Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (X-Cricbuzz)

India were set a target of 246 after South Africa Under-19 were bowled out for 245, but the chase quickly became about one name. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, leading the side, walked out to open and immediately took control, lighting up the contest with a breathtaking start. The 14-year-old tore into the bowling from the outset, racing to 68 off just 24 balls. His innings was built on clean, fearless hitting, with ten sixes and a four clearing the ropes with ease. Vaibhav brought up his half-century in just 19 deliveries, giving India Under-19 exactly the momentum they were looking for at the top of the order. He shared the opening stand with Aaron George, who made 20 before falling early in the chase.

Earlier in the day, South Africa Under-19 had opted to bat first. Jorich van Schalkwyk and Adnaan Lagadien began the innings, contributing 10 and 25 respectively, but neither was able to convert their start. Captain Muhammed Bulbulia also failed to settle, departing for 14 as wickets fell at regular intervals. The visitors found stability through Jason Rowles, who played the standout innings of the first innings. Rowles scored a composed 114 from 113 balls, anchoring the batting effort when the side needed it most. He received some support from Daniel Bosman, who added 31 off 63 deliveries, but South Africa struggled to build partnerships around them and was eventually dismissed for 245. India’s bowlers shared the workload effectively, with Kishan Singh leading the attack. He delivered a strong spell of 8.3 overs, picking up four wickets while conceding 46 runs. RS Ambrish chipped in with two wickets, while Deepesh Devendran, Kanishk Chouhan, and Khilan Patel claimed one each to ensure South Africa never fully broke free. Vaibhav’s explosive innings once again underlined his reputation as one of the most exciting batters at this level. Last year, he set a benchmark by scoring the fastest hundred in Under-19 cricket, reaching the milestone off just 52 balls against England in Worcester. The ongoing three-match ODI series against South Africa is serving as preparation for the Under-19 World Cup, which begins on January 15 across Zimbabwe and Namibia.

China on Sunday demanded the release of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife after they were captured by US forces in a “large-scale strike.” Condemning Washington’s actions, China urged the US to “stop toppling the government of Venezuela” and pursue dialogue instead.“China expresses grave concern over the US forcibly seizing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and taking them out of the country”, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Follow US strikes VenezuelaIt added that the move clearly violates international law, basic norms in international relations, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.Calling for immediate action, the ministry said, “China calls on the US to ensure the personal safety of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, release them at once, stop toppling the government of Venezuela, and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation.”The fall of the Maduro government and his capture by the US is regarded as a major setback for Beijing, which has shared close strategic ties with Venezuela since the time of Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez. Over the past two decades, China’s partnership with Venezuela has been built on political alignment, energy cooperation, and shared opposition to US and Western influence in Latin America.During this period, China became a major buyer of Venezuelan oil despite US sanctions. It is also Venezuela’s major investor and lender, extending tens of billions of dollars in oil-backed loans.Earlier on Saturday, reacting to a question on US President Donald Trump’s announcement about the airstrikes and the capture of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said China was deeply shocked by the developments. The ministry described the US action as a hegemonic act that violated Venezuela’s sovereignty and threatened regional peace.China said it firmly opposed what it called the US’ blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its President. Such acts, the ministry said, seriously violate international law and Venezuela’s sovereignty, and threaten peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region.“China firmly opposes it. We call on the US to abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and stop violating other countries’ sovereignty and security,” the statement said.

Legendary West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo appeared on the Beard Before Wicket podcast to discuss his transition from a global playing icon to his new high-profile mentoring role. During the wide-ranging conversation with hosts Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid, the 42-year-old was asked to assemble a ‘dream team’ that he believes represents the absolute pinnacle of the shortest format.

Bravo, who recently joined the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) support staff for the 2026 season, curated a lineup that balances the raw, intimidating power of the Caribbean with the technical brilliance and tactical genius he witnessed during his record-breaking career. His selections offer a fascinating look into the mind of a player who has won more T20 titles than anyone else in the history of the sport.

West Indies batting juggernaut balanced by Indian technical mastery

The top order of Bravo’s XI is a terrifying prospect for any bowling attack, led by the explosive opening combination of Chris Gayle and Shane Watson. Bravo explained that this left-right pairing provides the perfect aggression for the powerplay, with both players possessing the ability to decide a match within the first six overs.

To provide the necessary stability amidst this carnage, he placed Virat Kohli at number three, describing him as the ‘ultimate anchor’ required to navigate difficult middle-overs phases. The middle order then transitions back into pure destructive power with the inclusion of Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard, creating a bridge to a finish spearheaded by the legendary MS Dhoni. Bravo notably described Dhoni as his ‘brother from another mother,’ emphasizing that Dhoni’s tactical calm and finishing ability make him the undisputed heart of the team’s batting structure.

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A statistical powerhouse of global bowling specialists

Bravo’s bowling unit is an extraordinary collection of specialists, featuring a group of players who have collectively claimed thousands of wickets across the globe. At the forefront is the spin duo of Rashid Khan and Sunil Narine, whom Bravo considers the two most difficult bowlers to read in the history of the format. He highlighted Rashid’s relentless wicket-taking ability and Narine’s uncanny economy rate as the perfect middle-overs squeeze.

For the death-overs attack, he chose the pioneer of the modern-day yorker, Lasith Malinga, alongside himself and the raw pace of Andre Russell. Bravo noted that this unit doesn’t just rely on physical skill but on a collective ‘cricket intelligence,’ explaining that with Malinga and himself at the death, no target would be safe. This selection serves as a final tribute to the Champion’ era of cricket, where specialists reigned supreme and redefined how T20 games are won.

