The fourth edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 is set to ignite on January 9, bringing a month of high-octane cricket to Mumbai and Vadodara. Following India’s historic ODI World Cup 2025 triumph, the domestic league has reached a fever pitch, with fans eager to see the world’s best talents return to Indian shores. This season features an expanded schedule and a renewed focus on aggressive, result-oriented play. Among the five competing franchises, the Gujarat Giants have become the center of attention due to a series of high-profile staff and roster overhauls.

Gujarat Titans bring in three-time World Cup winner as fielding coach for WPL 2026

In a landmark move to fortify their defense, the Giants have officially appointed legendary England wicketkeeper-batter and three-time World Cup winner Sarah Taylor as their new fielding coach for WPL 2026. Taylor, widely regarded as one of the most technically gifted cricketers in history, brings a wealth of tactical experience from both the women’s and men’s professional circuits.

Speaking to IANS on January 6, 2026, Taylor emphasized a culture of fearlessness and precision ahead of their tournament opener. “The focus is to get the girls ready for the first game on the 10th, while also ensuring they enjoy themselves and play with real aggression in the field. Matches can often be won or lost through fielding, catches, run-outs, and moments like those, so we want the girls to be fully prepared and ready for whatever comes their way,” Taylor stated.

Taylor’s appointment is a clear statement of intent from the Adani-owned franchise, which has identified fielding lapses as a primary reason for their previous struggles. By integrating Taylor into a coaching staff that includes head coach Michael Klinger and bowling coach Pravin Tambe, the Giants are banking on her ‘Gold Standard’ expertise to transform them into the sharpest unit in the league.

Also READ: Aakash Chopra predicts the winner and Orange Cap holder for WPL 2026 edition

The Giants’ road to redemption ahead of WPL 2026 

The Giants will enter WPL 2026 with the weight of history on their shoulders and a desperate need for consistency. After finishing at the rock bottom of the points table in the first two seasons (2023 and 2024), the franchise finally tasted success in WPL 2025, achieving a historic milestone by qualifying for the playoffs for the first time.

Under the tactical leadership of Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner, who replaced Beth Mooney as captain last season, the Giants secured a third-place finish with a balanced record of four wins and four losses. For the 2026 edition, the franchise has doubled down on this winning formula by retaining Gardner as captain for a staggering ₹3.5 crore.

The squad has been significantly bolstered with marquee signings, including New Zealand icon Sophie Devine and India’s swing specialist Renuka Singh Thakur. With a revamped roster featuring power-hitters like Danni Wyatt-Hodge and emerging Indian talents like Kashvee Gautam and Titas Sadhu, the Giants are no longer the league’s underdogs. Gardner’s retention as the first overseas player to lead the team full-time signals a long-term vision to move beyond the Eliminator and secure their maiden WPL title.

Also READ: From emerging player to WPL 2026 winner: Deepti Sharma shares bold predictions for the Women’s Premier League

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

Nepal announces squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

KATHMANDU: The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Tuesday announced a 15-player squad, captained by Rohit Paudel, for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. In the squad, Dipendra Singh Airee has been given the role of the vice captain. India and Sri Lanka will jointly host the tournament, which will run from February 7 to March 8, according to a release from CAN. The 15-member squad, led by Paudel, features a blend of experienced players and young talents. The team is expected to adopt an aggressive approach in the World Cup, where Nepal is scheduled to face strong opponents in the group stage.The 10th edition of the global event will feature 20 teams, with 29 days of high-intensity cricket played across eight venues in India and Sri Lanka, commencing on February 7.In the 10th edition of the mega-event that brings together cricket enthusiasts, Nepal’s spin attack will once again revolve around Sandeep Lamichhane, whose experience across leagues and international tournaments provides a genuine wicket-taking threat in the middle overs. Left-arm spinner Lalit Rajbanshi adds variety, while Dipendra and Basir Ahamad offer additional spin options.All-round depth remains a key strength of the squad. Dipendra, Gulshan Jha, Aarif Sheikh, and Sompal Kami provide Nepal with flexibility with both bat and ball.At the top of the order, Kushal Bhurtel’s aggressive intent will be crucial in providing quick starts, while Aasif Sheikh offers stability with the glove, and Lokesh Bam offers solidity and shot-making ability through the middle order. Sundeep Jora and Nandan Yadav further bolster the batting unit, giving Nepal depth well beyond the top six.The pace department will be spearheaded by Sompal Kami and Karan KC, both of whom bring experience, movement with the new ball and the ability to execute at the death. They are supported by Nandan Yadav and Sher Malla, adding pace, variety and bench strength.Nepal’s previous outing at the T20 World Cup in 2024 saw them eliminated in the group stage with no wins from four games.Nepal squad: Rohit Paudel (Captain); Dipendra Singh Airee (Vice-captain); Sandeep Lamichhane; Kushal Bhurtel; Aasif Sheikh; Sundeep Jora; Aarif Sheikh; Bashir Ahmad; Sompal Kami; Karan KC; Nandan Yadav; Gulshan Jha; Lalit Rajbanshi; Sher Malla, and Lokesh Bam.

