New Delhi: Team India batter Tilak Varma is all set to resume physical training in seven to ten days, his childhood coach Salam Bayash has confirmed.“It is a minor injury. There is nothing serious about it and he will not miss the T20 World Cup,” Bayash told TimesofIndia.com.

Tilak underwent testicular torsion surgery in Rajkot on Wednesday. The 23-year-old was rushed to hospital after complaining of acute abdominal pain in Rajkot, where he was with the Hyderabad team for the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“He will resume his training in seven to ten days,” the coach said.

Tilak Varma’s Instagram story

BCCI on Thursday evening had confirmed that the batter will miss the first three-match against New Zealand. “Tilak Varma was discharged from the hospital on Thursday morning and is scheduled to fly back to Hyderabad on Friday. He is currently stable and progressing well,” BCCI said in a statement. “Tilak will resume physical training and gradually return to skill-based activities once his symptoms have fully resolved and wound healing is satisfactory.“He is ruled out of the first three T20Is against New Zealand. His availability for the remaining two matches will be assessed based on his progress during the return-to-training and skill phases.”Tilak also took to Instagram to share an update on his recovery.“Thank you for all the overwhelming love. Already on the road to recovery and I’ll be back on the field sooner than you know it,” Tilak wrote on his Instagram story.Tilak has been a regular fixture in India’s T20I setup over the past six months, featuring in all three of their most recent assignments: the Asia Cup in September, the home T20Is against Australia in October, and the South Africa tour in December. Across 18 innings last year, he scored 567 runs at an average of 47.25 and a strike rate of 129.15.Tilak was India’s hero in the Asia Cup final, and captain Suryakumar Yadav had confirmed that the 23-year-old will be India’s designated No. 3 in the upcoming T20I series and the T20 World Cup.“We have come to a point where I, Gauti bhai (head coach Gautam Gambhir), and others feel that a left-right combination is not always required. Yesterday in Ahmedabad we saw Hardik bat brilliantly against left-arm spin, so that is slightly overrated,” Suryakumar had told reporters shortly after India’s squad for the T20 World Cup and the T20I series against New Zealand was announced.

“Now we seem to have settled on Tilak being comfortable at No. 3, and I will play at No. 4. Five and six will depend on the situation, Hardik or (Shivam) Dube, but Tilak is comfortable in that position.”TimesofIndia.com also understands that it is very unlikely India will announce any replacements, with the selectors not naming any standbys for the World Cup.“There are no standbys since the whole tournament is happening in the country and we can replace any player at any point in time,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had said.

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Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday assured that the first batch of 50 students selected for admission to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Reasi would not be allowed to suffer because of NMC’s withdrawal of permission to run the MBBS course. The government would accommodate the students in other institutions through supernumerary seats, he said.“We will adjust them by creating supernumerary seats in colleges close to their homes so that their education does not suffer,” the CM told media persons on the sidelines of a function in Jammu. It was the govt’s responsibility to accommodate the students, he said, adding that this was not a difficult task and had been “discussed thoroughly”.Supernumerary seats are additional seats created over and above the approved intake in an educational institute.Omar has been critical of the agitation spearheaded by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti against 42 Muslim students, mostly from Kashmir, being granted admission to the Jammu-based medical institute funded by Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, as against only seven Hindus. He reiterated that the students got admission on merit as the selections were based on NEET scores.The NMC order on withdrawal of permission cited SMVDIME’s non-adherence to minimum standards as the reason. In a reference to that, Omar said accountability must be fixed if standards were not maintained at the medical institute. “We will accommodate these 50 students, but someone must answer for the damage done to students’ futures,” he said.Responding to questions on inspections by NMC and the medical college’s non-compliance with norms, he said: “You should question the university and its office-bearers from top to bottom — why, after building a medical college, did it fail to pass inspection?”The CM also interacted with the J&K Under-16 cricket team that clinched the Vijay Merchant Trophy (Plate Group) for the first time. Congratulating the team on their remarkable feat, he said, “Your victory reflects not just talent, but teamwork, discipline and dedication. You have made the entire J&K proud.”Omar presented an appreciation trophy to the victorious team, led by Smagey Khajuria. J&K defeated Mizoram by an innings and 182 runs to lift the trophy in Surat on Jan 6.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the list of match officials who will oversee the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026, marking an important step in preparations for the global youth event. The tournament, set to begin on January 15 in Zimbabwe, will feature a multicultural officiating group comprising 18 umpires and four match referees drawn from the Emirates ICC International Panels.

