NEW DELHI: Left out of next month’s T20 World Cup squad, India’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill on Saturday said he respects the selectors’ call and remains focused on performing whenever he gets the chance.The 26-year-old was not picked for the T20 World Cup despite leading India in the longer formats. Gill has played 36 T20Is, scoring 869 runs at an average of 28.03 and a strike rate of 138.59. He was dropped from the T20 setup after managing 291 runs in his last 15 matches in the format at an average of 24.25.

“My belief is that in my life, I am where I am supposed to be and whatever things are written in my destiny, no one can take those things from me,” Gill told reporters ahead of the first ODI against New Zealand on Sunday.“Obviously as a player, you have a belief that if you play in the World Cup, you will win (it for) your team, (and) you will win (it for) your country.”“Having said that, I respect the selectors’ decision and (I am) wishing the T20 team all the very best and I really hope that they win the World Cup for us.”Asked if the omission could affect him mentally, Gill said staying in the present was key.“Being a sportsperson, it’s all about being in the present, the more (in the) present you are, even when you are on the field, more you are not thinking about what’s going to happen, or what has happened in the previous moment, it gives you more chances of succeeding,” he said.“I try to look at what I need to do now and what is important. The more we can be in the present moment, it makes our life more simpler, and if you make your life more simpler, it’s a much peaceful and a happier space that you would want to be in.”The New Zealand series is only Gill’s second assignment as India’s full-time ODI captain. He missed the second Test against South Africa and the following ODI series due to a neck injury sustained on the second day of the opening Test in Kolkata.“(It is) never easy, especially whenever you get injured, watching your team play and you feel like you’re missing out on all those games, especially when you’ve just been named the captain,” he said.“There are so many things that you want to do and when you sit out there, it’s definitely very frustrating.”Gill also rejected the view that senior players have chosen an “easier format” to continue playing for India.“The Indian cricket team hasn’t won a World Cup since 2011, so if it was that (easy), we would be winning (the) World Cup every second year (edition),” he said.“It’s easy to say (that) but I don’t think any format is easy. It requires a lot of resilience, a lot of persistence, and a lot of determination to be able to win big ICC tournaments.”He added that he has raised concerns with the BCCI about limited preparation time before Test series.“One of the suggestions that I was very keen on is, if you would see in the last two Test series that we played, we didn’t have that much time to prepare,” Gill said.“It’s not easy playing in India, and playing another match in a different country on the fourth day, especially when you are travelling on long tours.”Gill said the issue would remain regardless of the result against South Africa.“Even if we would have won the series against South Africa, it still wouldn’t have made that much of a difference, because we know we need to prepare well to be able to win Test matches all over the world,” he said.“Preparation for me is really big, and I didn’t think that we had that much time to prepare when we came back from Australia, or even after the Asia Cup when we played the West Indies series.”He added, “It’s important to at least have some bit of preparation especially changing from white-ball format to red-ball. I think we’ll take some action and we’ll keep it in mind to be able to prepare well before the start of any red-ball series.”

Najmul Hossain Shanto (Image credit: ICC)

Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has admitted that the uncertainty over his team’s participation in next month’s T20 World Cup in India is taking a psychological toll on the players, even as they try to behave as if “everything is ok”. Shanto also criticised Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director M Najmul Islam for branding former captain Tamim Iqbal an “Indian agent” after Tamim called for a calm and pragmatic resolution to the ongoing standoff.Bangladesh’s World Cup campaign has been overshadowed by controversy after the BCB approached the ICC seeking a change of venue for the team’s matches, citing security concerns in India.

“First of all, if you look at our World Cup results, we’ve never really played consistently good cricket. Last year, we did play well, but there were even better opportunities, and we couldn’t capitalise on them.“But you’ll see that something always happens before every World Cup. I can say this from my experience of three World Cups – it does have an effect,” Shanto told reporters on Friday.“Now, we act as if nothing affects us, that we are fully professional cricketers. You guys also understand that we are acting – it’s not easy,” he added.Shanto said the players are doing their best to block out the distractions and focus on performances.“Of course, it would be better if these things didn’t happen, but this is partly beyond our control,” he said.The T20 World Cup begins on February 7, with Bangladesh slated to play four matches in India — three in Kolkata and one in Mumbai.The BCB has demanded that the fixtures be shifted to Sri Lanka following the release of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL on the BCCI’s instructions, with the Indian board citing unspecified “developments all around”.“I don’t know the details of how it happened, or how it could have been controlled. Still, I’d say that even acting in such circumstances (is difficult),” Shanto said.“With the right mindset if we go to the World Cup and play anywhere, we should focus on how to do our best for the team,” he added.Shanto also expressed strong disappointment over BCB director M Najmul Islam’s remarks about Tamim Iqbal.“Very sad, very sad because such comments were made about a cricketer – a former captain, and in my opinion one of Bangladesh’s most successful cricketers whom we grew up watching,” Shanto said.“As players, we expect respect – whether someone is a former captain, a regular player, successful or not. At the end of the day, a cricketer hopes for respect,” he added.Calling the BCB “supposed to be our guardian”, Shanto said the comment was unacceptable.“Parents should correct you at home, not in front of everyone. So such a comment from someone who is supposed to be our guardian is very difficult to accept. I completely reject it as a player,” he concluded.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (BCCI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s rich vein of form is set to headline India’s ODI campaign as the hosts, at full strength, face a revamped New Zealand side in the opening match of the three-ODI series on Sunday.Even with the T20 World Cup less than a month away, the spotlight over the next week will firmly remain on Kohli and Rohit, who continue to underline their enduring relevance in the 50-over format. Both batters have had ample match practice, featuring in a couple of Vijay Hazare Trophy league games and piling up runs to show that their appetite and ability remain intact.

