Almost a year since Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirements from Test cricket, the decision is still highly debated. A huge chunk of their fans believe the call wasn’t theirs and was forced upon the two, either by the BCCI’s chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, or by head coach Gautam Gambhir. Rohit and Kohli’s struggles in Test cricket had stretched for too long, their careers concluding with India’s awful 1-3 series defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under. On May 7, Rohit announced on Instagram that he was retiring from Test cricket, followed by Kohli’s decision exactly five days later, on May 12
Ravichandran Ashwin, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma… all retired under Gautam Gambhir’s coaching (AFP Images)
Now, 10 months later, Ravichandran Ashwin appears to have all but confirmed that Gambhir had a role to play in that decision. Speaking at the RevSportz Conclave Trailblazers, the former India spinner reflected on his mid-series Test retirement during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, while also hinting that Gambhir wanted some of the senior players – including himself – to move on.
“If somebody has to have angst against Gautam, it’s me, right? I come out on his second or third tour as coach…” Ashwin quipped when asked how he would rate Gambhir.
“Gautam, the coach, has a job to do for me in many ways, and even if he thought that I must move on or Virat must move on or Rohit must move on, it’s okay; it’s fine because he has a job to do. And at that particular instance, if I felt bitter about it, that’s also okay because it’s my emotion. But if you detach yourself from that, it’s clear to me that he has a job to do, and maybe I do not have a future in his regime.”
Ashwin opens up on his own call
Kohli and Rohit weren’t the only ones to have retired. Ashwin’s retirement after the Gabba Test ended in a draw divided fans equally. Ashwin did not play the series opener in Perth, with Washington Sundar preferred ahead of him. Ashwin was back for the second Test in Adelaide, which India lost by 10 wickets, but was dropped for the MCG Test, by the end of which, he bowed out as India’s second-highest wicket-taker.
“One of my strongest assets, I feel, is my ability to make decisions. Whether it’s right or wrong is for people to debate. But at the end of the day, it’s my life. I need to do it on my terms. The moment, I think, at Perth, when we had Jaddu and myself as the lead spinners in the side, and Washy played that game in Perth, and then the next game, again, I came in, and then I had to again make way, was kind of suggestive or indicative to me that my time was up. And if somebody else had to come and take up that place, by all means, they need their space and time. And I’m not one of those guys who will hang around, you know, wanting to see if I can make a comeback. I’ve had far too many. I’ve come far, far too much in my life to be able to, you know, dilly-dally around with all those things,” Ashwin added.
“I have always wanted to shed ego as the first thing in my life, and I’m still in the process of shedding ego. We all are human beings. It comes to us. But if you detach yourself, things do make sense. Sometimes, because of the adulation we get in this country, we do end up thinking that we are invincible, which is not the case.”
Actor-politician Khushbu Sundar and actor Vishnu Manchu have spoken up in support of Nayanthara after AIADMK MP CV Shanmugam received flak for bringing up the actor while slamming Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. Khushbu and Vishnu penned notes on social media, pointing out that female actors aren’t ‘public property’ nor are they ‘punching bags’.
Khushbu Sundar spoke up in support of Nayanthara after recent controversy.
Khushbu Sundar says female actors not tools for cheap jokes
After Shanmugam received considerable backlash on Tuesday, Khushbu also took to X (formerly Twitter) to slam him, writing, “Women — especially female actors — are not your property, your talking point, or a commodity for every Tom, Dick and Harry to drag into conversations whenever it suits them. A female actor’s name is not a tool for cheap jokes, petty insults, or to justify someone’s argument. Using a woman’s identity to mock others or prove a point only exposes the mindset and upbringing of the person speaking.”
She also questioned if the MP would speak in the same manner about his family, “Enough is Enough. Every man in this world is born to a woman. Before you casually comment on a female actor, ask yourself — would you speak the same way if the example was your mother, sister, wife, daughter, or someone from your own family? A female actor may be a public figure, but she is not public property. Respect her the same way you would respect any woman in any profession. Dignity should not depend on someone’s profession.”
