Rohit Sharma is a shrewd tactician, no two ways about it. He understands cricket inside out. As the Mumbai Indians captain, he has won five trophies. As the India captain, he has won two ICC trophies. Even though he is not a captain anymore, a person who has tasted so much success in his career can clearly sense the winds of change.
Rohit Sharma hopes it’s just the beginning for Indian cricket. (PTI)
Sharma, who now represents India only in ODIs, having retired from Tests and T20Is, thinks India’s dominance in ICC events in the last couple of years across men’s and women’s cricket is not something that has just happened. And he thinks the momentum is on India’s side at present, which augurs well for the future.
India’s men’s team has won two T20 World Cups and one Champions Trophy since 2024. The women’s team, meanwhile, won its first-ever World Cup last year. Earlier this year, India’s Under-19 team too won the World Cup.
“There’s no secret to success; it’s all about hard work. International cricketers – men’s and women’s – they work really, really hard to achieve what they have achieved. Of course, it’s not just the players who perform on the field, but there are so many people behind the scenes as well who put in so much hard work into that success.
“So a lot of people and personnel to give credit to,” Mumbai Indians’ Rohit said ahead of the 19th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) that kicks off on March 19.
“I feel very, very happy and proud to see what we’ve been seeing for the last couple of years now to come out with flying colours and achieve what we have achieved, not just the men’s team but also the women’s team to win that World Cup in Mumbai was fantastic to watch.
“And recently now what the men’s team did to win the T20 World Cup, what they did was phenomenal. And I hope this is just the start, there’s no looking back from here because once you get the momentum – and we often talk about momentum in cricket – both men’s and women’s teams have, all I hope is that we carry this momentum,” he added.
Mumbai Indians kick off their IPL campaign at home at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29 as they host Kolkata Knight Riders.
Actor Akshay Kumar addressed the debate around his “nationalist hero” image during a conversation about his acting journey at a recent event. The actor spoke about his film choices, the criticism he has received over the years, and the controversy surrounding his former Canadian passport.
Akshay Kumar tackled the debate over his nationalist image and Canadian passport during a recent event.
Akshay Kumar opens up about Nationalist Hero image
During the India Today Conclave, Rajdeep Sardesai pointed out that many of Akshay Kumar’s films, including Kesari series, Airlift, Baby, and Mission Mangal, to name a few, revolve around themes of national pride and security. He asked whether Akshay had deliberately chosen these projects to cultivate a nationalist image, especially given that critics questioned his patriotism because of his Canadian citizenship at the time.
Responding to the question, Akshay rejected the idea that he takes up films to create a particular public image. “Sir, me koi bhi kaam karta hoon, koi image banane ke liye nahi karta. Main bohot sare kaam karta hoon lekin koi Nationalist image banane ke liye nahi kar raha hoon. Main kaam karta hoon kyunki mujhe theek lagta hai. Mujhye lagta hai ye mujhe karna chahiye, main kar leta hoon. (Sir, I don’t do any work to build an image. I do many kinds of work, but not to create a nationalist image. I take up projects simply because they feel right to me.)”
The actor also addressed the long-running controversy around his Canadian passport, saying he has spoken about it several times before. “Vese to main ye pehle kayi baar keh chuka hoon ki haan Canadian mera passport tha… meri 16,17 films flop ho gayi thi. Mere pass kaam tha, lekin bas last ki 3-4 filmein bachi hui thi to mene socha ki yar kuch na kuch aur to aadmi karta hai. (I have said this many times. Yes, I had a Canadian passport. At one point, around 16–17 of my films had flopped, and only a few were left to release, so I started thinking about what else I could do.)
Akshay on why he got Canadian passport
Akshay explained that during that difficult phase, a friend in Canada had suggested starting a small business there. While exploring that possibility, he got an opportunity to obtain a Canadian passport. However, the situation soon changed. The actor said the few films that were pending release performed well, and he started receiving more work in the industry again. Because of that, he decided not to pursue moving to Canada.
Akshay also stressed that the passport never defined his identity. “Mera hamesha Hindustan se poora naata hai, main Hindustani hoon aur hamesha rahunga. (I have always had a deep connection with India. I am Indian and will always remain Indian.)”
He also pointed out that despite the criticism, he has consistently paid taxes in India. According to the actor, people often focus on one controversy while ignoring everything else about a person.
