The BCCI has officially unveiled the roadmap for the 2026-27 home international season, sparking immediate excitement among cricket enthusiasts across the country. Following a period of intense away tours and ICC events, the focus shifts back to Indian soil, where the Men in Blue are set to host a marathon of high-octane cricket. With 22 matches scheduled across 17 different cities, the upcoming calendar ensures that the ‘Blue Wave’ will sweep through every corner of the nation, from the coastal breeze of Trivandrum to the historic grounds of Kolkata. However, for most fans, the schedule release answers one primary question: when will we see the iconic duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back in action in front of their home crowds?

BCCI announces comprehensive 2026-27 home season schedule

The BCCI’s newly released itinerary is a balanced mix of white-ball fireworks and the prestige of the long format. The season officially kicks off on September 27, 2026, with the West Indies arriving for a multi-format tour. This opening leg features three ODIs in Trivandrum, Guwahati, and New Chandigarh, followed by a five-match T20I series spanning Lucknow, Ranchi, Indore, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.

As the winter chill sets in, Sri Lanka will visit in December 2026 for three ODIs and three T20Is, with matches hosted in major hubs like Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Pune. This is followed by a quick three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe in early January 2027, bringing international cricket to the iconic Eden Gardens and Wankhede Stadium. However, the crown jewel of the season remains the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Starting January 21, 2027, India will face Australia in a gruelling five-match Test series. This ultimate test of skill will travel through Nagpur, Chennai, Guwahati, and Ranchi, before reaching its grand finale at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in early March.

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When are Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli expected to take the field in Indian colours?

Following their T20I retirement after the 2024 World Cup and their subsequent departure from Test cricket in May 2025, Rohit and Kohli have transitioned into ODI specialists for the national side. Consequently, they will be absent from the T20I legs against West Indies and Sri Lanka, as well as the high-profile Test series against Australia.

The definitive dates for fans to see the duo back on home soil are centered around the ODI segments. They are expected to make their first appearance of the season in the opening ODI against West Indies on September 27, 2026, in Trivandrum. This will be followed by two more matches in the same series.

Their next home outing will be the Sri Lanka ODI series starting December 13, 2026, in Delhi, followed by matches in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. Finally, they are slated to lead the batting lineup in the Zimbabwe ODI series starting January 3, 2027, featuring a highly anticipated match at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. For Rohit and Virat, these nine home ODIs are more than just fixtures; they are the primary platform to refine their game as they move toward the twilight of their illustrious international careers.

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US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran effectively offered what he described as a “gift” of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, saying as many as 10 Pakistan-flagged tankers passed through the crucial route in recent days.Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Trump recounted a conversation in which he was told Tehran would make a gesture. “They said to show you the fact that we’re real and solid and we’re there, we’re going to let you have eight boats of oil. Eight boats. Eight big boats of oil,” he said. “This was two days ago… and I didn’t think much about it.”He then described watching television coverage that appeared to confirm the movement. “I watched the news… and he said, something’s unusual happening. There are eight boats that are going right up the middle of the Hormo Strait. Eight big tankers are going, loaded up with oil right through,” Trump said, adding: “I said, well, I guess they were right. And they were. They were real, and I think they were Pakistani flagged.”Trump went further, suggesting the number of vessels increased after an apparent follow-up move from Tehran. “They then apologised for something. They said, and they said, we’re going to send two more boats. And it ended up being ten boats,” he said. “I said, well, I guess we’re dealing with the right people.”Just a day earlier, Trump said Iran had made a significant energy-related concession to the United States, describing it as a positive development without offering details. He hinted the move might involve the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil shipments. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump called it a valuable “gift” tied to oil and gas rather than nuclear issues. The remarks come amid an intensifying conflict between the United States and Iran, now nearing a month in duration. Trump insisted Tehran is under pressure to negotiate, saying: “They are begging to make a deal, not me. They’re begging to make a deal.” At the same time, he warned that Washington could escalate further if Iran does not abandon its nuclear ambitions. “If they don’t, we’re their worst nightmare… we’ll just keep blowing them away,” he said.Trump also indicated that taking control of Iran’s oil resources remained under consideration. “It’s an option,” he said, drawing comparisons with US actions in Venezuela.The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the talks with roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passing through the narrow corridor. Iran has in recent weeks restricted or scrutinised vessels linked to the US and its allies, while allowing limited traffic to continue, contributing to volatility in global energy markets.As fighting continues, the humanitarian toll has mounted sharply, with thousands reported dead across Iran and Lebanon and millions displaced. Despite ongoing diplomatic contacts, Iranian officials have described US proposals as “one-sided and unfair,” leaving uncertainty over whether negotiations can halt the conflict.