She ended her note by stating that more than embarrassing Nayanthara, Shanmugam’s remark exposes his mindset. “When people make such degrading remarks, they do not embarrass the woman they speak about — they only expose their own mindset, their poor upbringing, and their lack of basic human decency. It is not just disrespectful. It is a shame to humanity. And remember, respect is never a one way traffic. #narishakti #RespectWomen,” summer up Khushbu.
Vishnu Manchu says actors are not political punching bags
Vishnu also took to X to pen a note about the controversy, writing, “Reading about the political campaigns in my Tamil Nadu. Felt It’s in extremely poor taste to drag actresses into political narratives. Not just in TN but anywhere. Actors are not political punching bags. They are individuals with families, dignity, and a life beyond the screen. Public discourse cannot come at the cost of basic respect, especially towards women. Indian culture, at its core, places women as Shakti, to be respected, not reduced to headlines or insults. Let’s do better.”
What did MP CV Shanmugam say about Nayanthara?
On Tuesday, AIADMK MP Shanmugam referred to Nayanthara while ridiculing TN CM MK Stalin’s initiative titled ‘Tell us your dream’. At a protest against DMK dispensation in Villupuram, he remarked, “I want Nayanthara, will you fulfill? Will the Chief Minister fulfill someone’s dream to marry Nayanthara?” After backlash, he expressed regret and clarified that his remarks were a ‘mistake’ and there was no ‘malicious intent’ behind them. A spokesperson for the party, however, distanced the AIADMK from the derogatory remark, as per PTI.
Islamabad, Pakistan – On the evening of March 13, drones struck three locations across Pakistan. Two children were wounded in Quetta. Civilians were also injured in Kohat and in Rawalpindi, the garrison city that houses the headquarters of Pakistan’s armed forces and neighbours the capital, Islamabad.
Pakistan’s military said the drones were intercepted before reaching their targets. But President Asif Ali Zardari said Kabul had “crossed a red line by attempting to target our civilians”.
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It was not the first such incident. In late February, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said anti-drone systems had brought down small drones over Abbottabad, Swabi and Nowshera in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Another attack was reported in Bannu in the same province, where five men were injured after a quadcopter hit a mosque.
While the Taliban group in Afghanistan claimed to have struck military targets in Rawalpindi and Islamabad in the latest attacks last week, Pakistan’s military dismissed those assertions as propaganda, describing the drones as “rudimentary” and “locally produced”. Al Jazeera reached out to the Pakistani military to seek its views on the latest drone attacks but received no response.
Yet, analysts say, irrespective of how the Taliban’s drones are characterised, these recent incidents point to an increasingly troubling pattern for Pakistan: drones over garrison cities, drones over places of worship, drones over urban centres. The government responded by imposing a nationwide ban on drone flights and briefly restricting airspace over the capital.
“As much as Pakistan is downplaying these drones, the point is not what level of drone they are; the point is that drones are coming, and they are coming to the capital. That is the central danger,” said Abdul Basit, a senior associate fellow at the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) in Singapore.
For many in Pakistan’s security circles, the question is no longer whether the drones caused significant damage. It is whether their ability to penetrate deep into the country, at a time when Pakistan has been engaged in an “open war” with Afghanistan for three weeks, reveals holes in its preparedness against a threat that is increasingly emerging as the future of warfare.
A conflict years in the making
The escalation with Afghanistan has not occurred out of the blue, analysts point out. By 2025, Pakistan was experiencing one of its deadliest periods in nearly a decade.
Attacks by armed groups were concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, and particularly carried out by the Pakistan Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Pakistan insists that the TTP is an ideological ally of the Taliban in Afghanistan, and that the latter has given the Pakistan Taliban shelter and support in attacks on Pakistani soil. The Taliban has rejected Pakistani allegations that it is complicit in the TTP attacks against Pakistan.
