Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has expressed his confidence in out-of-form India skipper Suryakumar Yadav ahead of the T20 World Cup, which is set to begin on February 7. Despite a rough run in 2025, where Yadav has scored just 218 runs in 19 innings at a strike rate of 123.16, Ponting urged the Indian batter to trust his natural game and maintain his aggressive approach. “That’s as big a surprise for me, just looking at his recent form. He’s been such a solid and consistent contributor for India in T20 cricket for a long time and just hasn’t been able to find it of late,” Ponting told ICC. He added, “He’s an interesting one because when I’ve seen him play his best, he’s taken six or eight or 10 balls to get going and then just lets it all go.”

Ponting highlighted Yadav’s fearless style, comparing him to Australia’s Travis Head. “He plays all of his shots and backs himself, and a bit like Travis Head, where it almost looks like they don’t ever fear getting out,” he said. “That’s what I’d say to him. I’d be saying, think about scoring runs, don’t think about getting out. Trust yourself, back yourself. You’re proven to be as good as anybody in the world in the T20 format and go and prove it to everybody once again.” The former Aussie great also praised India’s decision to appoint 31-year-old Axar Patel as vice-captain for the T20 World Cup. Ponting lauded Patel’s versatility, noting, “I mean, actually, Patel’s been their go-to man, really hasn’t he? The last few series, he’s been their pinch hitter at different times. They’ve batted him up the order at number three. When they’ve needed that left-hand, right-hand combination, he’s been the man to go out and try and do it for them, and he’s obviously ever consistent with his left-arm off spin as well.” Ponting admitted he was surprised by the exclusion of India ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill from the T20 squad. Gill, who has struggled in recent white-ball cricket, has 291 runs in 15 innings with a highest score of 47. “Yeah, I couldn’t believe that,” Ponting said during an appearance on The ICC Review with host Sanjana Ganesan. He added, “I know his recent form hasn’t been great in white-ball cricket. And the last time that I really saw much of him play was the Test series against England in the UK, where he batted as well as I’ve ever seen anybody bat.” Despite his surprise, Ponting praised India’s batting depth, suggesting that leaving Gill out reflects the strength of the squad. “I mean one, I’m surprised, but two, it just shows the depth of Indian cricket,” he explained. “If you can think that someone as good as Shubman Gill doesn’t get picked in a World Cup squad, then it goes to show how many good players they do have.” Ponting’s comments underline his belief that while individual form can fluctuate, backing one’s instincts and leveraging team depth remain key in high-pressure tournaments like the T20 World Cup.

Agastya Nanda‘s ‘Ikkis’ became the first Hindi film to release in theaters in the year 2026. The highly anticipated war drama failed to live up to the expectations of the audiences. The movie has been showing a downward trend in its box office collections since the release. On the fifth day after arriving in cinemas, the movie has its lowest earnings. Let’s take a look at the box office numbers.

‘Ikkis’ box office collection Day 5

‘Ikkis’ marked the big screen debut of Agastya Nanda. According to the Sacnilk report, the movie has earned Rs 1.35 crore at the box office. With this, the total collection of the film now stands at Rs 21.50 crore. Even after being a solo release, the Arun Khetarpal biopic has failed to impress the masses.

Day-wise collection

Day 1 [1st Thursday]: Rs 7 croreDay 2 [1st Friday]: Rs 3.5 croreDay 3 [1st Saturday]: Rs 4.65 croreDay 4 [1st Sunday]: Rs 5 croreDay 5 [1st Monday]: Rs 1.35 croreTotal: Rs 21.50 crore

‘Ikkis’ vs ‘Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri‘

Agastya Nanda’s film seems to be following the path of the Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday starrer ‘Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri’ at the box office. Meanwhile, on January 5, 2026, (Day 12—2nd Monday), the rom-com has managed to earn Rs 0.30 crore. The total collection is now Rs 32.30 crore. The film has been struggling to cross the Rs 35 crore mark at the box office.

‘Ikkis’ vs ‘Dhurandhar’

Even on its fifth Monday since the release, Aditya Dhar’s ‘Dhurandhar’ earned more than the collections of both ‘Ikkis’ and ‘Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri’ combined. The espionage thriller raked in Rs 4.5 crore at the box office on its 32nd day (January 5, 2026). The total collection in India stands at Rs 776.75 crore.