Global representation in the U19 World Cup 2026

The ICC has ensured strong international representation in its officiating appointments, with officials hailing from 13 different countries. This broad mix reflects the governing body’s emphasis on neutrality, experience, and consistency as the world’s best young cricketers prepare to compete on the global stage.

Zimbabwe, the host nation, will be represented by two umpires — Forster Mutizwa and Iknow Chabi. Mutizwa brings valuable on-field insight, having previously played 21 international matches for Zimbabwe across formats. His transition from international cricketer to elite umpire underlines the ICC’s push to involve former players in officiating roles.

Experienced names add credibility to umpiring panel

The umpiring lineup includes several seasoned officials with extensive experience in international and domestic cricket. Former West Indies international Deighton Butler is among the notable appointments, adding a strong cricketing pedigree to the panel. England’s Graham Lloyd has also been selected, continuing a family legacy in officiating, as his father David Lloyd was a respected international umpire before becoming a prominent broadcaster.

Other umpires named for the tournament come from a wide range of Full Member and Associate nations, including Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The ICC believes this balance of backgrounds will help maintain high officiating standards across varied playing conditions.

Also READ: Vaibhav Suryavanshi to lead India U19 in South Africa tour, Ayush Mhatre named captain for U19 World Cup 2026

Match referees bring international oversight

Alongside the umpires, four highly experienced match referees have been appointed to supervise the conduct of matches throughout the competition. England’s Dean Cosker, India’s Prakash Bhatt, Sri Lanka’s Graeme Labrooy, and Bangladesh’s Neeyamur Rahul will take charge of match management, code of conduct matters, and overall operational oversight.

Each referee has previously officiated in ICC tournaments and bilateral series, providing reassurance that the Under-19 World Cup will be governed with professionalism and consistency.

Match officials for U19 World Cup 2026

Umpires: Ahmad Shah Durrani (Afghanistan), Aidan Seaver (Ireland), Cory Black (New Zealand), Deighton Butler (West Indies), Faisal Afridi (Pakistan), Forster Mutizwa (Zimbabwe), Graham Lloyd (England), Iknow Chabi (Zimbabwe), Lubabalo Gcuma (South Africa), Masudur Mukul (Bangladesh), Nitin Bathi (Netherlands), Phillip Gillespie (Australia), Prageeth Rambukwella (Sri Lanka), Russell Warren (England), Shaun Haig (New Zealand), Shawn Craig (Australia), Virender Sharma (India), Zahid Bassarath (West Indies)

Referees: Dean Cosker (England), Graeme La Brooy (Sri Lanka), Neeyamur Rahul (Bangladesh), Prakash Bhatt (India)

Also READ: Sri Lanka name strong squad for U19 World Cup 2026, Vimath Dinsara to lead

