Black may be one of the safest colors in formal fashion, but the 2026 Venice Film Festival showed how unpredictable it can become in the right hands. Across premieres and ceremonies, stars embraced lace, velvet, satin, sculptural tailoring and elaborate draping. Instead of relying on color to create impact, designers used texture and silhouette to give each outfit a distinctive personality. Laura Dern, Susan Sarandon, Amal Clooney, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Rooney Mara all approached the classic shade differently. Together, their appearances demonstrated why black continues to have such staying power on major red carpets.
Laura Dern embraced intricate detailing for the premiere of Wild Horse Nine. Her sleeveless black Dior gown featured a V neckline, delicate lace and floral embroidery across the upper section. The design transitioned into a fuller shimmering skirt, giving the monochrome look depth through contrasting textures. Black Dior pumps maintained the restrained palette, while a Cartier necklace provided a polished finishing touch.
Susan Sarandon chose a more streamlined interpretation at the premiere of The Echo Chamber. Her black Fendi dress featured long sleeves and an off the shoulder neckline, with a fluid silhouette that followed the body without requiring elaborate embellishment. Statement jewelry, sunglasses and bright red lipstick added personality, demonstrating how accessories can completely change the mood of an otherwise minimalist black dress.
For the festival's opening ceremony, Amal Clooney turned to Tom Ford. Her floor length column gown used rippled fabric panels and subtle leather detailing to create movement and texture. Pointed pumps and a coordinating clutch continued the sleek approach. The result demonstrated how carefully constructed fabric can make a single color visually interesting without overwhelming the overall silhouette.
Maggie Gyllenhaal brought archival fashion into the conversation with an Armani Privé velvet gown originally created in 2015. The design combined sharply defined shoulders, long sleeves and a plunging embellished neckline. Its return more than a decade later also highlighted the growing red carpet practice of revisiting existing fashion rather than treating older couture as something that belongs permanently in an archive.

#susan

Ravindra Jadeja has been a mainstay of India's Test team for more than a decade, but former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta believes the time has come for the team to start looking beyond the veteran all-rounder in the longest format.

Jadeja aged 37, finished India's recent two-Test tour of Sri Lanka with eight wickets across four innings. However, Dasgupta felt the Indian spin attack failed to consistently exert pressure on the hosts, particularly on surfaces where the visitors would have expected their spinners to play a major role.

The former India player singled out the second Test in Colombo, where Sri Lanka were forced to follow on but managed to fight back strongly. Sonal Dinusha's century helped the hosts frustrate India and build a substantial lead before the match eventually ended in a draw.
While Jadeja picked up three wickets in Sri Lanka's second innings, Dasgupta felt India needed more penetration from their experienced spinners.

"Apart from Manav, our spinners didn't look as lethal as we expected. I'm not saying there is no ability. On such pitches, Jadeja has always been very destructive and lethal. I thought he would be crucial on the fifth day. He has been a great servant, but it's done now. He was not as accurate as he is. His action is very shoulder-dominant," Dasgupta said on his YouTube channel.
The Sri Lanka series also highlighted an issue with India's bowling discipline, with the spinners repeatedly overstepping. Saransh Jain, making his Test debut in Colombo, bowled four no-balls, while Jadeja overstepped once. Dasgupta believes such problems need to be addressed during training rather than waiting for them to surface in matches.

"If you are not careful in the nets, it will happen. Even when I was playing, a lot of them would bowl from ahead and say it would not happen in the match, but they would repeat the same thing in the match. You need to avoid this in the nets. This issue is not new with Jadeja; it has only gotten worse," he added.
133717849
India won the two-match series 1-0, with victory by 165 runs in the opening Test in Galle before the second Test in Colombo ended in a draw. India's next Test ******* ignments will come with a tour of New Zealand scheduled for November before Australia travel to India for a five match Test series beginning in January 2027.

#India #dasgupta #colombo #second

BENGALURU: In 118 minutes and 81 ******* , Vaibhav Sooryavanshi offered a glimpse of the raw talent that has made him one of Indian cricket's most sought-after prospects. The southpaw backs his big-hitting ability irrespective of the format and his fearless approach was on full display as the East Zone opener smashed 92 (7x4, 7x6) against Central Zone on Day 2 of their Duleep Trophy semifinal at the BCCI Centre of Excellence here on Monday.

At 15 years and 157 days, Sooryavanshi became the youngest player to score a 50 in the tournament, breaking Central Zone's Laxman Singh's record of 16 years and 23 days, set in January 1969.

The innings was more than just a record. Since his Ranji Trophy debut in 2024, the teenager had managed 215 runs from nine first-class matches. While he has built strong credentials in white-ball cricket, the longer format remains a stern test. Sooryavanshi was in no mood to let a red-ball challenge pass without making a statement.

The first session was all about his attacking display. After getting off the mark with a risky single, the left-hander struck his first boundary with a stylish square drive. That was merely an appetiser, as he repeatedly looked to score in the V against the pacers, including Yash Thakur, whom he deposited over the bowler's head for his first six. His 18 singles were as much a sign of maturity as his seven sixes were of his power.

His domination helped East Zone race to 64 in the first 10 overs. On 40, Sooryavanshi was handed a reprieve when Yash Rathod dropped a straightforward catch off Saransh Jain. The batter made the most of it, bringing up his half-century off 42 ******* with a six over long-on.

What stood out was not just the power, but the range. One particular ******* ault on pacer Aryan Pandey was striking. Charging down the track, Sooryavanshi smashed the ball straight back over the bowler's head for his fourth six.

