NEW DELHI: Left out of next month’s T20 World Cup squad, India’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill on Saturday said he respects the selectors’ call and remains focused on performing whenever he gets the chance.The 26-year-old was not picked for the T20 World Cup despite leading India in the longer formats. Gill has played 36 T20Is, scoring 869 runs at an average of 28.03 and a strike rate of 138.59. He was dropped from the T20 setup after managing 291 runs in his last 15 matches in the format at an average of 24.25.

“My belief is that in my life, I am where I am supposed to be and whatever things are written in my destiny, no one can take those things from me,” Gill told reporters ahead of the first ODI against New Zealand on Sunday.“Obviously as a player, you have a belief that if you play in the World Cup, you will win (it for) your team, (and) you will win (it for) your country.”“Having said that, I respect the selectors’ decision and (I am) wishing the T20 team all the very best and I really hope that they win the World Cup for us.”Asked if the omission could affect him mentally, Gill said staying in the present was key.“Being a sportsperson, it’s all about being in the present, the more (in the) present you are, even when you are on the field, more you are not thinking about what’s going to happen, or what has happened in the previous moment, it gives you more chances of succeeding,” he said.“I try to look at what I need to do now and what is important. The more we can be in the present moment, it makes our life more simpler, and if you make your life more simpler, it’s a much peaceful and a happier space that you would want to be in.”The New Zealand series is only Gill’s second assignment as India’s full-time ODI captain. He missed the second Test against South Africa and the following ODI series due to a neck injury sustained on the second day of the opening Test in Kolkata.“(It is) never easy, especially whenever you get injured, watching your team play and you feel like you’re missing out on all those games, especially when you’ve just been named the captain,” he said.“There are so many things that you want to do and when you sit out there, it’s definitely very frustrating.”Gill also rejected the view that senior players have chosen an “easier format” to continue playing for India.“The Indian cricket team hasn’t won a World Cup since 2011, so if it was that (easy), we would be winning (the) World Cup every second year (edition),” he said.“It’s easy to say (that) but I don’t think any format is easy. It requires a lot of resilience, a lot of persistence, and a lot of determination to be able to win big ICC tournaments.”He added that he has raised concerns with the BCCI about limited preparation time before Test series.“One of the suggestions that I was very keen on is, if you would see in the last two Test series that we played, we didn’t have that much time to prepare,” Gill said.“It’s not easy playing in India, and playing another match in a different country on the fourth day, especially when you are travelling on long tours.”Gill said the issue would remain regardless of the result against South Africa.“Even if we would have won the series against South Africa, it still wouldn’t have made that much of a difference, because we know we need to prepare well to be able to win Test matches all over the world,” he said.“Preparation for me is really big, and I didn’t think that we had that much time to prepare when we came back from Australia, or even after the Asia Cup when we played the West Indies series.”He added, “It’s important to at least have some bit of preparation especially changing from white-ball format to red-ball. I think we’ll take some action and we’ll keep it in mind to be able to prepare well before the start of any red-ball series.”

Yuvraj Singh and Sanju Samson (Image credit: Instagram)

NEW DELHI: A viral nets video has thrust Sanju Samson back into the spotlight as India step into the final stretch of preparations for the T20 World Cup. The clip, widely shared across social media platforms, shows the wicketkeeper-batter receiving batting tips from former India star Yuvraj Singh, immediately fuelling chatter around the World Cup winner’s growing influence as a mentor to the next generation.Over the past few years, Yuvraj has quietly carved a niche as a guiding figure for young Indian cricketers. His inputs have already played a part in the rise of Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, both of whom have gone on to establish themselves at the highest level. Gill now leads India in Tests and ODIs, while Abhishek has emerged as a first-choice opener in T20Is, earning a reputation for his fearless powerplay hitting.