Three Indians were among the crew members on board the Russia-flagged oil tanker seized by the US, as reported by Russia Today. The report shared accounts of crew members stating the crew consisted of 3 Indian citizens, 17 Ukrainian citizens, 6 Georgian citizens, and 2 Russian citizens.In response to Washington’s allegations of the oil tanker “violating the US sanctions,” the report stated that ‘Marinera’ received legal permission to sail under the Russian flag on December 24, which was fully in line with international law.“The Marinera crew consists of 17 Ukrainian citizens, six Georgian citizens, three Indian citizens and two Russian citizens,” Russia Today said, quoting sources.It also said that the detained vessel was chartered under the flag of Guyana. On December 24, 2025, the ship received a temporary permit to sail under the Russian flag.Moscow, on Thursday, also asked Washington to comply with the international laws on freedom of maritime navigation. The Russian foreign ministry also stated that information about ‘Marinera’, formerly known as Bella 1, was seized on Wednesday, was repeatedly conveyed to the United States.“We call on Washington to resume compliance with the fundamental norms and principles of international maritime navigation and immediately cease its illegal actions against the Marinera tanker and other vessels engaged in law-abiding activities on the high seas,” news agency PTI reported, quoting the Russian foreign ministry.Moscow also demanded humane treatment of the crew members in its statement. ““We reiterate our demand that the US ensure humane and dignified treatment of the Russian citizens comprising the tanker’s crew, strictly observe their rights and interests, and make no obstacles to their prompt return to their homeland,” it said.Russia also claimed that the US was wrongly citing its own sanction laws.“The statements by some US officials that the seizure of the Marinera is part of a broader strategy to establish Washington’s unlimited control over Venezuela’s natural resources are extremely cynical. We strongly reject such neo-colonialist tendencies,” the Russian foreign ministry stated.“Unilateral restrictive measures by the US, as well as other Western countries, are illegitimate and cannot justify attempts to establish jurisdiction and, even more so, to seize ships on the high seas,” it added.Russia asserted that the US boarded and seized a Russian civilian vessel without consent. It reinstated its formal protest on the matter and argued that the US actions constitute a serious violation of international maritime law and freedom of navigation.“Russia did not give consent to these actions. On the contrary, it lodged an official protest with the US government regarding the pursuit of the Marinera by a US Coast Guard vessel over the past several weeks, insisting on the immediate cessation of these activities and the withdrawal of the unlawful demands made on the Russian ship’s captain,” the ministry said.On Wednesday, US forces seized the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera in the North Atlantic. The US claimed the vessel was a part of a “shadow fleet” carrying sanctioned oil and had fled a US blockade near Venezuela. The US forces, despite the presence of a Russian submarine escort, boarded the ship after the operation was authorised by a federal warrant for sanctions violations.

The average interest rate on a 30-year US mortgage edged slightly higher this week but remained close to its lowest level of 2025, offering limited relief to homebuyers amid a still-challenging housing market, according to data released by Freddie Mac.The average long-term mortgage rate rose to 6.16% this week from 6.15% last week, when it had slipped to its lowest level since October 3, 2024, AP reported. A year ago, the rate stood significantly higher at 6.93%, Freddie Mac said.Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, often favoured by homeowners refinancing their loans, also moved up marginally to 5.46% from 5.44% a week earlier. The rate averaged 6.14% during the same period last year.Mortgage rates are shaped by a range of factors, including Federal Reserve policy signals, inflation expectations and movements in the bond market. They tend to track the 10-year US Treasury yield, which was at 4.17% around midday on Thursday.Rates have largely stabilised in recent weeks after easing from late October, when the 30-year mortgage rate dipped to 6.17%, then its lowest level in over a year. The decline followed expectations of US Federal Reserve rate cuts, which began in September and continued last month.Although the Fed does not directly set mortgage rates, its interest rate decisions can influence investor behaviour. Rate cuts often signal slowing growth or easing inflation, prompting demand for US government bonds and pushing down long-term yields, which in turn can lower mortgage rates.Overall, the average 30-year mortgage rate ended last year nearly a percentage point lower than at the start of 2025, helping improve purchasing power for some buyers toward the end of the year. Sales of previously owned US homes rose month-on-month in September, October and November.However, November sales were lower than a year earlier — the first such decline since May — and the market is on track to finish the year below 2024 levels. Data on December existing home sales are due next week.Lower mortgage rates have offered some relief to buyers who can afford current prices. The median monthly US housing payment fell to $2,365 in the four weeks ended January 4, down 4.7% from a year earlier, according to Redfin.Despite this, housing affordability remains a major hurdle, especially for first-time buyers, due to years of rising home prices and modest wage growth. Economic and job market uncertainty has also kept many potential buyers on the sidelines.Economists broadly expect the average 30-year mortgage rate to hover slightly above 6% through the year, suggesting borrowing costs are unlikely to fall sharply in the near term.