Akshay’s upcoming films
On the work front, Akshay has a packed slate of upcoming projects across genres. He will next be seen in the horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla, directed by Priyadarshan, which is scheduled to hit theatres on April 10, 2026. The film marks the reunion of the actor-director duo known for several popular comedies. In addition, Akshay will appear in the thriller Haiwaan alongside Saif Ali Khan, where he is expected to play a negative role; the film is slated for release in August 2026.
The actor has also officially joined Golmaal 5, directed by Rohit Shetty, marking his first appearance in the popular comedy franchise alongside Ajay Devgn and the original Golmaal gang. Another big project on his slate is the ensemble comedy Welcome to the Jungle, the third instalment in the Welcome franchise, scheduled for release in June 2026.
Bangladesh vs Pakistan Live Score, 3rd ODI: Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi won the toss and opted to field against Bangladesh in the ongoing contest, citing conditions and possible weather interruptions as key factors behind the decision.
“We [will] bowl first. Actually, also as a pre-game thing in the team, two players were injured, Shamyl Hussain is injured, Hussain Talaz is injured, last game, that’s why shoulder dislocated. Wasim Jr is resting, so he’s gone again. So that’s why we just decided to like, you know, go for a team and hopefully we bowl well and take a couple of wickets. (did weather impact the decision?) Yeah, that’s why we chose the one because also the condition looks good right now and later on it will rain again and hopefully we take our wicket and restrict them. So the two debutants playing they also are very good batters – Ghazi Gori debut and also Saad Masood debut. So I hope for their performance and support them. Three changes, two new debutants,” Shaheen said at the toss.
Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said his side was confident about putting up a competitive total and backing their bowling attack to defend it.
“I’m happy because the wicket looks good. I think we are confident. In the last two matches we have bowled well, but still I’m confident that if we get that score, definitely it’s a very good score on this wicket. Yes, definitely. I think we always talk about the best batting unit. You have to take responsibility in the top order and the middle-order batsmen. So if we get the runs, definitely our team will be better. I think everyone has to take responsibility. Yes, definitely. The most important thing is that you have to take responsibility and build partnerships. We should have partnerships with the top order. If you get partnerships, definitely we will be in a good position in the match. Yes, I think 260 is a very good score in these conditions because we have a very good bowling attack – three fast bowlers and two spinners – and definitely we can defend that. No, we don’t have changes. Today it is the same team.”
According to the pitch report, the match is being played on the surface that hosted the first international at the venue. The pitch has noticeably less grass, though recent thunderstorms have left a few darker patches which could make it slightly tacky early on. With a strong breeze expected to dry the surface, bowlers could find assistance in the first 10 overs before it settles into a good batting track.
“The move to the pitch which was used in the first international. If you look at the surface itself, it’s much less grass. There isn’t a whole lot of grass covering, but since there was a thunderstorm the other night, you see a little bit dark patches here. It might be just a little bit tacky, you know, sometimes, it’s still very strong in breeze, so it will dry up. But initially, the first 10 overs or so, I think there will be something for the bowlers. We already know that Shaheen Shah Afrifi has decided to bowl first on this surface. No surprises here, so you’outside the leg-stump be looking to bowl on the stumps. I think this is, during the series, it’s turning out to be a really good sporting wicket. I love the way the curators have worked on, especially on the surface. You’ve got about runs, 275 is Pakistan’s score. You’ve got about 3 50s already being scored in this series. What about the wickets taken by the seamers? 19 compared to 11 from a spinner. So if there is a sporting wicket, I love when there is something available for everyone, not a one-sided affair. Yes, this looks once again a very good surface for batters and bowlers, and I reckon if a team can score 250 or more, then I think they’outside the leg-stump have to be challenged,” reckons Athar Ali Khan.
Teams
Pakistan (Playing XI): Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Ghazi Ghori, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Salman Agha, Abdul Samad, Faheem Ashraf, Saad Masood, Shaheen Afridi(c), Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das(w), Towhid Hridoy, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz(c), Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana.
Actor and producer Alia Bhatt is expanding the creative universe of her production company, Eternal Sunshine Productions, with a new initiative dedicated to children’s storytelling. On her birthday, the actor announced Eternal Kids, a new segment focused on creating imaginative, heartwarming content for children.
Alia Bhatt announced Eternal Kids.