Such was his command that it seemed to matter little who was bowling. Off-spinner Saransh Jain, who recently made his India Test debut, was dealt with equal confidence, conceding a four and a six as Sooryavanshi raced towards the nervous nineties in the 25th over.

However, he was left distraught when another attempt at a maximum landed in Arshad Khan's hands at deep mid-wicket off Harsh Dubey, leaving him eight runs short of his maiden first-class hundred.

Along with Abhimanyu Easwaran's 69, Sooryavanshi's 92 formed the backbone of a 161-run opening stand that helped East Zone reach 266, exactly matching Central Zone's first-innings total. Central were 45/3 at stumps.
Brief scores: Central Zone 266 & 45/3 in 20 overs (Mukesh ******* ar 2-14) vs East Zone 266 all out in 57 overs (Abhimanyu Easwaran 69, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 92; Aryan Pandey 3-43, Yash Thakur 3-66, Harsh Dubey 4-66).

#central

The Indian cricket board's reluctance to seek better price discovery ahead of the upcoming IPL and home bilateral media rights tender is weighing heavily on the industry.

With about six months to go before the final IPL edition of the 2023-27 rights cycle begins, there is growing concern among cricket's biggest stakeholders that the absence of a credible bidder other than JioStar will prevent an accurate ******* sment of the property's value, and, in turn, deny the market the competitive tension that has driven IPL rights upwards for a decade.

That sentiment was echoed by none other than Uday Shankar, the media entrepreneur who serves as vice-chairman of JioStar, at the recent ET World Leaders Forum.

"Ten years ago, you would have multiple and serious media companies (around four) competing for major sports rights. You'd have four or more companies genuinely fighting for properties. Today, increasingly, it feels as if we are the only ones standing. And that's not healthy," Shankar said.

"The fundamental issue is that the cost of the rights has risen dramatically. But the ability to monetise those rights hasn't necessarily risen at the same rate. The value of sports is enormous, but the rights holder, broadcaster and platform all need to participate in a sustainable ecosystem," he added.

The worrying part of this narrative is the absence of a Plan B for Indian cricket. That JioStar will bid healthily for the IPL is a given: its subscription numbers are heavily leveraged against cricket consumption. What is baffling is the BCCI's inability to bring more participants to the table.

Players such as YouTube and Netflix have been engaging aggressively with sport in the West. YouTube's move into rights aggregation and bundling has, in fact, become an industry trend of its own.

YouTube increasingly treats sport not as a series of standalone rights acquisitions but as the anchor of a broader pay-TV and subscription ecosystem. Its seven-year deal for exclusive US distribution of NFL Sunday Ticket — worth a reported $2 billion a season — works both as a value-add for YouTube TV subscribers and as a standalone product sold through YouTube channels.

Average revenue per user in the West bears little resemblance to what the subcontinent generates, which complicates the ******* umption that volume alone wins the argument. Even so, Indian cricket remains the only market in this part of the world worth a player like YouTube testing the waters in.

More recently, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos told The Economic Times that the streaming giant was interested in live sport, including cricket, but had no intention of becoming a "conventional full-season sports broadcaster".

If so, a property like the IPL sits squarely in Netflix's territory. The storytelling potential of an India-first sports property speaks to a billion-plus domestic audience, a vast global diaspora, and to markets where cricket remains one of India's most effective export

India appeared to have wrested control of the second Test against Sri Lanka after a late burst of wickets, but rain could yet play a major role in determining the outcome of the Test and, in turn, India's WTC campaign.

Sri Lanka were 218 for 6 in their second innings when play was called off early, with Sonal Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha unbeaten at the crease. The hosts had earlier mounted a spirited fightback through Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis, raising the prospect of a draw if further rain disrupts the final day.

Such an outcome could hurt India's chances of making the WTC final.

India are currently fifth in the WTC standings with a points percentage of 53.33. A victory over Sri Lanka would lift Shubman Gill's side to fourth place following Bangladesh's heavy defeat to Australia. A draw, however, would leave India in fifth place with their PCT slipping to 51.52.

The bigger concern is the shrinking margin for error in the remainder of the cycle.

India will have seven Tests left after this match, including a two-Test tour of New Zealand in November before a five-Test home series against Australia next year. Having already lost four of their 10 Tests in the current cycle, India can ill afford many more setbacks.

If India win seven of their remaining eight Tests, including this match, they can finish with a PCT of 68.52. But six wins and two defeats would leave them at 62.96, a figure that may not be enough based on recent qualification trends.

Three of the four teams to reach the WTC final across the last two cycles had a PCT of more than 65, with India's 58.8 in the 2023 cycle the lone exception. Both finalists in 2025 finished above 67.

The calculations also ******* ume India do not lose any points through over-rate penalties.

For now, India remain well placed in the Test after Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain struck regularly in the final session. But with Sri Lanka still fighting and rain already interrupting play, a result remains crucial not just for the series but for India's increasingly tight road to the WTC final.

#test #final

Hollywood is mourning the loss of Tim Curry.
The British actor died at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Susan Sarandon, his co-star in the Rocky Horror Picture Show, posted a throwback image of the two with a caption that read, "What a funny, ***** y, original he was. But what I loved about him most was his heart. Even wheelchair-bound, he continued to be so sweet and generous with his fans. Thank you Tim for meaning so much to so many people. Love you, S."
Luke Evans, the most recent actor to play Dr Frank-N-Furter on Broadway, the role Curry originated onstage and portrayed in the 1975 film, penned a tribute on Instagram.
"There will only be one Tim Curry. He was a force, a bright fierce flame, an exquisite charm and that rich vocal tone, he was an inspiration to me and so many people for the roles he played and the effect he had on so many of us."
Carol Burnett, who starred alongside Curry in Annie, shared a clip from the 1982 film on Instagram. She wrote, "We had such a wonderful time working together on Annie. ***** ody could play lovable villains better than he could. He was a dear friend. I was blessed to know him."