Samson now appears to be the latest batter to benefit from Yuvraj’s experience. The former India all-rounder was recently spotted working closely with the Kerala batter in the nets as Samson gears up for a crucial phase of his career. With the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup set to be held in India and Sri Lanka, every training session carries added significance.The video surfaced just days before India’s T20I series against New Zealand, underlining the timing of the interaction. Samson, who has been named in the squad for the five-match series and is also part of India’s plans for the World Cup at home, looked keen to fine-tune his batting approach under Yuvraj’s watchful eye.India squad for T20 World Cup: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.

Renee Nicole Good, the 37-year-old woman, who was shot dead by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, briefly left the US and lived in Canada after President Donald Trump won the election in 2024, reports claimed. Good’s personal life has come on the radar as contradictory claims have been made about her presence at the protest Wednesday. Some of her family members claimed Good was not an activist but her partner Rebecca said she brought her there. Eyewitnesses also claimed they were making videos of the protest.

Married thrice, briefly lived in Canada because of Trump

Good was married thrice and the last time was with Rebecca. With her first husband, Good had two children but did not get their custody after the divorce. With her second husband, who died in 2023, Good had a six-year-old son who was being raised by Renee and Rebecca. It’s believed that Renee and Rebecca went to the protest site after dropping their son off at school.A Washington Post profile of Renee said she grew up in Colorado Springs, attended Coronado High School and graduated winning “best personality”. Good attended Metropolitan State University of Denver briefly in 2014 and 2015. After she and her first husband divorced, Good married Timmy Macklin Jr, who served in the US Air Force. In 2019, she began studying creative writing at Old Dominion University in Virginia. By 2020, Good had won a prestigious prize for one of her poems. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English that December.In 2023, Timmy Macklin died at the age of 36, and Good became primarily a stay-at-home mom, her first husband said.Then Renee met Rebecca, fell in love and got married. They settled in Kansas City, Missouri. As a gay couple living in a red state, they were not very political and they broke their lease after Trump won in 2024 and said they were moving to Canada because of the political situation.Renee and Rebecca moved to Minneapolis around a year ago for the diverse community they found on the south side of Minneapolis.

The Gabba witnessed a masterclass in aggressive T20 batting on January 10, 2026, as the Brisbane Heat secured a comprehensive 7-wicket victory over the Sydney Thunder in the 29th match of BBL|15. In a high-stakes encounter under the lights, a vintage performance from Usman Khawaja ensured the Heat chased down a daunting total with remarkable ease, finishing the game with 22 balls to spare.

David Warner and Sam Billings set a formidable target against Brisbane Heat

Winning the toss and electing to bat, the Sydney Thunder overcame a cautious start to post a competitive 180/6. The innings was anchored by veteran David Warner, who showed glimpses of his classic self with a gritty 82 off 56 balls. Warner’s knock, featuring seven boundaries and three towering sixes, provided the stability the Thunder needed after losing Matthew Gilkes (10) and Cameron Bancroft (4) early in the Powerplay.

The momentum shifted during the “Power Surge” in the 13th and 14th overs, where the Thunder added 29 runs without losing a wicket. Sam Billings contributed a brisk 34, partnering with Warner for an 84-run stand that looked set to propel the visitors toward a 200-plus total. However, the Brisbane Heat’s bowling unit, led by an inspired Matt Renshaw (2/29), tightened the screws in the death overs. Renshaw’s ability to pick up key wickets, including the dangerous Billings, halted the Thunder’s charge, leaving them with 180—a formidable but defendable score on the true Gabba surface.

Also READ: Liam Scott’s knock goes in vain as Nathan Ellis’ bowling brilliance guides Hobart Hurricanes to big win over Adelaide Strikers in BBL|15

Usman Khawaja’s blistering innings powers Brisbane Heat to dominant win in BBL|15

Any hopes the Thunder had of defending their total were quickly extinguished by an extraordinary opening onslaught. Jack Wildermuth acted as the early aggressor, smashing 39 off just 15 balls in a whirlwind cameo that saw the Heat race to 50 runs in just 3.2 overs. When Wildermuth fell in the fourth over, the foundation was already laid for the Khawaja show.