More about ‘Ikkis’

Directed by Sriram Raghavan, the film also stars the late legendary actor Dharmendra, Jaideep Ahlawat, Simar Bhatia, Sikander Kher, and Vivaan Shah. The movie is based on the life of Paramvir Chakra (posthumously) awardee Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who was martyred in the India-Pakistan war of 1971.The movie is also the last screen appearance of the Hindi cinema icon Dharmendra.It was released in theaters on January 1, 2026.

HYDERABAD: A 27-year-old woman from Hyderabad, Nikitha Godishala, employed in Columbia, in the US state of Maryland, was found murdered in the apartment of an Indian man who is believed to have fled to India. Howard County police confirmed that the man, Arjun Sharma (26), is wanted on first- and second-degree murder charges.Howard County police discovered Nikitha’s body on Jan 3 at the 10100 block of Twin Rivers Road, Columbia, following a search of Sharma’s apartment. Sharma had reported Nikitha missing on Jan 2. Nikitha, who lived in nearby Ellicott City, had gone to Sharma’s residence on Dec 31 to collect money he had borrowed from her, according to her cousin, Saraswati.Saraswati claimed Nikitha had initially sent Sharma $4,500, of which he had returned $3,500. When he requested an additional $1,000, she refused and asked him to return the outstanding amount from the earlier loan, she said. Sharma assured her he would pay, prompting Nikitha to visit him at his apartment where she was murdered.Howard County police confirmed on Jan 4 that Nikitha’s body bore stab wounds.Not ex-boyfriend: FatherSpeaking to the media in Secunderabad, Nikitha’s father, Anand Godishala, clarified reports labelling Sharma as her ex-boyfriend. “The alleged culprit is not her ex-boyfriend. Please do not report it like that. He was one of the four housemates in the flat where she stayed and moved away. Nikitha lent him money and when she asked for the money back, he called her to his house and committed the crime,” he alleged.The Indian embassy in the US confirmed that it was in touch with Nikitha’s family and was providing all possible consular assistance, while also following up with local authorities.Nikitha had completed her master’s in health information technology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, in 2022-23, and had been working with Vheda Health as a data and strategy analyst since Feb 2025. Prior to moving to the US, she worked as a clinical data analyst at a corporate hospital in Hyderabad.Future aspirationsIn Dec 2025, Nikitha shared her professional achievements and future aspirations on LinkedIn. “9 Months. 1 Award. A Completely Transformed Year. I’m closing out 2025 with a milestone I didn’t expect so soon, receiving the All-In Award at Vheda Health. This recognition means more than the award itself. It reflects how deeply the right environment, people, and culture can shape someone’s growth,” she wrote.“This award is a reminder of the purpose and responsibility I carry forward. I’m excited to continue contributing with intention, creativity, and that same ‘all-in’ energy that brought me here. Here’s to growing, building, and stepping into 2026 with momentum,” she added.Following her disappearance, the Indian community in the US launched an online search campaign. A Facebook post by Shekhar Goswami urged residents of Columbia to be on the lookout. “Her friends already filed a police report, but we need more eyes on the ground. If you live in or around the Columbia area, please keep a lookout. If you have any information, no matter how small, please contact the Howard County police department,” the post said.The crime has sent shockwaves through both Hyderabad and the Indian community in Maryland, prompting authorities to intensify their efforts to locate the suspect.

In a major setback for Delhi, Virat Kohli has made himself unavailable for the next match in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. Having featured in Delhi’s first two matches in the tournament, there were hopes that Kohli might return for at least one more game.

Virat Kohli opts out of Delhi’s next Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Railways

Following the footsteps of Rohit Sharma, who earlier opted out of Mumbai’s next match, Virat Kohli has decided to skip Delhi’s upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 match against Railways on January 6. He made this decision comes after fulfilling the BCCI is mandatory diktat.

There were reports that the former Indian captain was set to play one more game for Delhi in the ongoing 50-over tournament to maintain rhythm before joining the national squad for the upcoming ODI series against the Black Caps, starting on January 11 in Vadodara.

Read Also: Virat Kohli on the verge of achieving 10 legendary milestones in the New Zealand ODI series

Rishabh Pant to miss Kohli’s services

But now it has suggested that the dashing right-handed batter is done with domestic duty. On Monday, January 5, an ANI journalist, Vipul Kashyap, revealed that Kohli will not return for Delhi’s next Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 game against Railways scheduled for January 6 in Bengaluru.

However, he has not mentioned anything about the possible reason behind the move. Tagging Kohli and the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA), the journalist posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Virat will not play the VHT match tomorrow.”

