NEW DELHI: The flop show of teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued in the U19 Asia Cup, as the 14-year-old batter was dismissed at the score of 26 in the tournament final against arch-rival Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday. Sooryavanshi was dismissed in the fifth over of the innings; he was caught behind the stumps by Pakistan keeper Hamza Zahoor off Ali Raza’s bowling. Raza bowled a short of length delivery, angled across. Sooryavanshi looked to loft through the line and got a thick outside edge, Hamza Zahoor took a sharp catch over his head. There was no space to free his hands, and the ball was climbing as well.

With Sooryavanshi’s wicket, India were reduced to 49/3 while chasing a mammoth total of 348. Follow live updatesCaptain Ayush Mhatre (2 off 7 balls) and Aaron George (16 off 9 balls) were also dismissed cheaply, leaving India in deep trouble. Sooryavanshi also failed to score big in the semi-final against Sri Lanka and was dismissed for 9 runs.Earlier, Pakistan opener Sameer Minhas once again gave a glimpse into his precocious talent, striking a brilliant century — his second in the tournament — as Pakistan made a steep 347 for 8 in an engrossing 50-over men’s U19 Asia Cup final here on Sunday.Minhas, one of the standout performers for his side in the event, blazed to 172 off 113 deliveries as he carried the aspirations of his side, which lost the group match to the arch-foes by 90 runs at the same venue.Pakistan, coming into the final on the back of a clinical eight-wicket semifinal win against last edition champions Bangladesh, did not let India, who chose to bowl, settle down.Minhas, whose innings was studded with 17 boundaries and nine sixes, brought up his century off 71 balls with a four in the 29th over off Devendran.This was Minhas’ second hundred in the competition having cracked an unbeaten 177 against Malaysia in the opening group match.

