Shreyas Iyer awaits CoE clearance as India announces Gill-led squad for New Zealand ODIs

IANS | January 3, 2026 5:04 PM

Mumbai, Jan 3 (IANS) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, with Shubman Gill set to lead the side. Shreyas Iyer, who had been on the sidelines owing to an injury, has been named in the squad, but his participation will be subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE).

'Grateful to BCCI': Devkinandan Thakur welcomes ruling to drop Bangladeshi player from KKR

IANS | January 3, 2026 4:57 PM

Bengaluru, Jan 3 (IANS) Devkinandan Thakur, spiritual leader and renowned 'Kathavachak', whose questioning of a Bangladeshi player in the Shah Rukh Khan-led franchisee in the Indian Premier League (IPL) triggered a huge outcry and led to his ouster, on Saturday, welcomed the Board of Control of Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to drop him from the T-20 tournament.

Qutub Minar not minaret, but Vedshala: Former ASI Regional Director

IANS | January 3, 2026 4:39 PM

New Delhi, Jan 3 (IANS) Former Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) regional director Dharamveer Sharma on Saturday claimed that the capital’s iconic structure, Qutub Minar, was a “Vedhshala” (an ancient observatory to study Astronomy) in reality and also presented cogent arguments to corroborate his claims.