Former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith has questioned India’s decision to leave Rishabh Pant out of their T20 World Cup squad, saying a player of his ability should “walk into any T20 side”. Pant, who is currently recovering from a side strain, has not featured in India’s T20 plans since the 2024 World Cup in Barbados. Sanju Samson has been named as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter for the upcoming tournament, with Ishan Kishan included among the reserves.

Speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the second T20 between India and New Zealand, Smith said he would have selected Pant ahead of Samson. “I’d pick Rishabh Pant in my team any day of the week. I’m surprised that Rishabh Pant is not here. He is a wonderfully gifted player. He can win a match. That’s what you’ve got to have with T20 players. They’ve got to be match-winners,” Smith said. Smith said team balance often dictated selection decisions in modern T20 cricket and suggested that leaving out Shubman Gill to accommodate Samson at the top of the order was understandable. “These sides are all about balance. You haven’t got room for too many players who only have one discipline. It’s all about finding the right mix,” he said. He added that wicketkeeper-batters were now expected to bat higher up the order to justify their place in the side. “Invariably, wicketkeepers used to bat at seven. Now they have to bat in the top four to be worth their soap. Their primary strength has to be batting, with wicketkeeping as the secondary skill,” Smith said. Citing New Zealand’s approach, Smith pointed to Tim Seifert as an example of a player who offers value in both disciplines. “He’s equally good as a keeper and as a batter. It’s hard to split his skills. Those kinds of players are gold because they help the balance of the side,” he said. Smith also named India among his top contenders to defend their T20 World Cup title, noting the advantage of playing at home. “India have got a good chance to defend because they’re playing at home and know the conditions very well. But it’s a very even competition. About five teams could win it,” he said. Smith also identified Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand as teams capable of challenging for the title.

India’s rise as a T20 force hasn’t happened by playing safe anymore. The mindset has flipped—from steady accumulation to all-out, fearless attacking cricket. What once felt like an intimidating 200-plus target is now treated as just another challenge, thanks to a batting lineup stacked with power-hitters shaped by the intensity of the IPL.

That fearless approach was evident in the second T20I against New Zealand in Raipur. India didn’t merely chase a big total; they tore it apart. Running down 209 with almost five overs still in hand, the Men in Blue made a loud statement: in this version of Indian T20 cricket, no target is truly out of reach. The chase underlined just how dangerous India have become while batting second, reinforcing their reputation as the most formidable chasing side in the shortest format.

History scripted in Raipur

Notably, India were handed a daunting task as the Black Caps managed to post 208/6 in 20 overs, giving the hosts a massive target. Chasing 209, India faced an immediate crisis, slumped at a precarious 6/2 after just seven balls. However, what followed was a historic counter-attack as Ishan Kishan and captain Suryakumar Yadav joined hands and took the game away from the visitors with their explosive and match-winning partnership. India reached the target in a staggering 15.2 overs, marking their joint-highest successful T20I chase. On that note, let’s have a look at 5 such occasions where India managed to outplay opposition with tremendous chases.

5 highest successful chases by India in T20I cricket

1. 209 vs New Zealand (Raipur, 2026)

This was a chase of sheer clinical efficiency that redefined T20 power-hitting. After being reduced to a nervous 6/2 in the second over, India unleashed a counter-attack that left the Black Caps stunned. Kishan’s fiery 76 and Suryakumar’s unbeaten 82 didn’t just reach the 209-run target; they demolished it with 28 balls to spare. By finishing the game in just 15.2 overs, India set a new record for the fastest 200-plus chase, proving that on a good deck, no total is safe from this lineup.

2. 209 vs Australia (Visakhapatnam, 2023)

In a high-octane thriller just days after the 2023 World Cup final, India matched their highest-ever successful chase in dramatic fashion. After Josh Inglis’s century propelled Australia to 208, captain Suryakumar responded with a blistering 80 off 42 balls. However, unlike the Raipur cruise, this one went down to the very last wire. With one run needed off the final ball and the tail exposed, Rinku Singh smashed a six—though it wasn’t counted on the scorecard because the bowler had delivered a no-ball, sealing a pulse-pounding two-wicket victory.

