News for 'India First'

Why Is Sanju Samson Always The First To Be Dropped?

Why Is Sanju Samson Always The First To Be Dropped?

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

Sanju Samson's biggest opponent isn't the opposition, it's the selection committee. Samson has never been given a long rope; all he receives is a thin thread.

Historic! Harmanpreet Kaur First Cricketer To Play 200 T20 Internationals

Historic! Harmanpreet Kaur First Cricketer To Play 200 T20 Internationals

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has become the first cricketer, male or female, to play 200 T20 Internationals, achieving this milestone during a World Cup clash against South Africa.

Indian Sub-Junior Teams Shine In FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship

Indian Sub-Junior Teams Shine In FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship

Rediff.com15 hours ago

The Indian sub-junior boys' hockey team secured impressive victories against Pakistan and Oman in the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship. The girls' team also performed strongly, drawing with China and achieving a dominant win over Uzbekistan, showcasing India's emerging talent in the sport.

Muzumdar hails India Women's 'perfect game' in historic Lord's Test win

Muzumdar hails India Women's 'perfect game' in historic Lord's Test win

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

Chief coach Amol Muzumdar lauded the Indian women's cricket team for their historic 270-run Test victory over England at Lord's, attributing the success to a blend of 'patience mixed with the right amount of aggression' and highlighting centurion Yastika Bhatia's 'special knock' and pacer Kranti Gaud's 'controlled line and length'.

New Toyota Hilux Set To Redefine India's Pick-Up Segment

New Toyota Hilux Set To Redefine India's Pick-Up Segment

Rediff.com9 Jul 2026

The highly anticipated new generation Toyota Hilux is set to launch in India in July this year with significant upgrades, premium features, and a powerful mild-hybrid diesel engine, aiming to capture the Indian pick-up truck market.

India's Auto Sector Records Highest-Ever Q1 Dispatches in FY27

India's Auto Sector Records Highest-Ever Q1 Dispatches in FY27

Rediff.com7 days ago

Domestic passenger vehicle dispatches in India reached a record 12,73,811 units in the first quarter of FY27, marking a 25.9 per cent growth, driven by robust domestic demand despite geopolitical headwinds, according to SIAM.

Why Did India Drop 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?

Why Did India Drop 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

India's decision to drop 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the fifth and final T20I against England, despite the series already being decided, has drawn criticism from former cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar and Graeme Swann, who argue the youngster should have been given more opportunities.

India's Exports Up 15.5% in June, Trade Deficit Hits Record $30.43 Billion

India's Exports Up 15.5% in June, Trade Deficit Hits Record $30.43 Billion

Rediff.com13 Jul 2026

India's exports increased by 15.5 per cent to USD 40.41 billion in June, but the trade deficit significantly widened to a record USD 30.43 billion due to a 31 per cent surge in imports.

India's T20 Experiments End In Disaster

India's T20 Experiments End In Disaster

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

The umbrella of 'inexperience' or 'reset' is merely an excuse. Team India's think-tank will have to admit that this is experimentation without a roadmap, points out K R Nayar.

India get Tongue-lashing in record defeat at Trent Bridge

India get Tongue-lashing in record defeat at Trent Bridge

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

England inflicted a record T20 defeat on India, winning by 125 runs at Trent Bridge, with Josh Tongue taking 4-28 and Jofra Archer 3-29, to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

PV Sindhu advances to Japan Open semifinals after Okuhara withdrawal

PV Sindhu advances to Japan Open semifinals after Okuhara withdrawal

Rediff.com5 days ago

Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu has reached her first Super 750 semifinal in nearly three years at the Japan Open after Nozomi Okuhara withdrew. She will now face Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yufei in the semifinals.

Modi takes a dig at 'young' Rahul Gandhi while praising youth power

Modi takes a dig at 'young' Rahul Gandhi while praising youth power

Rediff.com2 days ago

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded young Indian innovators for the country's first privately developed orbital rocket, Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1, which made India the third nation with private orbital launch capabilities. While praising the 28-year-old average age of the Skyroot team, Modi made a veiled remark about a "56-year-old young man," widely understood to be a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who recently turned 56.

Cricket Star Suryakumar Yadav Becomes MLB Ambassador For India

Cricket Star Suryakumar Yadav Becomes MLB Ambassador For India

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

Major League Baseball has announced a partnership with Indian cricket star Suryakumar Yadav, appointing him as an MLB Ambassador to promote baseball among Indian sports fans. Yadav will participate in various events in India and the U.S., including the MLB All-Star week, and will curate content to connect with fans. This initiative is part of MLB's broader strategy to engage with India's vibrant sports culture, alongside renewing its broadcast agreement with JioStar.

India's FCNR (B) Inflows Fall Short of Expectations, Rupee Weakens

India's FCNR (B) Inflows Fall Short of Expectations, Rupee Weakens

Rediff.com5 days ago

Inflows into foreign currency non-resident (bank), or FCNR (B), deposits have significantly underperformed market expectations, leading to a more than 1 per cent depreciation of the rupee against the dollar this week. Analysts point to fading RBI support measures, tepid interest due to rising global bond yields, and narrowing interest rate spreads compared to 2013 as key challenges.

