Ayush Badoni with Morne Morkel (BCCI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Delhi cricketer Ayush Badoni feels that taking up bowling a couple of years ago proved to be a turning point in his career, helping him evolve into an all-rounder and earn his maiden India call-up. The 26-year-old was added to India’s ODI squad for the ongoing three-match series against New Zealand after Washington Sundar was ruled out with an injury following the opening ODI.The series is currently locked at 1-1, with the decider scheduled to be played at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday. While Badoni did not feature in the playing XI for the second ODI, which India lost, he will be hopeful of getting an opportunity, especially given his recent form, to make an impact at the international level.

“I was with the Delhi team, I was captain there and our next day match was the quarter-finals against Vidarbha. That’s when I got to know about it. Priyansh was my roommate, so I told him that this could happen and I’ll be going, so maybe you’ll be the captain. That was a great feeling and I feel very grateful and happy that I got this opportunity,” Badoni said while speaking about his selection in a video shared by bcci.tv.Sharing how his family and close friends found out about the call-up, Badoni said, “I got a call late at night, so I couldn’t tell them. It was announced in the morning, that’s when they got to know and they were also very happy and proud. All the coaches and the players were very welcoming to me and I really liked it. I’ve played with and against most of them so it was nice to meet everyone again.”Badoni also spoke about how expanding his skill set over the past two years played a key role in his selection. “Preparation was very clear. Earlier, I used to bat, but since the last two years, I’ve been focusing a lot on my bowling. I always feel that I can take wickets and contribute to the team with my bowling. So I got the benefit of being an all-rounder. I’ve bowled a lot for Delhi, taken wickets, and benefited from it.”Reflecting on sharing the dressing room with senior players, Badoni said he has previously played with or against many of them in domestic and franchise cricket and tries to absorb as much as possible from their experience.“A lot of the seniors in our team are legends in a way so I try to learn from them when I bat or bowl. I feel that it enhances my game and I just try to learn as much as I can. There are a lot of players with whom I have fun and have a good time. I’ve known Harshit because he plays for Delhi. I’ve a lot of fun with Arshdeep and Shreyas too. It’s a lot of fun to be with them,” Badoni concluded.

INDORE: With their dominance in Tests on home soil now a thing of the past, India will hope for the ageless duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to fire in unison and complement the highly consistent KL Rahul as they strive to protect their proud ODI record at home against the resolute Kiwis in the series-deciding third ODI here on Sunday.While Kohli and KL Rahul’s sensational form is highly encouraging, the hosts would be worried by the poor returns of left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who appeared to be too slow in the air as he ended up conceding 1-82 in 10 overs.

Going by India’s intense threehour training session on Saturday, ace left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh could be back in the XI, probably at the expense of Prasidh Krishna. It will be interesting to see if India hand a debut to batting allrounder Ayush Badoni, a useful off-spinner, for the injured Washington Sundar, and leave out Nitish Kumar Reddy from the final XI.Reddy ended up bowling only two overs in the second ODI and was criticised for not making use of his chances by India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate.

India last lost a bilateral ODI series at home in March 2023, when Australia reversed a 0-1 deficit to win 2-1.After winning their first Test series in India 3-0 in Nov 2024, New Zealand, who have travelled to these shores for bilateral ODIs since 1988, will be itching to do the same in ODIs.Considering that it’s an inexperienced Black Caps squad — eight players are touring India for the first time and they fielded two debutants in the first two matches — it’ll be a massive achievement.

Pacer Kristian Clarke, who took 3-56 in Rajkot, played his first ODI in Vadodara, while left-arm spinner Jaydon Lennox made a decent debut in Rajkot, taking 1/42 in 10 overs.With his massive appetite for scoring runs against India in India in ODIs, Daryl Mitchell has proven to be a major thorn in the flesh for the Men in Blue.Mitchell’s last four ODI scores versus India in India read: 130 (127), 134 (119), 84 (71), 131* (117).