Also WATCH: IND vs NZ, 2nd T20I: Hardik Pandya and Murali Kartik engage in an animated discussion; video goes viral

3. 208 vs West Indies (Hyderabad, 2019)

This chase is immortalized by one of Virat Kohli’s most iconic and “animated” T20I innings. Chasing 208, Kohli initially struggled for timing, but once he found his groove, he was unstoppable, finishing with a career-best 94* off 50 balls. The match is famously remembered for the “notebook celebration” Kohli mimicked back at Kesrick Williams after hitting him for a six. Supported by KL Rahul’s elegant 62, the Indian captain steered the team home with eight balls to spare, making a mammoth task look like a masterclass in controlled aggression.

4. 207 vs Sri Lanka (Mohali, 2009)

Long before the modern T20 era of 200-plus scores being common, India pulled off a miracle in Mohali to level the series. Chasing 207, Virender Sehwag gave India a “flying start” with a 38-ball 64, but the night belonged to birthday boy Yuvraj Singh. Playing on his home ground, Yuvraj smashed 60* off just 25 deliveries, clearing the ropes five times. Alongside MS Dhoni’s 46, Yuvraj ensured India crossed the finish line with five balls remaining, setting what was then a world record for the highest successful T20I chase.

5. 204 vs New Zealand (Auckland, 2020)

Playing at the uniquely shaped Eden Park, India proved their mettle away from home by hunting down 204 against a formidable Kiwi attack. After the openers fell, Shreyas Iyer announced himself on the world stage with a mature yet explosive 58* off 29 balls. Combined with Rahul’s half-century, India navigated the short boundaries and the pressure of a big chase with ease, reaching the target with an over to spare. This win set the tone for an eventual 5-0 series whitewash, a feat never before achieved in a five-match T20I series.

Also READ: Fans go wild as Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav powers India to a 2-0 series lead over New Zealand in the T20Is

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday distributed over 61,000 appointment letters to newly recruited youth at the 18th Rozgar Mela, held in New Delhi.Addressing the programme virtually, the Prime Minister said the appointment letters were an “invitation to nation building” and reminded the youth of their duty towards the Constitution.“The commencement of the new year has brought happiness in your lives. With that, when Basant Panchami was celebrated yesterday itself, in your life too a new ‘vasant’ has started. Your duty has been connected to the Constitution. At this time the Republic is being celebrated too. Yesterday, on January 23, we celebrated Parakram Diwas, on the birth anniversary of Subhash Chandra Bose, and tomorrow, on January 25, is National Voters Day,” PM Modi said.The programme was attended by Union minister Jitendra Singh, with multiple Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, CRPF, and defence officials also present at the rozgar mela.“It was today when the Constitution recognised Jana Gana Man as the national anthem and Vande Mataram as the national song. Today, on this auspicious day, more than 61 thousand young people are getting appointment letters. In one way it is a letter of invitation for nation building. This is a ‘sankalp patra’ to accelerate India to new heights. You all, along with your colleagues, will make our country’s defence better and also strengthen our healthcare and education system, while others will strengthen energy security,” PM Modi said. “I want to congratulate all the young people here. Friends, joining the youth with skills and giving them opportunities for employment has been our government’s aim. In an effort to put government jobs in “mission mode”, the Rozgar Mela was started. In the past few years, Rozgar Mela has become an institution through which lakhs of youth have gotten appointment letters across various government departments. Utilising this mission itself, there are more than 40 places across different states where Rozgar Mela is being held. I welcome the youth present today,” he stressed. “Today, India is one of the youngest countries in the world. Our government is continuously working to ensure that more opportunities are made for India’s youth power. On that, India is making trade and mobility agreements with multiple countries,” PM Modi highlighted. India currently has multiple trade agreements across the world, including with European and North American countries. The India-US free trade agreement (FTA) is also under discussion, while an FTA was finalised with New Zealand in December 2025. Apart from these countries, the India-UK and India-EU FTAs are also under discussion with their respective partners. “These trade agreements bring in new opportunities for the youth of India. In the last few years, a lot of resources have been put into making world-class infrastructure. In this, a lot of jobs have increased in any sector connected to construction. India’s startup ecosystem is also progressing forward at a great speed,” the Prime Minister declared. Highlighting the growth of startups in India, PM Modi highlighted how more than 21 lakh youth are employed across the startup ecosystem, with Digital India propping up a new kind of economy.He said, “Today there are around 2 lakh registered startups, in which more than 21 lakh youth are working. Like that, Digital India has propped up a new economy. India is becoming a global hub in sectors like animation and digital media. India’s creator economy is also growing at a fast pace, which is giving the youth new opportunities.”

NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, after the defeat in the BMC polls, launched an attack on the BJP. He said that the saffron party was mistaken if they think that Shiv Sena can be destroyed. Calling his party the symbol of the sons of the soil, he remarked that Shiv Sena is not just a political party but an idea.Addressing his party workers on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Balasaheb Thackeray, he said, “Shiv Sena is not just a political party. And if the BJP thinks that Shiv Sena will finish it off, you cannot finish Shiv Sena.”He further added, “You cannot destroy Shiv Sena because Shiv Sena is not a party. Shiv Sena is an ideology. Shiv Sena is the embodiment of the sons of the soil. And Shiv Sena is the torch burning in the hearts of the oppressed; you cannot extinguish it. You absolutely cannot extinguish it.”The former Maharashtra chief minister also claimed that Shiv Sena has played a huge role for the BJP, as he said, “Had the Shiv Sena not been there, the BJP would have never seen the inside of the BMC or mantralaya,” news agency PTI reported.The response comes as the party chief’s first response after his defeat in the Mumbai civic body polls. BJP emerged as the largest party in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).Dismissing the ethics of the BJP’s victory in the civic polls, Thackeray further added that “money power was used for the first time during the civic polls in the city,” and claimed that, “The Opposition faced several hurdles, such as flawed electoral rolls, and the result would have been even more different had the Sena (UBT) not identified dual voters.”He also expressed optimism in Shiv Sena’s role in the civic body, saying, “The BMC results may not be as per what the party desired, but the Opposition is a strong force in the civic body,” and claimed that the BJP “wants to swallow Mumbai.”“We have to start afresh,” he said, adding that the Sena was born not for power but for fighting for the rights of Marathi manoos.The BJP won 89 out of the 227 seats in the January 15 polls, ending the Thackerays’ decades-long control over India’s richest civic body.He accused the BJP of attempting to impose non-Marathi culture on Maharashtra and urged everyone to use “Jai Maharashtra” as a common greeting.

US President Donald Trump’s renewed focus on Greenland has taken an unusual turn, with the White House sharing an AI-generated image featuring the President walking alongside a penguin toward the Arctic island. The post, captioned “Embrace the penguin,” quickly drew attention online, not least because penguins do not live in Greenland or anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere.The image is now going viral on social media, triggering criticism and mockery from users who pointed out the geographical error, and others who were simply livid over Trump’s repeated assertion. The post came amid Trump’s continued rhetoric around Greenland, even as he has paused tariff-related tensions with Europe, and was seen by many as another symbolic assertion linked to his long-standing interest in the strategically located territory. However, the White House post was not the starting point of the internet’s sudden fascination with penguins. Even before Trump’s image went viral, penguins were already trending online, driven by a resurfaced documentary clip that has spawned millions of memes and sparked widespread debate over its meaning.

What’s the buzz about?

A short clip showing a lone penguin walking away from its colony toward distant Antarctic mountains has gone viral, earning the nickname “Nihilist Penguin.” Netizens have cast the animal as a symbol of existential crisis, rebellion and self-discovery. The footage originates from ‘Encounters at the End of the World’, a 2007 documentary by filmmaker Werner Herzog. In the scene, an Adélie penguin leaves its coastal colony and heads inland toward icy mountain ranges roughly 70 km from the sea — a direction that offers no food or breeding grounds for the species. Adélie penguins typically remain close to the coastline, where they breed and hunt. Long, purposeful inland treks are rare and not considered normal survival behaviour. The clip’s stark visuals and solitary subject have helped it gain renewed traction online nearly two decades after it was filmed.