#Instagram #annie #play #british

Luke Evans is paying tribute to Tim Curry by sharing an emotional letter he sent to the late "Clue" actor just weeks before his death at age 80.
Evans made his Broadway debut as cross-dressing mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter in "The Rocky Horror Show," for which he received a Tony Award nomination, earlier this year. Curry originated the role when the musical premiered in London in 1973, and later reprised it on the New York stage and in the 1975 film adaptation, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," co-starring Susan Sarandon.
Shortly after Curry's death was announced Wednesday, Evans posted the text of his letter on Instagram, describing the actor as "a bright fierce flame" who was "an inspiration to me and so many more people."
Tim Curry originated the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in a London production of "The Rocky Horror Show" in 1973, and later reprised the role in the 1975 film adaptation, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Movie Poster Image Art via Getty Images
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#horror #evans #role #london

Actor Tim Curry, known for his iconic performances in cult classics like "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and the original screen adaptation of Stephen King's "It," has died, his manager confirmed. He was 80.
A cause of death was not given, but his publicist said he died "peacefully at his home in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles," on Tuesday.
Born into a military family in Cheshire, England, in 1946, the British singer and actor grew up moving from place to place before eventually returning to the U.K. and starting his career, which began in the original 1968 production of "Hair" in London's West End.
He went on to receive multiple Emmy, Grammy and Tony awards, alongside additional acclaim, throughout his decades in the business. Many considered his flamboyant and often genre-defying theatrical style to be a pioneering form of comedy, in a league of its own.
Not long after his West End debut, Curry rocketed into the global limelight with his portrayal of cross-dressing scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter in "Rocky Horror," the 1975 musical comedy movie in which he starred alongside the likes of Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick. He reprised the role for the screen after first playing it in the stage musical "The Rocky Horror Show."

#curry

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" star Tim Curry has died aged 80.
The Cheshire-born actor, known for playing transvestite alien scientist Dr Frank-N-Furter in the 1975 musical film, died at his Los Angeles home, according to his long-time manager and friend Marcia Hurwitz.
A cause of death was not confirmed, however, it comes after Curry suffered a major stroke in 2012, leaving his left side paralysed.
Curry's versatile career spanned stage and screen with notable film credits including as Pennywise in "It" (1990), the concierge in "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" (1992) and Long John Silver in "Muppet Treasure Island" (1996).
He originated the "sweet transvestite from transsexual Transylvania" character on stage in London before taking the show to Broadway, and then reprising the role in the film which also starred Susan Sarandon, Meat Loaf and Barry Bostwick.

#film #show #home

Home Alone 2 actor Tim Curry died on Tuesday, August 25.
According to TMZ, Curry's health was on the decline for over a decade before his death at the age of 80. The Hollywood star died at his Los Angeles home. No cause of death has yet been revealed for the revered actor.
In 2025, Curry shared with The Hollywood Reporter that he was still unable to walk following a near-fatal stroke in 2012.
"I still can't walk, which is why I'm in this silly chair, and that's very limiting. So I won't be singing, and I won't be dancing very soon. I still have real problems with my left leg," he shared at a screening for the 50th anniversary of the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, in which he starred alongside Susan Sarandon.
Curry often displayed his knack for musical theater in his roles, including playing Rooster Hannigan in the 1982 film adaptation of Annie, as well as several Broadway productions, such as Monty Python's Spamalot, My Favorite Year, and Hair.

#curry #still #won 't

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka reached lunch at 83-2 in its second innings Wednesday, still 130 behind in the second cricket test after India enforced the follow on.
Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar took three wickets each as Sri Lanka was dismissed for 290 in reply to India's first innings of 503-9 declared.
At the break, Pasindu Sooriyabandara was not out on 35 and Kamindu Mendis was unbeaten on 10.
Sri Lanka started Day 4 at 265-8 at the Sinhalese Sports Club with No. 7 batsman Sonal Dinusha closing in on a century and just 39 runs away from avoiding the follow on.
But, off spinner Saransh Jain accounted for the last two wickets as Sri Lanka gave up a 213-run first innings lead.

#innings #second #prasidh

It was one of the riskiest singles Dhruv Jurel would have taken in his Test career. Anxious to complete his second Test century — and first overseas hundred — after being stranded on 99 for 12 ******* and made to wait by rain while on 95, Jurel punched the ball towards mid-off and sprinted for a single that just wasn't on.

The ball travelled quickly to the fielder after bouncing. But luck smiled on the 25-year-old batter. The fielder missed the direct hit and Jurel dived to complete the run and his century, which came off 171 ******* and had the entire Indian dressing room applauding as they shared the tension. Mohammed Siraj celebrated wildly, giving Jurel a bear hug.

Powered by Jurel's composed and flawless unbeaten 115 off 177 ******* , with nine fours and two sixes, and Rishabh Pant's entertaining 63 off 89 ******* , with six fours and two sixes, India declared at 503 for nine. Then, they reduced Sri Lanka to 8/2 on Day Two of the second and final Test in Colombo on Monday.

The hosts were clearly unhappy about being asked to bat in fading light. Yashasvi Jaiswal pulled off a brilliant diving catch at gully to send back Lahiru Udara for one off Prasidh Krishna in the second over.

