Fans at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur quickly noticed a somber detail as the New Zealand players took the field for the second T20I against India on January 23. The Black Caps players were seen wearing black armbands, a gesture that stood in stark contrast to the high-energy atmosphere of the five-match series.

Reason why New Zealand players are wearing black armbands for the IND v NZ 2nd T20I in Raipur

As per Sportsdunia report, During the live broadcast, legendary commentator and former cricketer Ian Smith provided a somber clarification for the tribute, noting that the team is playing with heavy hearts. Smith explained that the black armbands are being worn to honor the victims and support those affected by the catastrophic storms and landslides currently ravaging the North Island On January 22, record-breaking rainfall triggered a massive landslide at a popular holiday campsite at the base of Mount Maunganui.

The disaster struck the Beachside Holiday Park during the peak summer holiday season, burying cabins and campervans under tonnes of mud. At least two people have been confirmed dead in a separate landslide in nearby Welcome Bay, while several others, including children, remain missing at the Mount Maunganui site. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell has described the affected areas as resembling a ‘war zone,’ with a state of emergency declared across five regions, including Northland and the East Cape.

Also READ: IND vs NZ: Here’s why Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel and others are not playing today’s 2nd T20I match in Raipur

A blistering start for New Zealand in Raipur against India

Despite the heavy hearts, the Black Caps started the second T20I with aggressive intent after being asked to bat first by Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav. Devon Conway set the tone immediately, smashing Arshdeep Singh for 18 runs in the opening over, including a signature six over backward point. However, the breakthrough for India came in the fourth over when Harshit Rana, replacing a rested Jasprit Bumrah, removed Conway for 19. Tim Seifert followed shortly after, falling to Varun Chakaravarthy for 24 off 13 balls. At the 10-over mark, New Zealand reached 111/3, with Rachin Ravindra nearing a half-century and keeping the visitors in the hunt to level the series following their 48-run defeat in the opening game at Nagpur.

Also READ: IPL 2026: RCB’s new owner revealed? Billionaire vaccine mogul confirms bid for Bengaluru franchise

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Market participants said sentiment was further undermined by a shift towards safe-haven assets and persistent foreign fund outflows. (AI image)

It’s a bloodbath on Dalal Street! Indian stock market indices, Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, have crashed over 2% this week, leading to investors losing over Rs 16 lakh crore. Even as US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats on the EU and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties frayed global market nerves at the start of the week, Indian equities did not recover once the tensions eased.Indian stock markets witnessed sharp volatility this week, and ended significantly lower. The week started with heavy selling, dragging Nifty close to 25,000 and Sensex below 81,500, followed by a brief mid-week rebound where Nifty recovered to around 25,290 and Sensex moved above 82,300. However, the recovery was short-lived, and selling pressure returned, pushing Nifty back near 25,050 and Sensex to around 81,540 by the end of the week. On a weekly basis, the Sensex declined 2,032.65 points, or 2.43 per cent, while the Nifty shed 645.7 points, or 2.51 per cent.Reflecting the sharp correction, the market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies dropped by Rs 6,95,963.98 crore on Friday to Rs 4,51,56,045.07 crore, or $4.93 trillion. Over the course of the week, total market value eroded by Rs 16,28,561.85 crore. Equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty extended their slide on Friday, closing around 1% lower as broad-based selling pressure intensified alongside the rupee sinking to an all-time low against the US dollar. For the first time, the rupee depreciated to a level of 92 per dollar intra-day, before showing a marginal recovery to close at 91.88.BSE Sensex dropped 769.67 points, or 0.94 per cent, to finish at 81,537.70. Market breadth remained weak on the BSE, with 2,989 stocks ending in the red, 1,229 advancing and 143 closing unchanged.The NSE Nifty also ended sharply lower, falling 241.25 points, or 0.95 per cent, to settle at 25,048.65. Markets slipped sharply despite a firm start, as steep declines in several heavyweight stocks, including shares of the Adani Group, amplified selling pressure through the session. Within the Sensex pack, stocks such as Adani Ports, Eternal, IndiGo, Axis Bank, Bajaj Finserv, Power Grid, Bharat Electronics, State Bank of India, Maruti Suzuki India, Bajaj Finance, NTPC, Trent, Larsen & Toubro and Reliance Industries ended as the major drags.

Why are stock markets crashing?