Social media reacts

On social media platforms, users have overlaid the video with captions such as “The penguin knows” and “heading toward oblivion,” projecting human emotions and philosophical meaning onto the animal’s movement. Wildlife experts caution against such interpretations.Scientists say there are several possible explanations for the penguin’s behaviour. These include disorientation, particularly among younger or inexperienced birds; illness or injury affecting navigation; or rare instances of exploration or dispersal. “Well, I’ve never seen a penguin bashing its head against a rock,” says seabird ecologist Dr David Ainley in the documentary. However, he adds, “They do get disoriented.”He went on to say further that “even if they would have brought that lone penguin back into his colony, he probably would have again gone back towards the mountains.”Many stress that deviations from typical animal behaviour do not imply intent or awareness. In wildlife biology, such actions are usually attributed to individual variation, environmental stressors or health-related factors rather than conscious decision-making.

A psychological explanation

The big question is – Why did that penguin do so? Though there could be several permutations and combinations that could be brought together to present an explanation, one of them could be: In 1920 Sigmund Freud wrote a book – ‘Beyond the pleasure principle’ – in which he went on to divide human behaviour into two parts.One ‘Eros’ – the life instinct. This is the force that keeps us alive, pushing for survival and reproduction.Second ‘Thanatoos’ – the death drive. And this is the more dangerous of two.Freud argues life is full of chaos and tensions and Thanatoos being the force of repulsion and destruction pushes to put that chaos to end and return to silence. He makes the point that when one everyday wakes up and goes about daily life they push away Thanatoos.Probably that penguin didn’t have consciousness and couldn’t push away the Thanatoos.While the internet has turned the clip into a cultural symbol, scientists view it as an isolated and scientifically interesting observation — a reminder of the limits of human interpretation when applied to animal behaviour.

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Governor R N Ravi in the state assembly, accusing him of undermining constitutional conventions and insulting the office he holds by refusing to read the customary address at the start of the session.“By not reading speech prepared by this government elected by crores of people, governor is disgracing the position he holds,” Stalin said in the assembly. Referring to repeated confrontations, he added, “governors in the past were not like R N Ravi and I am constrained to criticise him.”Rejecting allegations surrounding patriotism and protocol, the chief minister said, “We are not inferior to anyone in patriotism, and no one needs to teach us,” stressing that respect for the national anthem was deeply ingrained in the State’s political culture.

In his address, Stalin said the Governor’s conduct caused him distress, “However, the Governor is acting against the government. He repeatedly cites the same reason and walks out of the Assembly. I am someone who has deep respect for the nation and the national anthem,” he said. He also pointed out that assembly tradition in Tamil Nadu involved singing the Tamil Thai Vazhthu at the beginning of proceedings and the national anthem at the end.Highlighting his government’s record, Stalin said, “Because of the achievements of the Dravidian model government, Tamil Nadu has held its head high. Tamil Nadu has developed more than other states. The reason for this is our schemes.” He added, “As far as this government is concerned, once an achievement is made, an even greater one follows. Creating achievement upon achievement is the hallmark of the Dravidian model government.”The chief minister also dismissed opposition claims on law and order. “Incidents of crime are less in state during DMK regime when compared to AIADMK rule,” he said, adding, “Facing crises is not new to me and I have overcome many challenges.”Taking jibe at opposition Stalin said, “I was worried when DMK formed government because previous AIADMK government had left the state in bad shape and union govt is not in good terms with us, but now I am happy seeing state’s growth,” The remarks come days after governor Ravi walked out of the assembly before delivering his inaugural address, alleging disrespect to the National Anthem and claiming his microphone was switched off. Speaker M Appavu had urged the governor to adhere to established legislative conventions.Raj Bhavan later defended the walkout, stating that the government-approved speech omitted references to issues such as atrocities against Dalits and sexual violence against Dalit women. Opposition AIADMK legislators also staged a walkout, citing concerns over law and order.Following which, Stalin said the DMK would consult like-minded opposition parties to pursue a constitutional amendment to abolish the practice of the Governor’s address at the start of the first Assembly session. In a post on X, he said, “First Tamil Nadu. Then Kerala. Now Karnataka. The pattern is clear and deliberate. Governors refusing to read the speech prepared by state governments and behaving like party agents, undermining duly elected state governments.”He added, “As I stated earlier, the only solution now is to end the practice of commencing the first annual Assembly session with the Governor’s address. DMK will consult like-minded opposition parties across India and pursue a constitutional amendment in the very next parliamentary session to abolish this obsolete and irrelevant practice.”