In the third over, the hosts suffered another blow when nightwatchman Prabath Jayasuriya was trapped LBW for two by a fast, full delivery from Manav Suthar. Jayasuriya's agitated reaction after being dismissed reflected Sri Lanka's unhappiness at being asked to bat so late in the evening.

Kamil Mishara was batting on five when stumps were drawn at 5:51pm after an extended session. Shubman Gill and Co. deserve credit for their bowlers' early blows, as they did not leave the field even when the covers were being brought on because of the dark, wet conditions a few minutes earlier.

With the hosts trailing by 495 runs, India are now in control of the Test.

Jurel was involved in two vital partnerships, adding 112 for the seventh wicket with Pant, which lifted India from 307 for six, and 39 for the eighth with Manav Suthar. During his stand with Pant, Jurel played the ideal foil, reaching a patient fifty off 97 ******* .

Like Devdutt Padikkal, Jurel has enjoyed a breakout series. Having arrived in Sri Lanka without a fifty in eight innings and under pressure from Sarfaraz Khan for the No. 6 spot, he made a crucial 51 in the first Test and now has 173 runs in two Tests at 86.50.

Rishabh Pant, meanwhile, struck his 21st Test half-century and became India's leading run-scorer in World Test Championship history, surpassing Shubman Gill. Pant now has 2,948 runs in 42 WTC Tests, ahead of Gill's 2,917.

Earlier, India resumed on 300 for five and lost debutant Saransh Jain early for six.

#jurel

NEW DELHI: Rishabh Pant continued his remarkable rise through India's Test record books on Monday, surpassing captain Shubman Gill to become the country's highest run-scorer in ICC World Test Championship history. Pant was unbeaten on 63 at lunch on the second day of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo as India reached 419/6.

Pant now has 2,948 runs from 42 Tests in the World Test Championship, moving ahead of Gill's 2,917 from the same number of matches. Rohit Sharma is third among Indian batters with 2,716 runs from 40 Tests, followed by Ravindra Jadeja (2,675 from 50) and Virat Kohli (2,617 from 46). Among current Indian players, Yashasvi Jaiswal is next with 2,588 runs from 30 Tests.

The latest milestone came during a crucial partnership with Dhruv Jurel, who also reached his half-century. The pair had added an unbeaten 112 runs for the seventh wicket by lunch, helping India build a commanding first-innings total after losing six wickets.
Pant's latest achievement came on the back of another significant milestone earlier in the innings. The wicketkeeper-batter also moved past MS Dhoni to become India's highest run-scorer as a designated wicketkeeper in away or neutral Tests.

Pant crossed 2,500 runs in the category, edging beyond Dhoni's 2,496. He has done so at an average of almost 42, compared with Dhoni's 32.84.

Farokh Engineer is third on the list with 1,209 runs at an average of 32.67, while Syed Kirmani has 1,109 at 21.74 and Kiran More 901 at 29.06.

Pant's latest landmarks have come despite an injury scare on the opening day. He had retired hurt after being struck on the left arm by a short delivery from Sri Lanka pacer Lahiru ***** ara, having scored only three runs.
Pant returned on Day 2 after Sri Lanka dismissed debutant Saransh Jain for six and immediately helped India regain control alongside Jurel. The pair negotiated Sri Lanka's pace attack and took India beyond 400 before the lunch interval.

The total of 419/6 is only the 11th time a team has posted 400 or more in the first innings of a Test at this venue. Six of the previous 10 instances resulted in victories, while four ended in draws.

The century partnership between Pant and Jurel is also only the second time India have registered a 100-plus stand for the seventh wicket or lower in a Test in Sri Lanka. The previous instance came at the same venue in 2015, when Cheteshwar Pujara and Amit Mishra added 104.

#tests #latest

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak firmly dismissed speculation surrounding Kuldeep Yadav's absence from the Colombo Test, insisting the left-arm wrist spinner was genuinely down with viral fever and there was "no need to fake" an illness to leave him out of the XI.

"If the team needs a spinner and then he doesn't play, there is no need to fake that he wasn't keeping well," Kotak said, stressing that Kuldeep was unfit to take the field.

Kotak also provided a positive update on Rishabh Pant, who retired hurt on two after being struck on the left wrist by a Lahiru ****** ara bouncer shortly after tea on Day 1. The wicketkeeper-batter received treatment before leaving the field, but Kotak said he was expected to resume his innings on Monday.

India ended the day on 300/5 with Dhruv Jurel and Saransh Jain unbeaten, while hoping Pant's return can help push the total higher.

The opening day also saw tempers flare when Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando exchanged words following the opener's dismissal. Kotak termed it a "heat of the moment" incident, though he felt Jaiswal should not have approached the bowler. Sri Lanka fast bowling coach Ryan van Niekerk called the confrontation an "overflow of emotion", leaving any disciplinary action in the hands of match referee Andy Pycroft.

#kotak #India #jaiswal #spinner

After BCCI dissolves national selectors' role in picking zonal teams, sanctity of the tournament comes under scanner

CHENNAI/NEW DELHI: A few days before the Duleep Trophy got underway at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru on Sunday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced that the final will be shifted to MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The reason given was that there will be fans who will come to watch the match, which doesn't happen in the CoE.

Chennai is a cricket-crazy centre. But when you ask those who 'book' their IPL tickets long before the event, whether they would be interested in attending the Duleep final, the standard query is: "Will Shubman Gill play?"