India’s automobile industry is set to make a strong debut into 2026, after a record year, with industry volumes expected to rise by around 6–8%. This growth is attributed to policy support such as GST rationalisation, easier monetary conditions and income tax relief, which are expected to improve affordability and keep consumption resilient across vehicle categories. The recovery seen this year went beyond a simple post-slowdown bounce. Passenger vehicle sales gathered pace after a weak start to the year, supported by steady rural incomes, firmer urban demand and better access to financing, PTI reported. SUVs remained the clear favourite among buyers, while CNG and electric vehicles continued to gain acceptance, signalling a gradual shift in powertrain preferences rather than a sudden transformation.Outlook for 2026While demand indicators remain encouraging, 2026 is increasingly being viewed as a year of preparation before tougher regulations come into force. Automakers are gearing up for higher compliance costs ahead of CAFE norms from 2027 and future emission standards, developments that could weigh on margins and influence pricing decisions. Safety regulations, including the mandatory adoption of ABS and CBS for two-wheelers, are already pushing up entry-level prices, raising concerns about demand elasticity in price-sensitive segments.Challenges on the supply side also persist. Despite higher localisation, global uncertainties, tariff risks and currency depreciation continue to affect costs, especially for premium models and vehicles with high component intensity. Industry watchers say supply chain stability and pricing discipline by OEMs will be key to sustaining dealer confidence through the first half of 2026.At the same time, investment strategies across the sector are evolving. Carmakers are increasingly channelling capital into electrification, charging infrastructure and platform upgrades, while continuing to scale up conventional powertrains to meet immediate market demand. This parallel approach reflects a market that is transitioning steadily rather than pivoting sharply. Citing the latest Dealer Satisfaction Index for December 2025, Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) president CS Vigneshwar said that 74 per cent of dealers expect good to very good growth in the December–February period. He added that momentum could extend into the first half of 2026 if OEMs manage inventory efficiently and avoid sudden price hikes. However, he cautioned that price increases from January and the mandatory rollout of CBS and ABS across two-wheelers could dampen near-term demand, as entry-level prices may rise by at least Rs 5,000. Industry body SIAM also expects the year to close on a positive note. SIAM President Shailesh Chandra said all segments are likely to post growth over the previous calendar year, with exports showing strong double-digit expansion. “In addition, we expect strong double-digit growth in the export volumes across all segments, indicating growing brand acceptance of vehicles made in India,” he said, adding that the outlook for 2026 remains aligned with India’s vision of a Viksit Bharat. The component industry shared a similar view. ACMA Director General Vinnie Mehta said, “The Indian auto component industry is expected to continue to grow steadily next year, with domestic demand and localisation providing support, even though global uncertainties and supply-chain risks persist.”What are companies expecting: Chandra, who also heads Tata Motors passenger vehicles as MD and CEO, said GST rationalisation, along with repo rate cuts and income tax benefits, will enhance accessibility and stimulate demand. “We are uniquely positioned to lead in high-growth segments, including the continued surge in SUV demand, alongside the accelerating adoption of CNG and EV technologies. Our strong portfolio across these categories places us squarely in the sweet spot of this market transition,” he said. On forthcoming regulations, he added, “While the exact contours of CAFE III have not been finalised, we earnestly believe that the government will articulate it in a manner that supports a directional shift towards sustainable technologies.” Mahindra & Mahindra Auto Division CEO Nalinikanth Gollagunta said the company will focus on operational excellence and innovation in 2026. “On the electric front, our focus is twofold: ramping up operational capacity to 8,000 eSUVs per month and strengthening the public charging ecosystem,” he said, adding that the coming year could be defining for Mahindra’s leadership in SUVs. From a broader perspective, EY-Parthenon Partner and Future of Mobility Leader Som Kapoor expects industry growth of 5–8 per cent in 2026. “With forthcoming regulations, such as BS7 and CAFE 2027 currently under active deliberation, 2026 will reveal long-term transition strategies for PV OEMs,” he said. Automakers across segments echoed confidence in demand conditions. Honda Cars India VP (Sales and Marketing) Kunal Behl said sustained SUV demand and gradual electrification would reinforce India’s status as a key global automotive market. Renault Group India CEO Stephane Deblaise called 2026 a pivotal year, citing the return of the Renault Duster and the impact of GST 2.0 reforms.Luxury cars will see price hikes? Luxury carmakers, while optimistic, flagged ongoing risks. Mercedes-Benz MD and CEO Santosh Iyer said GST 2.0 has had a strong impact on the economy but warned that deteriorating forex could push prices higher over time. BMW Group India president and CEO Hardeep Singh Brar said challenges such as rupee depreciation, tariffs and supply chain constraints could persist into early 2026, even as demand for personal luxury evolves.“We are growing faster than the average luxury car industry growth. I think the focus for 2026 for the luxury car industry should really be on increasing the size of the market. The size of the pie has been the same for far too long,” he added. Overall, the consensus across the sector is that 2026 will deliver continued growth, supported by policy tailwinds and consumption strength, but with outcomes increasingly influenced by regulatory preparedness, cost dynamics and how quickly buyers adapt to higher prices and emerging technologies.

India’s equity markets saw investors joining at a slower pace in November, just 13.2 lakh investors were added during the month during the month. This was a 11.6% dip from October, as the growth was dragged down by uncertainty in global markets continued to temper risk appetite, data released by the National Stock Exchange (NSE) showed.With these additions, the total number of registered investors reached 12.3 crore by the end of November 2025. The slowdown came after two months of steady improvement in registrations, signalling a pause in the recent rebound. The NSE noted, “The pace of additions moderated during the month, declining 11.6 per cent MoM after two consecutive months of sequential increases.” The report pointed out that investor sign-ups have remained uneven throughout calendar year 2025. While short phases of stronger growth were seen between May and July and again in September and October, the broader trend has been one of moderation. Global headwinds and persistent volatility have weighed on confidence, making many potential entrants wary of entering equity markets. Data from the exchange also showed that the rapid expansion seen in the previous year has lost momentum. Last year in February, the investor base crossed 9 crore. By August 2024, the number moved to 10 crore and touched 11 crore in January 2025, with each milestone achieved within five to six months. On the other hand, the next crore took significantly longer, with nine months required to move from 11 crore to 12 crore. Between January and November 2025, the NSE added an average of 12.8 lakh investors every month, taking total additions during the period to 1.4 crore, drastically lower than the same period in 2024, when average monthly additions were 19.3 lakh, translating into 2.1 crore new investors.On the regional front, north India continued to dominate with an investor participation of 4.5 crore investors as of November 2025. West India stood at the second position with 3.6 crore investors. South India and east India ALSO recorded 2.6 crore and 1.5 crore investors, respectively. Year-on-year growth remained positive across most regions. All parts of the country reported growth of over 15% in November, except West India, where investor growth lagged at 11.6%. Overall, the NSE data indicated that although India’s equity investor base is still expanding, the rate of new investor additions has slowed during 2025 as global uncertainty continues to influence participation.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s recent apparent comment that China is winning the AI race made headlines across America. It went so ‘wild’ that the Nvidia CEO had to issue a clarification. During a fireside chat at the Center for Strategic and International Studies this month, Huang directly spoke about his statement on Chinese AI dominance vs America’s. CSIS President John Hamre asked Huang what he termed “very provocative”: You said something recently that was quite provocative. You said that China was winning the AI race, the AI competition. I know that you’ve got a powerful competitor in Huawei, and Huawei has a lot of advantages you don’t have. Why don’t you describe this competition? Are we really losing?In his reply to Hamre, Huang said, “And it apparently caught a lot of attention. As you know with headlines, the disclaimer part, the foundation part was left out of the headline. But the way to think about that is that let me just handicap it right now. If you look at AI and go back to the first thing that we said, AI is a five layer cake. Let’s just always simplify it. It’s not quite this simplistic, but let’s simplify AI into a five layer cake. Energy, chips, infrastructure, models, and applications. And let’s handicap it from bottom to top. At the lowest level, China has twice the amount of energy we have as a nation.”