Virat will not play VHT match of tomorrow @delhi_cricket @imVkohli

— vipul kashyap (@kashyapvipul) January 5, 2026

Virat Kohli’s performance in Vijay Hazare Trophy

Talking about Kohli’s performance for Delhi in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, the right-handed batter played a brilliant knock of 131 runs off 101 balls laced with 14 fours and 3 sixes against Andhra Pradesh and then made 77 runs off 61 balls against Gujarat.

BCCI’s Domestic Rule

Ahead of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26, the BCCI made it clear that centrally contracted players must play at least two matches in the tournament to stay in ODI plans.

Read Also: “Mohammed Siraj is one of the unlucky guys” – RCB Legend’s take on India’s squad for T20 World Cup 2026

As a result, big names like Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, and others turned out for their state teams. Kohli has already played two games.

So even if he misses the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy game, there is no pressure from the BCCI, as he has followed the board’s guideline.

MrBeast Keen for Virat Kohli Collab

Meanwhile, Popular American YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson aka MrBeast has once again shown his interest in working with Virat Kohli. Ahead of the launch of Beast Games Season 2, he made it clear that he wants to collaborate with Kohli, citing his passionate Indian audience.

Donaldson was quoted as saying by NDTV: “Hey Virat Kohli, I’m trying to film with you.”

This is not the first time MrBeast has tried to connect with the Indian star. Back in April 2025, MrBeast had posted on social media asking: “Hey! Anyway I could get you in a video?”

US President Donald Trump on Monday said Venezuela will not hold new elections within the next 30 days and that the country must first be stabilised following the capture of its leader, Nicolás Maduro. Speaking to NBC News, Trump insisted the United States is not at war with Venezuela, even as it deepens its involvement in the Latin American country.“We have to fix the country first. You can’t have an election. There’s no way the people could even vote,” Trump said. The MAGA chief added, “No, it’s going to take a period of time. We have — we have to nurse the country back to health.”His comments came two days after US armed forces seized Maduro and his wife in Caracas and flew him to New York, where he was questioned on his alleged crimes, including narco-terrorism and cocaine importation. Maduro pleaded not guilty and said he remains Venezuela’s leader, even as vice president Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in on Monday as his successor and interim president.Trump said US could help rebuild Venezuela’s oil and energy sector and potentially subsidise oil companies involved in restoring infrastructure. “I think we can do it in less time than that, but it’ll be a lot of money,” Trump added. The US president added: “A tremendous amount of money will have to be spent and the oil companies will spend it, and then they’ll get reimbursed by us or through revenue.”Trump clarified that US is not fighting a war with the Venezuelan state. “No, we’re not,” Trump said when asked if the US was at war with Venezuela. He said instead that America is at war with drugs: “We’re at war with people that sell drugs. We’re at war with people that empty their prisons into our country and empty their drug addicts and empty their mental institutions into our country.”Trump said a group of senior officials would oversee US involvement, including secretary of state Marco Rubio, defence secretary Pete Hegseth, vice president JD Vance and deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller. The GOP leader also said the US could carry out another military operation if cooperation breaks down. “We’re prepared to do it,” he said. “We anticipated doing it, actually.”Despite criticism from some allies over the lack of congressional authorisation for the invasion, Trump said he did not need approval to act again. “We have good support congressionally,” he said.Moreover, the POTUS said he remains confident in his political support: “MAGA loves it. MAGA loves what I’m doing. MAGA loves everything I do.”

NEW DELHI: Amid escalating tensions between Bangladesh and India, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday announced that its national team will not travel to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The development comes after Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh’s left-arm pacer, was instructed to be released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). TimesofIndia.com takes a deep dive into the ongoing controversy.

What sparked the row between BCCI and BCB?

The BCCI on Saturday instructed KKR to release Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad after calls from India’s ruling party BJP politicians and religious leaders.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the move to ANI, citing recent circumstances.

“Due to the recent developments which are going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchise KKR to release one of their players, Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh, from their squad, and BCCI has also said that if they ask for any replacement, BCCI is going to allow that replacement,” Saikia said.Mustafizur has played for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Mumbai Indians (MI), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Delhi Capitals (DC) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the past. The left-arm seamer has picked up 65 wickets in 60 matches overall in his IPL career. He was acquired by KKR at the IPL auction late last year for Rs 9.2 crore. Mustafizur was the only Bangladesh cricketer to find an IPL team.

What did KKR say?

