After the match, Naman Dhir also said that Abhishek's pep talk, especially the Punjabi bit pumped up the players.
Police in Balasore, Odisha, recovered the half-burnt, decomposed body of a 14-year-old girl who had been missing for six days. Her family alleges abduction, gang-rape, and murder, with suspects burning the body to destroy evidence. An investigation is underway, and one person has been detained.
On the third day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C matches, Delhi trailed Bengal by 88 runs, with Bengal having posted 429. Kerala faced a significant deficit against Jharkhand, while Gujarat took a first-innings lead against Odisha, who now hold a slender four-run lead in their second innings. Maharashtra led Services by 172 runs despite a shaky start to their second innings.
A health inspector from the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, Anuroop, has been arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl from Andhra Pradesh at a spa in Kovalam. The arrest follows an investigation by a Special Investigation Team, which also led to the arrest of spa owners. The case involves cash transactions between the inspector and the establishment, and the girl's maternal aunt and her husband have also been taken into custody.
Mumbai secured a dominant innings and 155-run victory over Chandigarh in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group D opener, earning a bonus point. Strong performances from bowlers Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian, coupled with a substantial first-innings total of 429, led to Chandigarh being dismissed twice for low scores.
Police in Jammu and Kashmir arrested five alleged drug peddlers in separate operations in Samba and Reasi districts on Wednesday. Three individuals were apprehended in Samba with 10.06 grams of heroin and a weighing machine, while two others were arrested in Reasi with 10 grams of heroin. All five have been booked under the NDPS Act, and further investigation is ongoing.
B B Nimbalkar is the only one in the 400-plus club never to have played Test cricket. Will Chinmay Sutar have better luck?
India's top singles player Vaishnavi Adkar, Sahaja Yamalapalli, and Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathy have been granted wild cards for the WTA Chennai Open. American Katherine Hui also received a wild card. Tamil Nadu Tennis Association president Vijay Amritraj expressed optimism about the Indian players' performance at the home event.
Punjab secured a dominant seven-wicket victory over Chhattisgarh in their Group B Ranji Trophy clash in Mullanpur. Led by three-wicket hauls from spinners Harjas Singh and Emanjot Singh Chahal, Punjab first posted a massive 456, then bowled out Chhattisgarh twice, enforcing a follow-on. Despite a spirited second innings resistance from Chhattisgarh, Punjab comfortably chased a modest target of 86 runs. The article also briefly mentions other Ranji Trophy matches.
HDFC Bank reported a 5.55 per cent increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 20,700 crore for the September quarter, with incoming MD and CEO Anup Bagchi indicating a focus on strengthening the balance sheet and addressing retail vertical concerns post-merger.
The second round of the Ranji Trophy will see India's Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill return to action for Punjab, while Mumbai will be without key players Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ayush Mhatre due to India A duties and injury, respectively, setting the stage for crucial encounters across the country.
Police in Kollam, Kerala, busted an alleged counterfeit currency printing unit at a man's house, seizing equipment and fake notes worth approximately Rs 2.5 crore. The discovery was made during a probe into the man's disappearance and suspected hawala transactions.
Jasprit Bumrah ranked third in Jos Buttler and Stuart Broad's top 10 bowlers of the 21st century, ahead of Glenn McGrath and Muttiah Muralitharan, behind Warne and Anderson.
A 27-year-old woman in Saharanpur was allegedly strangled to death by her brother after he found a youth in her room, fearing it would bring dishonour to the family. The accused, Ashish Kumar, was arrested on October 16, the same day a murder case was registered.
India is hosting its first international para archery event, the third stage of the 2026 Hyundai World Archery Para Series, in Ahmedabad. The competition features 109 archers from 19 countries and serves as a crucial build-up to the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games. World number one Sheetal Devi, along with other top Indian and international archers, will be competing for titles and world ranking points.
India's largest bank, SBI, is investigating the suspected exposure of 3,897 customer records containing personally identifiable information on the dark web. The bank received alerts on October 16 and has initiated cyber incident response protocols, engaging an independent cybersecurity agency. While a detailed assessment is underway, SBI states the incident has not materially impacted its core business operations. This comes as CERT-In also warned last week about autonomous AI agents accessing confidential data and reported a compromise of eMudhra's private keys.
Indian physicist Ashoke Sen has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Oskar Klein Medal, making him the first Indian to receive this honour. Sen, a leading figure in modern string theory, was recognised for his pioneering work, including contributions to S-duality, black-hole entropy, and string field theory. He delivered a memorial lecture on October 22 in Stockholm.
J&K Bank MD and CEO Amitava Chatterjee defended the surcharge on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, stating it is necessary for the system's long-term sustainability. He also discussed the shift of household savings to mutual funds, the bank's profit growth, and India's consumption-based economy.
A 17-year-old Class 12 student was allegedly stabbed to death outside a government school in southwest Delhi's Mohan Garden area. The incident, which occurred on October 14, stemmed from an altercation over school shoes. Police have apprehended five individuals, including three minors, in connection with the murder.
