Smriti Mandhana-Palash Muchhal (X)

Indian women’s cricket vice-captain Smriti Mandhana’s wedding celebrations in Sangli, Maharashtra, were abruptly halted on Sunday when her father, Shrinivas Mandhana, fell seriously ill. Hospitalised immediately, his condition forced the couple to postpone the much-anticipated ceremony. Mandhana’s business manager, Tuhin Mishra, confirmed that the decision to halt proceedings was made by the cricketer herself, prioritising her father’s recovery. “Smriti is very close to her father. She decided that until her father gets well, this marriage… is indefinitely postponed,” Mishra said.Medical clarification on father’s health Initially feared to be a heart attack, Mandhana’s father was later diagnosed with angina. Dr Naman Shah, the family physician, explained that Shrinivas experienced left-sided chest pain, with elevated cardiac enzyme readings and high blood pressure prompting hospital observation. “If the situation exacerbates, we will have to do angiography,” Dr Shah noted, adding that his condition was being closely monitored.Fiance Palash Muchhal also hospitalised In a stressful turn, Mandhana’s fiancé Palash Muchhal was also admitted to a hospital shortly after her father’s illness. He was treated for viral symptoms and acidity issues, though his condition was not serious. Following initial treatment in Sangli, Palash has been moved to Mumbai for rest and recovery, under the watchful eye of his family.Social Media cleanup sparks curiosity Following the events, Mandhana deleted all wedding-related posts from her Instagram, including her proposal video. Her teammates and close friends, including Jemimah Rodrigues, Shreyanka Patil, and Radha Yadav, also removed or unfollowed related content, fueling speculation among fans. Mandhana’s older casual posts featuring Palash remain unaffected.Family statements highlight emotional toll Palash’s sister, singer Palak Muchhal, requested privacy for the families during this difficult time. Meanwhile, Palash’s mother, Amita Muchhal, revealed the depth of her son’s bond with Mandhana’s father. “Palash is extremely attached to Smriti’s father, even more than Smriti herself. When he fell ill, Palash immediately insisted that the wedding be postponed until he recovered,” she explained. Amita also described Palash’s brief hospitalisation, where he received an IV drip, ECG, and other tests after stress took a toll on his health.No rescheduled date yet As of now, neither Smriti Mandhana nor Palash Muchhal has confirmed a new wedding date. Both families remain focused on Shrinivas Mandhana’s recovery and the couple’s emotional well-being.

NEW DELHI: Senior IAS officer Santosh Verma, state president of the Anusuchit Jati-Janjati Adhikari Karmachari Sangh (AJJAKS) in Madhya Pradesh, has drawn sharp criticism after a video of a remark he made at an event in Bhopal went viral, prompting demands for a police case and disciplinary action. Speaking on whether reservation should be granted on economic basis he said, “until a Brahmin donates his daughter to my son or has a relationship with him, reservations should continue.”

The All India Brahmin Society condemned Verma’s statement, its state president Pushpendra Mishra termed the comment “indecent” and “casteist,” alleging that it insults Brahmin daughters and violates All India Services Conduct Rules.In a post on X Mishra said “An FIR should be lodged immediately for comments made against Brahmin daughters. The IAS officer’s remarks are indecent, objectionable, and an insult to the Brahmin community. If a criminal case is not filed soon, the Brahmin Samaj will launch a statewide protest.”He added that the comments were inappropriate at a time when schemes such as Ladli Laxmi, Ladli Behna, and Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao focus on the dignity and welfare of girls. He warned that it would pursue both legal and street-level agitation if the government fails to act. “The government should immediately take the strictest possible action against IAS officer Santosh Verma, otherwise the Brahmin society will fight against IAS officer Santosh Verma in court as well as on the road,” Mishra said. Amid the escalating controversy, Verma issued a clarification, stating that his comments were taken out of context during a discussion on whether reservation should be linked to economic criteria. He told ANI, “my aim was not to create a political uproar… I had said that if I am financially independent and not socially backward anymore, then my children should receive ‘roti-beti’ treatment from society. I don’t have ill will against any community. I did not want to hurt women’s sentiments. I express regret if I have hurt anyone. But some people propagated only a portion of what I had said.”

As India stares at the possibility of a 0-2 Test series defeat against South Africa, the spotlight has firmly shifted to head coach Gautam Gambhir. With India’s red-ball form dipping alarmingly under his tenure, debates around his future have intensified. Adding fuel to the fire, Iceland Cricket—famous for their witty social media presence—took a sharp, humorous jab at Gambhir, further amplifying chatter around India’s Test struggles.

Iceland Cricket’s tongue-in-cheek swipe on Gautam Gambhir goes viral

With conversations heating up regarding Gambhir’s Test coaching credentials, Iceland Cricket stepped into the narrative with a trademark sarcastic remark. In a post on X, the board announced—mock-seriously—that Gambhir would not be considered for their national team’s coaching role.

“To all our fans, no, Gautam Gambhir will not be invited to be our new national team coach. That position is already filled and we won 75% of our matches in 2025,” wrote Iceland Cricket.

To all our fans, no, Gautam Gambhir will not be invited to be our new national team coach. That position is already filled and we won 75% of our matches in 2025.

— Iceland Cricket (@icelandcricket) November 24, 2025

The humour struck instantly. While Iceland Cricket’s fixtures generally involve lower-tier opponents, their chosen comparison was a pointed commentary on India’s recent decline in Test cricket—a stark contrast to the dominance the team once enjoyed at home. The dig resonated with fans across the world, many interpreting it as a reflection of growing dissatisfaction with India’s Test performances under Gambhir.