25 Year Old Building India's Spaceplane

25 Year Old Building India's Spaceplane

Rediff.com13 Jul 2026

'ISRO is planning to build a Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2030. So, our goal is to create a vehicle that can supply modules to the Bharatiya Antariksh Station and bring the products back.'

India's Doping Crisis: Why The Nation Tops Global Offenders List

India's Doping Crisis: Why The Nation Tops Global Offenders List

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

India continues to lead the Athletics Integrity Unit's (AIU) global list of dope offenders with 162 names, highlighting a significant problem in the country's sports. The nation has been re-categorised to 'Category A' by the AIU, indicating an "extremely high" doping risk and requiring more stringent anti-doping measures.

Lord's Test: Mandhana magic and Gaud's five-for put India in control

Lord's Test: Mandhana magic and Gaud's five-for put India in control

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

Kranti Gaud announced herself on the Test stage with a stunning maiden five-wicket haul, while Smriti Mandhana's unbeaten fifty put India firmly in control against England.

India's Japan Open hopes dwindle as Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda exit

India's Japan Open hopes dwindle as Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda exit

Rediff.com7 days ago

Indian badminton players Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, and Unnati Hooda were eliminated from the Japan Open Super 750 tournament on Wednesday.

How FIVB Recognition Elevates Prime Volleyball League's Global Stature

How FIVB Recognition Elevates Prime Volleyball League's Global Stature

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

The Prime Volleyball League (PVL) has been officially recognised by the FIVB as India's first division professional volleyball league, marking a significant milestone for the sport in the country. This recognition allows PVL clubs to compete in international tournaments and aligns the league with global standards. The fifth season of PVL is scheduled to begin on November 30, with a players' auction on August 17 in Goa. This development is expected to further strengthen Indian volleyball's performance on the international stage.

Lord's Test: Mandhana, Harmanpreet, Deepti hit fifties as India make 285 vs England

Lord's Test: Mandhana, Harmanpreet, Deepti hit fifties as India make 285 vs England

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma struck well-timed fifties but regular strikes helped England bundle out India for 285 on the opening day of the one-off women's Test at Lord's on Friday.

India's First Paperless District Court

India's First Paperless District Court

Rediff.com8 Jan 2026

The integration of artificial AI-based judicial assistance tools into the district court management framework has accompanied the shift.

BBL creates history, India to host 1st-ever match outside Australia

BBL creates history, India to host 1st-ever match outside Australia

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Melbourne Cricket Ground, announcing India's aspiration to host the 2036 Olympics and welcoming Chennai's role in the Big Bash League. He emphasised cricket as a strong bond between India and Australia, and both PMs unveiled a Roadmap on Sport Cooperation to deepen bilateral ties beyond cricket.

Captaincy Change Won't Fix India Women's Team Problems: Anjum Chopra

Captaincy Change Won't Fix India Women's Team Problems: Anjum Chopra

Rediff.com14 hours ago

Former India women's cricket captain Anjum Chopra believes that merely replacing Harmanpreet Kaur as captain will not solve the fundamental issues plaguing the team, citing a significant lack of quality back-up options across all departments.

Ahmedabad blasts an attack on India's sovereignty, meant to topple govt: HC

Ahmedabad blasts an attack on India's sovereignty, meant to topple govt: HC

Rediff.com7 days ago

The Gujarat high court has characterised the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts as a direct assault on India's sovereignty and democratic governance.

Modi-Takaichi Summit Opens New India-Japan Chapter

Modi-Takaichi Summit Opens New India-Japan Chapter

Rediff.com7 Jul 2026

Notwithstanding the economic complementarities and the host of agreements for deepening economic relation on a host of areas, both sides share common viewpoints on the foreign policy domain and seek common grounds to serve as a counterweight to China, notes Dr Rajaram Panda.

Axar Patel Achieves Landmark 100 T20I Wickets For India

Axar Patel Achieves Landmark 100 T20I Wickets For India

Rediff.com5 Jul 2026

Indian all-rounder Axar Patel achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first Indian spinner and fourth overall bowler to take 100 T20I wickets during the second T20I against England. Despite his record-breaking performance and a competitive total set by India, England secured a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

TVS, Bajaj, Hero, Ather Drive 96% of India's E2W Growth in H1 2026

TVS, Bajaj, Hero, Ather Drive 96% of India's E2W Growth in H1 2026

Rediff.com7 days ago

India's electric two-wheeler (e2W) market is consolidating, with established manufacturers TVS Motor, Bajaj Auto, and Hero MotoCorp, alongside EV specialist Ather Energy, driving nearly 96% of incremental registrations in the first half of 2026, while former market leader Ola Electric experienced a significant decline in registrations.