PM attacks Stalin

PM Modi on Friday launched NDA’s campaign for the upcoming polls in the state saying, “countdown has begun” for the end of the DMK govt in TN and the time has come for a “double-engine” NDA govt.“Tamil Nadu is ready for change. It wants freedom from DMK rule. Tamil Nadu wants a BJP-led NDA govt,” PM Modi said at a rally at Mathuranthakam, near Chennai.Touching upon the lamp-lighting issue in Thiruparankundram,PM accused DMK of being hostile to Tamil culture. “DMK and its allies did not spare even the court in a bid to appease their vote bank,” he said. Modi said the current dispensation was a “CMC (corruption, mafia, crime) govt”. Sharing the stage with AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss, TMC president G K Vasan and other NDA allies, PM Modi said they had come together with a common resolve. “All of them are united to free Tamil Nadu from DMK’s rule and transform it into a developed, secure and corruption-free state,” he said.

European Union vice-president, Kaja Kallas, arrived in New Delhi on Saturday, marking her first official visit to India. The visit comes amid intensified diplomatic engagement between India and the EU.MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal welcomed the official in a post on X, saying the visit builds on regular high-level engagements and comes at a timely moment to further strengthen the India-EU Strategic Partnership.

“A warm welcome to EU HRVP @kajakallas on her first official visit to India as the EU High Representative/Vice-President. The visit comes at an opportune moment to further strengthen the India-EU Strategic Partnership, building on the momentum of regular high-level engagements,” he said in a post on X.Ahead of her visit, Kallas, the bloc’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy addressed the European Parliament, where she outlined the European Union’s plans to deepen cooperation with India. She announced that the EU had agreed to proceed with the signing of a new Security and Defence Partnership, aimed at expanding collaboration across several strategic areas.“Europe is ready to deliver on a powerful new agenda with India. Today, the EU agreed to move forward with the signature of a new Security and Defence Partnership. It will expand our cooperation in areas such as maritime security, counterterrorism, and cyber defence. I look forward to signing it next week during the EU-India Summit in New Delhi,” Kallas said.India and the European Union are scheduled to hold the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi, where both sides are expected to adopt a new comprehensive strategic agenda to guide future cooperation.The diplomatic engagements coincide with progress in negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Union. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the two sides are nearing the final stages of the deal, describing it as one of significant scale.Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, von der Leyen highlighted Europe’s focus on expanding trade and strengthening international partnerships. Referring to the proposed agreement with India, she said, “There is still work to do. But we are on the cusp of a historic trade agreement. Some call it the mother of all deals. One that would create a market of 2 billion people, accounting for almost a quarter of global GDP.”Von der Leyen confirmed that she will travel to India next weekend to advance work related to the proposed trade agreement. She said the visit would focus on strengthening economic ties and deepening cooperation between Europe and India, while reiterating that Europe remains open to engaging with partners across the world.European Council president Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will undertake a three-day State Visit to India from January 25 to 27. During the visit, they will serve as Chief Guests at the 77th Republic Day celebrations.The two leaders will also co-chair the 16th India-EU Summit on January 27. Their schedule includes meetings with President Droupadi Murmu, as well as restricted and delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The participation of EU leaders in the Republic Day celebrations and the upcoming summit is expected to further strengthen the strategic partnership and advance cooperation in priority areas of mutual interest.President Costa and President von der Leyen are visiting India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Their visit comes as negotiations on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement reach an advanced stage, with the deal expected to be concluded around the time of their visit.