“Kolkata Knight Riders confirm that BCCI/IPL, as the regulator of the IPL, has instructed it to release Mustafizur Rahman from the squad ahead of the upcoming IPL,” KKR said in a statement.“BCCI will allow Kolkata Knight Riders a replacement player in line with IPL regulations, and further details will be communicated in due course.”

What was BCB’s first reaction?

In response, the BCB revoked the No Objection Certificate granted to Mustafizur for the IPL with immediate effect, barring him from travelling to India even if the franchise were to reconsider its decision. The BCB called an emergency meeting at 9:30 pm on Saturday in response to the exclusion of Mustafizur Rahman from IPL franchise KKR.“It is not possible to arrange a board meeting so quickly. So, we have arranged to call an emergency meeting at 9:30 pm to know about the matter in detail. Then, we will get a clear overview and may issue a media release. For being extremely busy with the BPL, we don’t have the full information. That’s why we have called the emergency meeting,” BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul told reporters in Dhaka.

BCB won’t travel to India for T20 World Cup

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has decided not to send its team to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, citing security concerns.

“The board reviewed the situation in detail, taking into account developments over the last 24 hours, and expressed deep concern over the overall circumstances surrounding the participation of the Bangladesh national team in matches scheduled to be played in India,” read a BCB-issued press release.“Following a thorough assessment of the prevailing situation and the growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent in India, and considering the advice from the Bangladesh government, the board of directors resolved that the Bangladesh national team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions.“In light of this decision, the BCB has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC), as the event authority, to consider relocating all of Bangladesh’s matches to a venue outside India,” the press release added.

BCB mentioned that the decision was made “to safeguard the safety and well-being of Bangladeshi players, team officials, board members and other stakeholders.”

What did Bangladesh sports and law adviser Asif Nazrul say?

Bangladesh Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul called for the BCB not to travel to India and to request a relocation of its matches to Sri Lanka. He wrote on his official Facebook page, describing it as a response to what he termed extremist communal policies in India.“Bangladesh cricket team will not attend the upcoming World Cup in India. Bangladesh Cricket Board has taken the decision today. I am welcoming this decision, which has been taken in response to the extremist communal policies taken by India,” he wrote.

In an earlier post, Asif Nazrul said he had directed the BCB to take up the issue with the ICC, stressing that if even one Bangladeshi cricketer did not feel safe in India, the entire national team could not reasonably be expected to travel there.“I have instructed the board to make it clear that when even an individual Bangladeshi cricketer, despite being under contract, is unable to play in India, the entire Bangladesh cricket team cannot feel safe travelling there to play in the World Cup. I have also directed the board to formally request that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be held in Sri Lanka,” he wrote.

What will ICC and BCCI do?

It now remains to be seen how the ICC and BCCI reacts to BCB’s formal request to the global cricket body. Will they relocate Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka? Bangladesh are scheduled to play three league matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. A decision is expected soon, with the tournament set to begin in a month’s time on February 7.

It would result in a logistical nightmare with not much time left for the multi-nation event and it will be interesting to see whether ICC agrees to the demand or acts tough. The TimesofIndia.com reached out to BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla, who refused to comment on the issue.

Will IND–BAN follow the IND–PAK template?

Under an existing arrangement, Pakistan play all their matches in Sri Lanka, allowing India and Pakistan to face each other only at neutral venues in multi-nation tournaments.Last year, the Indian government introduced a policy limiting sporting engagement with Pakistan to multi-nation events, linked to India’s planned bid for the 2036 Olympics. In 2024, only a Pakistani junior contingent travelled to Chennai for the South Asian Athletics Championships, with no senior Pakistan team visiting India for any sport since. Whether the current standoff between India and Bangladesh evolves along similar lines remains to be seen.

What is driving the geopolitical strain between India and Bangladesh?

Bilateral relations between the two countries have been under strain since the mass uprising in Bangladesh in 2024 that led to the removal of then prime minister Sheikh Hasina. New Delhi has expressed concerns over attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, allegations that Dhaka has denied. At the same time, Bangladesh has raised its own concerns regarding incidents of violence against religious minorities in India.

No IPL broadcast in Bangladesh

The government of Bangladesh has directed that all broadcasts and telecasts of the IPL be suspended in Bangladesh following the decision to drop Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the KKR’s squad.“There is no logical reason for this decision of the Indian Cricket Board and such a decision has distressed, shocked and angered the people of Bangladesh,” the government order stated. “A request has been made to stop the promotion/broadcast of all games and events of the IPL until further orders,” read the statement.