Even as Islamabad and Kabul traded charges — and engaged in occasional border clashes — the attacks in Pakistan last year surpassed the total for 2024 well before the year ended, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project.
Islamabad repeatedly pressed Kabul, both bilaterally and through partners such as China, to act against the TTP and other armed groups, but Afghan authorities denied harbouring anti-Pakistan armed groups on its soil.
The first serious escalation between the two neighbours came in October 2025, when they engaged in a week of intense border clashes, the worst since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
Mediation efforts by Qatar and Turkiye produced a fragile ceasefire, but core differences remained unresolved. Pakistan continued to demand that Kabul act against the TTP, while the Taliban insisted that it was not to blame for the neighbouring country’s internal security challenges.
By February 2026, Islamabad appeared to conclude that diplomacy had run its course.
On February 21 and 22, Pakistan launched air strikes on what it described as “terrorist” camps in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar, Paktika and Khost provinces, targeting groups linked to TTP and ISIL (ISIS).
The Taliban responded with artillery fire across the border, attacking border posts and launching drone attacks into Pakistani territory while Pakistan, relying on its superior air power, continued its aerial campaign.
The fighting has persisted since. Afghan authorities accuse Pakistan of killing dozens of civilians. On March 16, Kabul said a strike hit the Omar Addiction Treatment Hospital, a 2,000-bed facility, with hundreds of people killed in the attack.
Pakistan rejected the allegation, calling it “false and aimed at misleading public opinion”, and said its strikes had “precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure”.
The United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan said he was “dismayed” by reports of civilian casualties and urged all parties to respect international law, including the protection of civilian sites.
Amid a wider regional conflict that saw the United States and Israel bombarding Iranian cities and Iran’s retaliatory strikes across the Gulf region, the Pakistan-Afghanistan confrontation has drawn less global attention.
Yet analysts say the introduction of drones into the conflict marks a significant shift.
“This dimension is a paradigmatic shift in conflicts all over the globe,” said Iftikhar Firdous, cofounder of The Khorasan Diary, a research and security portal focused on the region.
“Loitering munitions are cheap, tantalising and effective, a perfect weapon for non-state actors or states with sub-par military equipment to counter and respond to bigger powers,” he told Al Jazeera.
A new threat in the skies
Pakistan is a nuclear-armed state with a standing army of more than 600,000 personnel and one of the largest air forces in the region.
A mortar round falls towards a target from a drone, in this still image from a handout video, said to show Pakistani forces conducting a strike on a Taliban post on the Afghan border, in Spin Boldak, October 15, 2025 [Handout/Inter-Services Public Relations via Reuters]
Still, the Taliban’s “rudimentary” drones managed to force an airspace closure and target locations deep inside Pakistani territory.
“This escalation is dangerous in both its horizontal and vertical dimensions,” ICPVTR’s Basit told Al Jazeera. “Horizontally, you are seeing this reach urban centres, Rawalpindi, the capital itself being hit, and hit persistently. Vertically, the threat is now coming from the air, with suicide bombing mechanisms delivered by drones.”
The drones are not exactly new to Pakistan’s landscape. The TTP and other armed groups, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have been deploying weaponised quadcopters against checkposts, police stations and military convoys since at least 2024.
Despite a ban on importing drones, analysts estimate such devices cost between 55,000 and 278,000 Pakistani rupees ($200 to $1,000) and are commercially available in Pakistani markets, sourced mostly from Chinese manufacturers.
Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the director general of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations, the military’s media wing, in a news conference in January this year, acknowledged that the country suffered 5,397 “terrorist” incidents in 2025, of which more than 400, nearly one in 10, involved quadcopter drones.
In December 2025, the Pakistan Taliban announced the formation of its dedicated air force unit, which indicated the group’s first official acknowledgement that it possessed drone technology.