China dominance in Energy is one of the ‘deal breakers’

“Twice as much energy as we have as a nation. And our economy’s larger than theirs. Makes no sense to me. We also know that one of the most important initiatives, one of the most important policies of this administration. And there was the first thing that President Trump said to me when we met: “Listen, we need to reindustrialize America. We need to do onshore manufacturing again. We need to help America make things again.” It’s going to create jobs. That part of the economy has been offshore and completely gutted the United States. We need to bring that back and he needs my help to do so. And so, that entire sector of the economy is missing,” Nvidia CEO went on to add. Then Huang added the energy problem that America is facing, where China is miles ahead. While talking about the same Huang did give a compliment to President Trump, saying that he is trying his best to solve the problem. “And however, without energy, how do we build chip plants, computer system plants, and these AI data centers? We call them AI factories. We’re simultaneously building three different types of factories in the United States. Chip factories, super computer factories, and AI factories, they all require energy, every single one of them. And so on, the one hand, we want to reindustrialize the United States. How do you do that without energy? And so, the fact that we vilified energy for so long, President Trump sticking his neck out, and taking it on the chin, and helping the country realize that energy is necessary for our growth, is really one of the greatest things he’s done right off the bat,” Huang said.

America is generations ahead in Chips

He said that while America is 50% of China in energy, the country is generationals ahead in Chips. But at the same time warned that the country cannot afford to be complacent. As semiconductors is a manufacturing process and anybody who thinks China can’t manufacture is missing a big idea. “And so, now at the energy level, back to that stack, we’re 50% and they’re growing straight up. We’re kind of flat right now. And so, number one, energy. Number two, chips. We’re generations ahead. We are generations ahead on chips, and I think everybody recognizes that. Number three, infrastructure. If you want to build a data center here in the United States, from breaking ground to standing up an AI supercomputer is probably about three years. They can build a hospital on a weekend. That’s a real challenge. And so, at the infrastructure layer, their velocity of building things, because they are builders. Their velocity of building things is extraordinarily high. Now, really quickly on chips. We’re several generations ahead, but don’t be complacent. Remember, semiconductors are a manufacturing process. Anybody who thinks China can’t manufacture is missing a big idea,” Hunag said.

Devon Conway of New Zealand (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Devon Conway produced a performance for the ages at Bay Oval, scripting a slice of New Zealand cricket history in the third and final Test against the West Indies. The left-handed opener became the first player from the country to score a double-century and a century in the same Test, a feat achieved by only a handful of batters in the long history of the format. After his monumental 227 in the first innings, Conway returned in the second to compile a calm and assured 100, bringing up the landmark shortly before the tea interval on the fourth day. The effort placed the 34-year-old in an exclusive global list, making him just the 10th cricketer ever to combine a double-hundred and a hundred in one Test match. In doing so, he joined an elite group that includes the likes of Brian Lara, Graham Gooch, Kumar Sangakkara, Marnus Labuschagne, and Shubman Gill.