INDORE: Amit Mer, 28, has not returned to work since December 28. A labourer at an automobile factory in Indore’s Pologround industrial area, Amit stopped going to work after his 50-yearold mother, Ramkali, died of dehydration after consuming contaminated drinking water in Bhagirathpura, the family said.“I used to earn around Rs 400 a day,” Amit said. “Since her death, I have not been able to go back to work. Every day I stay home, there is no income.”

Amit’s story has become emblematic of the wider fallout from the Bhagirathpura water contamination crisis, which claimed multiple lives and left dozens ill in the densely populated locality. What began as a public health emergency has quickly turned into an economic shock for families dependent on daily earnings.

Bhagirathpura is home largely to daily wage labourers, street vendors and informal workers who survive on day to day income and have little financial cushion. As residents fell ill after consuming contaminated water, families faced a double blow of medical expenses and loss of work.The test results have shown faecal coliform as the contamination in some of the water samples,” an official source said on condition of anonymity.Explaining the medical implications, Dr M S Hora, professor in the department of pathology at the Amaltas Institute of Medical Sciences, Dewas, said faecal contamination often involved bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella and Enterobacter. “If E coli is found, it indicates faecal contamination. Fecal coliform is a form of bacterial contamination, most often caused by human or animal fecal matter.These bacteria can be confirmed through culture tests. The disease pattern depends on the type of bacteria involved. E coli commonly causes diarrhoea and dysentery,” he said. Hora added that faecal contamination also increased the risk of enteric pathogens and viruses, which could spread rapidly through water.Bhagirathpura outbreak has had severe consequences. As per official figures, 10 people died, of which six deaths were attributed to diarrhoea.Total of 3,154 people reported illness, with 398 patients admitted to govt and private hospitals across Indore after complaining of diarrhoea and related symptoms. Former chief chemist of the MP Pollution Control Board, Dr D K Wagela, said the symptoms reported were consistent, “Fever, body aches, vomiting and diarrhoea are common after consuming water or food with faecal coliform contamination,” he said.

MI Cape Town will take on the Joburg Super Kings in the fifteenth match of the SA20. This article provides details about the Joburg Super Kings’ Playing 11 vs MI Cape Town for the fifteenth match of the tournament.

Joburg Super Kings Playing XI vs MI Cape Town- SA20 2025-26, Match 15

Openers: Matthew De Villiers, Faf du Plessis (c)

Joburg Super Kings, who have had a good start to the fourth season of the SA20 and are coming into the contest against the MI Cape Town with a win in their last completed game against DSG, would want to replicate the same performance against MICT.

The visitors for this particular game have got all their bases covered with a lot of options in both the batting and bowling departments.

Your daily dose of cricket!

All eyes will be on the captain of the team, Faf du Plessis, who has performed both as a batter and as the captain so far in the tournament, to do so again in the next match against the MICT.

Faf du Plessis will be partnered by Matthew De Villiers, who, like his captain, has been impressive with his strokeplay in the first six overs and would want to continue playing in this manner in the match in question.

Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Wiaan Mulder, Shubham Ranjane, Rivaldo Moonsamy (wk), Donovan Ferreira, Dian Forrester

As far as JSK’s middle order is concerned, it contains batters who can change the game in their team’s favour in no time and will be backed to put on a strong performance against the MI Cape Town and take control of the middle phase of the innings.

Names like Shubham Ranjane and Donovan Ferreira have come good on different occasions to get the team over the line and would hope to do more of the same in the upcoming fixture.

One of the biggest advantages that JSK have in this tournament is that they bat deep with Akal Hosein, who is also capable of clearing the boundary batting at number ten.

The above-mentioned reason gives the JSK batters the freedom to play in an aggressive manner throughout their batting innings and change the plan according to the situation of the game.

Bowlers: Prenelan Subrayen, Reece Topley, Akeal Hosein, Richard Gleeson

Like the batters, the team’s bowlers have also done what has been asked of them on a regular basis in the fourth season of the SA20 and would hope to keep up the good work in the next match as well.

One of the reasons for their success has been the availability of different kinds of bowlers for different conditions, be it a spin-friendly wicket or a pitch that assists fast bowlers.

JSK has as many as three spinners in the form of Prenelan Subrayen, Akeal Hosein, and Donovan Ferreira for the conditions that they encountered in Paarl.

Although the spinners might not have much of a say in the upcoming game, they will look to keep things tight from one end.

The fast bowling department of the team is being handled by Reece Topley, Richard Gleeson, and all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, who would also be entrusted to make the most of whatever help will be available on the wicket at Newlands.