Muted quarterly performances from index heavyweights such as ICICI Bank and HCL Technologies dampened market mood, strengthening concerns that a strong turnaround in earnings remains distant. At the same time, rising crude oil prices and a sharp slide in the rupee, which slipped to a new record low despite intervention by the Reserve Bank of India, intensified macroeconomic worries related to inflationary pressures and the trade gap, said Gaurav Garg of the Lemonn Markets Desk.Market participants said sentiment was further undermined by a shift towards safe-haven assets and persistent foreign fund outflows, with the absence of any strong domestic cues adding to the unease.Apart from this, one of the other cited factors for Indian stock markets lagging compared to global peers over the last year has been the absence of any major visible players in the field of artificial intelligence. India has remained on the sidelines of the powerful AI-driven rally that has shaped global equity markets in 2025, missing out on gains seen across several major economies. On the other hand AI winners like the US, China, Taiwan and South Korea gained substantially.

What are experts saying?

Mehul Kothari, DVP – Technical Research, Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers says that the decline is driven by persistent FII outflows, weak Q3 earnings trends—especially in IT and consumption sectors—continued rupee weakness, and lingering global trade-related uncertainties, which collectively outweighed intermittent positive global cues and kept sentiment firmly risk-averse.Thomas V Abraham, Research Analyst, Mirae Asset ShareKhan also said that markets faced selling pressure fueled by ongoing FII outflows and profit-taking before an extended weekend. “Market participants adopted a risk-averse posture due to geopolitical risks stemming from stalled US trade talks and intensifying US-Europe frictions, with overseas funds’ persistent selling magnifying the broader downturn,” he told TOI.“Adani group stocks represent roughly 2.93% of the Nifty 50’s total weight. Their substantial 8-13% declines today magnified the index’s roughly 1% retreat, outpacing positive moves in other areas during the session’s pervasive sell-off,” he said.According to a Reuters report, Adani group stocks shed $12.5 billion in market capitalisation after the US SEC sought court nod to issue summons.Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited is of the view that the market direction in the coming week is likely to be driven by global macroeconomic signals and domestic fiscal expectations. “Investors will closely track guidance from the Fed on the trajectory of interest rate cuts, while positioning may be influenced by anticipation surrounding the Union Budget, particularly any measures aimed at easing external trade pressures and supporting capital flows,” he says. “With the Q3 earnings season still underway, stock-specific movements are expected to remain prominent. Overall sentiment is likely to stay cautious, shaped by global developments, currency trends, and earnings outcomes, with selective opportunities emerging in segments supported by resilient domestic demand,” he added.(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)

Bangladesh Cricket team players (left) and Jay Shah

The ICC is considering action against Bangladesh after the country refused to tour India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, news agency ANI reported on Friday, quoting sources. ICC chairman Jay Shah is currently in Dubai, where a final decision on the matter is expected.The development comes a day after Bangladesh declined to send its national team to India for next month’s T20 World Cup after the ICC rejected its request to shift matches out of the country. The refusal has opened the possibility of Scotland replacing Bangladesh in the tournament.

The ICC had earlier issued an ultimatum to Bangladesh on Wednesday, asking it to either agree to travel to India or risk being replaced. The world body said there was no credible threat to the safety of Bangladesh players, officials or fans. Bangladesh was given time until Thursday to respond. Scotland is next in line based on rankings for the tournament, which begins on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.After a meeting with national team players, Bangladesh sports adviser Asif Nazrul said Thursday that the ICC’s security assessment was not acceptable to them.“While our cricketers have worked hard to qualify for the World Cup, the security risk regarding playing in India remains unchanged. This concern is not based on abstract analysis…,” Nazrul said at a press conference while announcing that Bangladesh would not play in India.“…we are not convinced that they can ensure the safety of our entire team, journalists, and spectators.”“We are not giving up hope yet; our team is ready. We expect the ICC to provide justice by considering our genuine security risks and allowing us to play in Sri Lanka,” he added.The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has also approached the ICC’s independent Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) seeking relocation of Bangladesh’s matches outside India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, according to The Daily Star.The ICC Dispute Resolution Committee is an independent arbitration body that deals with disputes involving the ICC, its member boards, players and officials.If Bangladesh withdraws from the tournament, Scotland is likely to replace them based on current rankings.The issue began after Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was removed from Kolkata Knight Riders’ squad for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season on the BCCI’s instructions, citing unspecified “developments all around”.Following Rahman’s removal, the BCB said its team would not travel to India for its T20 World Cup group matches scheduled in Kolkata and Mumbai, citing security concerns.The BCB has sought permission to play all four of its group-stage matches in Sri Lanka, where the India-Pakistan match will also be played under the agreed hybrid arrangement for ICC events until 2027.

