Ottneil Baartman of Paarl Royals sends down a delivery during match 3 of the Betway SA20 season 4 between Paarl Royals (PR) and Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) held at the Boland Park Stadium in Paarl, South Africa on the 27th December 2025 Photo Credit: Shaun Roy / Sportzpics for SA20)

New Delhi: The noise around for Ottneil Baartman’s omission from South Africa’s T20 World Cup squad are growing louder. A couple of days after Dale Steyn questioned Baartman’s exclusion from the Aiden Markram-led side, his former teammate JP Duminy has shared his opinion on the ongoing debate around the speedster.Duminy believes Baartman’s response to being left out of the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup says more about the fast bowler than any selection call ever could.

“To come off the back of not getting selected and then put in the performances he has speaks volumes about his character,” JP Duminy said while addressing the media in a session facilitated by SA20. “He’s not letting the negativity around it affect his performances. Instead, he’s using motivation and encouragement to keep delivering.”Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“It’s always a tough one to make a late call like that,” he said. “The more important angle is preparing as if an opportunity might come, and being ready if it does.”Baartman, who part of the Paarl Royals, has taken 11 wickets from 4 matches and is the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing fourth edition of the SA20. Yet, he has missed the bus for the T20 World Cup to be played in India and Sri Lanka next month.Legendary Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn, who was Baartman’s bowling coach for the first three season of the SA20 at Sunrisers Eastern Cape, urged the selectors to have a second look.“He’s the highest wicket taker in SA20, won the league twice and made a final, let me remind you, that’s a comp that has 4 INTERNATIONAL players (often batters) plus all the PROTEAS! He’s number 1,” Steyn posted on X. “Thats TOP quality, but he’ll be sitting home for this years 20/20 WC.”Yet, despite those positives, Baartman’s absence remains a reminder of how fine the margins are at the top level. Duminy was careful not to speculate on the selectors’ reasoning, acknowledging that such decisions are rarely understood in full from the outside. “Yes, there will be disappointment and questions,” he said, “but the focus has to stay on what you can do right now for the team you’re playing for.”For Baartman, Duminy stressed, control is limited to effort and focus. “As a cricketer, you can only control what you put into your performances. What we’ve seen so far is that he’s done that exceptionally well, and with real consistency.”Duminy’s comments came at the halfway mark into the SA20 with the T20 World Cup on the horizon. He also highlighted the significance of form players peaking at the right time. The return to rhythm of Quinton de Kock (205 runs from 5 matches @68.33 with a strike rate of 173.73), he felt, was a major positive. An in-form de Kock, Duminy said, “boosts the morale and confidence of the South African public and, more importantly, the team.”“If you put your Quinton de Kock hat on, obviously missing out on international cricket for a period of time and the competitor that he is, he certainly wants to getting the backing now from the selectors and the team, he certainly would want to perform in a way that warrants that selection,” he said on De Kock.

“And if you have an in-form De Kock, it always boosts the morale and the confidence of the South African public and more importantly, the South African team. So, long may it continue going into a very important T20 World Cup.”He was equally optimistic about the rise of Marco Jansen (4 wickets), describing the left-armer as a genuine all-round package in the making.Duminy noted that South Africa’s tradition of impactful all-rounders makes Jansen’s development particularly significant, especially in white-ball cricket, where balance and flexibility often define tournament success.

JIND: A daughter was welcomed like a son. A son was welcomed after 10 daughters. Haryana this week offered a stark snapshot of its gender paradox — son preference under pressure and yet undefeated.In Pauli village of Julana block in Jind district of central Haryana, Sanjay organised a Kua Pujan — a well was worshipped, a ritual traditionally reserved for male births — to celebrate the arrival of his daughter. Music filled lanes as villagers gathered for a feast.“We performed this to symbolise respect and equality,” Sanjay said. He added that his sister, born 39 years ago, was the last girl born in his family. His wife said daughters today excel in sports, education and even the armed forces, proving they are no less than boys.