Gill, in this case, stands for all the stars of Indian cricket. The Duleep final is from Sept 6-10, and it will be interesting to see that those who are not part of the Afghanistan T20 series starting on Sept 12 turn out at MAC.

That said, the primary purpose of the inter-zonal tournament is to check out the best performers in the Ranji Trophy go head-to-head against each other. The relevance of the tournament, especially after the inception of IPL, has diminished drastically. Yet, it remains a stepping stone for a lot of players.

The tournament's sanctity has been up for debate with the selection process. The BCCI, in the last decade, has often tried playing the tournament with national selectors picking the India 'A', 'B' and 'C' teams.

This year, the board has reverted to the inter-zonal format and has kept the national selectors out of the equation. The result? Delhi opener Sanat Sangwan, who scored 828 runs in seven Ranji Trophy matches, was on Sunday, benched by the North Zone management and instead middle-order batter Yash Dhull was played as an opener. The Central Zone team has only one player from semifinalist Uttarakhand while Madhya Pradesh was the only team from the zone to have qualified for the quarterfinals. There have been a few debatable selections in the South Zone team as well.

Former national selector Devang Gandhi believes that a national selector has to be involved in the selection process if the sanctity of the tournament is to be saved. "When we were selectors from 2016-2021, BCCI had given us the responsibility of picking the Duleep Trophy to maintain continuity in a player's development. If the opener with the highest runs in the country doesn't get to play Duleep Trophy, it defeats the purpose of the tournament. The board must at least ensure one selector from each zone is present in planning their respective zonal teams. Otherwise, politics at the state **** ociation level can crop up. There's no accountability if BCCI selectors are not used," Gandhi told TOI.

"Today we are seeing Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain as products of domestic cricket. If that structure is compromised, then it will be difficult to see such journeys," Gandhi added.

TOI understands that the selection committee has been asking for a greater role

NEW DELHI: India made one change to their playing XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Sunday, with Kuldeep Yadav missing out after failing to fully recover from a viral infection and Saransh Jain making his Test debut.

India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat first, with the hosts also handing Test debuts to Kamil Mishara and Pasindu Sooriyabandara.

India entered the second Test with an unassailable 1-0 lead after their 165-run victory in the series opener at Galle. However, Kuldeep's absence meant India had to alter their combination, with Jain coming into the XI as the spin-bowling allrounder.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Kuldeep remains unavailable for selection but could still be used in a specific situation.

"Mr Kuldeep Yadav has not fully recovered from his viral illness. He was unavailable for selection in the Playing XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka. However, he can take the field as a concussion substitute, if required," the BCCI said.
Gill also addressed Kuldeep's absence after winning the toss, confirming that an infection had ruled out the left-arm wristspinner.

"[Playing XI] Kuldeep, unfortunately, had some infections, so he misses out, and Saransh makes his debut for India," Gill said.

With Kuldeep unavailable, Jain received his first opportunity at Test level. The 33-year-old was presented his India cap by Ravindra Jadeja during the team's huddle before the start of play.

Jain becomes the first India player to make his international debut after turning 33 since Robin Singh in 1998.
Gill opted to bat after ******* sing the Colombo surface and felt it offered better batting conditions than the pitch in Galle.

"Batting first, yes. [On the pitch] It looks like a much harder, much better surface compared to Galle. Galle was also a very good wicket, but I think as the game went on, it got a little bit slower and the ball started to turn. We're expecting the same, but I think for the first two or three days, I think it'll be a really good wicket to bat on," Gill said.

Reflecting on India's dominant win in the first Test, Gill rated the team's performance highly but admitted there was still room for improvement.

"[How he would rate the Galle win] I would say probably a nine, because there's always room for improvement, and I think we played a pretty good match, a decent match. And obviously there were some areas where we could have got a little bit better, but, you know, this is Test cricket. It's very, very difficult to be able to have a near-perfect game because you're playing for five days, and to play that dominant and consistent cricket, especially in Test, is hard. But I think overall we had a pretty good match," Gill said.
India Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Sri Lanka P

Bengaluru: India's Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar, Auqib Nabi and Sarfaraz Khan, who are all in Sri Lanka for the ongoing Test series, are proof that selectors don't deny consistent domestic performers. India's domestic cricketers can draw inspiration from such journeys as they head into the Duleep Trophy, the curtain-raiser for the domestic season, at the BCCI Centre of Excellence from Sunday onwards.

The spotlight will be on 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The Bihar boy has already made his T20 debut after a stunning IPL 2026 season. There have been questions about whether the big-hitting batter has the patience and composure to play in the longer format. His 207 runs in eight first-class matches do not justify his skill set. At this juncture, the upcoming domestic seasons in red-ball cricket ******* ume greater significance.

#Bengaluru #auqib

Saransh Jain, a 33-year-old Madhya Pradesh all-rounder, finally earned his maiden senior India call-up after more than a decade grinding away in domestic cricket.
An off-spinner who bowls right-arm but bats left-handed, Jain now finds himself alongside established spin options Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar in the squad.
With Washington Sundar ruled out of the opening Test through injury, Jain's inclusion gives India another off-spin option, while his consistent lower-order runs add genuine value to the batting depth.
Jain's most decisive performance arrived just weeks before the squad announcement. He was playing for India A against Sri Lanka A in Galle, and he returned with figures of 4 for 92 and 2 for 66 across both innings.
Jain also struck an unbeaten 70 with the bat to help India A register a comprehensive ten-wicket win and a 1-0 series victory. Now, Jain heads back to the same Sri Lankan shores, only this time wearing India's senior Test colours.