Peshawar-based Firdous said, perhaps in their current form, these drones do not have the sophistication to cause large-scale damage.
“Pakistan’s air defence system can easily tackle them. But as the Taliban and the TTP get their hands on better technology,” he said, “that situation could change.”
On the other hand, Muhammad Shoaib, an academic and security analyst at Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, said drones are arguably the most effective weapons the Taliban can use against Pakistan.
“Their reliance on drones and extensive propaganda based on the footage suggests that the relations between the two sides are likely to deteriorate and violence will increase,” he told Al Jazeera.
Experts say the use of drones by the Taliban marks a shift from the group’s history of using improvised explosive devices in its war against NATO forces to standoff aerial attacks that allow operatives to remain beyond the range of return fire.
“The parallel with IEDs is instructive,” said Basit, who has extensively written and researched on drone warfare.
“The Taliban relied on rapidly evolving, adapting techniques to fight against American forces during the so-called war on terror. Now these drones are effectively a suicide bomber from the air. The tactical sophistication will keep increasing, and no matter what countermeasures you bring, the sheer volume and variety could exhaust the defence over time,” he said.
Limits of defence
Intercepting these drones is harder than it sounds, say analysts.
Pakistan’s air defence systems were designed primarily to counter high-altitude threats, such as fighter aircraft and ballistic missiles, particularly from India. Low-flying, slow-moving quadcopters create a different problem.
“Pakistan’s current air defence network can counter numbered drone projectiles via soft-kill and hard-kill measures,” said Hammad Waleed, a research associate at the Islamabad-based think tank Strategic Vision Institute.
He was referring to electronic jamming and signal disruption on the one hand — “soft-kill” tactics — and the physical interception or destruction of a drone — “hard kill” measures on the other.
“But in the case of swarms of drones or overwhelming drone usage, the country will struggle. Traditional air defences were made for fighter jets, mostly in medium- to high-altitude combat. Drones fly at lower altitudes, dodging radar coverage,” he told Al Jazeera.
Adil Sultan, a former Pakistan air force (PAF) air commodore who has written extensively on emerging technologies in conflict, particularly drones, said there is no “foolproof system” to intercept all kinds of drones.
“Drones that are commercially available and hover at slow speeds, and can be launched from anywhere, including from our own territory against certain targets, are particularly difficult,” he said.
“It may be difficult to shoot down every incoming drone, and it is also not a cost-effective strategy,” Sultan told Al Jazeera.
Recent incidents underline these limitations. In Kohat, police jammed a drone’s signal, causing it to crash. Falling debris still injured two people.
Basit, the Singapore-based scholar, said Pakistan — and other militaries — needed to prepare for a future where drone attacks would be the norm.
“This is the new normal, and somewhere along the line, a drone will get through and hit a target. Ukraine and Iran are instructive examples. A drone on its own is low-yield, but the day they combine it with other tactics, a vehicle-borne IED followed by a drone strike simultaneously, the consequences become far more serious. As this becomes more sophisticated, cracks will begin to show,” he warned.
Russia’s ongoing four-year war against Ukraine, and now the US-Israel war on Iran, have shown apparently weaker countries putting up strong resistance against significantly larger, more powerful armies by using hundreds of drones to counter their offensive.
Expanding threat
The Taliban’s drone attacks came less than a year after Pakistan’s air defences were tested along its eastern frontier.
A man inspects debris at the site of an alleged Indian drone strike in Karachi, Pakistan, in May 2025 [Rehan Khan/EPA]
During India’s Operation Sindoor in May 2025, the bigger neighbour deployed Israeli-made drones, specifically HAROP loitering munitions, which Waleed of the Strategic Vision Institute described as a means to map Pakistan’s air defence network before follow-on missile attacks.
“We are looking at a complex mosaic of conflict in what we call a triple-stretch in military studies. Iran-Afghanistan on the western flank and India on the eastern,” Firdous said.