NEW DELHI: Alleging intimidation, coercion and unprecedented political pressure, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday launched a scathing attack against the Mahayuti over the BMC elections, calling the January 15 civic polls a “strange” contest fought as a matter of political survival by his opponents.Addressing a press conference, Thackeray alleged that the ruling alliance left no method unused to secure a victory. “This election was very strange. It felt like this was a life-and-death election for them. They opted for all methods, from cash to kidnapping our candidates; they forced candidates to withdraw their nominations,” he said.

The UBT president also raised questions over the voting process and claimed he had received several complaints from citizens about their names missing from the voter lists. He said the results at many locations were “surprising” and did not match ground-level expectations. “Where did those numbers come from? Was it from some party office? Before counting numbers were seen on TV. In future, there will be no EVM, and the direct results will be declared. I have received several complaints from voters that their names were missing from the voter list. At various locations, the results are surprising. I had doubts about the exit polls,” said Thackeray.Despite the Mahayuti alliance of the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena clinching a majority, Thackeray said the outcome reflected the resilience of Shiv Sena (UBT) on the ground. Thanking voters who stood firm despite alleged attempts to intimidate them, he said, “Voters are the saviours of democracy,” and added that those who were not scared showed that the “strength of Shiv Sena UBT” remains intact.Thackeray expressed deep gratitude to citizens who backed the Shiv Shakti Alliance, a first-time collaboration between his faction of the Shiv Sena and his cousin Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). He also apologised for not being able to campaign in all areas. “Yesterday, election results were announced. I could not visit many locations to campaign, but we got a good response at several places. I would at first apologise to voters where I was unable to reach. I thank those who voted for Shiv Shakti Alliance (with MNS),” he said.“The wish to have our Mayor wasn’t fulfilled, but the results have definitely shown the strength of Shiv Sena UBT,” Thackeray added.The 2026 BMC elections marked a historic political shift, ending nearly three decades of Thackeray family dominance over India’s richest civic body. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, while the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance crossed the halfway mark with 118 seats.Shiv Sena (UBT) secured 65 seats, polling 7,17,736 votes, which accounted for 13.13 per cent of the total votes cast. The MNS won six seats with 74,946 votes and a 1.37 per cent vote share. The Indian National Congress secured 24 seats, polling 2,42,646 votes, or 4.44 per cent of the vote share.Meanwhile, following the Mahayuti’s victory, political activity has intensified in Mumbai. Sources said the Shinde-led Shiv Sena has moved its newly elected corporators to a hotel in Bandra amid power negotiations. The party is also likely to demand the Mayor’s post in the BMC, reportedly as part of celebrations marking the centenary year of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, whose 100th birth anniversary falls on January 23.

NEW DELHI: India has stepped up diplomatic engagement with Iran seeking consular access and early resolution for the case of 16 Indian crew members on board a merchant vessel detained by Iranian authorities in December last year, the Indian embassy in Tehran said.In a press release on Saturday, the embassy said it was informed around mid-December 2025 about the detention of MT Valiant Roar. The Consulate of India in Bandar Abbas wrote to the Iranian government on December 14 seeking consular access to the crew and has since followed up through diplomatic correspondence and in-person meetings in Bandar Abbas and Tehran, including at the level of the ambassador. “The Iranian authorities were also requested to allow the crew to communicate with their families in India,” the embassy said.The mission said it contacted the UAE-based ship-owning company on December 15 and has remained in touch with its Iran-based agents to ensure food, water and fuel supplies for the vessel, besides pressing for legal representation for the crew in Iranian courts. After being informed of depleting provisions, the mission intervened with the Iranian navy, which arranged emergency food and water supplies in early January.The Indian consulate in Dubai has also been engaging the ship-owning company to ensure regular provisioning and legal support, the embassy said, adding that the case is expected to go through Iran’s judicial process.“However, the Mission and the Consulate continue to press the Iranian authorities to grant early consular access to the crew, and to ensure expeditious completion of the judicial proceedings,” the statement said.Earlier in the day, the father of one of the detained crew members appealed to Indian authorities for urgent intervention. Mukesh Mehta said his son Ketan, a third engineer on board the tanker operated by Prime Tanker LLC, Dubai, was among those detained after the vessel was intercepted at Bandar Abbas port, reported PTI. He said the family has been living in constant anxiety since learning of the detention and appealed to the government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ministry of external affairs and the Directorate General of Shipping to take immediate diplomatic steps to secure the crew’s release.Iran on December 13 had seized an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, claiming it was carrying six million litres of diesel fuel and had 16 crew members from India on board.Iran has frequently announced the boarding of vessels it accuses of illegally transporting fuel, citing smuggling concerns amid low domestic fuel prices. Authorities have denied that such seizures are retaliatory actions against other countries.The Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz remain critical maritime chokepoints, handling nearly 20 per cent of global oil trade, with heightened tensions continuing amid increased regional naval activity and geopolitical friction.

