In his latest scathing column for The Telegraph on January 9, 2026, England legend Geoffrey Boycott delivered a blistering post-mortem following the conclusion of the Ashes 2025-26 series. Having watched England fall to a demoralizing 4-1 defeat in Australia, the 85-year-old former opener spared no one in the leadership group.

Boycott argued that the ‘Bazball’ era has devolved from an exciting experiment into a dangerous culture of entitlement and recklessness. He accused the team of lacking basic discipline, highlighting that their stubborn refusal to adapt to Australian conditions was the primary reason for their downfall. With his signature bluntness, Boycott demanded a complete overhaul of the coaching structure before England’s next Test assignment in June.

Geoffrey Boycott names the three culprits behind England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat

Boycott took direct aim at the three most powerful figures in England cricket, Head Coach Brendon McCullum, Managing Director Rob Key and Captain Ben Stokes, labeling them as the architects of England’s failure.

“England’s three wise men turned out to be the three stooges. Brendon McCullum, Rob Key, and Ben Stokes sold a lie for three years.” Boycott wrote.

Boycott’s primary grievance was the lack of consequences for poor performances, noting that under the current regime, players feel invincible regardless of their mistakes. Boycott observed: “Nobody tells them off, no accountability, and nobody gets dropped, so they just keep doing the same daft things. Why should the players change, adapt, or improve if the coach and captain are okay with it?” He further criticized Key for failing to exercise oversight, warning that if Key continues to blindly back McCullum’s ‘slapstick’ tactics, his own job could be at risk.

Also READ: Geoffrey Boycott proposes ‘two strong candidates’ to replace Brendon McCullum as England’s Test coach after Ashes 2025-26 defeat

The gambler coach and the need for Ashes-winning counsel

Focusing his critique on the coaching philosophy, Boycott described McCullum as a leader who has fundamentally failed to evolve beyond a high-stakes gambling mindset. While acknowledging McCullum was initially a ‘breath of fresh air,’

Boycott wrote: “But he is a gambler who thinks he is always going to win his money back. That’s how casinos always win in the end… They don’t know when to stop or change their routine.” To fix this perceived arrogance, Boycott suggested that the ECB must force the leadership group to listen to “has-been” legends who actually know how to win Down Under. He urged Key to bring in greats like Ian Botham, Graham Gooch and David Gower to provide a “fresh and different” perspective, adding: “This sort of free license to do whatever you please with no consequence is holding England back. To get to the next level, we need a different discipline and structure.”

Also READ: 5 key reasons for England’s disastrous defeat in Ashes 2025-26 against Australia

Thane: Amid the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation election, the Shiv Sena delivered a major political blow to the BJP during a massive rally addressed by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. Three-time corporator Prakash Nathani quit the BJP and joined the Shiv Sena at the rally. Several BJP office-bearers also switched sides, strengthening the Shiv Sena ahead of the polls.Shiv Sena is contesting all 78 seats in Ulhasnagar in alliance with its local partners Team Omie Kalani (TOK) and the Sai Party, while the BJP, its alliance partner in the state govt, is contesting all seats independently. In contrast, Shiv Sena and BJP are contesting together as part of the Mahayuti in Kalyan–Dombivli.Addressing the gathering, Shinde launched a sharp attack on the Thackeray brothers without naming them, saying, “When people played their band, they remembered their brand.” He accused the opposition of hypocrisy over EVMs, stating that EVMs are termed good when they win and faulty when they lose. He said the public has now seen through such tactics.Referring to Kalyan–Dombivli, Shinde pointed out that 21 Mahayuti candidates have been elected unopposed and asked the opposition why they failed to even field candidates. He said people withdraw nominations not out of fear, but because they know they lack leadership and public support.Calling Kalyan–Dombivli a Mahayuti stronghold, Shinde praised MP Shrikant Shinde, calling him a visionary leader and credited him for transforming the region through mega development projects. He asserted that Mahayuti will form the municipal government and hoist the saffron flag in Kalyan–Dombivli.In Ulhasnagar, Shinde emphasized unity between the Marathi and Sindhi communities, comparing their bond to sugar dissolved in milk. Sharing the stage with former MLA Pappu Kalani, Omie Kalani and SAI party president Jeevan Idnani, he praised Pappu Kalani’s leadership, saying, “A name needs strength; even kites fly on air, but leadership needs substance.”Recalling his tenure as chief minister, Shinde said he worked tirelessly and launched schemes like the ‘Laadki Bahin Yojana’ to empower women, assuring that the scheme would never be discontinued.Concluding his speech, Shinde said his dream is to transform Ulhasnagar into a “happy city” driven by development, unity and trust, expressing confidence that the coming civic elections would see the bow-and-arrow and lotus symbols prominently victorious.