Alia Bhatt announced Eternal Kids
Sharing the update on social media, Alia revealed that the new venture already has multiple projects in the pipeline. “Our production company, Eternal Sunshine, just had a baby; say hello to Eternal Kids. We have three exciting projects lined up already,” she wrote.
The first project is a story titled “There’s C and G and M,” inspired by characters and tales created by her grandfather. The actor shared that the stories were a cherished part of her childhood and that she and her sister grew up listening to them. “Shaheen and I grew up on these stories, and now we are thrilled to bring them to you. Miss you, Grandpaa,” Alia wrote.
Another project announced under the banner is “OOLANGOO.” Alia revealed that the story revolves around a mysterious creature so unique that her mother had to invent a new word for it while telling the tale. She added that her mother also wrote the story.
The third project will expand the world of Adventures of Ed-a-Mamma, based on the children’s book inspired by Alia’s sustainable kidswear brand Ed-a-Mamma. The production house now plans to turn it into a series, along with more books in the future.
Announcing the new venture, Alia described the idea behind it in a heartfelt caption: “Introducing Eternal Kids. Where the childhood we remember meets the child still living quietly inside us.” The announcement comes on Alia’s 33rd birthday.
Fans quickly showered the initiative with love in the comments section. One comment read, “How cuteeee.” Another wrote, “This is super cute.” A third fan commented, “Very thoughtful. All the best for this new journey, Alia, and happy birthday.” Another fan added, “Wow, this looks exciting.”
Apart from this, Alia and her sister, Shaheen Bhatt, are also working on another project: a Prime Video Original film titled Don’t Be Shy. The film is written and directed by Sreeti Mukeri.
The film follows the story of Shyamili ‘Shy’ Das, a 20-year-old girl who believes she has everything figured out until her perfectly planned life takes an unpredictable turn and spirals out of her control. The cast and other details of the film are yet to be announced.
Alia Bhatt’s upcoming film
Meanwhile, Alia is awaiting the release of her upcoming film Alpha. The film is the seventh instalment in the YRF Spy Universe and also stars Sharvari, Anil Kapoor, and Bobby Deol in key roles. Directed by Shiv Rawail, the film is scheduled to release in theatres on July 10.
In the grand tapestry of cinema, even the most gifted stars like Amy Adams, Tom Cruise, and Harrison Ford have shockingly not secured an Oscar. These formidable talents boast a slew of nominations and performances that have dazzled audiences and critics, yet they continuously find themselves on the outside looking in, prompting discussions around their alarming Oscar omissions.
The Oscars are considered the highest honor for an actor. However, there are certain names in Hollywood who, despite having tremendously successful careers, have never won an Oscar. From legends like Harrison Ford and Tom Cruise to relatively newer stars, here’s a list of the distinguished non-winners of the Oscar.
Amy Adams
The six-time Oscar-nominated actress has never won an Oscar. Five of her nods have been for Best Supporting Actress, for ‘Junebug’ (2005), ‘Doubt’ (2008), ‘The Fighter’ (2010), ‘The Master’ (2012), and ‘Vice’ (2018), losing to Rachel Weisz, Penélope Cruz, Melissa Leo, Anne Hathaway, and Regina King, respectively. After 2013’s ‘American Hustle’ earned Adams her first nomination for Best Actress, Cate Blanchett took home the prize over her.
Tom Cruise Finally Gets His Oscar: Emotional Speech Leaves Everyone In Tears
Tom Cruise
While Tom Cruise‘s hit ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ managed to land him a Best Picture nomination at the 2023 Oscars, it had been a total of 24 years since the actor was last nominated for an Oscar, for ‘Magnolia’, considered by many film critics to be his finest role to date. He was on a hot streak earlier in his career with a string of well-received successes, like ‘Born on the Fourth of July’ and ‘Jerry Maguire.’ Despite his action-packed career pivot, it’s still hard to believe he doesn’t have an Oscar on his mantle.
Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams has given us consistently gut-wrenching performances over the years, from ‘Brokeback Mountain’ to ‘Manchester by the Sea.’ Over the years, she’s stacked five Best Actress nominations in multiple roles, including for ‘The Fabelmans’ in 2023, but has yet to become an Oscar winner.
Harrison Ford
Han Solo from ‘Star Wars’ or Indiana Jones, these roles gained him lifetime popularity, but Ford’s only nomination came from his role as an undercover cop in 1985’s Witness.
Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp has embodied some memorable roles over the years (from Captain Jack Sparrow to Willy Wonka) and has yet to receive an Oscar for them. Depp has been nominated three times over the years for ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’ in 2004, ‘Finding Neverland’ in 2005, and ‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’ in 2008.
Liam Neeson
Among the highlights are Liam Neeson’s roles in Schindler’s List and Kinsey. In 1994, he received his first and only nomination for ‘Schindler’s List’ but ended up losing to Tom Hanks in ‘Philadelphia.’
The BCCI`s annual “Naman Awards” ceremony will take place on Sunday to honour the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian side that made history by winning the T20 World Cup.
The ceremony will also honour other Indian teams that have recently won ICC trophies, such as the women`s U-19 T20 World Cup team of 2025, the men`s team that won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, the senior women`s team that won the ODI World Cup in 2025, and the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2026.
The Indian cricket board stated on Saturday that the celebration of all five Indian teams that have lately won ICC titles will be the centrepiece of the BCCI Naman Awards 2026.
In the meantime, a number of individual honours that were already known earlier this week were formally confirmed by the BCCI. For the 2024–2025 season, Smriti Mandhana will be recognised as the Best International Cricketer (Women) for the fifth time in her career, while Shubman Gill, the captain of India`s Test and ODI teams, will be given the Polly Umrigar Award for Best International Cricketer (Men).
Roger Binny and Rahul Dravid to win the Lifetime Achievement Award
The board`s top honour, the Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, will be given to former mainstays Roger Binny and Rahul Dravid, while the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for Women will be given to former India captain Mithali Raj.
Binny, who was the best wicket-taker in the 1983 Cricket World Cup and a part of India`s winning team, went on to serve as the sport`s coach, selector, and president from 2022 to 2025.
In addition to being one of India`s best hitters with over 24,000 international runs, Dravid was the head coach when India won the T20 World Cup in 2024 and was instrumental in moulding the nation`s next generation of cricket players.
Shafali Verma will be recognised as the Best Woman Cricketer in the Senior Domestic One-Day format, while Ira Jadhav will be given the Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy for Best Woman Cricketer (Domestic).
In domestic limited-overs tournaments, Ayush Mhatre will win the Lala Amarnath Award for Best All-Rounder, while Harsh Dubey of Vidarbha will win the Ranji Trophy for Best All-Rounder.
After winning four titles and being runner-ups in two events this season, the Mumbai Cricket Association will also be acknowledged as the top-performing state association in BCCI domestic tournaments.
Deleted: It is often said that the worst evils are committed not by monsters or sadists, but by people who are terrifyingly ordinary.
United States “Secretary of War” Pete Hegseth recently remarked with disarming composure in a media interview: “The only ones that need to be worried right now are Iranians who think they’re going to live.” Words spoken without hesitation, as if the prospect of death for millions were merely a strategic calculation.
In southern Iran, before the sun rises over the coast, a familiar sound travels quietly through the villages: the sound of lenj boats preparing for the sea. Their weathered wooden hulls creak against the tide, sails unfold slowly, and fishermen pull their ropes in the stillness of the early morning. In the south, there is a saying: “A lenj that does not know the sea, will be broken by the first wave.” For the people of our coast, the lenj is more than a vessel. It is a symbol of life itself — of perseverance against the sea, against the storm, against a fate that has rarely been gentle.
I am a son of that same south, where the sea has long taught its people how to stand against the waves. Yet on the morning of February 28, an unexpected wave reached the south.
It was 10:45 in the morning. The classrooms of Shajareh-Tayyebeh Girls’ Primary School in the city of Minab were filled with children. Girls between the ages of seven and 12 sat behind their desks with notebooks open before them. The rhythm of recitation and the quiet voices of learning drifted through the corridors.
At that very moment, thousands of kilometres away, inside a control room filled with digital screens, a button was pressed.
A Tomahawk cruise missile — one of the most precise guided weapons in the world — rose from a US naval vessel. Such a missile is designed to strike with extraordinary accuracy. It can select a specific structure among many buildings and hit its target within a few metres.
On that morning, its target was not a military installation.
Its target was a girls’ elementary school.
The first missile tore through the roof of the classrooms, and the structure collapsed upon itself. Seconds later, a second missile struck the courtyard, where children who had escaped the falling debris were struggling to breathe beneath clouds of dust. A third explosion followed, and the noise of life gave way to an unbearable silence.