The Heat captain played with surgical precision and effortless timing. Khawaja’s 78 off 48 balls was a clinic in finding gaps and punishing short-pitched bowling. He reached his half-century in just 30 deliveries, effectively killing the contest before the drinks break. While Nathan McSweeney (12) fell cheaply, Renshaw capped off a brilliant all-round day by remaining unbeaten on 42 off 26 balls.

The match flow remained heavily in the Heat’s favour throughout the chase, reaching the 150-run mark in just the 14th over. Despite Wes Agar finally dismissing Khawaja in the 16th over, the damage was done. The Heat crossed the line at 183/3 in only 16.2 overs, marking one of the most clinical chases in recent BBL history. Khawaja’s “Player of the Match” performance not only secured the points for Brisbane but also sent a clear message to the rest of the league regarding the Heat’s championship credentials in BBL|15.

A comprehensive win for Brisbane Heat ⚡#BBL15 #BrisbaneHeat pic.twitter.com/4bHDIdW6tJ

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 10, 2026

Also READ: BBL|15: Ben Dwarshuis, Joel Davies shine as Sydney Sixers pip Melbourne Stars in a low-scoring thriller

MUMBAI: On the last weekend before the city votes, citizen groups across Mumbai are stepping up efforts to directly engage electoral candidates, pushing them to commit publicly to transparency, accountability and long-pending civic demands.From voter manifestos and citizens’ charters to interactive town halls, resident associations and NGOs are using the final weekend before polling to put candidates on the spot and seek written assurances on local issues.In G North ward, which includes parts of Dadar and Mahim, residents drew up a detailed ‘voters’ manifesto’ and collected nearly 400 signatures. On Saturday, the residents will hold a public ‘Meet Your Candidate’ event at Shivaji Park. The voters’ manifesto calls regular, pre-scheduled ward meetings, public disclosure of questions raised and decisions taken in the BMC, and clear sharing of ward budgets, allocations and expenditure.NGO AGNI has organised a ‘Meet Your Candidate’ interaction on Jan 10 at the Radio Club in Colaba, where voters will have an open forum to engage with candidates contesting the polls.In Juhu, the Gulmohar Area Societies Welfare Group prepared a comprehensive citizens’ charter demanding stricter enforcement of civic norms in Gulmohar and JVPD. The charter seeks a ban on the parking of commercial vehicles in internal lanes, eviction of unlicensed hawkers with proper implementation of hawking zones, and a prohibition on cooking on footpaths and roads. It also calls for compliance by construction sites and developers with pollution, noise, parking and open-space norms.Residents of Madh Island and the neighbouring villages of Erangle, Aksa and Marve wrote to Congress candidate Sangeeta Koli, seeking firm commitments. The registered body, The Villages Welfare Foundation (TVWF), flagged demands such as construction and maintenance of the Versova-Madh Island bridge, improved coastal road connectivity, a walk-over bridge across the creek, and a full-fledged hospital, police and fire services.