Investors are anticipating that the decision could either trigger a sharp surge in the Sensex and Nifty or exacerbate the turbulence. (AI image)

Will the world continue to face US President Donald Trump tariffs or will the Supreme Court in America deem them illegal? It’s an important factor in the minds of investors world over, and Indian stock markets are also awaiting clarity on the same. While it was widely anticipated that the Supreme Court in the US will rule on the tariff issue on Friday, no ruling is lined up for today.For the past five trading sessions, Sensex and Nifty have tanked over 2% – the markets are reacting to a stalemate in the India-US trade deal negotiations, a fresh threat by Trump of higher tariffs on India, and a new bill in the US Senate which proposes 500% tariffs on countries that purchase Russian crude oil.

Investors are anticipating that the decision could either trigger a sharp surge in the Sensex and Nifty or exacerbate the turbulence that has already unsettled Dalal Street in the last few days.

Ruling on Trump tariffs: What would it mean for Sensex, Nifty?

Should the Supreme Court strike down the tariffs, India could emerge as one of the main beneficiaries in the world. India currently faces a 50% tariff rate on its exports to the US. However, the recent nod by Trump for a bill that looks to impose a 500% tariff on countries importing Russian oil poses an additional threat to India’s trade competitiveness. Experts widely expect the stock market to rally in case a verdict striking down the tariffs comes.Dr. V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “The US Supreme Court ruling can have profound consequences. How the ruling will impact markets will depend on the details. If the ruling is that the tariffs are illegal and the president has exceeded his authority, that will lead to serious consequences like refunding the importers who have paid the tariffs. This will widen the US deficit and increase their borrowing leading to higher bond yields. The impact of this scenario on the US stock market will be negative.”“On the contrary, countries like India which have been at the receiving end of Trump’s tariffs will benefit from such a ruling. Particularly exporters to the US will benefit. It is also possible that the Supreme Court may partially nullify the tariffs, in which case, the impact will depend on the details. Even if the ruling goes against the US administration, it is highly likely that the president and his team will resort to other means to impose tariffs. The tariff drama is likely to linger for some time,” he tells TOI.A Supreme Court decision invalidating the Trump-era tariffs could offer immediate support to global risk assets, with Indian equities standing to gain the most. Analysts note that such a ruling would lower input costs, ease trade tensions, and enhance profit visibility for export-driven sectors that have been heavily impacted by the high US duties.On the other hand, if the court upholds the tariffs, markets may experience prolonged volatility and heightened policy uncertainty. Sustained tariffs would maintain elevated supply chain costs, squeeze corporate margins, and potentially delay investment decisions. Under such conditions, experts anticipate a lack of broad market gains, with trading largely limited to individual stocks.