Conway’s marathon knock in the first innings was the cornerstone of New Zealand’s dominant position in the match, as the hosts amassed 575 for 8. The West Indies showed resilience in reply, battling their way to 420 all out, but remained on the back foot throughout. The second-innings century was Conway’s seventh in Test cricket, further cementing his reputation as one of New Zealand’s most reliable performers at the highest level. The hosts entered the final Test holding a 1–0 advantage in the three-match series, following a draw in Christchurch and a convincing nine-wicket win in Wellington. Conway’s stay in the second innings ended just after tea. Attempting a pull shot, he picked out deep mid-wicket, where Jayden Seales judged the ball perfectly, moving to his left before leaping to complete a sharp two-handed catch off Kavem Hodge. Tom Latham, batting alongside Conway, was also dismissed shortly after reaching his century, with Hodge and Seales again combining to strike for the visitors. With Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra both accelerating towards their half-centuries, Latham opted to declare, setting the West Indies a daunting target of 462 to chase in the final innings.

This New Year eve, hotels are pulling out a range of attractions — morning yoga, DIY cocktail stalls, recovery brunches and much more, to lure in guests. However, these celebrations come with a hefty price tag, pushing room tariffs higher for the year ending period. Hotel operators told ET that New Year rates for 2026 are broadly higher by 10–20% compared with last year, reflecting strong demand across leisure hotspots and major urban centres. At Leela Palaces Hotels and Resorts, prices for select festive getaway packages have gone up by about 20%, according to Madhav Sehgal, senior vice-president and head of sales and operations. He said both heritage destinations such as Udaipur and Jaipur, and urban markets like New Delhi and Gurugram, are witnessing strong demand driven by domestic travellers, international visitors and premium festive events. The luxury chain is hosting Picante-themed celebrations at its properties, along with activities such as baking workshops and guided yoga sessions. Similar trends are visible across other hotel groups. Radisson Hotel Group expects rate growth of 15–18% at destinations including Jawai, Kumbhalgarh and Jodhpur, said Nikhil Sharma, managing director and chief operating officer (South Asia). “In the South, our resort in Mamallapuram is seeing a nearly 20% uptick in rates for the New Year dates.” Demand indicators for December remain firm across the industry. Average daily room rates are up 10–12% year on year, said KB Kachru, president of the Hotel Association of India. “Although we witnessed a bit of regional softness mid-year, the industry showed remarkable resilience and is ending 2025 on a strong note,” he said. Travel booking platforms are also seeing a surge. Cleartrip reported a two-and-a-half times increase in hotel bookings for the year-end season compared with last year. “Average spends per traveller are up, driven not by prices alone, but by demand for longer stays and immersive experiences,” a spokesperson said. To stand out during the crowded festive calendar, hotels are designing more elaborate stay packages. Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre has added a ‘recovery brunch’ to help guests ease into the new year, along with extended happy hours from noon to 8 pm. “Given the holiday season and year-end travel mood, we wanted to elevate the guest experience by offering longer, more relaxed hours for them to unwind,” a spokesperson said. In Chennai, ITC Grand Chola is offering a New Year buffet inspired by global night markets, alongside a 13-course Avartana dining experience, a brand that positions itself as a modern reimagining of South Indian cuisine. “Rates are similar to last year in some hotels, but there have been entirely new curations where we have offered unique experiences at competitive pricing,” an ITC spokesperson told ET. At Ronil Goa–JdV by Hyatt, guests can expect do-it-yourself bars and spirit-forward beverage concepts, said general manager Pratiti Rajpal. Six Senses Bhutan is extending special rates for Indian citizens for a ‘mindful’ celebration package that includes TsaTsa making, butter lamp prayers, aqua meditation, and cocktail masterclasses, even as most domestic properties record higher tariffs. Mid-scale and leisure-focused hotels are also benefiting from the festive rush. Sarovar Hotels has increased rates by 10% compared with last year, according to chief executive Jatin Khanna, who said destinations such as Jim Corbett, Puducherry, Agra and Jaipur are seeing strong New Year demand. Leisure Hotels Group has raised New Year rates by 10–12%, citing high demand for resort stays, ET reported. City hotels, meanwhile, are pointing to recent investments to justify festive pricing. “Our festive rates are in line with the significant upgrades we have introduced. These include transformed rooms and suites to advanced, state-of the-art air purification systems installed across the hotel, and curated gourmet experiences,” said Anmol Ahluwalia, area director, operations and general manager at Taj Mahal, New Delhi.