Father struggles to recall all 10 daughters’ names

The village sarpanch said the entire community shared the family’s joy. About 115km away, in Dhani Bhojraj village of Fatehabad district in western Haryana, another celebration unfolded — this one for a son. Sanjay, a daily-wage labourer, welcomed his 11th child after 10 daughters. “After 19 years, my mother’s wish is fulfilled,” he said. “My eldest daughter studies in class 12. Everyone in the family and village is happy.”Yet the contrast cut deeper. Speaking to reporters, the father struggled to recall all his daughters’ names. “Sometimes I forget,” he said. He spoke of dreams of making his son an officer. He had no such plan for his daughters.The birth took place at a govt hospital in Uchana Kalan, a town in Jind district. Doctor Santosh, who handled the case, called it high-risk. The mother’s haemoglobin level was just 5 grams. The baby suffered from low amniotic fluid. “Despite complications, she delivered a healthy baby boy through normal delivery. Both are stable,” the doctor said.She warned sharply against repeated pregnancies. “They pose serious risks to both mother and child. I strongly advise families not to opt for a third child, let alone 11.”Haryana has long grappled with deeprooted patriarchy, reflected in skewed sex ratios and persistent pressure on women to bear sons. In the 2011 census, the state ranked among the country’s worst performers, with just 834 girls per 1,000 boys.A decade of awareness campaigns, stricter enforcement of laws against sex selection and changing social aspirations has nudged the numbers upward. Yet the celebration of an 11th child solely because he is male underscores how entrenched son preference remains. Together, the two births reflect a state in transition, where visible progress coexists uneasily with enduring bias.

NEW DELHI: Bomb threats were emailed to courts across India Thursday, sparking panic, mass evacuations and multi-state security sweeps before authorities declared them hoaxes. Messages claiming RDX-based IEDs and suicide attacks forced shutdowns in Odisha, Bihar, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, among others, paralysing judicial work.In Bhubaneswar, an email warned judges and staff to flee by 2.35pm, prompting evacuations. Cyber police said the mail, sent under the name “Arun Kumar, LTTE”, mentioned LTTE, ISI and Tamil Nadu constables, and may have been routed through a VPN.Courts in Patna, Danapur, Araria, Gaya and Kishanganj were cleared after similar emails, including one claiming a “human bomb”. In Kerala, Kasaragod and Manjeri district, courts were evacuated following emails traced to Tamil Nadu, one sent in the name of a so-called Tamil Liberation Organisation.Searches in Rajnandgaon, Durg and Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh, Mohali, Moga and Ferozepur in Punjab, Shimla high court, and courts in Anantapur, Chittoor, Visakhapatnam and Eluru in Andhra Pradesh found no explosives.Cyber cells launched a coordinated hunt for senders, warning of strict action as normal court work resumed.(Inputs from Bhubaneswar, Patna, Araria, Gaya, Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Raipur, Bathinda, Shimla, Vijayawada)

Sarfaraz Khan has completely taken over Indian domestic cricket, delivering one explosive batting performance after another and leaving bowlers with no answers across the formats. Sarfaraz Khan was unstoppable during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025.

Sarfaraz Khan takes over domestic cricket with relentless run-fests

The Mumbai batter smashed an unbeaten 100 off just 47 balls, followed it up with scores of 52 not out from 40 balls, a rapid 64 off 25, and then a breathtaking 73 off only 22 deliveries in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025, and his every inning showed power, control, and fearless intent.

Well, Sarfaraz’s dominance has continued in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, where he has been just as destructive. He began the tournament with a steady 55 off 49 balls, and then he played a jaw-dropping knock of 157 runs from only 75 deliveries before unleashing another brutal knock.

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Read Also: Sarfaraz Khan reveals emotional regret of unfulfilled century dream with brother Musheer Khan

On Thursday, January 8, Sarfaraz showed his beast mode in the seventh round of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy as he smashed a 15-ball half-century against Punjab in Jaipur. However, Mumbai suffered a narrow defeat of just a single run, but the explosive batter managed to script history.

Sarfaraz Khan goes berserk, Punjab attack left shell-shocked

When Mumbai was chasing 217 against Punjab, Sarfaraz, batting at number three, tore into the attack, scoring runs at a ridiculous strike rate of 310. Two overs summed up his insane form.

The Mumbai batter went on a hitting spree against Abhishek Sharma, smashing three sixes and three boundaries for 30 runs, and then smashed the left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar for 19 runs in five balls to leave the Punjab attack speechless in the VHT clash in Jaipur.

Sarfaraz’s blazing knock came to an end on 62 from just 20 deliveries when he was trapped lbw by Mayank Markande after smashing seven boundaries and five sixes, proving that he is currently dominating attacks and setting new standards in domestic cricket.