Dwayne Bravo picks his all-time T20 World XI

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Mallikarjun Kharge (File photo)

NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday likened US President Donald Trump to dictators Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini over the United States’ actions in Venezuela. He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly yielding to Trump’s demand to cut India’s purchase of oil from Russia, which has been at war with Ukraine since February 2022.“What is happening in Venezuela today is not good for the world. Trump is trying to frighten people across the globe,” Kharge told reporters in Delhi, referring to the US military action in Venezuela that led to the ouster of Maduro. The Venezuelan leader and his wife were then takento New York to face multiple charges, primarily related to narco-terrorism.

Alleging that the US president was indulging in “expansionism,” the Congress chief said that leaders who attempt to expand their territories, like Hitler and Mussolini, “do not remain in power for long.”Kharge further referred to Trump’s repeated claim about ending the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, saying that he has repeated his claim around 70 times.“What does it mean? That he (Trump) is a tall personality and he can make the world bow to him. But the world won’t bow before him. We live in a democracy, only through a democratic method we have to go ahead…Nehru ji‘s policy was ‘live and let live’. That is our policy,” he added.Reacting to Trump’s recent statement that Prime Minister Narendra Modi knows he (Trump) is unhappy with India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, Kharge invoked a dialogue from the 1989 Hindi film “Mr. India.”“It shows that PM Modi is under Trump’s control. I am reminded of a dialogue from Mr. India — ‘Mogambo khush hua’ (Mogambo is happy). If people with such a mindset try to scare the world, India is not going to cower. But I do not understand why Modi ji is bending before him. This is harmful for the nation. Stand for the country. You nod to whatever he says. The country did not elect you just to nod,” the veteran politician remarked.The US has imposed 50% tariffs on India, with the second 25% tranche linked to New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil. Washington has accused India of “funding Putin’s war machine” in Ukraine.The Republican leader has also repeatedly claimed that he used trade leverage to push India and Pakistan into a ceasefire agreement. However, New Delhi has consistently maintained that the ceasefire talks were a bilateral matter and were held following a request from Islamabad.

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party MLAs on Monday staged a protest inside the Delhi Assembly premises, drawing attention to the worsening air pollution levels in the national capital.Leader of opposition in the Assembly, Atishi, led the protest amid AAP’s efforts to press for urgent policy measures and accountability on Delhi’s deteriorating air quality.The protest highlighted concerns over public health, particularly for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory issues, as Delhi continues to struggle with hazardous air quality. Party leaders demanded immediate action by the government to implement stricter measures to curb pollution, including emissions from vehicles, industrial discharges, and stubble burning from neighbouring states.Meanwhile, several Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai and Guwahati, woke up to a layer of fog on Monday morning. Air quality varied from ‘poor’ to very poor’ category across several parts of the national capital, while several flights were delayed at the IGI Airport.According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi recorded AQI at 260 in the ‘Poor’ category by 8 am on Monday.Visuals from Akshardham showed the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 294, falling in the ‘poor’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCM). At ITO, the AQI was recorded as 256, also categorised as ‘poor’, while Anand Vohar reported a sharper decline at 320, placing the area in the ‘very poor’ bracket.Chandni Chowk remained among the worst-affected areas, recording an AQI of 337, classified as ‘very poor’. Reduced visibility due to fog and smog disrupted flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, with several flights delayed in the early hours.Notably, in Delhi, the Sub-Committee on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) under the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the NCR and adjoining areas lifted Stage-III restrictions on Friday evening, citing significant air quality improvement due to favourable meteorological conditions.

Marnus Labuschagne of Australia and Ben Stokes of England exchange words (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne was at the heart of the action on Day 2 of the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney, making his impact felt both with the bat and the ball while also briefly clashing with England captain Ben Stokes late on Monday. During a tense moment just before stumps, Labuschagne appeared to rile Stokes while he was batting, prompting a fiery exchange on the field. But the Australian’s attempt to get under the English captain’s skin ultimately counted for little as Stokes had the final say, dismissing Labuschagne for 48 in the first innings. The 68-ball knock played a crucial role in Australia’s response, although he fell just short of a half-century.

Asked about the on-field confrontation during the post-day press conference, Michael Neser was dismissive, saying, “Not a clue…” He went on to highlight Labuschagne’s competitive temperament, adding, “It’s just the fact that he’s such a strong competitor that he can get under your skin. It’s just Marnus for you.” Labuschagne’s contributions with the ball were equally notable. Earlier in the day, he removed England’s Jamie Smith, who was well set on 46. Smith attempted an aggressive shot against a short delivery from Labuschagne and found a fielder on the boundary just before lunch. Neser explained that Labuschagne’s bowling is no accident, noting, “It’s not like it’s just a fluke. He’s actually practiced it. The one thing about Marnus is his quicker ball is actually quite a lot quicker – he was in the 130s (kph) and then he can bowl anywhere from 112 to 130, so it’s quite hard to get a read on him when he’s going like that.” Labuschagne’s ability to contribute with the ball is not new to his teammates. Neser said, “He loves bowling. We’ve seen it in Sheffield Shield cricket. It’s not a surprise to us because he’s actually done that role quite often in Shield cricket and got a fair few wickets bowling short.” His part-time spin and seam options provide Australia with valuable flexibility in the middle overs, adding depth to a batting-heavy line-up. England were bowled out for 384 in their first innings, leaving Australia with a manageable target to build momentum. By the close of play on Day 2, Australia had reached 166 for 2, with Travis Head leading the reply in impressive fashion. Head remained unbeaten on 91 from 87 balls, while Michael Neser held the other end at 1 not out, leaving Australia in a strong position as they looked ahead to the next day’s play. Labuschagne’s performance, both in frustrating Stokes and taking key wickets, reinforced his status as a pivotal all-round contributor for Australia in the Ashes series. His competitive edge, ability with the ball, and disciplined batting are proving crucial as the contest heads into the final stages.