“That could really exhaust the resources of Pakistan. In that scenario, civilian targets are usually the last; Pakistan’s economic and military architecture will face the brunt,” he cautioned.
Waleed went further in his assessment of the combined threat, presenting an ominous picture of what Pakistan’s security apparatus could face.
“If a two-front threat materialises, Pakistan would be better off neutralising the western threat first. Otherwise, you risk India and the Taliban synergising their operations, sleeper cells targeting PAF bases, drone attacks and suicide bombings from the west, while India’s air force exploits a military already stretched thin dealing with multipronged attacks from the other direction,” Waleed said.
Basit said a simultaneous two-front scenario, while unlikely, is no longer unthinkable.
“Pakistan’s air defence architecture is fairly capable, and the military learns from experience,” he said. “But a two-front war does not suit anybody. The more pressing question Pakistan needs to ask itself is: what exactly is it doing with Afghanistan? What is the rationale, and where does it draw the line?”
New war dynamics
Some analysts believe that Pakistan’s counter-drone response has been reactive rather than strategic.
“The response has been reactionary and ad hoc,” Waleed said. “A proper counter-drone strategy is required that addresses response options in civilian airspace, sets penalties for the sale of off-the-shelf systems to militant groups, and formulates a technical doctrine.”
And if the trajectory of the threat continues unchecked, the consequences could extend well beyond border skirmishes.
“If a drone were to strike a senior civilian target, or a high-profile urban installation, the consequences would be severe; it could even become an aviation nightmare,” said Basit.
The urgency is underscored by what may be coming, Waleed warned.
Quadcopters could evolve into kamikaze drones of the kind Iran uses, with the next stage being fast-speed first-person view (FPV) drones along with artificial intelligence-driven drone swarms, he cautioned.
“State militaries, characterised by traditional war doctrines, have been slow to grasp the lessons of drone warfare, especially from the Ukraine war,” he said.
NEW DELHI: India captain Shubman Gill delivered a powerful message after being named the winner of the prestigious Polly Umrigar Award for Best International Cricketer (Men) for 2025, underlining the weight of expectations that come with representing one of the world’s top sides.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking after receiving the honour at the BCCI’s Naman Awards, Gill highlighted the collective effort behind India’s rise as a dominant force, while stressing that their reputation as favourites has been hard-earned.“It’s efforts by everyone — whether it’s Gauti bhai, the batting coach, bowling coach, fielding coach; they all work tirelessly to make this group what it is today. That’s why we are recognised as one of the most fearless teams in the world, and wherever we go, we are looked upon as favourites. That tag doesn’t come easy,” Gill said.
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Jay Shah calls 2019 to 2026 as Indian cricket’s golden period
The 26-year-old also reflected on the significance of joining an elite list of past winners, calling the recognition deeply special.“Obviously, it feels quite amazing to be recognised among cricketers, among the legends and idols that have won this award before me. It’s truly a great honour every time you step on the field to represent your country… and to do well in that sport and be recognised by the BCCI is an immense honour,” he added.Shubman Gill credits Gambhir and support staffGill credited head coach Gautam Gambhir and the wider support staff, including the Centre of Excellence, for shaping the team’s fearless approach.Reflecting on the past year, Gill termed it an “amazing journey,” pointing to India’s resilience during the England series. “Going into the England series and coming back to draw the series from where we were after the first Test match… it’s been a truly great year,” he said, also referencing strong outings in the West Indies and the Asia Cup.Looking ahead, Gill acknowledged the importance of the upcoming Test calendar, with crucial series against Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Australia set to define India’s World Test Championship hopes.“We’ve got some really crucial Test series coming up. Hopefully we are able to win most of our matches and qualify for the finals,” he said.Despite the accolades, Gill downplayed discussions around legacy, focusing instead on team identity. “We want to be looked upon… as a team that doesn’t give up easily. We want to instil that kind of character,” he noted.
