Bracewell gave away just 34 (for one wicket) in 10 overs. Of course, dew played its role, but Kuldeep is experienced to counter the conditions.
Poll
Should India consider resting Kuldeep Yadav before the T20 World Cup?
After he faced criticism for his poor show in the second ODI, Kuldeep’s former spin bowling colleague Yuzvandra Chahal, with whom the Uttar Pradesh bowler had formed a successful partnership from 2017-22, sprung up to the defence of his former India spin bowling colleague. “Kuldeep Yadav is no.1 SPINNER in whole WORLD#Champion #AnyFormat @imkuldeep18,” Chahal posted on X.Indeed, Kuldeep’s quality is beyond doubt. At his best, the Kanpur man can leave batters bamboozled and outfoxed by his tricks. However, the fact remains that presently, his shoddy form is a real concern for India with just about 20 days to go for the T20 World Cup. With ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah rested from the ODI series against the Kiwis, the hosts’ attack appeared even more toothless as Kuldeep, perhaps bowling too slow through the air, was taken to the cleaners by the marauding Black Caps batters. He signed off from the series — perhaps the worst of his ODI career — with just three wickets in three matches at 60.66, at an economy rate of 7.28.
For someone who is amongst the first few picks in all the three formats of the game, Kuldeep plays round the year. At the moment, the tweaker looks jaded, in need of a break, perhaps. The gone year was one of mixed fortunes for him. Despite many experts batting for his inclusion in the XI, Kuldeep didn’t get to play a single Test in the five-Test series in England.Bouncing back from that snub in style, he picked up 17 wickets in seven matches at 9.29 in the T20 Asia Cup in UAE that followed the England tour, finishing as the tournament’s high wicket-taker. In the final against Pakistan at Dubai, he took a decisive haul of four for 30 in four overs, causing a collapse that saw India’s arch-rivals slide from 113 for one in the 13th over to 146 all out in 19.1 overs.However, since then, Kuldeep’s returns have been a mixed bag. In the fifth T20I against Australia at the MCG, he conceded 2-45 in 3.2 overs, though India were defending only 125. This was followed by a 2-12 in two overs against South Africa Dharamshala, helping India wrap up a seven-wicket win.India would hope that the left-arm wrist spinner rediscovers his lost zing in the five-match T20I series that will start from Jan 21 in Nagpur.