A subplot to watch closely will be how India captain Shubman Gill responds after being left out of the T20 World Cup squad. Gill’s omission followed a run of indifferent form, compounded by injuries that restricted his participation during the South Africa series late last year. His return to the ODI XI, however, could push Yashasvi Jaiswal out of the top order, despite the left-hander scoring his maiden ODI century in the final match against South Africa.The comeback of Shreyas Iyer is expected to bring stability to the middle order after a prolonged phase of experimentation. The 31-year-old is likely to slot straight back into his familiar No. 4 position. KL Rahul’s continued role as a lower-order batter and wicketkeeper means Rishabh Pant remains the second-choice option in the format.While Iyer, Pant and Mohammed Siraj were absent from training until Saturday, Ravindra Jadeja went through a full session on Friday, signalling his readiness. With Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya rested to manage workloads ahead of the T20 season, India’s pace attack will be handled by Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna. Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar and Jadeja will shoulder spin duties on surfaces where dew and flat pitches often place a premium on control rather than outright aggression.The series opener also marks a milestone for the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium at Kotambi, which will host its first men’s international, having earlier staged a women’s ODI series between India and the West Indies.For New Zealand, the series offers a chance to assess fresh faces, with last year’s Champions Trophy final loss to India largely irrelevant in the current context. Despite missing several frontline players, the Black Caps are expected to lean on the mindset that powered their stunning 3-0 Test series win in India in 2024-25.Mitchell Santner is sidelined with a groin injury, Tom Latham has returned home for the birth of his first child, and Kane Williamson is engaged in the SA20. Rachin Ravindra and Jacob Duffy have been rested, while Matt Henry is being eased back with an eye on the T20Is. Michael Bracewell will lead the side, with attention also on Kyle Jamieson and young leg-spinner Adithya Ashok, even as the batting still boasts depth through Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will Young and Glenn Phillips.Teams (from):India: Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana.New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (c), Devon Conway (wk), Mitchell Hay (wk), Nick Kelly, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Josh Clarkson, Zak Foulkes, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Adithya Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Jayden Lennox, Michael Rae.

If the US Supreme Court rules against President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs, the treasury has more than enough funds to pay for the tariff refunds, treasury secretary Scott Bessent said. The timeline of payments, however, might extend to weeks or even a year, he told Reuters.In an interview, Bessent said he doubted the court would rule against Trump’s tariffs, but suggested that any refunds could become a “corporate boondoggle” for companies that passed on the costs to their customers.

“It won’t be a problem if we have to do it, but I can tell you that if it happens – which I don’t think it’s going to – it’s just a corporate boondoggle,” he said.“Costco, who’s suing the US government, are they going to give the money back to their clients?”Bessent added that, in general, companies had not been passing tariffs on to consumers, stating there was “very, very little, if any, pass-through,” and disputed that Trump’s tariffs had contributed to inflation. He noted that goods inflation had remained below headline inflation.Importers and trade lawyers had expected a Supreme Court ruling on Friday, but the court issued a decision on a different matter instead. It remains unclear when the court will rule on the tariff case, which challenges Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose broad tariffs on nearly every U.S. trading partner.Bessent said he believed that the longer the decision is delayed, the more likely the Supreme Court will rule in Trump’s favour.With nearly $774 billion in cash as of Thursday, the treasury has more than enough to cover any refunds. Treasury borrowing estimates for January-March 2026 project an end-March cash balance of around $850 billion.“We’re not talking about the money all goes out in a day. Probably over weeks, months, may take over a year, right?” Bessent told Reuters.He also indicated that Treasury budget data for calendar year 2025 would likely show a deficit reduction of $300 billion to $400 billion from 2024, providing additional capacity. The government reported a fiscal-year deficit of $1.775 trillion for 2025, which ended on 30 September.Importers have warned that recouping any tariffs paid could be difficult if the Supreme Court finds Trump’s IEEPA-based duties illegal. According to Customs and Border Protection data, $133.5 billion in such tariffs had been assessed through 14 December, with the total likely approaching $150 billion, based on Reuters calculations.Bessent disputed this estimate, saying it was “not the number” for tariffs potentially subject to refunds. He noted that revenues from tariffs imposed under other legal authorities also existed, but did not provide a specific figure for IEEPA-based tariffs.