#India #ravindra

Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif has questioned captain Shubman Gill's use of Kuldeep Yadav in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle, saying the spinner's short spells suggested a lack of faith in him.

Kuldeep bowled only 25 overs across India's two innings in the Test and took one wicket, while left-arm spinner Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja bowled around 44 overs each and shared 14 wickets. India won the Test by 165 runs.

Kaif, speaking on his YouTube channel, said Kuldeep is a rare type of bowler and needs the backing of the captain and team management.

"From how he was used, it is clear that Shubman Gill doesn't have enough faith in Kuldeep Yadav. From my point of view, you would not get a unique bowler like Kuldeep that often. They come just once or twice in history. We may get Ravindra Jadeja's replacement in the future, like we have Suthar; then we had Washington Sundar after Ashwin, but Kuldeep is a unique gift."

Kaif also said wrist-spinners need longer spells to settle into a rhythm and work on their mistakes.

"When you give a bowler a spell, especially a wrist-spinner, you need to give him a long spell. The short spells are not helping Kuldeep. Longer spells give you the chance to rectify mistakes. You need time to get into rhythm. Shubman Gill did not back him in that sense," he said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

Kaif backed former India head coach Ravi Shastri's ******* sment that Kuldeep is India's No. 1 spinner in overseas conditions. He said the left-arm wrist-spinner could be particularly important on flatter pitches where there is less ******* istance from the surface.

"I agree with Ravi Shastri, who said that Kuldeep is our No. 1 spinner in overseas conditions. You just need accuracy on turning tracks. You will somehow get a wicket by bowling at the same area. But you won't get such turning tracks in New Zealand. I feel Kuldeep will play a major role on flat pitches or pitches where there would not be much turn on offer. You will have to keep his confidence high as captain and team management," Kaif said.

India's next Test is in Colombo from August 23, and Kaif believes the team could consider handing a debut to Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Saransh Jain.

He pointed to Sri Lanka's left-handed batters Niroshan ******* wella and Sonal Dinusha, who scored runs in the first Test, as a possible reason for India to consider an off-spinner.

"I feel India might be considering playing Saransh Jain in Colombo. The two batters who scored runs, ******* wella and Sonal, are both lefties. There came a time when Shubman Gill was searching for an off-spinner when they were batting. Because of Sri Lanka's in-form lefties, maybe Kuldeep will have to face the axe. It was Suthar vs Saransh earlier; now it will be Kuldeep vs Saransh," he signed off.

Kuldeep, who made his Test debut in 2018, has played 19 Tests and taken 80 wickets at an average of 23.36. He has four four-wicket hauls and five five-wicket h

Talk about arriving in Test cricket with a bang. Just minutes after Manav Suthar bowled debutant Keshara Nuwantha to seal India's emphatic 165-run win over Sri Lanka in the first Test at the Galle International Cricket Stadium, heavy rain lashed the venue.

By then, however, the damage had been done, with the young left-arm spinner delivering a performance for the ages.

Suthar ripped through Sri Lanka's lower order in a sensational spell. In the 76th over, he bowled a three-wicket maiden, dismissing the resolute Sonal Dinusha (84; 128b, 8x4, 1x6), who was caught at leg slip by Dhruv Jurel, before removing Prabhat Jayasuriya for a duck off the very next ball. Though he missed out on a hat-trick, Suthar completed his second five-wicket haul in Test cricket by having Lahiru ****** ara caught behind.

His late burst earned him figures of 6-55 in 23.4 overs as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 206 in 77.4 overs while chasing an improbable 372. The 24-year-old finished with match figures of 10/131 in 45.2 overs after taking 4-76 in the first innings, making him the undisputed architect of India's victory and making the team's 600th Test memorable.

The victory also kept India firmly in contention for a place in the 2027 World Test Championship final. They remain fifth in the standings but improved their points percentage to 53.33 while Sri Lanka stayed sixth on 33.33. Australia currently lead the table, followed by South Africa. With one match left in the series, Sri Lanka can no longer win it but will aim to deny India a series victory in the second Test beginning on Sunday.

Chasing what would have been the highest successful fourth-innings total in Galle, Sri Lanka never threatened after beginning the final day at 84-4. While Suthar dominated proceedings, pacer Prasidh Krishna also played a key role, producing a fiery spell to finish with 2-16 from 10 overs.

Prasidh's second wicket came after an intriguing exchange involving Niroshan ****** wella. Amid constant chatter from Yashasvi Jaiswal, who challenged him to play the hook shot and jokingly suggested he could recommend him to his IPL coach ****** ar Sangakkara, ****** wella appeared distracted.

Attempting an ambitious stroke after backing away from the stumps, the left-hander top-edged to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and departed for 10.

Kuldeep Yadav, meanwhile, looked off-colour, returning figures of 1/38 from 11 overs, which could prompt discussions about giving rookie off-spinner Saransh Jain an opportunity in Colombo.

#suthar #Cricket #left #victory

Kim Kardashian reveals she used to manage her psoriasis by wrapping herself in Saran Wrap at night
She now uses Broc Shot, a broccoli seed-based treatment that provides lasting relief without side effects
Kardashian says the treatment has improved her confidence and fits seamlessly into her busy routine as a mom of four
Kim Kardashian used to have only one way to manage her painful skin disorder psoriasis — by wrapping herself up like a mummy.
"In the daytime, I would have to put on an ointment, and then wrap it in Saran Wrap at nighttime. So I used to have Saran Wrap by the side of my bed," the entrepreneur, 45, tells PEOPLE about her ongoing struggle with the skin disorder, which causes painful, itchy patches of skin that can resemble scales.