Post ‘Saiyaara’, Mohit Suri denies Ranbir rumors: “Not in my next… intend to work together.” Praises Ranbir’s taste in flops like Awarapan. Saiyaara topped romantic charts. Ranbir busy with ‘Ramayana’, ‘Love & War’, ‘Animal Park’.
The master of modern romance, Mohit Suri, has finally cleared the air regarding those persistent Ranbir Kapoor casting rumors. Despite a high-profile meeting between the two, Suri confirmed to Variety India that while he “intends to work” with the superstar, no project is currently in the works. This clarification follows Suri’s massive 2025 success with ‘Saiyaara,’ which grossed over Rs.570 crore worldwide and became the highest-grossing Indian romantic film of all time.
Mohit Suri denies Ranbir Kapoor rumours
Talking to Variety India, “Ranbir Kapoor is not in my next film. I genuinely want to work with him and I hope he feels the same way about me. I went to meet him to discuss and intend to work together. Meanwhile, it’s been in the news that we are already doing a film together. Ranbir and I know each other as he’s been following my career right from the beginning”. He added that Ranbir is one of the few actors and such a great star who appreciates a film like ‘Awaarapan’ even though it flopped when it was released. He keeps telling him it’s one of his best films.
Ranbir Kapoor stands out for Mohit Suri
Mohit elaborates that Ranbir stands out from other actors. “Normally, actors just talk to you about your highest-grossing film and say that’s your best film. While Ranbir is talking about a flop film of mine.” The director sees in him the perfect hero for his stories. “I think he has the depth and layered nuances that my kind of films need. But no, there is no Ranbir Kapoor in my film, at the moment. I wish there was,” Suri reveals.
Mohit Suri’s last project
Suri’s last directorial, ‘Saiyaara’, released in July 2025 under Yash Raj Films, proved that the director is still the king of the “new-age” love story. The film turned newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda into overnight sensations, with Ahaan becoming the first debutant to enter the Rs. 500 crore global club. It officially surpassed ‘Kabir Singh’ to become the top-grossing romantic drama in Indian history.
Ranbir Kapoor upcoming projects
Professionally, Ranbir Kapoor is occupied with several upcoming projects. He has ‘Ramayana’ (in two parts), ‘Love & War’, and ‘Animal Park’ lined up.
The National Stock Exchange of India has set advisory fees at about 0.65% of the issue size for its upcoming IPO, according to people familiar with the matter.
The National Stock Exchange last week appointed about 20 banks to work on the NSE IPO.
Based on an expected deal size of about $2.5 billion (~ ₹22,750 crore), the total fee pool could be about $16.25 million (~ ₹150 crore), with the bulk likely to be shared among the six lead banks, the people said on the condition of anonymity because the information is private. That compares with a roughly 1.86% average paid by 417 companies last year and 1.67% by 350 issuers in 2024, according to a data from LSEG.
NSE last week appointed about 20 banks to work on the NSE IPO. Of those, Kotak Mahindra Capital Co. Ltd., JM Financial Ltd., Morgan Stanley, HSBC Holdings Plc, Citigroup Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. have been given key roles, with Kotak acting as left lead, the people said.
Representatives for the National Stock Exchange of India and the banks didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
The relatively modest fee underscores a broader pattern in India, especially in government-linked or quasi-sovereign transactions, where issuers keep tight control over costs. In some cases, banks accept token fees in exchange for the prestige and league table positioning that comes with marquee mandates. When State Bank of India (SBI) raised ₹25,000 crore in July, it paid six banks a symbolic ₹1 each, according to local media.
“Compared with large state-owned or public institutions, NSE’s fee payout appears relatively fair,” said Raghuram Kasiviswanathan, head of IPO advisory at Uniqus Consultech. “With the exchange at the heart of the country’s capital markets, securing a role offers not just immediate revenue, but a longer-term strategic foothold.”