Even as India’s GDP growth has beaten forecasts so far this financial year – the big question is can it continue to grow well amidst the global economic storm? (AI image)

India is the world’s fastest growing economy – with an over 6-7% GDP growth rate – the world’s fifth largest economy is driving global growth. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has acknowledged India as a key growth engine for the world. But amidst increasing geopolitical and economic risks, especially US President Donald Trump’s policy uncertainty and tariff war, India’s growth story faces external headwinds.Even as India’s GDP growth has beaten forecasts so far this financial year – the big question is can it continue to grow well amidst the global economic storm? Indian stock markets had a poor 2025, the rupee was the worst performing currency in 2025, and an India-US trade deal is yet to be finalised. Adding to injury, India faces 50% tariffs from the Trump administration, denting its exports. India’s growth is majorly domestic driven, yet global turbulence plays a key role in an increasingly interconnected world.

In this backdrop, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Union Budget 2026 assumes significance. What are the risks to India’s robust and resilient growth story, and what can Budget 2026 do to mitigate them? We ask economists:

What Are The Biggest Risks To India’s Growth Story?

Most economists surveyed by the Times of India Online point to two main risks: rupee depreciation, and Trump’s trade war and tariffs. The challenging external environment may weigh on India’s growth story, even though it is largely domestic demand driven.Economists believe that the rupee’s free fall may lead to imported inflation. They stress the need for the government to stick to the path of fiscal credibility. Economists warn of trade and tariff-led shocks unless an India-US trade deal is finalised. Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist at Bank of Baroda doesn’t see any domestic headwinds. “The Indian economy is largely a domestic economy and here we do not see any major risk besides the usual assumption of a normal monsoon. The risk on the external side is still in the realm of tariffs as the affected industries are dependent on export markets of which the USA is a major player. This can be addressed by incentives on the credit side as well as direct support based on performance,” he tells TOI. Yuvika Singhal, Economist at QuantEco tells TOI, “The biggest macro risk India faces is from global uncertainty and rupee depreciation. In a global environment marked by heightened escalation of trade wars and economic policy uncertainty, it is essential to remain steadfast towards preserving domestic macro stability.”Ranen Banerjee, Partner, Government Sector Leader at PwC India agrees that the macroeconomic risks that India faces is on the exchange rate front as in the event the outflow of capital continues combined with headwinds to exports, the currency will be under pressure. “This could inflate the import bills and feed into inflation and put pressure on the current account balance. Since the monetary policy is outside the purview of the budget, the only way the budget can support the macro is through continued adherence to fiscal prudence by keeping the deficit in check, reducing the debt GDP ratio and keeping the quality of budgetary spend high,” he explains.Sujan Hajra, Chief Economist & Executive Director at Anand Rathi Group says that the biggest macro risk he sees in FY27 is the trade shock from higher US tariffs, given India’s export dependence on a few advanced economies.According to Rumki Majumdar, Economist at Deloitte India the biggest risks to India’s growth story are weak credit transmission despite RBI easing (MSME/household lending lag), inflation resurgence as demand accelerates (imported inflation from tariffs/INR depreciation), fiscal pressure from slower revenues amid external headwinds and reforms, and external shocks such as tariff hikes, FPI outflows, currency volatility; delayed India–US trade deal. For Dr DK Srivastava, Chief Policy Advisor, EY India buoyancy of tax collections is a factor that the government should keep in mind. “GST collections will go down and continue to remain low even in the next year. So there is a risk to fiscal consolidation that may emanate because of the fact that GST revisions took place and the rate effect has been immediate. The expectation was that the tax base will improve as consumption demand improves, but although it is improving, it is not enough to wipe out the GST reduction. This will have an impact on the budgetary, fiscal consolidation. So that is one risk to the other,” he tells TOI.Yet another factor he points to is: longer term risk related to household financial savings that have been falling relative to GDP over time now.Rishi Shah, Partner and Economic Advisory Services Leader at Grant Thornton Bharat flags the volatile geopolitical environment, fragmented global trade and increasingly fragile capital flows as risks for India. “While spending on AI and technology has supported growth across developed markets, this cycle seems narrow and possibly vulnerable. Any disruption could trigger risk-off behaviour, with capital flowing back to perceived safe havens, raising volatility in emerging-market currencies and asset prices,” he says.Sachchidanand Shukla – Group Chief Economist at Larsen & Toubro also cautions that resurgence of geopolitical risks and uncertainty over tariffs even though the IMF’s World Economic Outlook of January 2026 hints that the global economy has shaken off this shock are risks.

What Can Budget 2026 Do To Mitigate Macro Risks?