India and the European Union moved their proposed Free Trade Agreement discussions forward during Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal’s two-day visit to Brussels, which ended on January 9.Goyal was in the Belgian capital on January 8 and 9, where he held multiple high-level meetings with EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic. The discussions focused on moving the long-running India–EU FTA talks forward, with both leaders offering clear guidance to their negotiating teams to resolve outstanding matters and speed up the process.The talks placed strong emphasis on balancing trade ambitions with domestic priorities. Both sides underlined that the agreement must protect farmers and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), while also helping Indian industries strengthen their participation in global supply chains.“In continuation of our efforts to secure a mutually beneficial India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), I held high-level talks with the EU Trade and Economic Security Commissioner, Mr. Maros Sefcovic, in Brussels. During this dialogue, we deliberated across key areas of the proposed agreement. We reaffirmed our commitment to a rules-based trading framework and a modern economic partnership that safeguards the interests of farmers and MSMEs while integrating Indian industries into global supply chains,” Goyal said in a post on X.According to the Ministry of Commerce, the ministerial talks covered several critical aspects of the agreement. Progress across negotiating tracks such as Market Access for Goods, Rules of Origin and Services was reviewed, with both sides acknowledging steady movement on these fronts.The ministry said the discussions reflected strong political will in both India and the EU to resolve remaining issues through constructive engagement. The two sides also reiterated the need to finalise a fair, balanced and ambitious agreement that aligns with shared values, economic priorities and a rules-based trading framework.The ministerial engagement was built on earlier discussions held on 6 and 7 January 2026 between Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and European Commission Director-General for Trade Sabine Weyand. These meetings focused on taking stock of progress across negotiating areas, with officials working to “narrow divergences” and bring clarity to unresolved issues ahead of the minister-level talks.Before arriving in Brussels, Goyal visited Liechtenstein, where he led a business roundtable with senior executives from leading local companies. The discussions centred on the implementation of the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA). The visit marked the first-ever trip by an Indian Cabinet Minister to Liechtenstein and underscored the strengthening economic relationship following the operationalisation of the trade pact.During the interactions, Goyal said the India–EFTA TEPA extends beyond trade liberalisation, offering a broader framework for investment, technology collaboration, skill development and the creation of resilient value chains. He encouraged Liechtenstein companies to explore opportunities in India, particularly in the context of the $100 billion investment commitment made by EFTA countries.As part of the visit, the minister toured the headquarters of the Hilti Group and met its chief executive, Jahangir Doongaji. Talks focused on expanding localisation efforts, increasing value addition and scaling up global shipments from India. With Hilti operating in India’s construction sector for over 25 years, discussions also covered technology collaboration aimed at supporting safer and smarter infrastructure in line with India’s manufacturing and export objectives.Goyal also met Liechtenstein Prime Minister Brigitte Haas to discuss ways to deepen economic and investment cooperation under the India–EFTA TEPA. The leaders explored collaboration in skill development, vocational training and industry-academia partnerships, bringing together India’s young workforce and Liechtenstein’s advanced industrial expertise.

BADLAPUR: The Bhartiya Janta Party has appointed Tushar Apte as Co-opted councillor, who is co-accused in Badalapur sexual abuse case, who as secretary of school trust has failed to report the offence under provision of the POCSO Act in which two school children were sexually abuse by sweeper.The appointment has reignited a major political and social controversy in Thane district, bringing back memories of the Badlapur sexual abuse case that had shaken Maharashtra. The decision was confirmed after the Kulgaon-Badlapur Municipal Council completed the process of selecting five co-opted councillors on Friday. Of the five, two were nominated by the BJP, two by the Shiv Sena and one by the Nationalist Congress Party.Apart from Tushar Apte, the other co-opted councillors include Shagof Gore from the BJP, Prabhakar Patil from the NCP, and Dilip Baikar and Hemant Chature from the Shiv Sena. Council chairperson Ruchita Ghorpade formally confirmed the appointments, following which the newly nominated councillors were felicitated.Tushar Apte was the secretary of the educational institution where the alleged sexual abuse of two minor girls took place. A case was registered against the school management under Section 21(2) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for failing to report the crime to the authorities. Apte was arrested 44 days after the incident and was granted bail within 48 hours. The case against him is currently sub judice.The Badlapur incident had sparked massive protests across city by parents and citizens, who demanded accountability from the school management and stricter safeguards for children. The main accused in the case, Akshay Shinde, a school sweeper, was arrested in August 2024 for allegedly sexually abusing two minor girls inside a school toilet.In a dramatic turn of events, Akshay Shinde was killed on September 23 in an alleged police encounter while being taken from Taloja prison in Navi Mumbai for questioning in a separate case filed by his wife. Police claimed he snatched a firearm from one of the officers and opened fire, leading to retaliatory firing.Defending Apte’s appointment, BJP councillor Rajan Ghorpade stated that Apte is a social activist and office-bearer of a reputed educational institution. He argued that Apte’s guilt has not been proven in court and claimed that his contribution to party work and election efforts led to his nomination.