Earlier this year, State Bank of India and France’s Amundi SA offered fees of about 0.01% for the planned $1.4 billion IPO of SBI Fund Management Ltd., a level some bankers described as rock-bottom, prompting a few global firms to opt out. Life Insurance Corporation of India paid about 0.58% of the issue size as fee in 2021 while NTPC Green Energy paid around 0.54%, according to IPO prospectus.
By contrast, private-sector deals have tended to be more lucrative. Hyundai Motor India’s record IPO in 2024 paid about ₹493 crore, or 1.77% of the IPO size, in fees and commissions—the largest such payout in India. LG Electronics Inc. paid about ₹226 crore or 1.94% to five banks for its $1.3 billion India listing.
Former South African star AB de Villiers has suggested that MS Dhoni should sit on the side and mentor the players if he cannot bat above number 6. The former RCB star further added that Dhoni has a lot to offer with the bat, but must bat at a higher number instead of batting at number eight or nine.
“I feel that in the last few years, his role has purely been about keeping that brand as strong as possible. That`s why I don`t see a role for him batting at eight or nine and not really doing enough, like last season. We know he can be impactful with the bat, but if he`s batting that low and not captaining, it feels like he`s almost just making up for a spot for the wrong reasons. There`s still a place for him, but he needs to bat higher, at least at six, maybe even at five or four at times.” AB de Villiers said.
De Villers futher suggested that Dhoni should step aside if he comes to bat below number 6. He added that Dhoni`s experience of handling the pressure will be huge for the young CSK team.
“My only issue is where MS fits in and if he`s not going to have that big impact batting at 4, 5, 6 sometimes, then rather be out of the squad. Let someone else, who can maybe bowl and bat and have a bigger impact in the game, come in there, and then MS can almost sit on the side as a mentor and still guide the guys,” De Villiers added.
De Villiers feels Sanju Samson is the right player for CSK
AB de Villiers feels that Sanju Samson is the right player for CSK and will be a good signing for the franchise. CSK brought in Samson from the Rajasthan Royals in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.
I do feel Ruturaj and Sanju are the perfect players to take over from MS (Dhoni). It`s a tricky situation, but Sanju Samson is the right guy to take over, and credit to Dhoni because he`s hung around, waiting for the right person to come. If MS plays, I want him to put himself under more pressure and be the guy to handle those big moments,” De Villiers said.
Anurag Dobhal recently shared his first social media post after surviving a serious car crash during an Instagram Live, penning an emotional note that reflected on life, survival, and uncertainty about the future.
Anurag Dobhal vlogs from the hospital
The YouTuber, who was hospitalised and admitted to the ICU following the accident, took to Instagram to update his fans about his condition. Sharing a picture from his hospital bed, where he appeared smiling, Anurag opened up about how close he felt to losing his life.
In his heartfelt message, he wrote, “Kabhi socha nahi tha ki zinda rahunga… mere liye ye sab ek miracle se kum nahi hai.” He described his survival as nothing short of a miracle, admitting that he never expected to make it out alive after the path he had taken.
The influencer further expressed his emotional turmoil, revealing how uncertain he feels about what lies ahead. Calling it a “new birth,” he added that perhaps there is a bigger plan for him. “Mujhe nahi pata aage kya hoga… lekin ek naya janam mila hai toh kuch toh socha hoga bhagwaan ne,” he wrote, indicating a mix of hope and confusion about his future.
Anurag also reassured his followers about his current health, sharing that he is no longer in critical condition. “I am out from ICU and safe for now,” he stated, while thanking fans and well-wishers for their prayers and support during the difficult time.
Talks about the car crash
The accident had sparked widespread concern among his fans after he crashed his car while livestreaming, reportedly during a moment of emotional distress. In his post, Anurag acknowledged the support he received, writing that the prayers of his followers may have played a role in saving his life. He added, “Shukriya jo log sath hai… shayad ye aap logon ki prayers thi.”