Remains of mummified cheetah (AP photo)

Scientists have found the mummified remains of cheetahs in caves in northern Saudi Arabia, a discovery described as extremely rare, as the Associated Press reported.The remains are between 130 and more than 1,800 years old. Researchers uncovered seven cheetah mummies along with the bones of 54 other cheetahs at a site near the city of Arar.

(AP photo)

Mummification slows down decay and helps preserve bodies after death. While Egypt’s mummies are the most famous, mummification can also happen naturally in places such as deserts, glaciers and bogs.The newly discovered cheetah mummies have cloudy eyes and shrunken limbs, making them look like dried husks.“It’s something that I’ve never seen before,” said Joan Madurell-Malapeira with the University of Florence in Italy, who was not involved with the discovery.Scientists are not certain how the cheetahs were preserved so well. However, the study suggests that the caves’ dry conditions and steady temperatures may have helped. The findings were published on Thursday in the journal Communications Earth and Environment.

Researchers have previously found mummified remains of other cats, including a saber-toothed cat cub in Russia. Still, it is rare for large animals to be preserved in such good condition. Apart from the right environment, the bodies must also escape scavengers like birds and hyenas.Finding such well-preserved evidence of ancient cheetahs in this region is highly unusual.To find such intact evidence of cheetahs that lived long ago in this part of the world is “entirely without precedent,” study author Ahmed Boug with the National Center for Wildlife in Saudi Arabia said in an email.Cheetahs once lived across much of Africa and parts of Asia. Today, they occupy only about 9% of their former range and have not been seen in the Arabian Peninsula for decades. Experts say habitat loss, hunting and a lack of prey are key reasons for their decline.For the first time, scientists were also able to study the genes of naturally mummified large cats. They found that the cheetahs were most closely related to modern cheetahs from Asia and northwest Africa. This information could help future efforts to bring cheetahs back to areas where they no longer live.

Ever since Nitesh Tiwari‘s ‘Ramayana‘ is announced, fans just cannot wait for the mythological saga to release. The film sees Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita and Yash as Raavan. The film also stars Sunny Deol, Ravi Dubey among others. One of the most exciting things for netizens is that AR Rahman has collaborated with Hans Zimmer for the film’s music. In a recent interview, Rahman has opened up on this collaboration. The Oscar winning composer also opened up on doing music for a film based on Hindu mythology despite being a Muslim. The composer revealed how he respects these values and ideas. He said during a chat with BBC Asian’s Youtube channel and said that Indian epics were a part of his education growing up. “I studied in a Brahmin school, and every year we had Ramayana and Mahabharata, so I know the story,” he said. For Rahman, the heart of the epic lies in its moral core. He added, “The story is about how virtuous a person is, higher ideals, and all that stuff. People may argue, but I value all those good things, any good things that you can learn from.” He also spoke about the importance of seeking wisdom without prejudice “The prophet has said that knowledge is something invaluable, no matter where you get it from – a king, a beggar, a good act or a bad one. You can’t shy away from things,” Rahman explained.The composer also urged people to have a broader mindset. He said, “I think we need to elevate from small-mindedness and selfishness. When we elevate, we become radiant, and that’s very important.” Highlighting the diversity behind the project, Rahman said, “Hans Zimmer is Jewish, I am Muslim, and the Ramayana is Hindu. It’s coming from India to the whole world, with love.”AR Rahman was born as Dileep Kumar Rajagopala in Madras and embraced Islam in 1989.Also See: Hindi Movies | Telugu Movies | Tamil Latest Movies