Mohammed Shami’s earns plaudits from Justin Langer

NEW DELHI: India’s veteran bowler Mohammed Shami is gearing up for IPL 2026 with strong determination, using the tournament as a chance to get back into India’s national team. Despite being 35 and currently out of selection, the fast bowler has regained fitness and is working hard in training, focusing on sharpening his bowling, especially his deadly yorkers.In a recent training session with Lucknow Super Giants, Shami caught everyone’s attention with his precise yorkers. The franchise shared a video where bowling coach Bharat Arun closely observed him in action. Head coach Justin Langer was clearly impressed, saying, “Your yorker… that yorker.. is breathtaking.”Watch:Langer also highlighted Shami’s importance beyond just performance, especially for younger players in the squad. “During the team lunch, Mohammed Shami was speaking and all the boys were hanging on his every word, their eyes never left him,” he said. Calling him “incredibly experienced” and “a true warrior,” Langer added, “We often discuss big brother-little brother or master-apprentice dynamics in coaching, and that’s exactly what we have here.”With selectors still overlooking him for the national side despite the veteran pacer performing well in domestic circuit, IPL 2026 could be Shami’s best shot at making a comeback. His experience and leadership could play a key role for Lucknow Super Giants, a team still chasing its first IPL final appearance despite reaching the playoffs in its early seasons.The tournament begins on March 28, with LSG starting their campaign against Delhi Capitals on April 1, giving Shami a big stage to prove himself once again.

Travelers wait in a TSA line at a US airport

The ongoing funding deadlock in the US Congress is beginning to strain aviation security operations, with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) warning of potential airport shutdowns and a sharp rise in workplace challenges including dealing with assault incidents amid stressful situation.Testifying before the House Homeland Security Committee, acting TSA administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill described the situation as increasingly untenable, citing staffing shortages, financial distress among workers, and operational risks at major airports.“This is a dire situation,” she testified, warning of potential airport closures. “At this point, we have to look at all options on the table. And that does require us to, at some point, make very difficult choices as to which airports we might try to keep open and which ones we might have to shut down as our callout rates increase.”She also flagged a significant spike in violence against personnel, noting that TSA officers have faced a more than 500 per cent increase in assaults since the shutdown began. “This is unacceptable and it will not be tolerated,” McNeill said.The agency is also grappling with high absenteeism, with some locations reporting callout rates exceeding 40 per cent. More than 480 TSA officers have resigned during the prolonged shutdown, further straining operations.McNeill highlighted the personal toll on employees, many of whom have gone without pay for weeks. “Some are sleeping in their cars, selling their blood and plasma, and taking on second jobs to make ends meet, all while being expected to perform at the highest level when in uniform to protect the traveling public,” she said.At airports, the impact is already visible. Long security queues have stretched for hours in some locations, with officials warning that delays could worsen if the impasse continues. In Houston, reduced staffing has forced checkpoints to operate at a fraction of normal capacity, leading to wait times of up to four hours.ICE agents have been deployed at several US airports to assist with ID checks and crowd management amid a shortage of TSA staff during the DHS shutdown. While trained to use TSA equipment, their expanded role has raised concerns among passengers over authority and potential targeting.While Republican leaders have proposed partial funding measures, Democrats are pushing for changes to enforcement practices, including greater oversight and restrictions on operations. Both sides have accused the other of prolonging the crisis, with no immediate resolution in sight.Beyond aviation security, officials warned that other agencies are also under pressure. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund is nearing depletion, raising concerns about its ability to sustain long-term response efforts if the shutdown continues.With negotiations deadlocked, officials say the risks to critical services—from airport security to disaster response—are mounting by the day.