#saran #psoriasis #wrapping #herself

Celebrities may be best known for their work in the spotlight, but many have fascinating passions beyond their careers. From building furniture and diving for gold to performing music in unexpected genres, these stars take their hobbies seriously. Here's a closer look at the interests that reveal a surprising and more relatable side of some very famous faces.
Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / MEGA
When he's not lighting up the big screen, Idris Elba finds his groove behind the DJ booth or producing music under his moniker DJ Big Driis. He brings his love of sound to music festivals around the world, often slipping seamlessly between Hollywood film sets and club stages. A major draw at the world's biggest music events annually, his appearances include Coachella, Sound in LA, and Output in New York, as well as UK stages including Ministry of Sound, Creamfields, and Glastonbury, apart from a past residency at Hi Ibiza in collaboration with techno music guru David Guetta, per Khaleej Times. Elba's skills in music production showcase an impressive passion you might not expect from the versatile actor.
Lumeimages / MEGA
Known for her legendary roles, Susan Sarandon is just as passionate about activism as she is about acting. Academy Award-winning actress, producer, and humanitarian Susan Sarandon was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1999, as reported by UNICEF. Off the movie set, Sarandon can often be found at charity events and using her platform to champion causes close to her heart.

#often

Kaito Ono arrived in ONE Championship as one of ******* an's most highly respected strikers. But after his first two appearances on the global stage, the decorated fighter found himself trapped in a period of unfamiliar darkness.
Mohammad Siasarani spoiled his promotional debut by unanimous decision in May 2025, before Marat Grigorian stopped him at ONE SAMURAI 1 this past April, leaving the 28-year-old with hazy memories of the bout.
Kaito now rematches Siasarani in the ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament quarterfinal, which serves as the co-main event at ONE SAMURAI 2 this Saturday, August 8. The explosive card broadcasts live in Asia primetime on live.onefc.com from Tokyo's EBARA WAVE Arena Ota.
A victory would perfectly avenge his first ONE loss, earn a coveted semifinal place in the eight-man bracket, and move him one step closer to reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon.
He recalled:

#samurai #first

NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi earned his maiden call-up to the Indian team after senior pacer Jasprit ******* rah was ruled out of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. TimesofIndia.com had earlier reported that the J & K pacer was the frontrunner to replace the 32-year-old in the squad, who has not yet fully recovered from the left knee injury sustained during the ODI series against England.

"The Men's Selection Committee has named Auqib Nabi as ******* rah's replacement. The Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler earns his maiden call-up to the senior national team," A BCCI release said.

Nabi claimed 104 wickets across the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, including 60 wickets in the 2025-26 campaign, playing a pivotal role in Jammu and Kashmir's maiden Ranji Trophy triumph.

He was also part of the India A squad that toured Sri Lanka recently, where he claimed six wickets in two first-class matches.

The first Test will be played in Galle from August 15 to 19, while the second Test will be held in Colombo from August 23 to 27.

The series is part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
132822556
Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sai Sudharsan*, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi.

*Subject to fitness clearance

#nabi #test #jammu #maiden

RCB' **** le winning captain Rajat Patidar has been appointed captain of the Central Zone squad for the 2026 Duleep Trophy, with Rinku Singh named his deputy for the prestigious domestic tournament, scheduled to be held at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from August 23 to September 10.

The leadership duo brings together two of Central Zone's most experienced batters. Patidar, who captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru to back-to-back IPL **** les, will now look to guide Central Zone in the season-opening first-class competition, while Rinku will serve as vice-captain.
Among the notable inclusions is off-spinning all-rounder Saransh Jain, who is also part of India's Test squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. However, Jain is expected to miss at least the opening phase of the Duleep Trophy as he remains with the national team. With Washington Sundar ruled out of the first Test, Jain is among the leading contenders to make his Test debut in the series opener at Galle, beginning on August 15. The second Test is scheduled to start in Colombo on August 23, the same day the Duleep Trophy gets underway.

Central Zone have **** embled a balanced squad featuring several established domestic performers and exciting young talents. Apart from Patidar and Rinku, the batting unit includes Aryan Juyal, Aman Mokhade, Kunal Chandela, Yash Rathod and Ayush Pandey, while the all-round department is strengthened by Harsh Dubey, Arshad Khan and Saransh Jain.

The bowling attack features Zeeshan Ansari, Aryan Pandey, Yash Thakur and Nachiket Bhute, while Aryan Juyal and Kunal Singh Rathod have been named as the wicketkeeping options.
The Duleep Trophy will once again mark the beginning of India's domestic red-ball season, with all matches set to be played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru between August 23 and September 10. The tournament continues in its zonal format and is expected to feature several Indian internationals and emerging talents from across the country.

Central Zone squad: Rajat Patidar (captain), Rinku Singh (vice-captain), Aryan Juyal (wicketkeeper), Saransh Jain, Aman Mokhade, Kunal Chandela, Zeeshan Ansari, Aryan Pandey, Arshad Khan, Ayush Pandey, Yash Rathod, Harsh Dubey, Kunal Singh Rathod (wk), Yash Thakur and Nachiket Bhute.

Stand-by players: Amandeep Khare, Mayank Mishra, Saurabh Rawat, Bhargav Merai, Kunal Yadav and **** ar Kartikeya.