Crediting the government for sticking to the fiscal consolidation path, Yuvika Singhal says, “Post the initial COVID shock, India has displayed remarkable fiscal prudence in gradually scaling back the pandemic-era stimulus along with reinvigorating appetite for reforms. It is also imperative that the entrepreneurs’ animal spirits are rekindled to build real businesses. On the fiscal side, although the level of deficit/debt for India remains higher than that of its peers in advanced/emerging economies, the resolve and the pace of fiscal consolidation has been commendable.”“We believe the government should uphold the ethos of prudent fiscal consolidation and target a 1 percentage point reduction in its Gross Debt-to-GDP ratio from 56.1% in FY26 BE to 55.1% in FY27. Assuming Nominal GDP to grow by 10.0-10.5% in FY27, this could translate into an effective fiscal deficit range of 4.1-4.3% of GDP. In our opinion, the broader fiscal arithmetic would be formulated with an implied baseline target of 4.2% fiscal deficit/GDP ratio, which will provide two-way fiscal flexibility to the government. If growth momentum disappoints, then fiscal compression could go easy, with the deficit veering towards 4.3% of GDP by the end of FY27. On the other hand, if growth momentum surprises on the upside, the government could utilize the opportunity to deepen the counter-cyclical thrust by tightening the fiscal deficit to 4.1% of GDP by the end of FY27,” she adds.Sujan Hajra of Anand Rathi Group explains that since exports support over 40 million jobs, Budget 2026 needs to focus on targeted support for labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, leather and electronics to protect employment and competitiveness.“At the same time, the sharp increase in welfare spending by states is crowding out productive capex, with revenue expenditure dominating state budgets. The Budget can address this by linking central loans and additional borrowing space to capex utilisation, while creating capex-linked incentives for states, ensuring fiscal support strengthens medium-term growth rather than consumption-led pressures,” he tells TOI. Rumki Majumdar of Deloitte India prescribes the following responses from Budget 2026 for the economy:

Rishi Shah of Grant Thornton Bharat feels that Budget 2026 should prioritise resilience and sustainability. “Maintaining a strong pipeline of public capital expenditure remains critical to anchor growth and crowd in private investment when global capital flows turn cautious. At the same time, improving efficiency of expenditure and maintaining credible deficit trajectories will be key to preserving investor confidence. Finally, a sustained push on productivity, innovation and capability building—rather than incremental incentives—will be essential to ensure durable, domestically driven growth that can withstand external shocks,” he tells TOI.

INDORE: Tension continued in Tarana town of Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain district on Friday following clashes between two groups that erupted a day earlier, leading to incidents of arson, stone pelting and damage to public and private property.The situation escalated on Friday when unknown elements allegedly pelted stones at houses, breaking window panes. Miscreants also targeted a bus, which was set on fire, while some shops were damaged, police said.The clashes had first broken out on Thursday evening in Tarana, located around 35 km from the Ujjain district headquarters, leaving around six people injured. The atmosphere remained tense on Friday as protests intensified in the town.Police said incidents of violence were reported on Friday, following which security arrangements were strengthened. A crowd gathered after Friday prayers, during which roads were blocked and sporadic incidents of violence were reported, further escalating tensions.Videos showing a bus being torched and damage to property circulated on social media, adding to concern among residents. Police officials said the videos are being examined as part of the investigation.Ujjain superintendent of police Pradeep Sharma said the situation is under control. “Violence was reported on Friday. Around 15 to 20 people have been arrested so far, and additional police force has been deployed in sensitive areas,” Sharma said.Police have registered cases related to stone pelting, arson and rioting. Five accused have already been arrested in connection with Thursday’s assault incident, while a search is on for another accused, officials said.As a precautionary measure, prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) have been imposed in the town to prevent further escalation.Senior officials said continuous patrolling and flag marches are being carried out, and residents have been urged to maintain peace and refrain from spreading rumours.

NEW DELHI: SC Thursday refused to restrain ED from accessing information from the mobile phone of I-PAC functionary Jitendra Mehta, which was seized during a search on Jan 8 at the political consultancy firm’s Delhi office. Mehta has been summoned for questioning at the ED headquarters on Friday.Also read: 20 crore routed to I-PAC Goa office from Kolkata via hawala, says EDAppearing before a bench headed by CJI Surya Kant, senior advocate C A Sundaram said allowing Enforcement Directorate to open the phone would violate Mehta’s privacy and pleaded that ED be restrained from doing so till the next date of hearing on Tuesday. But the bench asked him “why are you so afraid”.

