Times of India

Cricketer Aakash Chopra has revealed his top five T20I batsmen of 2024. India's Rohit Sharma tops the list, lauded for his consistency and aggressive captaincy during the World Cup. England's Phil Salt and Jos Buttler secure second and fifth place respectively, showcasing their explosive batting prowess.

India and Japan are finalizing designs for bullet trains on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor, modifying Shinkansen trains for Indian conditions. These modifications include enhanced luggage capacity, higher temperature tolerance, and dust resistance.

Nineteen-year-old Australian cricketer Sam Konstas is poised for a potential Test debut against India on Boxing Day. He's been studying Jasprit Bumrah's bowling and even gleaned insights from KL Rahul. Konstas's impressive recent form, including a century against India in a warm-up match, has earned him praise. Konstas, who smashed 14 fours and a six in his brilliant knock against India in the warm-up match, where he was named Man of the Match, draws inspiration from former Australia allrounder Shane Watson.

Sunil Gavaskar criticises India's management for their treatment of Ravichandran Ashwin, highlighting his unjust exclusion from matches despite being a top-ranked bowler. Gavaskar points out the double standard where struggling batsmen weren't dropped with the same frequency, and laments Ashwin's missed captaincy opportunities despite his significant contributions to Indian cricket.

Varun Dhawan's 'Baby John' is set for a Christmas release, facing box office competition from 'Pushpa 2' and 'Mufasa'. Advance bookings suggest a decent opening, but the film's success hinges on sustaining momentum amidst strong rivals. The Hindi remake of 'Theri' features Keerthy Suresh and boasts action sequences choreographed by international experts.

Srinagar's Dal Lake froze over on Monday as a severe cold wave gripped Kashmir, forcing boat operators to break ice to navigate. Temperatures plummeted to -7°C, with the intense cold expected to continue. Despite the frigid conditions, residents await snowfall. Kashmir's harsh winter period, 'Chillai Kalan,' will last until January 31, followed by 'Chillai-Khurd' and 'Chillai-Bachha'.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is level at 1-1 as India and Australia prepare for the crucial fourth Test at the MCG. Curator Matt Page promises a pitch similar to recent years, offering a balance between bat and ball with more grass to encourage seam movement. Spin is unlikely to be a significant factor.

A 2,000-year-old ossuary, possibly belonging to James, brother of Jesus, is on display in Atlanta. Inscribed "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus," its authenticity has been debated for years, though a judge deemed the inscription genuine. While acquitted of forgery charges, the ossuary's link to Jesus remains contested.

Indian-American entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan has been appointed as senior policy advisor for AI in the White House by US President-elect Donald Trump. Krishnan, close to Elon Musk, will focus on ensuring American leadership in AI and coordinate AI policy across government.

Twenty years ago, a young Mahendra Singh Dhoni began his international cricket journey with a run-out on his debut. He rose to become one of the greatest captains, leading India to victory in all three ICC trophies and achieving top Test rankings. Dhoni's IPL career with Chennai Super Kings saw him reach 10 finals, winning five.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces mounting pressure to resign amid dwindling support within the Liberal Party. Following Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland's resignation, numerous MPs, including Chandra Arya and Anthony Housefather, have publicly called for Trudeau's departure. With the NDP now willing to support efforts to topple the minority government, Trudeau's leadership is in serious jeopardy.

Stock market today: Indian equity benchmark indices, BSE Sensex and Nifty50, surged in trade on Monday morning. While BSE Sensex was above 78,600, Nifty50 was above 23,750.

Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional performance with the ball has been crucial for India throughout the first three Tests on the tour of Australia. His guidance and advice have proven invaluable to the less experienced Indian pacers, who have struggled to match his consistency. Besides Bumrah's efforts, India's supporting bowlers need to step up to secure a victory in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

Three pro-Khalistan terrorists linked to a grenade attack on a Punjab police post were killed in a joint operation by Uttar Pradesh and Punjab police in Pilibhit. Two AK-series assault rifles and two Glock pistols were recovered. The December 19th attack, claimed by Khalistan Zindabad Force, was the eighth such incident in Punjab since November 24th.

KL Rahul, in top form, aims for a Boxing Day Test century hat-trick as India and Australia lock horns at the MCG for the pivotal third Test. With the series tied 1-1, Rahul's consistency against the new ball makes him a key player. The Boxing Day Test, set to begin on December 26.

Hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, leading India to Olympic bronze, is nominated for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award, alongside Paralympics gold medalist Praveen Kumar. Surprisingly, double-medal winning shooter Manu Bhaker's name is missing. Thirty athletes, including wrestler Aman Sehrawat and shooters Swapnil Kusale and Sarabjot Singh, are nominated for the Arjuna award.

A dumper truck tragically ran over people sleeping on a Pune footpath around 12:30 am on Monday, killing three, including two toddlers, and injuring six others. The victims, mostly laborers, were near Kesnand Phata. Police detained the driver and are investigating possible alcohol involvement. The deceased are identified as Vaibhavi Pawar (1), Vaibhav Pawar (2), and Vishal Pawar (22).

President-elect Trump has ignited a diplomatic firestorm by demanding Panama return control of the Panama Canal to the US. He alleges unfair pricing and criticizes the 1977 handover agreement. Panama's President Mulino vehemently rejected Trump's demand, defending Panama's sovereignty and the canal's fee structure. The canal, a key revenue source for Panama, recently faced drought-related disruptions and subsequent fee hikes.