#patidar #zone #duleep #rinku

Joe Rogan claims there will be little debate in the future that Israel committed a "genocide" in Gaza.
The veteran comic made the claim during the Wednesday episode of his podcast, in which he said the idea of genocide by Israel would become "universally accepted."
Rogan said he can't see how anyone can support Israel's war in Gaza, even when considering it was spurred by the Hamas terror attack in October 2023 where about 1,200 people were slaughtered and hundreds of hostages were taken.
"Like, how could anybody defend that? I don't even know how many people are dead," Rogan said. "You have a complete wipeout of a city — like 90% of Gaza is gone, or whatever the percentage is. You look at the buildings — you look at what it used to look like, [and] you look at what it looks like now — like, this is defensible?"
He got onto the topic after his guest, actor Tim Robbins, complained it was "nuts" ex-wife Susan Sarandon lost her agent and had a hard time finding work because of her criticism of Israel and comments after the 10/7 attack.

#Gaza

New Delhi: On March 27 this year, Saransh Jain posted photos and videos on Instagram, thanking former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for the valuable lessons he learnt during a five-day camp at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.

In the caption, Saransh mentioned a line Harbhajan Singh told him that touched him the most. It read: "Kuch paane ke liye kuch khona nahi, kuch karna padta hai (To achieve something, you don't have to lose something, you have to do something)." Saransh further wrote: "These aren't just words. They were deeply felt and will stay with me."
Now, months later, the 33-year-old has earned his maiden India call-up.

"He is a very humble guy who knows exactly what he needs to do. I wish him all the very best because this is a special moment for him, his family and everyone who has supported him," Harbhajan told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.

Saransh, who has played extensive First-Class cricket and has been a regular for Madhya Pradesh, impressed the selectors with his consistency during the domestic grind and was recently rewarded with an India A call-up. In his outing for India A against Sri Lanka A, Saransh picked up seven wickets in the two unofficial Tests. In the second match, he claimed six wickets and scored an unbeaten 70 in the first innings, paving the way for India's 10-wicket victory.
"He has worked incredibly hard and spent many years in domestic cricket, which, in many ways, is tougher than people realise. Bowling long spells of 40 or 50 overs across a match teaches you a lot. The more you bowl, the more you learn," says Harbhajan, while lauding Saransh's domestic grind.

Washington Sundar's injury opened the door for Saransh. With Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar and Kuldeep Yadav in the squad, Saransh is the fourth spinner but the lone off-spinner. If he goes on to make his debut, Saransh will become the first India player to debut after the age of 33 since Robin Singh in 1998.

"At 33, he is still young for a spinner, but he now has the experience of bowling to some of the best players of spin in domestic cricket. I am grateful that I got the opportunity to spend four or five days with him," says Harbhajan, backing Saransh to do well.
Over the years, Saransh's flight, dip and high-arm action have proved difficult for batters to pick. Those are exactly the attributes that caught Harbhajan Singh's attention during the specialist camp for off-spinners at the CoE.

"The first thing I noticed was his action. He has a very good action and keeps things simple. He isn't trying too many fancy variations. He has a lot of experience, an excellent seam position and tremendous control. Those qualities make a big difference," says Harbhajan.

"Experience teaches you to trust your strengths and bowl the right line and length consistently. What impressed me the most was his attitude. His mindset is always about taking wickets. Today, many bowlers are focused on simply getting thr

Harbhajan Singh reveals the one quality that makes Saransh Jain different ahead of potential India Test debut originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Saransh Jain earned his maiden India call-up for the Sri Lanka Test series on Tuesday.
Harbhajan Singh praised the off-spinner's clean action, control and hunger for wickets.
The 33-year-old impressed Harbhajan during a specialist camp at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
Saransh Jain's long grind through the domestic circuit was rewarded on Tuesday when the BCCI named the 33-year-old off-spinner in India's squad for the two-Test series in Sri Lanka. The Madhya Pradesh all-rounder earned his maiden call-up after Washington Sundar was ruled out through injury, opening a door years in the making.

#harbhajan #test

Saransh Jain earns maiden India call-up: Why is 33-year-old spinner included in India Test squad for Sri Lanka tour originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Saransh Jain, 33, gets maiden India Test call-up for Sri Lanka.
Injury to Washington Sundar opens door for MP off-spinner.
Jain faces an uphill battle to break settled spin trio's grip.
Off-spinning all-rounder Saransh Jain has been rewarded with his first-ever Test call-up, joining India's squad for the upcoming two-match series in Sri Lanka this August. It is a breakthrough that arrives at the relatively advanced cricketing age of 33.

#jain #call

ONE Championship has completed the bracket for its blockbuster eight-man ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament, revealing the final two matchups that will determine who earns a shot at gold.
Three-time Glory Kickboxing World Champion Marat Grigorian will square off against Russian standout Mamuka Usubyan at The Inner Circle 25 on Friday, August 7. The bout streams live in Asia primetime via live.onefc.com from Bangkok's iconic Lumpinee Stadium.
The very next night, ****** an's Kosuke "Unstoppable Phoenix" Takagi collides with China's Luo Chao at ONE SAMURAI 2 on Saturday, August 8, live from the iconic EBARA WAVE Arena Ota. The winner of the tournament will earn a guaranteed shot at reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon.
In two previously announced bouts, former ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Masaaki Noiri will seek revenge against "Spirit Dragon" Liu Mengyang, while ****** anese star Kaito Ono runs it back with Iranian powerhouse Mohammad Siasarani.
Marat Grigorian appeared to place himself at the front of the featherweight kickboxing queue with his most recent performance. The Armenian icon needed less than two minutes to knock out Kaito at ONE SAMURAI 1 on April 29, ending their heated rivalry with a decisive statement inside Tokyo's Ariake Arena.