The 500% Tariff Sword

Market participants are also going to closely monitor not just the verdict, but its specifics: whether the court will deliver a full invalidation of the tariff regime or a partial ruling that allows some trade frictions to persist.The Russia Sanctioning Act could impose a staggering 500% tariff on nations importing Russian oil. While the measure is intended to restrict Moscow’s energy revenues, it could inflict severe collateral consequences on India.“The trade dispute between India and the US has intensified, with former President Donald Trump endorsing legislation authored by Senator Lindsey Graham that would allow a 500% tariff on countries importing Russian oil,” said Harsimran Sahni, Head – Treasury at Anand Rathi Global Finance.Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, India has significantly increased imports of discounted Russian crude. Sahni cautioned, “If enforced, this tariff could sharply elevate the cost of Indian exports to the US, hurting trade competitiveness and straining an already fragile global economic environment.”He added, “The implications for India extend beyond trade alone. Higher tariffs could slow growth by impacting export-driven sectors, while rising energy costs might complicate inflation management. Government measures to stabilize supply and demand could affect liquidity and drive yields higher.”

Mustafizur Rahman. (Photo/Agencies)

NEW DELHI: The BCCI on Friday said it was not its place to comment on Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup, stating that the matter falls under the International Cricket Council’s jurisdiction. The clarification came after a review meeting of the board’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.Bangladesh have asked the ICC to move their T20 World Cup matches out of India after the BCCI instructed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Mustafizur Rahman, “due to the recent developments”.

“The meeting was about CoE and other cricketing matters. It’s not our domain to talk about that (as the ICC has the final say on Bangladesh’s participation in T20 World Cup),” Saikia said, as cited by news agency PTI.The meeting in Mumbai focused on the functioning of the CoE and planning future India Under-19 and India A tours. The CoE became fully operational in April last year, but several key technical posts remain vacant, including head of education and head of sports science. The meeting was attended by BCCI president Mithun Manhas, vice-president Rajeev Shukla and head of cricket at the CoE, VVS Laxman.“We assessed the vacancies at CoE and decided to go ahead with the recruitment process soon. There is acute shortage of technical personnel worldwide but we are trying to fill the positions at the earliest,” Saikia was quoted as saying by PTI.Explaining the review, Saikia added: “We thought it was an appropriate time to review the preparations and activities of CoE. We are hosting matches in the three grounds there (including the ongoing Vijay Hazare). We also talked about how the A tours need to be scheduled going forward.”“In certain situations, the A side and senior team are touring together at the same time. We need to ensure that there is no overlapping. A tour is an important supply line of cricketers,” said the former cricketer-turned-lawyer from Assam.Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Cricket Board on Thursday sent a second letter to the ICC, detailing specific security concerns related to travel to India for the T20 World Cup and again requested that the matches be shifted to Sri Lanka.

Industry body PHDCCI has suggested that the government set up a dedicated Green Bank or Climate Finance Facility in the upcoming Union Budget to help channel private capital into green technologies such as renewable energy, energy efficiency and electric vehicles, PTI reported.The proposal was made during a pre-Budget interactive session with representatives from the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector, where participants underscored the need for budgetary support, risk-sharing mechanisms and strong disclosure frameworks to improve transparency in green lending.The industry body also suggested that the proposed Green Bank should be allowed to raise funds through green bonds or pooled financing instruments to expand the availability of long-term climate finance.In addition to climate-focused financing, PHDCCI flagged broader concerns around credit availability and liquidity in the economy. “More credit to MSMEs at lower cost, more support to export-hit sectors and more liquidity infusion. I think the rate cuts haven’t transmitted the way they should have,” PHDCCI Chairman Gurmeet Chadha told PTI.The Budget session of Parliament will be held from January 28 to April 2, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Friday. The session will open with President Droupadi Murmu’s address to a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will table the Economic Survey and present the Union Budget during the session. Rijiju did not specify the date for the Budget presentation. February 1, the customary Budget Day, falls on a Sunday this year. Parliament will go into recess from February 13 to March 9. “On the recommendation of the Govt of India, Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu ji has approved the summoning of both the Houses of Parliament for the Budget Session 2026,” Rijiju said in a post on X. “The Session will commence on 28 January 2026 and continue till 2 April 2026,” he added.