MUMBAI: The Mahayuti alliance, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, is storming ahead in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, according to trends. With leads in over 110 wards across the city, the alliance appears on course to end the three-decade reign of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (UBT) alliance struggles to cross 68, with MNS leading in just 9 seats, UBT Sena in 58, and the NCP (SP) barely holding one. Congress, too, faces a grim outlook, with leads in only 10 wards.

High-profile battles are drawing attention. UBT’s Foram Parmar trails in Ward 1, while Gita Bhandari of the same faction is ahead in Ward 32. Shinde Sena’s Varsha Tembelkar is leading in Ward 51, and BJP candidates Deepak Tavde, Ujjwal Veti, and Neil Somaiya are showing strong leads. In Dharavi, Congress’ Asha Deepak Kale clinched Ward 183, offering a rare bright spot for the party.The political earthquake is not limited to Mumbai. In the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), BJP has displaced the Pawars, leading in 50 of 165 seats, while the two NCP factions trail with just 5 leads and the Congress-UBT alliance in 7. Official figures confirm BJP’s dominance with 47 leads, compared to 8 for NCP and 5 for Congress.Most exit polls had predicted a BJP-Shinde Sena wave, and preliminary trends suggest that the prediction is unfolding. If sustained, this result would mark the end of the 30-year incumbency of the Uddhav Thackeray-led outfit in India’s richest civic body.In majority of rallies, MNS chief Raj Thackeray called for Marathi unity, warning that the state’s language, land, and identity are under threat. He described the BMC elections as “decisive” for the Marathi community and urged voters to unite and remain vigilant to prevent malpractice.

Businessman and Karisma Kapoor‘s ex-husband Sunjay Kapur passed away in June 2025 but soon after his demise, there have been legal proceedings with regards to his Rs 30,000 estate. Sunjay had two children with Karisma, Samaira and Kiaan and they filed a plea in the Delhi High Court alleging that his widowed wife Priya Sachdev Kapur has forged his will. Now this dispute has reportedly reached the Supreme Court, further making the matter more complex. According to the latest reports, Priya Kapur has moved the apex court seeking access to confidential documents from Sunjay Kapur’s 2016 divorce proceedings with actor Karisma Kapoor.As reported by ANI, Sunjay’s third wife Priya Kapur has filed a plea requesting certified copies of all records related to the divorce case. The matter will be heard by a bench headed by Justice A S Chandurkar, which will decide whether these sensitive documents can be shared.

ANI stated, “Priya Kapur, the third-wife of late businessman Sunjay Kapur, has approached the Supreme Court seeking certified copies of all documents related to the divorce proceedings between Karisma Kapoor and Sunjay, which took place in 2016. A bench of Justice A. S. Chandurkar will consider whether these confidential documents should be provided to her. Priya has sought access to the said divorce records to ascertain the financial and child custody arrangements made by her late former husband.“For those not in the know, Karisma got married to Sunjay in 2003 and their divorce was finalised in 2016. Meanwhile, the battle over Sunjay Kapur’s estate continues to intensify. His children with Karisma Kapoor, Samaira and Kiaan, have reportedly raised fresh objections regarding electronic evidence submitted in court. According to reports, they have questioned digital location data filed by Priya Kapur before the Delhi High Court.The siblings allege that while Priya claimed in an affidavit to be in Gurugram on March 21, 2025, the day the disputed will was allegedly signed, electronic records show her phone was located in New Delhi. Their submission also states that both Sunjay and Priya Kapur were in Delhi that day, not Gurugram. The filing further claims that Karisma was in touch with Sunjay via WhatsApp on the same day regarding their children’s Portuguese citizenship.