A screenshot of a video showing a missile dropping on the school in Manib, Iran [Courtesy of Ali Bahreini]
When the smoke finally lifted, what remained were burned textbooks scattered among broken desks, small shoes lying across the ground, and the cries of mothers calling the names of their daughters amid the rubble.
About 170 people were killed, most of them schoolgirls, and some 100 were wounded. These numbers cannot convey the human reality they represent.
This was not an accident. The timing alone speaks with unmistakable clarity: 10:45 on a Saturday morning, precisely when the classrooms were full of children, in the very first hours of war. A missile capable of striking within five metres does not mistake a classroom for a military facility. Satellite imagery taken before and after the strike, remnants of US munitions, and verified video recordings all point to the same conclusion.
This was not an error. It was a message delivered on the first day of war that even the most remote communities of southern Iran could be turned into sites of devastation. Its purpose was to instil terror at the outset, to break the resolve of a people, and to normalise the idea that nowhere — not even a classroom — is safe.
The repeated targeting of the school clearly demonstrates deliberateness and evidences the requisite intent.
Minab did not remain an isolated tragedy. Across the country, the pattern has repeated itself. Civilians have been killed in large numbers, residential neighbourhoods reduced to rubble, commercial centres destroyed, medical facilities struck, and schools damaged or obliterated. Even buildings of the Red Crescent, an institution that stands as a universal symbol of humanitarian protection, have not been spared.
These repeated attacks reveal not a series of unfortunate mistakes but a discernible pattern. The targets are not armies on the battlefield but the structures of ordinary life itself: homes, hospitals, and schools. When such places are repeatedly struck, the intention becomes impossible to ignore.
This pattern of criminal conduct was explicitly affirmed by US President Donald Trump on March 10, when he publicly threatened the Iranian nation and its civilian infrastructure, declaring that “we will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again — Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them.”
From the perspective of international law, what has occurred cannot be understood as a simple breach of the laws of war. It falls squarely within a body of grave violations that international criminal justice has defined and condemned for decades. War, even in its most violent form, is not lawless. The rules governing armed conflict exist precisely to protect civilians from the horrors of it, and when those rules are violated, responsibility does not disappear within the fog of battle.
Fragments of a missile displayed on a table [Courtesy of Ali Bahreini]
The foundations of modern international criminal law were laid after World War II in the International Military Tribunals at Nuremberg and Tokyo. There, the international community affirmed a principle that has since become a cornerstone of justice: those who command military power cannot evade responsibility by claiming that they merely followed orders. Authority carries with it a corresponding duty of accountability.
This principle has been reaffirmed repeatedly in subsequent international tribunals. At the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, in the case of Prosecutor v Tihomir Blaskic, the judges held that the deliberate destruction of educational and religious institutions during armed conflict constitutes a war crime.
In examining the atrocities committed in the village of Ahmici, the tribunal concluded that the destruction of the village’s mosque and school was not the result of battlefield confusion but part of a calculated campaign designed to terrorise the civilian population. The commander was held responsible because he had ordered the crimes or failed to prevent them.
Similarly, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda demonstrated in cases such as Prosecutor v Jean-Paul Akayesu, that attacks against places where civilians seek refuge, including schools and churches, constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law. Those who shelter in such places, particularly children, are hors de combat, outside the sphere of combat and entitled to absolute protection.
These principles are codified in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Article 8(2)(b)(ix) defines as a war crime the intentional directing of attacks against buildings dedicated to education, provided that they are not military objectives. This rule reflects the fundamental principles of distinction and proportionality embedded in the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols: war is fought against combatants, not against classrooms, hospitals, or homes.
In the case of Shajareh-Tayyebeh School in Minab, the legal question is tragically clear. A missile engineered for precision struck a school building at the precise moment when children were present. The result was not collateral damage but a human catastrophe — more than 100 children whose voices will never again be heard in their classrooms.
International law, however, does not stop at identifying the physical act. It also examines the chain of command through which such acts become possible. In the structure of the US armed forces, ultimate authority over military operations rests with the president as commander-in-chief. Trump stands at the apex of that chain of command and bears ultimate political and military responsibility for the initiation and conduct of military operations.
Immediately beneath him in that structure stands Hegseth, who, as “secretary of war”, is the highest civilian authority within the “Department of War”, responsible for the planning and execution of military operations through the armed forces’ command hierarchy.