Sarfaraz Khan rewrites List-A records with explosive 15-Ball Fifty

Meanwhile, during his explosive 62 off just 20 balls against Punjab, Sarfaraz reached his half-century in only 15 deliveries against Punjab. With this mind-blowing effort, the Indian batter shattered the record for the fastest fifty in the history of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Read Also: Ruturaj Gaikwad humiliates Ajit Agarkar, Gautam Gambhir, becomes Vijay Hazare Trophy’s greatest batter

The knock also helped him achieve another rare feat in List-A cricket. Sarfaraz now holds the record for the fastest fifty by an Indian batter in List-A cricket. He shattered the earlier joint record of 16 balls, which was shared by Maharashtra’s Abhijit Kale, set against Baroda in 1995, and Baroda all-rounder Atit Sheth, who achieved the same feat against Chhattisgarh in 2021.

Overall, Sarfaraz’s 15-ball fifty stands as the fourth-fastest fifty in List-A cricket. The record for the fastest half-century in List-A cricket still belongs to Sri Lanka’s Kaushalya Weeraratne, who reached fifty in just 12 balls during a domestic match in the 2005–06 season.

Notably, Safaraz is currently the leading run-scorer for Mumbai in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, with 303 runs in six innings at an average of 75.75 and a strike rate of 190.56.

India vs New Zealand (Agency Image)

The India vs New Zealand ODI rivalry is set to return once again as the two sides meet in a three match series starting Sunday, January 11 in Vadodara. The second ODI will be played on January 14 in Rajkot, with the series concluding on January 18 in Indore. Played in Indian conditions, the series brings back a rivalry shaped by fine margins, memorable performances and changing momentum across generations.India and New Zealand first faced each other in ODI cricket in 1975 and have since met 120 times in the format. India hold a slender advantage with 62 wins, while New Zealand have claimed victory in 50 matches. Seven games ended with no result, a reminder of how competitive this rivalry has been over the years.

Top 5 run scorers in India vs New Zealand ODIs

The legendary Sachin Tendulkar remains the most prolific batter in this rivalry. Across 42 ODIs, he scored 1,750 runs at an average of 46.05, with five centuries against New Zealand’s bowling. Virat Kohli follows closely and boasts one of his strongest bilateral records against New Zealand, averaging above 55 with six centuries. For New Zealand, Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson have been pillars of consistency, while Nathan Astle was a major force during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Sachin Tendulkar (X-cricbuzz)

Top 5 wicket takers in India vs New Zealand ODIs

Javagal Srinath tops the wicket charts in this rivalry with 51 scalps, using pace and movement to trouble New Zealand batters across conditions. Anil Kumble sits second on the list with 39 wickets, while Mohammed Shami’s impact in recent years has stood out for its intensity and strike rate, highlighted by his memorable seven wicket haul in the 2023 World Cup semi final. For New Zealand, Tim Southee has been their most successful bowler against India in ODIs

Javagal Srinath (X-Cricbuzz)

The rivalry has produced dramatic extremes over the years. India’s highest ODI total against New Zealand came in the 2023 World Cup semi final in Mumbai, when they piled up 397 for 4. New Zealand’s highest score against India dates back to 1999, when they posted 349 for 9 in Rajkot.At the other end of the spectrum, New Zealand were bowled out for just 79 in Visakhapatnam in 2016, a match that also marked India’s biggest victory in the rivalry, a dominant 190 run win. India’s lowest total against New Zealand came when they were bundled out for 88, while New Zealand’s biggest victory over India arrived in 2010 with a crushing 200 run win in Dambulla.The rivalry has also delivered nail biting finishes, none more memorable than India’s narrow one run victory in Wellington in 1990, a match that remains etched in the history of contests between the two sides.Bilateral history adds further layers. India first toured New Zealand in February 1976 and lost a two match ODI series 2-0. A similar result followed in 1981. The balance shifted in 1989 when New Zealand toured India for a five match ODI series that India won 4-0.In recent years, New Zealand have enjoyed success at home, winning 3-0 in 2020 and clinching a rain affected series 1-0 in 2022. India responded emphatically in 2023 with a dominant 3-0 home series win.

Squads

India’s ODI squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC)*, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi JaiswalNew Zealand ODI squad: Michael Bracewell (c), Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay (wk), Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Will Young