Three alleged members of an interstate gang were arrested in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, leading to the recovery of 400 stolen mobile phones valued at Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 6 lakh in cash. The gang operated across multiple states and union territories, stealing phones from public places and facilitating their sale.
A pregnant minor girl was allegedly gang-raped in Dausa, Rajasthan. The incident came to light when she arrived at a hospital with her newborn, who was later declared dead. Police have registered a case, recorded the victim's statement, and detained a suspect for questioning. The investigation is ongoing.
A 45-year-old man, Pradeep Kumar Gangwar, has been arrested in Bareilly for allegedly creating and distributing fake marksheets and certificates. Police recovered 27 fake documents, 11 stamps, cash, and mobile phones from him. The case emerged after a complaint from a Punjab resident who was defrauded of Rs 50,000 for fake BA marksheets. Investigations are ongoing into the authenticity of the documents and potential accomplices.
Here's a fun way to test your memory!
Indian Paralympian Karamjyoti Dalal won a bronze medal in the women's discus F55 event at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on Wednesday, achieving a personal best throw of 21.60 metres. This marks a significant achievement for the athlete who transitioned to para sports after an accident in 2008.
The 29th season of the CTR-JK Tyre FMSCI Indian National Car Racing Championship is set to begin this weekend at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore. The event will feature 17 races across various categories, including LGB Formula 4, Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup, and Novice Cup, with participation from national, international, and women racers.
Police in Kollam are investigating a suspected insurance fraud in connection with a medical store fire that occurred in August. An employee has been arrested, and the owner is also under scrutiny after investigations revealed the fire was allegedly set deliberately to claim Rs 77 lakh in losses.
The real victory in New Zealand is not about winning every match but returning from it knowing exactly what kind of team India should have for the future, points out K R Nayar.
Chaar Yaar offers an entertaining mix of friendship, crime and the charm of old Mumbai with a happy ending, observes Divya Nair.
A man accused of raping a six-year-old girl was arrested in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, following an exchange of fire with police. The accused, Avdhram alias Bhole Shankar, sustained a gunshot injury and was apprehended. Police recovered a country-made pistol and cartridges, and a reward was announced for the arresting team.
Leading private banks in India, including HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank, experienced a decline in net interest margins (NIMs) during the second quarter of the financial year due to significant deposit mobilisation under the Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank), or FCNR (B), scheme. However, banks anticipate a recovery in margins in the coming quarters as these funds are deployed and the interest-rate cycle supports lending yields.
Delhi Police have arrested two members of a local gang, Rohit and Hasib, for allegedly opening fire at a marble businessman's building in Kirti Nagar, west Delhi. The incident followed extortion threats received by the businessman, with the accused reportedly acting on instructions from Nitin Dabas alias Vicky Haddal, who is suspected of links to an overseas criminal nexus. Police seized weapons and a stolen motorcycle used in the crime.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has alleged that the death of Lucknow cafe owner Shiva Sharma is "not an ordinary case" and could "bring down the Uttar Pradesh government," drawing parallels to the Vikas Dubey encounter. Yadav criticised the police and media's handling of the case, particularly regarding the absconding prime accused, Shraddha Dubey. The case involves allegations of assault and torture by Sharma's family, a reward for the accused's arrest, and recent transfers of police officials.
East Bengal lost 2-3 to Iraq's Al Shorta in their second AFC Champions League Two group match on Tuesday, despite taking the lead twice through David Lalhlansanga's brace. Al Shorta scored two quick goals in the second half to secure the win, leaving East Bengal winless in two matches and failing to capitalise on a late numerical advantage.
AICC general secretary K C Venugopal announced that Rahul Gandhi would lead the INDIA bloc in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, dismissing reports of TVK proposing C Joseph Vijay as a prime ministerial candidate. Venugopal highlighted Gandhi's widespread appeal and campaigns on key issues, while also addressing internal alliance differences and criticising the BJP government's actions.
Manoj Bajpayee has the fluctuating mood graph of his character down path whether hustling away his quick-witted energy in good faith or greed. It's a tricky terrain but few understand balance like this man, observes Sukanya Verma.
From Alia Bhatt-Ranbir Kapoor to Nazriya Nazim-Fahadh Faasil, these real-life celebrity couples have continued their romance on screen after marriage, giving us everything from crackling chemistry to intriguing cinematic collaborations.
Para-swimmer Mohammad Shams Aalam Shaikh was detained by Japanese police and deported to India following allegations of sexual misconduct involving a female hotel employee during the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya.
Gautam Gambhir, head coach of the Indian men's cricket team, celebrated his 45th birthday on Wednesday. Former teammates Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina, along with BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, extended their wishes. Gambhir is currently with the team in Hyderabad for the fourth T20I against West Indies, where India aims to seal the series.
India's Amruta Pujari has stormed into the women's 72kg final at the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships, while Komal secured a bronze medal in the 59kg category. Sweety and Vaishnavi Patil are also in contention for bronze through repechage, adding to Vishvajit More's earlier silver medal.
New Zealand head coach Rob Walter expressed disappointment over his team's missed opportunities in the first two T20Is against India, acknowledging that while they played well for large parts, they failed to capitalise on crucial moments, leading to two close defeats.