His own public remarks reflect an unapologetic posture towards violations, including his statement that there will be no “stupid rules of engagement” and no “politically correct” wars.
In international criminal law, these offices are not merely political positions; they carry legal obligations. The doctrine of command responsibility establishes that commanders may be held criminally responsible when they order crimes and when they know, or should have known, that such crimes are being committed and fail to prevent them.
The experience of international criminal justice reveals a recurring truth. When schools, homes, and hospitals are repeatedly struck, such attacks rarely represent isolated incidents. They form part of a broader strategy — an attack on the fabric of everyday life designed to break the spirit of a people.
History remembers such patterns just as it remembers the names of those who suffered them.
In southern Iran, there is a saying: “No lenj broken in a storm is ever truly lost; the sea eventually returns its fragments to the shore.” The memory of justice works in much the same way. The names of the children of Minab, too, will one day reach that shore.
The Iranian nation will not falter in defending its country or in seeking justice for the blood of its people.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.
A sharp sell-off in equities last week led to a significant erosion in the market value of the country’s most valuable companies, with the top 10 firms together losing Rs 4.48 lakh crore. Banking heavyweights State Bank of India and HDFC Bank saw the steepest decline in their valuations during the period. The fall in company valuations mirrored the broader weakness in the stock market. During the week, the BSE Sensex slumped by 4,354.98 points, a drop of 5.51%, while the NSE Nifty declined by 1,299.35 points, or 5.31%. The downturn came as rising crude oil prices heightened concerns about inflation and global economic stability amid the widening conflict in West Asia. “The primary driver behind the market weakness was the sustained rise in crude oil prices following the escalating conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel. Brent crude surged past USD 101 per barrel, raising concerns over India’s fiscal position and inflation outlook,” Ajit Mishra – SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd, said. Among the companies, State Bank of India recorded the largest drop in market capitalisation, which fell by Rs 89,306.22 crore to Rs 9,66,261.05 crore. HDFC Bank also registered a notable decline, with its valuation shrinking by Rs 61,715.32 crore to Rs 12,57,391.76 crore. Bajaj Finance witnessed a reduction of Rs 59,082.49 crore in its market value, taking its capitalisation to Rs 5,32,053.54 crore. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) also saw a sharp fall, with Rs 53,312.52 crore wiped off its valuation, bringing it down to Rs 8,72,067.63 crore. ICICI Bank’s market capitalisation declined by Rs 42,205.04 crore to Rs 8,97,844.78 crore, while Bharti Airtel’s valuation dropped by Rs 38,688.78 crore to Rs 10,28,431.72 crore. Reliance Industries, the country’s most valued company, also registered a fall, with its market capitalisation slipping by Rs 33,289.88 crore to Rs 18,68,293.17 crore. The market value of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) decreased by Rs 31,245.49 crore to Rs 4,88,985.57 crore. Infosys lost Rs 24,230.96 crore in valuation, taking its market capitalisation to Rs 5,06,315.58 crore. Hindustan Unilever recorded a decline of Rs 15,401.57 crore, pushing its market value down to Rs 5,07,640.94 crore. Despite the broad decline, Reliance Industries continued to hold the top position among India’s most valued firms. It was followed by HDFC Bank, Bharti Airtel, State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, TCS, Bajaj Finance, Hindustan Unilever, Infosys and LIC.
The television show Seher – Hone Ko Hai starring Parth Samthaan has recently landed in controversy after its storyline sparked criticism on social media. The show has faced backlash from viewers over a plot involving a 16-year-old girl and her relationship with an older man, with many accusing the makers of portraying themes that resemble grooming.
All about the recent track
The drama follows the story of Seher, a teenage girl whose life takes a complicated turn after she becomes tied to Mahid, a much older man. While the narrative was reportedly intended to explore social issues such as early marriage and personal freedom, several viewers felt uneasy about how the relationship between the characters was depicted.
Online criticism intensified as audiences questioned why a romantic angle between the two characters was shown despite the girl being portrayed as a minor. Social media users argued that certain scenes blurred the line between social commentary and problematic storytelling. Some viewers felt the plot risked romanticising an inappropriate dynamic, while others accused the makers of overlooking the seriousness of the issue.
