Times of India

India's newest batting star Sarfaraz Khan and wicket-keeper Dhruv Jurel were inducted into Group C of BCCI's central contract with an annual retainership fee of Rs 1 crore, having fulfilled the criteria of playing three Tests in a current season.

Former KKR captain Gautam Gambhir transitions to 'Team Mentor,' aiming to elevate the team's performance. He acknowledged the crucial role of Shah Rukh Khan in his career and remains determined to lead KKR to greater success. "I can assure you that whenever I leave this place (KKR), we will be in a much better position," Gambhir affirmed during a promotional event ahead of the upcoming IPL season, underscoring his commitment to KKR's progress.

Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale lodged a complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, accusing him of breaching the poll code by using an Indian Air Force helicopter to attend an election rally in Andhra Pradesh. Gokhale asserted that PM Modi arrived at the rally site, organised as part of BJP's election campaign, in an IAF helicopter with tail number ZP 5236.

Kremlin on Monday said it sees itself as being at war with the United States because of its role in the Ukraine war. "Given that de-facto the United States is a country deeply involved in the war in Ukraine. This is a country that is, in fact, at war with us," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

PMK announces alliance with BJP for Lok Sabha polls. Vadivel Ravanan shares NDA alliance details. PM Modi's event coincides with announcement. AIADMK signaled. Dr. Anbumani to possibly finalize seats with PM.

A recent study conducted by the Climate Central highlights an alarming trend in India's winter temperatures, indicating a potential shortening of the spring season. The acceleration in temperatures, largely attributed to human-induced climate change, poses concerns for the abrupt transition from winter to warmer temperature conditions traditionally associated with March.

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captures LEDA 42160, a galaxy 52 million light-years away in Virgo. Ram pressure shapes it, stripping star-forming materials but boosting star formation in other areas. NASA studies dwarf galaxies like LEDA 42160 to understand star formation triggers. Bright patches suggest active star formation regions, revealing insights into galaxy evolution.

DY Chandrachud reprimanded senior advocate Mathews Nedumpara after a heated exchange during a hearing on electoral bonds. "Don't shout at me," the CJI said, adding, "This is not a Hyde Park corner meeting, you are in the court." Nedumpara was questioning the SC's ruling, stating that "the entire electoral bond judgement was delivered behind the citizens back."

Mumbai Indians on Monday announced Rohit Sharma's return for the IPL season, referencing his playful 'garden' comment. After a lengthy home schedule, Rohit joins the MI camp as the franchise gears up for the upcoming season.

Star batter Virat Kohli has been absent from competitive cricket since the conclusion of the two T20I matches against Afghanistan in January. His absence was extended to the five-match Test series against England at home due to the birth of his son Akaay in London. CSK set to clash with RCB in a South Indian derby in IPL opener on March 22 in Chennai.

The US government's efforts to separate TikTok from its Chinese parent company ByteDance have escalated, with recent legislation passing in the House of Representatives. However, Beijing is expected to firmly reject any forced sale of the app and its valuable algorithm. Analysts describe the US actions as akin to "daylight robbery," though Beijing's response has been relatively restrained.

TRAI tightens MNP rules to prevent SIM frauds, imposing 7-day porting restriction post swap. New UPC criteria introduced for transfer. Users can request porting by SMS to 1900, receiving UPC at point of sale. MNP is a facility that allows a user to move from one telecom operator to another operator – irrespective of geographical area – if he/ she is not satisfied with the services of his current operator.

The cost of Rs 50,000 imposed on APRL will be deposited with the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee, Justice Bose said while reading out the operative portion of the judgement.

Hardik Pandya replaced a highly-successful Rohit Sharma, who led the franchise to five IPL titles, as skipper ahead of the upcoming season of the IPL. Following a successful two-year stint at Gujarat Titans -- where Hardik took the side to 2 finals and winning one of them in 2022 -- the all-rounder returned to Mumbai in a high-profile trade ahead of the December 19 auction.

The NDA in Bihar announced its seat sharing agreement, with BJP contesting 17 seats and JD(U) 16. LJP, HAM, and RLP will contest 5, 1, and 1 seat respectively. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Bihar will be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1. In 2019, NDA won 39 out of 40 seats while the opposition managed only one.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Vladimir Putin on his re-election as the President of Russia on Monday. In post on X, PM Modi "Warm congratulations to H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin on his re-election as the President of the Russian Federation. Look forward to working together to further strengthen the time-tested Special & Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia in the years to come.

Having survived a horrific car crash in December, 2022, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will make a comeback to competitive cricket after more than 14 months as Delhi Capitals captain after an extensive rehabilitation programme. Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar acknowledged that Pant's presence and his lively personality contribute significantly to the entertainment factor of the IPL.