While the YouTuber did not go into detail about the incident itself in this post, his message highlighted a sense of gratitude and introspection following the near-fatal experience. His words suggest that he is now trying to come to terms with everything that has happened and is choosing to leave the rest to faith.
Anurag’s post has since resonated with fans, many of whom have flooded social media with messages of support, wishing him strength and a speedy recovery as he begins this new phase of life.
Prime Video, India`s most loved entertainment destination, has unveiled the teaser of the upcoming, highly anticipated film Jack Ryan: Ghost War starring John Krasinski today. After four successful seasons on Prime, this feature film finds our relatable hero Jack Ryan pulled back into the world of espionage for his most personal and dangerous mission yet.
Jack Ryan Ghost War trailer
Set on a global stage, this intelligent thriller blends sharp storytelling with high-stakes action.
In this new film, Jack Ryan is reluctantly thrust back into the world of espionage when an international covert mission unravels a deadly conspiracy, forcing him to confront a rogue black-ops unit, and the clock is ticking. Operating in real time with lives on the line and the threat escalating at every turn, Jack reunites with battle-tested CIA operative Mike November (Michael Kelly) and former CIA boss James Greer (Wendell Pierce), their combined experience the only edge they have against an enemy who knows their every move. Backed by an unlikely new partner – razor-sharp MI6 officer Emma Marlowe (Sienna Miller) – Jack and the team navigate a treacherous web of betrayal, facing a past they thought was long put to rest – making this the most personal, high-stakes mission any of them has ever faced.
More about Jack Ryan Ghost War
John Krasinski, Wendell Pierce, and Michael Kelly round out this dynamic ensemble, whose characters and relationships made audiences fall in love with the series. Other cast members include Max Beesley, JJ Feild, Douglas Hodge and Betty Gabriel.
Sienna Miller joins the cast as MI6 officer Emma Marlowe and proves every bit as sharp and savvy as Jack Ryan, forming an unstoppable duo.
Jack Ryan: Ghost War is directed byAndrew Bernstein, and the film is based on characters created byTom Clancy. The story is written byNoah Oppenheim and John Krasinski, while the screenplay is byAaron Rabin and John Krasinski.
The film is produced byAllyson Seeger, p.g.a., John Krasinski, p.g.a., Andrew Form, and executive producers areJohn J. Kelly, Alexa Ginsburg, Carlton Cuse and Tom Clancy.
The run-time is 105 minutes, and the film is rated `R`.
Jack Ryan: Ghost War is set to premiere globally on Prime Video on May 20, 2026.
Virat Kohli has arrived in Bengaluru well ahead of the upcoming IPL season, joining Royal Challengers Bengaluru as they gear up to defend their title.The star batter was central to RCB’s historic triumph last season, finishing with 657 runs at a strike rate of 144.71 and an impressive average of 54.75, including eight half-centuries. His consistency at the top played a huge role in ending the franchise’s long wait for silverware.RCB finally broke their 18-year title drought, with Rajat Patidar stepping up as a leader during the campaign. Having achieved that milestone, the focus now shifts to repeating the success in what promises to be a challenging title defence.Kohli had already retired from T20Is and Tests. With only ODIs and the IPL left, each appearance now carries added significance.Even at 37, Kohli continues to perform at an elite level. His numbers from last season underline his enduring quality, as he remains one of the most complete batters in the format, capable of both anchoring and accelerating as needed.His recent ODI form further highlights his consistency. Against South Africa, Kohli registered scores of 135 off 120 balls, 102 off 93, and an unbeaten 65 off 45 in a three-match series. He followed that up with 93 off 91 in the first ODI and 124 off 108 in the third against New Zealand.RCB will kick off their campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.Kohli also enters the season as the IPL’s all-time leading run-scorer, having amassed 8,661 runs in 267 matches, including a record eight centuries.