Sundaram said the apex court should intervene to protect his fundamental right, but the bench said, “We know how to protect an innocent citizen”. The advocate then remarked that the court was presuming his guilt.While ED seized digital devices from I-PAC’s Delhi office during its Jan 8 search operation, it could not do the same in Kolkata as the West Bengal Police brass interrupted the search proceedings on the firm’s premises in the presence of TMC chief and CM Mamata Banerjee. Documents and digital devices seized by ED officers in Kolkata were taken away from them.The CJI-led bench also clubbed all matters related to the restraint put on ED to access phones and digital devices of other money laundering case accused and scheduled a hearing for Tuesday.Sources said the other cases in which ED has been restrained by SC from accessing digital data of an accused includes matters related to lottery king Santiago Martin’s Future Gaming, NewsClick, Foundation for Media Professionals, Amazon Seller Services Pvt Ltd, and the Tamil Nadu govt.Also read: ‘To expand like Gujarat’- PM Modi’s big prediction on BJP’s rise in Kerala
“In the above cases it was argued that current laws were inadequate and that allowing the agency to access personal devices infringe upon the fundamental right to privacy under Article 21 and the right against self-incrimination under Article 20(3) of the Constitution,” a source said.The accused facing ED probe had sought SC to frame guidelines for search and seizure of devices by enforcement agencies since devices also contained personal data.In Nov 2023, SC directed govt to draft guidelines. The govt had sought time, and later, MHA formed a panel headed by director I4C for formulating guidelines to curb the indiscriminate seizure of digital devices. The govt had also argued that till then the CBI manual be allowed to be followed by all central agencies.

As the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka draws near, the global cricket community is buzzing with anticipation and intense speculation. Analysts and former legends have already begun dissecting the twenty qualified nations, attempting to identify the tactical shifts and standout performers that will define this ninth edition of the tournament.

T20 World Cup 2026: Michael Clarke identifies THIS team as the ultimate dark horse

In a recent episode of the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, former Australian captain Michael Clarke sat down with host Erin Holland to share his surprising pick for the tournament’s Darkhorse. When Holland asked, “Is there a dark horse or anyone that you think could be?”

Clarke didn’t hesitate to name the Proteas as the team to watch, citing their newfound ability to navigate pressure situations. He explained that South Africa is the team for me because they have finally learned how to win close games of cricket, a shift evident in their consistent form across all three formats. Clarke attributed this evolution to a robust squad culture where the players truly believe in their capacity to win, effectively shedding the under the radar tag he believes they currently hold.

“South Africa is my team. South Africa are the ones for me. I I I don’t know if that Well, I I just I just think they’ve they’ve learned how to win games of cricket. Like, if I look at their form in in all three formats, I think they’ve they’re just dealing with the pressure of that that moment a lot better than they have in the past. And I honestly think it’s because they’ve got a really strong culture at the moment in their squads, in their team. Like, they they believe they can win.” Clarke said.

However, he balanced his praise with a significant tactical warning regarding the subcontinental venues that will play a major role in the 2026 event. Clarke noted that his only reservation for the Proteas in his top four is their historical struggle with spin, asserting that their success will ultimately hinge on how well they bowl spin and, more importantly, how their batters play it when the wickets begin to turn. This endorsement from a World Cup-winning captain has significantly boosted the Proteas’ status, placing them firmly in the conversation as a legitimate threat to the traditional favourites.

“Um, the the only thing when I and I say South Africa cuz I’m I’m I would have South Africa in my top four because I think they’re just like I say they’re under the radar. The only thing stopping them being winners of this tournament in my opinion could be the conditions could be if these wickets spin how they bowl spin and then how they play spin.” Clarke concluded.

Also READ: ‘I’m putting them in final’: Michael Clarke predicts the finalists of T20 World Cup 2026

Historical performance and the long quest for T20 glory

South Africa’s history in the T20 World Cup is a narrative of immense talent frequently met with heartbreaking results and near-misses. Since the inaugural tournament in 2007, which they hosted, the Proteas have participated in every edition, yet they remain one of the few elite teams never to have lifted the trophy.

They have reached the semi-finals on two occasions, in 2009 and 2014, but it wasn’t until the most recent 2024 edition in the West Indies and USA that they finally broke through to their first-ever final. In that historic run, Aiden Markram led the side to eight consecutive victories, only to suffer a gut-wrenching seven-run defeat to India in a final that they had looked poised to win.

Beyond these knockout appearances, the team has frequently fallen victim to the ‘Super 8’ or ‘Super 12’ stages, often being eliminated on net run rate despite strong individual performances from legends like AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn. This legacy of ‘so close yet so far’ provides the backdrop for their 2026 campaign, where they aim to capitalize on their status as Clarke’s ‘dark horse’ to finally secure that elusive maiden ICC title.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira ruled out; David Miller under watch as South Africa announces updated squad with replacements