NEW DELHI: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is due to present a record ninth consecutive budget, is working with a team of officials which is a mix of experience and fresh faces.It is likely that for the first time in recent years, she will not have a finance secretary, a first among equals, leaving it to Anuradha Thakur to coordinate the exercise. Public enterprises secretary K Moses Chelai is the senior most secretary in the departments that are part of Sitharaman’s team, but his department has little to do with the budget exercise.Only four members from the last budget team remain – CBDT chairman Ravi Agrawal, Dipam secretary Arunish Chawla, financial services secretary M Nagaraju and chief economic adviser V Anantha Nageswaran. The three key secretaries, V Vualnam (expenditure), Arvind Shrivastava (revenue) and Thakur (economic affairs) took over their current roles this summer.

Vivek Chaturvedi took over as Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) chairman in Dec and Vyasan R, the joint secretary in-charge of the budget division, also moved into his current assignment only a few months ago. Of course, Vyasan is no stranger to the budget exercise as he was part of the team earlier as well.In fact, revenue secretary Shrivastava too is a veteran, having led the budget division for several years, before moving to the Prime Minister’s Office, where he was part of the discussions for the annual exercise that not only focuses on the Centre’s receipts and budget but also includes key policy and reform-related announcements.Since Sitharaman moved into North Block in 2019, she has dealt with several officers with long tenures in the finance ministry – T V Somanathan was expenditure secretary before he took over as Cabinet secretary last year, Ajay Seth, who was economic affairs secretary, and Tuhin Kanta Pandey, the longest-serving Dipam secretary, who was finance secretary and in-charge of revenue during the last budget. This year, the expenditure department will have an additional role as the Finance Commission’s recommendations are being reviewed and the devolution formula along with the other proposals will be announced in the budget.

Wayne Gretzky and his wife Janet Jones (Credit: Getty Images)

The contributions of Wayne Gretzky to the game of hockey are immeasurable, and he has played his career with the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and New York Rangers. His wife, Janet Jones Gretzky, has had an equally inspirational personal life, albeit at the same time that his fans are reveling in his on-ice achievements. It is a mix of Hollywood sense of charm, the heritage of sports, and the level of family commitment that makes their story a favorite among the ardent followers of the sport, as well as the rest of the world.Janet Jones Gretzky is a successful actress and dancer in America, and the first woman to bump into Gretzky was on the set of Dance Fever in 1984. The two met again professionally but eventually got back together in 1987 and finally got married on television in Edmonton in July 1988. They have, over the years, produced five children, Paulina, Ty, Trevor, Tristan, and Emma, and have been able to balance both their parenthood and the continued appearance of Gretzky in NHL news and events.

Wayne Gretzky and Janet Jones Gretzky’s love story timeline and their personal journey

The relationship between Wayne Gretzky and Janet Jones Gretzky started in 1984 when Gretzky, being a star player of the Edmonton Oilers, was one of the judges of the dance program Dance Fever. He was immediately impressed by Janet, who is a professional dancer and actress; their romance really came into play after they rekindled their relationship in 1987. In July 1988, their relationship reached its peak with a high-profile marriage in Edmonton, and this marked the beginning of a long-lasting partnership between the two.Janet was supportive throughout Gretzky’s career in the NHL, both when he played for the Los Angeles Kings and when he worked as a coach and manager. She frequently made appearances at NHL events, charity games, and other civic engagements. She easily balanced her career as an entertainer with her need to be married to a hockey legend. The fact that the couple is able to balance fame and a good family life is often discussed in the NHL news magazines as well as in the interviews.Gretzky has five children: Paulina, Ty, Trevor, Tristan, and Emma. All children have been able to develop personal interests, such as sports or arts, that make them balanced in their upbringing, as was stressed by their parents. The family is not a passive participant in social life; they can be observed in the present day watching NHL matches, charity events, and social appearances. The fans of Gretzky still enjoy the way the family balances on both personalities and NHL news, trade speculations, and match outcomes that keep the hockey world abuzz.The love affair between Wayne Gretzky and Janet Jones Gretzky is not just a star romance but an affirmation of a long-lasting relationship, family principles, and the capability to stay together despite the busy schedule of professional hockey.Also Read: Brad Marchand’s lifestyle: Inside Florida Panthers star’s early life, NHL career, and personal adventures

NEW DELHI: India’s shopping basket is evolving as new categories enter more households, reshaping consumption patterns. One-third of consumers across the country now shop for hair creme, making it the fastest-growing category in the FMCG basket, with penetration rising from 21% to over 31% over two years, according to the latest data from market research firm Numerator (formerly Kantar).In another shift, noodles have staged a comeback, adding 9 percentage points in penetration over the same period to reach 77%, making them the second fastest-growing category by penetration.Another close cousin of noodles, vermicelli, has recorded steady growth, growing its penetration by nearly 7 percentage points to 39% over the past two years.

“The overarching theme across the growth of these categories seems to be convenience – hair creme is an easily applicable and a less messy format of hair colours. Noodles and Vermicelli are also quick and convenient preparations. Washing liquids are likewise less messy and easier to use. Insecticides growth could be linked to the growing awareness of health and hygiene behaviours in the country,” K Ramakrishnan, managing director-South Asia, Worldpanel by Numerator told TOI.The trend is also reflected in investor disclosures from companies such as Godrej Consumer in hair creme and household insecticides, and Nestle India in noodles. Revenue growth in hair colour at Godrej Consumer Products accelerated to 24% in FY24 from a CAGR of 16% over FY18-23. In the case of noodles, India emerged as the largest market for Nestle’s Maggi, with six billion servings in 2023-24, according to the company’s annual report. Typically, staples including biscuits, tea, salt, toothpaste, edible oil dominate the consumption basket.