Time For India To Unleash Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Time For India To Unleash Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

After yet another failure for Sanju Samson -- his third in a row -- 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could make his India debut in the second T20I against England on Saturday.

Sindhu Advances To Japan Open Final After Chen Yufei Retirement

Sindhu Advances To Japan Open Final After Chen Yufei Retirement

Rediff.com4 days ago

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has reached her first final in over two years at the Japan Open after her opponent, Tokyo Olympics champion Chen Yufei, retired due to injury during their women's singles semifinal. Sindhu was leading the match when Chen pulled out, setting up a final clash against either Akane Yamaguchi or Putri Kusuma Wardani.

Trump aide Graham, who backed tariffs on India, passes away

Trump aide Graham, who backed tariffs on India, passes away

Rediff.com12 Jul 2026

US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent ally of former President Donald Trump and an influential voice on American foreign policy, has passed away at 71 following a 'brief and sudden illness', leaving a significant void in Washington's political landscape.

The Great Collapse: How India's Big T20 Shake-Up Failed

The Great Collapse: How India's Big T20 Shake-Up Failed

Rediff.com13 Jul 2026

The Indian team, which looked invincible under Suryakumar Yadav, has suddenly hit rock bottom a few months after winning the T20 World Cup.

New Centre To Boost India-Kyrgyzstan Cultural And Academic Ties

New Centre To Boost India-Kyrgyzstan Cultural And Academic Ties

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

The Centre for Studies of International Relations (CSIR) has established the International Centre for Civilizational Studies "Manas and Mahabharata" in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in collaboration with the Manas National Academy. The inauguration also saw the release of the first Hindi translation of the Kyrgyz epic "Manas," aiming to foster scientific, educational, and cultural cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan.

Bethell spoils Sooryavanshi's big day as England edge out India

Bethell spoils Sooryavanshi's big day as England edge out India

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

Jacob Bethell guided England to an impressive four-wicket victory in the second T20 against England on Saturday as 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his eagerly-awaited India debut at Old Trafford.

Shreyas Iyer calls India's 125-run T20I defeat 'atrocious'

Shreyas Iyer calls India's 125-run T20I defeat 'atrocious'

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

India captain Shreyas Iyer described his team's 125-run defeat against England in the third T20 International as 'atrocious,' criticising the bowling unit and the team's overall performance.

Why India A's Tour Of New Zealand Is Crucial For Senior Team Contenders

Why India A's Tour Of New Zealand Is Crucial For Senior Team Contenders

Rediff.com7 Jul 2026

India A will undertake a shadow tour of New Zealand ahead of the senior team's multi-format series in the country, with the itinerary comprising three List A matches and two first-class games.

ONGC to build 1.75 mt strategic oil reserve in Mangaluru, boosting India's energy security

ONGC to build 1.75 mt strategic oil reserve in Mangaluru, boosting India's energy security

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has approved the development of a 1.75 million tonnes (mt) strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) in Mangaluru, a project deemed of national importance, with plans for broad commercial utilisation.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did what no one ever has: Harbhajan

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did what no one ever has: Harbhajan

Rediff.com9 hours ago

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has lauded teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling him an "unbelievable" talent for his fearless approach to cricket. Harbhajan highlighted Sooryavanshi's confidence, recalling an instance where the young batsman declared he would smash the first ball of his IPL career, and then proceeded to hit a six.

Gulf Crisis: How India Avoided Economic Turmoil

Gulf Crisis: How India Avoided Economic Turmoil

Rediff.com7 Jul 2026

Not a single retail outlet ran dry. Every household that wanted a cylinder got one. India faced neither a 1991 moment nor a 2013 one. Macroeconomic stability held. This was not an accident, and it was not luck alone. It was the work of a government that chose to act as it had during the pandemic -- deliberately and gradually, building one measure upon another rather than reaching for a single dramatic lever, explains V Anantha Nageswaran, chief economic advisor to the Government of India.

Modi's New Zealand Visit: A New Era For India-Kiwi Relations

Modi's New Zealand Visit: A New Era For India-Kiwi Relations

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to New Zealand culminated in the elevation of bilateral ties to a strategic partnership, with a focus on doubling trade and enhancing cooperation in sports and the Indo-Pacific region. Modi and his counterpart Christopher Luxon attended a sports showcase, acknowledging a century of sporting ties and discussing future collaborations, including India's preparations for the Commonwealth Games 2030. The visit also saw 18 concrete outcomes and 10 agreements signed, alongside discussions with business leaders.

How India's Fencing Team Secured Asian Games Qualification

How India's Fencing Team Secured Asian Games Qualification

Rediff.com3 Jul 2026

Despite not winning a medal at the recently-concluded Asian Senior Fencing Championships, India's men's foil team secured direct qualification for the upcoming Asian Games, marking a significant step forward for the sport in the country. The event, hosted in India for the first time, provided valuable experience and highlighted the growing competitiveness of Indian fencers against top Asian nations.