Controversy over the track
Amid the growing backlash, the show’s latest promotional teaser appears to directly address the controversy. In the newly released promo, Mahid confronts Seher after discovering that she is only 16 years old. Shocked by the revelation, he decides to end the relationship, stating that he cannot continue being associated with a minor.
In the same sequence, Seher clarifies that she never wanted the marriage and had always hoped to focus on her ambitions and education. The promo also hints that the storyline may soon move forward with a significant time leap, which could shift the narrative direction.
While some viewers appreciated that the makers seemed to acknowledge the issue through the promo, others remained critical. Several people online argued that introducing a time leap does not fully address the earlier depiction that led to the controversy.
The debate surrounding Seher – Hone Ko Hai highlights how sensitive storylines on television can quickly trigger strong reactions from audiences. As the show moves ahead, it remains to be seen whether the upcoming episodes will successfully reshape the narrative and address the concerns raised by viewers.
CHENNAI: For Varun Chakravarthy, the T20 World Cup triumph must have felt bittersweet. The mystery spinner, tipped to be India’s X-factor bowler, wasn’t quite at his best. Even though he finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 14 scalps, his economy rate of 9.25 was a little high by his own excellent standards.It was significantly higher than his career economy rate of 7.55, and Varun acknowledged after the triumph that the conditions were challenging for him.
EXCLUSIVE: Rahul Dravid on iconic Eden Gardens win against Australia in 2001
“These are super batter-friendly wickets, so it was a little challenging for me. But on the other hand, I was able to pick up wickets here and there, which was crucial for my side,” Varun said, adding that the World Cup triumph was the most memorable moment of his career.While it was not alarming by any stretch of the imagination, the fact that his economy rates in the virtual quarterfinal, semifinal and final were 10, 16 and 13 respectively could push Varun into some soul-searching ahead of the IPL, where he plays for Kolkata Knight Riders.With Kuldeep Yadav waiting in the wings and other wrist-spinners like Zeeshan Ansari and Ravi Bishnoi also in contention, Varun will be keen to rediscover his best form as India begin gearing up for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.Harbhajan Singh, one of India’s finest off-spinners, believes Varun will bounce back stronger.“First things first, he is a champion bowler. I first saw him at the Chennai Super Kings nets in 2018 where he was a practice bowler. I told the CSK management to pick him straight away — which they didn’t — because even then he was often unplayable in the nets,” Bhajji told TOI.
Harbhajan felt that one thing that troubled Varun in this World Cup was the way batters handled him off the back foot.“Normally, Varun gets batters out for fun when they try shots off the back foot. But in this World Cup he has gone for runs and that might be because he erred slightly in length,” Harbhajan said.Though labelled a mystery spinner, Varun generally attacks the stumps because his legbreak does not turn much. There were suggestions during the tournament that batters were reading him a little better. Bhajji, however, dismissed that theory.“In modern-day cricket there are no mysteries. When it comes to top players, people often know what the next ball will be. Everyone knew Dale Steyn’s best delivery was the outswinger, but did that make him easy to face? It’s a battle of execution between the batter and the bowler. If the bowler gets it right, he will be successful,” said the off-spinner with 711 international wickets.During the World Cup, as batters tried to attack Varun more aggressively, the spinner sometimes drifted away from his strengths. Sunil Gavaskar pointed out during commentary that when put under pressure, Varun tended to bowl a little too fast, making him resemble a medium-pacer.There was a phase in Anil Kumble’s career when something similar happened, but the legendary leg-spinner dealt with it quickly. Harbhajan noted that Kumble’s biggest strength was his ability to avoid self-doubt.“Anil bhai’s height allowed him to extract bounce, and his biggest plus was that he could bowl all day at the same spot. That’s a rare quality. Varun can certainly refer to the Kumble playbook,” Bhajji said.He suggested that practising with a single stump could help improve accuracy.“That was something I used to do a lot and it helped me,” added the off-spinner, who won four IPL titles with Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.While Varun’s biggest weapon remains his googly, Harbhajan believes it would help if the KKR spinner worked more on the delivery that moves away from right-handers.“Variation is important. If he gets that delivery right, batters won’t be able to premeditate against him. Varun will get some time now and can try these things in the IPL. I know he is mentally strong and I have full faith that he will continue to play a key role in India’s quest for more T20 success,” Bhajji said.That would be good news for India, because a fully firing Varun Chakravarthy adds a completely different dimension to the bowling attack.
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