Also WATCH: IND vs SA – Ravindra Jadeja delivers a peach to get rid of Aiden Markram on Day 4 of the Guwahati Test

Mounting pressure on Gambhir as Test results dip

Even though the BCCI has issued no official hint of removing Gambhir, the pressure surrounding his position as the Test coach is rising steadily. His role across all three formats is now under intense scrutiny, with experts suggesting the board may consider splitting responsibilities if results do not improve.

India’s red-ball record under Gambhir paints an unusually grim picture:

• Home dominance shattered: India have lost four of their last six home Tests, including an unprecedented 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand—ending a decade-long fortress-like run.
• South Africa threatening history: India have not lost a home series to South Africa since 2000. A draw or defeat in the ongoing Guwahati Test would mark their first home series loss to the Proteas in 25 years.
• Overall performance: The inconsistency across 18 Tests under Gambhir has become a focal point, making his future one of the most debated topics in Indian cricket.

Also READ: Fans erupt as Marco Jansen’s bowling masterclass puts South Africa in driving seat on Day 3 of second Test against India

Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar

BENGALURU: Ramanagara MLA Iqbal Hussain reiterated his confidence that the deputy chief minister would eventually take charge, declaring he was “200 per cent” sure DK Shivakumar will become the next chief minister.“I always stand by that statement… 200 per cent, he will become the CM soon. The high command will decide. As our leader (Shivakumar) said, the transfer of power is a secret deal among five to six party leaders, and those five to six people will decide,” he said.

A group of Karnataka Congress legislators who travelled to New Delhi to meet senior party leaders said on Tuesday that the high command would take a final call on the demand to elevate DK Shivakumar as the next chief minister.The visit comes amid mounting speculation over a possible change of leadership, with the Congress government completing the halfway mark of its five-year term on 20 November. According to party insiders, six MLAs seen as close to Shivakumar flew to the capital on Sunday night for discussions with central leaders. More legislators are expected to follow. Last week, around ten MLAs had also met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.Magadi MLA H C Balakrishna stressed that the decision on who should lead the government rests entirely with the central leadership, but urged them to settle the uncertainty.“We went to discuss with the high command to clear the confusion because a final decision is needed. Who becomes CM is not important; the current situation is detrimental to the Congress party. The high command should intervene and put an end to this,” he said, declining to say whether Mr Shivakumar’s elevation had specifically been discussed.Others used the Delhi meetings to push for younger leaders and fresh faces to be considered during the proposed cabinet reshuffle. Maddur MLA K M Uday said they had received positive signals from the leadership.He said senior MLAs had also urged the high command to end the “confusion” surrounding the leadership issue, adding that a decision was expected soon.Responding to reports that MLAs loyal to him had travelled to Delhi seeking his elevation, Shivakumar distanced himself from the lobbying efforts.“I have not called or spoken to any of them. I am not asking why they went. I don’t need to,” he told reporters, adding that they might have gone in search of ministerial roles.

Chelsea’s Estevao, second right, celebrates with his teammates (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)

A night marked by wholesale rotations, defensive mistakes and a moment of teenage brilliance saw both Manchester City and Barcelona fall to damaging Champions League defeats on Tuesday. While 18-year-old Estevão lit up Stamford Bridge with a stunning solo effort, lapses at the back hurt both European heavyweights. Pep Guardiola’s 100th Champions League match in charge of City turned sour as Bayer Leverkusen punished a heavily changed side with a 2-0 win. Guardiola rested almost his entire starting XI from the weekend loss to Newcastle, including Erling Haaland, but the reshuffle backfired. Alejandro Grimaldo put Leverkusen ahead in the 23rd minute with a precise low finish, before Patrik Schick doubled the lead with a well-placed header in the 54th. “It feels wonderful and we gave everything till the last second,” Schick told DAZN. Barcelona’s night was even more chaotic. Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge, helped by Jules Koundé steering the ball into his own net after a defensive mix-up in the 27th minute. Things worsened when Ronald Araújo collected a second yellow just before half-time for a reckless challenge on Marc Cucurella. Chelsea took full advantage. Estevão shrugged off two defenders to score a superb solo goal in the 55th, and Liam Delap added a third from close range in the 73rd. Barcelona have now lost four of their last 10 matches across competitions, leaving coach Hansi Flick under mounting scrutiny. The results left the top end of the table unchanged. A City win would have pushed them higher, but Wednesday’s fixtures featuring Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Inter Milan will now shape the standings. Borussia Dortmund climbed to fourth, Chelsea moved into fifth, and both clubs sit level with City on 10 points. Barcelona slid to 15th, while Juventus rose to 21 points as their revival continued. There was better news for José Mourinho, who finally secured his first Champions League victory with Benfica. Samuel Dahl smashed in a sixth-minute volley and Leandro Barreiro sealed a 2-0 win at Ajax, who remain winless after five games and have managed just one victory in their last 10 overall. Elsewhere, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck twice in four minutes to lead Marseille to a 2-1 comeback win over Newcastle. Dortmund snapped a three-game winless stretch with a commanding 4-0 victory over 10-man Villarreal, powered by a brace from Serhou Guirassy. Juventus edged Bodo/Glimt 3-2 in the Arctic Circle, needing a stoppage-time finish from Jonathan David after the hosts equalised late. Substitute Kenan Yildiz was involved in all three goals. Union Saint-Gilloise edged Galatasaray 1-0 through Promise David, with the Turkish side missing injured top scorer Victor Osimhen and ending the match with 10 men after youngster Arda Ünyay was dismissed. Scott McTominay continued his scoring run by netting the opener in Napoli’s 2-0 win over Qarabag. Qarabag’s Kevin Medina was briefly knocked unconscious after being struck by another McTominay effort but was later replaced. Napoli supporters also marked the fifth anniversary of Diego Maradona’s passing. Finally, Athletic Bilbao’s goalless draw with Slavia Prague kept both teams outside the qualification spots with five matches played.