File photo: MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal (Picture credit: ANI)

NEW DELHI: India is closely following the developments in Iran, the ministry of external affairs said on Friday, amid a wave of protests in that country over inflation and currency devaluation.On January 5, New Delhi had urged Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Iran and also advised Indian citizens in Iran to exercise due caution and avoid travelling to areas witnessing protests or demonstrations.During his weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked about the situation in Iran.“We are closely following the developments in Iran. As you would have seen, we have also issued an advisory. We have some 10,000 Indian nationals and people of Indian origin in that country,” Jaiswal said.The protests against worsening economic conditions began in Tehran about two weeks ago.A large number of Iranian provinces have witnessed the protests, in which many people have been killed.The protests were triggered by a sharp fall in the value of the Iranian currency, rial, against the US dollar.Jaiswal was also asked to comment on the reported detention of many Indian crew members, among others, on board a tanker by Iranian authorities last December, and also on any consular access.The Iranian authorities seized the tanker for alleged violation of some norms, various media outlets reported.“Yes, we have sought consular access… We understand that 10 of them have been detained. Our embassy is in touch with the Iranian authorities on this matter, and we have also sought consular access so that we can inquire about their well-being and also offer whatever assistance required from our side,” Jaiswal said.

Prithvi Shaw, the dynamic Indian opener, has captured hearts off the field with a heartwarming social media post alongside his girlfriend Akriti Agarwal, just as anticipation builds for IPL 2026. The 26-year-old batter, recently reunited with Delhi Capitals, shared the adorable reel on Instagram on January 9, 2026, blending romance and faith ahead of the T20 spectacle. This gesture comes at a pivotal time, signalling his renewed focus amid cricketing highs and lows.

Prithvi Shaw’s romantic reel sparks buzz before IPL 2026

Shaw dropped an endearing Instagram reel featuring his love interest, Akriti, emphasizing a divine connection in their relationship. The video showcased tender moments, including a clip from an exotic holiday, with Shaw hinting that their meeting was “God’s plan” – a caption that resonated deeply with fans craving personal insights from the star. Akriti, a rising social media sensation boasting over 3.2 million Instagram followers, brings her own flair to the spotlight, having recently stepped into acting with the Telugu crime thriller Trimukha.

This post not only highlights Shaw’s lighter side but also underscores his emotional grounding as he prepares for a redemption arc in IPL 2026, where Delhi Capitals snapped him up for ₹75 lakh in the auction’s third round after initial setbacks. Fans flooded the comments with heart emojis and cheers, bridging his on-field ambitions with off-field charm in a perfectly timed morale boost.

Here’s the video:

Also READ: 3 players who can replace Tilak Varma in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad if he misses out

Shaw’s Vijay Hazare Trophy form fuels IPL hopes

On the cricket pitch, Shaw’s recent Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 outings reflect a mix of promise and inconsistency, setting the stage for his IPL comeback. Playing for Maharashtra after a Mumbai snub, he smashed a brisk 71 off 75 balls (10 fours, 1 six) against Mumbai at Jaipur, contributing to a 140-run opening stand in a 128-run win. This knock marked his 10th fifty in the tournament (average 59.96 from 33 games) and 16th in List A cricket (3,589 runs at 55.21 avg), showcasing his explosive potential. However, recent struggles saw him dismissed for 2 against Chhattisgarh and 1 versus Goa in Round 7, highlighting consistency challenges amid fitness concerns.

Released by Delhi Capitals before IPL 2025 where he went unsold, Shaw’s return to the franchise – his original IPL home from 2018-2024 – offers a fresh shot at reclaiming his spot and impressing national selectors. With IPL 2026 on the horizon, these domestic displays blend flair and grit, positioning him as a wildcard opener ready to silence doubters.

Also READ: BCCI issues update on Tilak Varma’s availability for IND vs NZ T20I series