India on Thursday urged members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to restore a fully functional dispute settlement system, saying the current mechanism has deprived countries of effective redressal, PTI reported.Speaking on the opening day of the WTO’s 14th ministerial conference (MC14) in Yaounde, Cameroon, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal stressed the need to revive the automatic and binding nature of dispute resolution within the global trade body.“A dysfunctional Dispute Settlement System has deprived Members from effective redressal. We must restore the automatic and binding dispute settlement system,” he said.The WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism has faced prolonged disruption since 2009 after the US blocked appointments to the Appellate Body.Goyal also called for a reassessment of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, which WTO members have periodically extended since 1998. India has repeatedly raised concerns over the potential revenue implications of the arrangement.“In the absence of a common understanding among Members on the scope of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions and given its potentially significant implications, the continued extension of this moratorium warrants careful reconsideration,” he said.The four-day MC14 is scheduled to conclude on March 29.On broader WTO reforms, Goyal emphasised that any restructuring should be transparent, inclusive and member-driven, with development concerns at the centre. He underlined that core principles such as non-discrimination, consensus-based decision-making and equity must be upheld. The minister added that the principle of special and differential treatment (S&DT) should be made precise, effective and operational.On agriculture negotiations, he said a permanent solution on public stockholding for food security purposes, the special safeguard mechanism and cotton are long-pending mandated issues that member countries “must deliver on them on priority”.“India remains committed to negotiating a comprehensive Fisheries Subsidies Agreement that balances current and future fishing needs, protects the livelihoods of poor fishers, with appropriate and effective S&DT,” Goyal said.He also stated that incorporating plurilateral outcomes into the WTO framework should be based on consensus and should not undermine the rights of non-participants or impose additional obligations on them.“We will engage constructively to show that WTO remains central to global trade and strive to Reform it to remain responsive, Perform in delivering on development, equity, and inclusiveness, and Transform to better serve the interests of the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized people, anchored in consensus and multilateralism,” he said.Other WTO members also highlighted the need for reforms. According to a statement from US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, the organisation has struggled to address systemic issues such as persistent trade imbalances, structural excess capacity, economic security and supply chain resilience.“As ministers, our focus should be on reforms that would make the WTO more responsive to Members and improve our ability to achieve outcomes that optimize our trading relationships,” Greer said, adding that countries should consider making the e-commerce duty moratorium permanent.Separately, a ministerial statement by the G-33 grouping of developing countries reiterated that public stockholding for food security remains a crucial policy tool for developing and least developed nations.“We urge all WTO Members to work together in reaching a permanent solution on this issue as per the Ministerial mandates,” the statement said.China also called for restoring a fully functioning dispute settlement mechanism at the earliest to strengthen the WTO’s role in global economic governance. The UK said it wanted to “improve accountability by reinstating a functioning dispute settlement system”.EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic warned that inaction could weaken the rules-based trading system. “Maintaining the status quo is not an option — we cannot go on as we are. If we do, we risk erosion of the rules-based system and the WTO sliding into irrelevance. Therefore, I strongly believe we must act urgently to reform the WTO,” he said