Viswanathan Anand and Nihal Sarin (Photos by Vivek Sohani)

KOLKATA: Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand recovered from an early setback to register two victories and emerge as joint leader with Nihal Sarin after six rounds of the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid on Thursday.Rounds four to six produced fighting chess and frequent shifts at the top of the standings in both the Open and Women’s sections. Both Anand and Nihal are tied on 4.5 points.

In round four, the 56-year-old Anand appeared to be pressing in the middle game before a rook blunder allowed Arjun Erigaisi to turn the tables. The young Indian defended patiently and later capitalised on an endgame error to seal the win.Anand, however, bounced back strongly, picking up full points against Hans Niemann and Volodar Murzin in the next two rounds to return to the top of the standings.Nihal, meanwhile, surged into joint lead with three successive wins. He first capitalised on a knight blunder by Niemann, followed it up with a neat back-rank combination against Murzin, and then showcased fine endgame technique to defeat compatriot Vidit Gujrathi in a knight endgame.Elsewhere, Aravindh Chithambaram went down to Wei Yi, while R Praggnanandhaa methodically outplayed Murzin on the queenside.In round five, Anand’s clash against Niemann featured opposite-side castling in the Italian, with the Indian defending calmly before converting with active rook play and a superior pawn structure.Vidit and Praggnanandhaa settled for a quick draw, while Arjun prevailed in a subtle rook endgame by pushing a pawn race from a symmetrical position. Aravindh was also punished for an endgame pawn blunder by Wesley So.Round six saw Anand deliver a positional master-class in an opposite-coloured bishop middle game against Murzin to stay atop the leaderboard.In the women’s section, Kateryna Lagno led the standings with 4.5 points from six rounds.Among the Indians, Vantika Agrawal was placed fifth with three points, while Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishali and Rakshitta Ravi were tied on 2.5 points. World champion Divya Deshmukh was at the bottom with two points.Rakshitta earlier produced a fearless attacking display to defeat Nana Dzagnidze in an opposite-side castling battle, while Lagno converted an endgame advantage against Divya and Stavroula Tsolakidou outplayed Vantika in a controlled encounter.Aleksandra Goryachkina later overcame Divya after weathering early pressure, while Dzagnidze capitalised on an opening error by Carissa Yip, and Vantika handed Rakshitta her first loss of the event.Vaishali then powered past Rakshitta with strong central pawn play, while Lagno defeated Tsolakidou to move into the sole lead.