Shalini Passi (File photo)

Kids and Coke, it’s a love story many parents know all too well. The fizz, the sweetness, that bubbly “pop” when you open a can, it’s hard for little ones to resist.Colorful branding, fun bottles, and ads everywhere, and suddenly Coke becomes more than a drink; it’s a tiny daily treat they crave.The problem is, what seems harmless can actually be pretty rough on growing bodies. What makes coke bad for kids? Coke is loaded with sugar and this can lead to weight gain, energy spikes followed by crashes, and even early signs of insulin resistance. Then it can make kids jittery, affect their sleep, or give them a racing heart.And let’s not forget the acid in the soda, which can slowly damage teeth, leading to cavities before you even realize it.

Despite all this, kids love it because it’s sweet, fizzy, and feels special, a “grown-up” treat they get to enjoy.But Indian TV personality Shalini Passi had a hilariously clever trick up her sleeve that might just make parents everywhere smile (and maybe try it themselves).Shalini, who shot to fame on Netflix’s Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives, recently opened up about how she handled her son’s early love for carbonated drinks, especially Coke. Instead of outright banning it (which usually makes kids want it even more), she pulled off a playful trick.According to Shalini, when her son was little, she would mix water into the Coke before giving it to him. The little guy thought he was drinking real Coke, but the taste was so off that he eventually decided he didn’t like it. The result? He steered clear of sugary soda at home simply because he believed “the Coke in our house tastes bad.” The funniest part came later when he grew up a bit and visited a party where regular Coke was served. After his first sip, he went straight to his mom and exclaimed how amazing it tasted compared to “the bad Coke at home.” It was only then that he realised something was up, although Shalini, cheeky as ever, didn’t exactly spill the beans.Sugary drinks like Coke are best kept to a minimum. They’re loaded with sugar and offer little nutritional benefit.Regular consumption has been linked to tooth decay, unhealthy weight gain, and other issues that parents definitely don’t want for their kids. But the tricky part is how to discourage those habits without turning every mealtime into a power struggle. Shalini’s approach, sly, playful, and harmless, just might be one way to do it.

Widespread protests erupted in Pakistan’s Sindh province after a young Hindu farmer was killed by a landlord in Badin. According to a report by Pakistan’s news outlet the Nation, Kailash Kolhi was shot dead by an influential landlord, Sarfaraz Nizamani, over the construction of a hut on his land.Following Kolhi’s death, demonstrators staged sit-ins on the Badin–Hyderabad National Highway and the Badin–Thar Coal Road. Hundreds of vehicles remained stranded for hours as protesters demanded justice for the killing of Kolhi and vowed not to disperse until those responsible are arrested.

According to a statement shared by activist Shiva Kachhi, the protest has been ongoing without pause.“The protest for the arrest of the killers of the martyred Kailash Kolhi is making history. Shiva Kachhi, Chairman of Pakistan Darawar Ittehad, is leading the historic protest sit-in. This was not just a protest—it was the cry of a wounded conscience. From 10:00 am yesterday until late into the night, the sit-in continued without pause, proving that the demand for justice cannot be silenced,” Kachhi said in a social media post on X.“Men, women, elderly people, and innocent children stayed on the streets with one voice and one demand: justice for Kailash Kolhi. Arrest the killers. Despite exhaustion, hunger, and the cold of the night, the determination of the protesters remained unshaken. Kailash Kolhi’s only ‘crime’ was that he was poor, marginalised, and courageous enough to exist in a system that protects the powerful and crushes the weak. The tears of his children, the grief of his mother, and the silent agony of his widow are today questioning the entire system: Is the blood of the poor so cheap?” he added.Earlier, the victim’s family and community members staged a protest by placing the body at Piru Lashari Stop, where the SSP Badin assured them that the accused would be arrested within 24 hours. The incident occurred four days ago in Raho Kolhi village in the Piru Lashari city area. Despite assurances from district police officials, the main accused has yet to be arrested.The ongoing protest has drawn participation from leaders and workers of several political, nationalist, religious, and social organisations, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jiye Sindh Mahaz, Qaumi Awami Tehreek, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (Bashir Qureshi group), and Awami Tehreek, The Nation reported.