Borrowing costs for homebuyers in the US rose further this week, with the average long-term mortgage rate reaching its highest level in more than six months and adding pressure during the peak spring housing season.Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased to 6.38% from 6.22% a week earlier. The rate was 6.65% at the same time last year. The latest level is the highest since September 4, when the average stood at 6.5%, AP reported.Rising mortgage rates typically translate into higher monthly repayments, reducing the purchasing power of prospective buyers. The increase follows a brief easing phase –just four weeks ago the average rate had dipped below 6% for the first time since late 2022 — before climbing again amid concerns that surging oil prices linked to the Iran war could keep inflation elevated.Rates on shorter-term home loans also moved higher. The average 15-year fixed mortgage, widely used by borrowers refinancing their loans, rose to 5.75% from 5.54% in the previous week. A year ago, the rate was 5.89%, Freddie Mac said.Mortgage pricing is shaped by several factors, including the Federal Reserve’s policy stance and investor expectations in the bond market regarding inflation and economic growth. Lenders generally track movements in the 10-year US Treasury yield while setting home loan rates.The yield on the 10-year Treasury note climbed to 4.39% at midday Thursday, compared with around 4.26% a week earlier. Bond yields have been rising as higher energy prices increase expectations of persistent inflation, pushing up long-term borrowing costs across the economy.Inflation concerns may also delay interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. Although the central bank does not directly determine mortgage rates, its decisions on short-term rates influence bond markets. At its most recent policy meeting, the Fed chose to keep rates unchanged, with Chair Jerome Powell pointing to heightened uncertainty surrounding the economic outlook following the Iran war.The US housing market has been struggling since mortgage rates began climbing sharply in 2022 from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously owned homes remained largely flat last year, hovering near a three-decade low, and have continued to show weakness this year, declining in both January and February compared with year-earlier levels.Affordability pressures remain a major challenge for buyers, even though price growth has moderated or fallen in several metropolitan areas. Wage gains have not kept pace with property values, limiting access to homeownership for many households.While the current mortgage rate is still lower than a year ago — potentially benefiting buyers who can manage higher borrowing costs — the recent uptrend has made many prospective purchasers cautious just as seasonal demand typically strengthens.Reflecting this hesitation, mortgage applications dropped 10.5% last week from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Applications for both home purchases and refinancing declined.“Higher borrowing costs, affordability pressures and economic uncertainty are likely prompting some prospective buyers to delay purchase decisions,” MBA chief executive Bob Broeksmit said.

NEW DELHI: With the big Gulf carriers operating a fraction of their schedules, foreign airlines are expanding their India flights to meet the increased demand for options to the likes of Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad. SWISS will operate a second daily light between between Delhi and Zurich from April 1 to May 31, 2026. British Airways will have a third daily service from Delhi starting April 7, followed by a third daily service from Mumbai from May 15. Air India has been adding flights to the west whenever possible during the Iran war.In a statement Thursday, Lufthansa group carrier SWISS said it is increasing its flight offering between Switzerland and India. “From April 1 to May 31, 2026, in addition to its regular service from Zurich to Delhi, SWISS will operate a second daily connection using an Airbus A330. Numerous passengers of other airlines are currently unable to take their originally booked flights via the Gulf region. As a result, many are switching to direct connections to and from Asia. SWISS is seeing a corresponding rise in demand for such nonstop services. We are pleased to offer our customers this additional flight to Delhi over the next two months. The flights are available for booking with immediate effect,” SWISS said in a statement.“Depending on further developments in the Middle East, SWISS continuously assesses how aircraft and capacities that become available can be deployed where demand is particularly strong. In addition to demand, key factors include operational constraints such as available airport slots, traffic rights and fleet deployment capabilities,” SWISS statement added.British Airways also announced additional flights from Delhi and Mumbai “to meet strong travel demand”. “In response to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, the airline is adding short-term capacity from Delhi and Mumbai to meet customer demand. A third daily service from Delhi will launch on April 7, followed by a third daily service from Mumbai from May 15. With this additional capacity, British Airways will operate up to 63 weekly flights with more than 1,000 additional seats per week between India and the UK, offering more options for customers travelling to the UK or connecting onwards across the airline’s global network,” BA said in a statement.Neil Chernoff, British Airways’ chief planning and strategy officer, said: “As we continue to respond to the evolving situation in the Middle East, we’ve been able to reallocate additional capacity to meet strong demand to other destinations across our route network. India remains one of our most important global markets, and these additional services from Delhi and Mumbai respond to customer demand and provide greater choice and flexibility for our customers when travelling to the UK and beyond. We will continue to review our network and make adjustments based on where our customers want to fly this summer.”