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Nodal Cyber Police on Wednesday filed a 2,500-page chargesheet in a Rs 58-crore ‘digital arrest’ con naming 32 arrested persons and 41 wanted accused. Investigators said the accused not only impersonated senior officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED), but also created a multi-layered web of mule bank accounts to rapidly move money across states and eventually overseas.According to the chargesheet submitted to a magistrate’s court, the investigation uncovered over 10,000 mule accounts, many opened in the names of fictitious companies using forged KYC documents and fake SIM cards. The funds allegedly travelled through 13 layers of accounts, including at least 27 active mule accounts in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, before being diverted abroad. The masterminds are suspected to be operating from Cambodia and Dubai, with one Vijay Khanna emerging as a key handler believed to be outside India.The fraud began in Aug 2025, when a pharmaceutical businessman and his wife were allegedly terrorised through calls and video interactions by persons posing as CBI and ED officials. The couple was told that their bank accounts had received “suspicious” funds attracting money-laundering provisions and were shown fake video calls and staged clips depicting police stations, CBI and ED offices, and even mock courtrooms with actors posing as judges, officers, and lawyers. Under the guise of investigation, the couple was coerced to transfer their entire savings of more than Rs 58.1 crore, with assurances the money would be returned after clearance.The chargesheet names arrested accused including Abdul Khulli, Arjun Kadwasara, Jetharam Kadwasara, Jafar Sayyed, Sheikh Salam, Mohammad Sheikh, Imran Sheikh, Mukesh Bhatia, Akshay Meena, Mukesh Singhvi, Sunny Lodha, Minhajuddin Sirajuddin, Sunny Jain, Chisti Ahteshamuddin, Ganesh Gawre, Suresh Patel, Mussaran Kunbhar, Charagkumar Chaudhary, Ankitkumar Shah, Yuvraj alias Marco Sikarwar, Vasudev Barot, Jayeshbhai Dapa, Bipin Goswami, Sachin Pekhale, Tushar Patil, Sheikh Pasha, Devendranath Raut, Katunga Kumar, Vikramsingh Parmar, Zaid Mughale, Omkar Hase and Mohammad Arif.Investigators said arrested Gujarat businessman Jayeshbhai Dapa’s firm, Jai Bhavani Mechanical, allegedly received Rs 15.25 crore, which was then routed to multiple accounts for monetary consideration. Accounts in the names of Meghdoot Trading, owned by Sakalkumar Sahu, Jacky Explorer owned by Chirag Sharma, and entities such as SBV Foundation and M-Stak Innovation allegedly received major sums, ranging from Rs 1.85 crore to Rs 2.4 crore.Devendranath Raut, a resident of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, allegedly received Rs 2.1 crore in the name of Sainath Enterprises and stated, during interrogation, that he transferred funds at the behest of a wanted accused identified as Shratik. Investigators have also tracked Rs 3.4 crore allegedly transferred to accounts linked with wanted accused Vijay Gaikwad, Abhijit Jamble, and Ratnadeep.The chargesheet further stated that AVB Foundation, owned by Akshay Meena of Bhilwara, received Rs 30 lakh, while Maybank Indonesia accounts linked to Technomist Softwares and Arkit Solutions and opened by wanted accused Devendra alias Sunny and arrested accused Mukesh Bhatia allegedly received Rs 50 lakh. Accused Katunga Raju Samuel Prasad from Andhra Pradesh allegedly received Rs 2.4 crore through an account in the name of a religious trust.Police said the investigation is continuing to trace overseas handlers and remaining financial trails, while efforts are underway to locate the 41 wanted accused and freeze additional accounts linked to the network.

KANPUR: A YouTuber has been arrested and a police sub-inspector is on the run after the alleged abduction and gang rape of a 14-year-old girl in Kanpur’s Sachendi area, police said on Wednesday.Police commissioner Raghubir Lal removed deputy commissioner of police (West) Dinesh Chandra Tripathi and suspended Sachendi Station House Officer (SHO) Vikram Singh for alleged lapses and distortion of facts.

According to police, the victim, a class 7 dropout, was allegedly abducted in a Mahindra Scorpio around 10 pm on Monday. She was taken to a deserted spot near a railway track, where she was sexually assaulted for nearly two hours before being abandoned outside her house in an unconscious state. “Based on the victim’s statement, Sub-Inspector Amit Kumar Maurya and YouTuber Shivbaran Yadav have been named in the FIR. Yadav has been arrested, while four teams have been formed to nab the absconding SI,” Raghubir Lal told reporters. The SUV used in the crime, which belongs to Maurya, has been seized. Investigations revealed that Maurya was present in Sachendi at the time of the incident despite being posted at the Bithoor Police Station. The victim’s family alleged a cover-up by the local police, claiming they were initially turned away when they mentioned a policeman’s involvement. The girl’s brother said the police seized her mobile phone and prevented her from returning home until her court statement was recorded. SHO Vikram Singh was suspended for failing to invoke the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in the initial stages and for allegedly misrepresenting facts in case records. Deenanath Mishra has been given charge of the Sachendi Police Station. The investigation has been handed over to Additional DCP (West) Kapil Dev Singh. The incident has sparked political outrage. Former CPI(M) MP Subhashini Ali met the commissioner to condemn the “widespread impunity” in crimes against women in the state. “The investigation is being conducted with complete transparency, and strict action will be taken against all guilty parties,” Raghubir Lal said.