Leading watch and jewellery maker Titan is “very bullish” for its watch business, which is expected to touch the $1 billion sales mark in the next two years, led by factors such as premiumisation, retail footprint expansion and growth of the international business division, a top company official said. Titan recorded a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 16 per cent in the last four to five years, and it is focusing on the mid-premium analogue segment (Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000), and the premium segment (Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh) to drive growth, Titan Watch Division CEO Kuruvilla Markose told PTI. Riding on the premiumisation wave, trend of revival of analogue watches, Titan is expanding the network of its Helios and the new Helios Luxe format as the appetite for luxury watches in India is on the rise, he said, adding, “Premium and luxury segments will grow faster, potentially upwards of 30 per cent.” With tailwinds such as a growing economy, rising personal income, and a large, aspirational millennial population, Titan is “very bullish on India (watch). Premium and luxury segments will grow rapidly,” said Markose. Currently, Titan has around 282 Helios stores. “We have opened 5 Helios Luxe stores at present, going to open 20 stores by the end of FY26 and planning to open 40 stores by FY27 and will continue expanding. We operate in around 500 towns overall and see scope to expand Helios further where premium demand exists,” he said. Watches above Rs one lakh are in the luxury segment, which is further divided into accessible, aspirational, and absolute luxury, which are sold through Helios and Helios Luxe stores. “From FY25 to FY26, the share of premium segment sales has more than doubled. Titan, Edge, and international brands are growing rapidly above Rs 25,000,” Markose said. In FY2024-25, Titan’s ‘Watch & Wearable’ segment reported a revenue of Rs 4,576 crore, with a growth of over 17 per cent, which, according to the company, was a “defining year”. Over the expected growth in the current fiscal, he said: “We have been growing from 16 per cent CAGR for the last 4-5 years. We see no reason for any change. If you look at our published performance till Q2, we have pretty much followed that track, continuing to grow 16 to 17 per cent over the last year.” When asked when he expects Titan’s ‘Watch & Wearable’ business to reach USD 1 billion in sales, Markose said: “From a consumer price perspective, we expect to cross a billion dollars next year (FY’27).” Net sales may take another year.” Besides, Titan is also expanding to other retail formats as Titan World, Fastrack and is also present in large format stores, electronic stores for smartwatches, marketplaces, and our own websites in India and internationally, he added. The mid-premium analogue segment will also continue to grow because India has a large population upgrading from unbranded or informal watches to branded ones, similar to moving from two-wheelers to cars, he said. “We are very bullish on India. Premium and luxury segments will grow rapidly, but we will continue serving mass and mid-premium segments as well. We are building capabilities across product, retail, branding, and marketing to serve all segments effectively,” said Kuruvilla Markose, who, earlier this July, was appointed CEO of Titan’s watch division. Titan, a JV between Tata Group and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO), a government enterprise, will continue to invest in “modernisation, capability building, and horology”. “At higher price points, movement quality and complications matter more. We have developed in-house automatic movements, including India’s first wandering hour. We will continue investing with a mix of in-house, indigenous, and global vendor ecosystems,” said Markose. On the analogue versus smartwatch, he said, the traditional analogue is now growing faster than the new-age digital. However, he also added: “We believe smartwatches are here to stay, shifting from novelty to functional value focused on fitness, health, and productivity. Our research shows about 20 per cent of consumers buy a smartwatch in addition to an analogue watch, and about 30 per cent buy both alongside each other.” Markose did not share the split between analogue and digital revenue in Titan. When asked about Titan’s international presence in the watch segment, he said, “We are present in about 25+ countries, with around 75 exclusive brand outlets and over 1,500+ multi-brand outlets. We also operate 10+ country-specific international websites and are present on 40+ global marketplaces.”