Usha Vance nearly stumbled while holding her infant son, Alec, in a baby carrier as she exited a helicopter on Monday, Oct. 5
The second lady quickly regained her footing and soothed her son before Vice President JD Vance and their daughter, Mirabel, joined her
The Vance family traveled to Anchorage, Alaska, for a Republican National Committee rally
Usha Vance nearly stumbled while exiting a helicopter at Joint Base Andrews in Prince George's County, Maryland on Monday, Oct. 5.
The second lady had 10-week-old infant Alec Neel Vance strapped to her chest in a baby carrier at the time, according to USA Today. Usha, 40, and Vice President JD Vance share four children, including baby boy Alec, 9-year-old son Ewan, 6-year-old son Vivek, and 4-year-old daughter Mirabel.

#usha #alec #year

A startup is proving that there's value in finding creative solutions for returned and overstock inventory.
Buywander, an auction-based marketplace for returned and overstocked retail inventory, has just secured $21 million in fresh funding. Madrona Venture Group and Inspired Capital led the Series A funding round. This brings the Seattle-based startup's total funding to $28 million. Buywander said it will use the funding to accelerate national expansion, invest in technology, and grow its leadership team.
More from WWD
Gatik Raises $200 Million as It Ramps Up Driverless Truck Fleet
Fullerton Backs Usha Yarns' Expansion in Recycled Fiber Production

#funding

Brent crude climbed above $108 a barrel on Tuesday as traders grew increasingly uncertain about when Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline would reopen, with fresh Houthi attacks on the kingdom and suspended oil loadings at its Red Sea export terminal adding to supply fears.
By 1:00 p.m. ET, Brent futures had climbed 3% to $108.88 per barrel, with U.S. West Texas Intermediate up 4.7% at $106.12. A close at those levels would mark the highest settlement for either contract in close to four months, according to Reuters. Prices have risen around 20% this month as fighting in the Persian Gulf has escalated.
According to shipping industry sources who spoke with Reuters, crude loadings at the Yanbu terminal on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast had been halted as of Tuesday. Separately, sources told Reuters that Saudi officials had notified European buyers that certain crude shipments scheduled for late September would not proceed.
Saudi Arabia shut down the East-West Pipeline after drone attacks originating from Iraq struck it last week, forcing the kingdom to halt the export route it had been using to bypass the Strait of Hormuz during the U.S.-Iran war. The pipeline can move up to 7 million barrels per day. Saudi officials have described the closure as a precautionary measure but have not provided a damage ******* sment or a timeline for resuming operations. U.K. authorities fear the pipeline may remain mostly shut for six weeks, according to Bloomberg.
Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen carried out additional strikes on Saudi Arabia on Monday. According to a spokesperson for the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen, the group fired drones and ballistic missiles targeting the cities of Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Taif. According to Reuters, the Houthis claimed to have struck a military air base in Khamis Mushait, with their stated targets including hangars, radar installations, runway infrastructure, and stores of ammunition.

#west #east

The International League T20 (ILT20) Season 5 was officially launched with a glittering event in Dubai, with fast-bowling legends Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar among the star attractions on an evening celebrating the league's rapid rise and growing influence across the Gulf region.

The event brought together leading figures from cricket, sport, business and government, with ILT20 chairman Khalid Al Zarooni and league commissioner, ICC board director and ECB general secretary Mubashshir Usmani highlighting the tournament's contribution to the development and expansion of cricket in the UAE and the wider region.

Al Zarooni reflected on the league's growth while thanking its stakeholders and partners.

"What began as a dream has grown into one of the world's leading cricket leagues, bringing together top players and major franchises, while helping grow cricket in the UAE, the region and beyond," he said.

He also acknowledged the support of franchise owners, commercial and strategic partners, with a special mention for Zee Network, while welcoming SPORTFIVE as a new commercial partner.
A special panel discussion hosted by former New Zealand international Simon Doull explored the changing landscape and future of cricket in the region and globally.

The panel featured Usmani, Dr Mohamed Abu Hamra, Eisa Sharif of the Dubai Sports Council, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Deputy CEO and CFO Mukund Galgali, SportFive President Venu Nair and Bisleri Global Director Sales & Marketing Tushar Malhotra.

Doull later brought Lee and Shoaib together for another engaging discussion, with the two legendary fast bowlers speaking about the ILT20's growing impact on UAE and regional cricket.

The pair also looked back on their playing careers, recalling an era in which their blistering pace made them two of the most feared fast bowlers in world cricket.

The evening also featured a spell-binding performance by celebrity mentalist Karan Singh Magic, while the league unveiled its new brand identity for Season 5.
Season 5 will be played in November and December across the UAE's three iconic venues — Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Dubai International Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Defending champions Desert Vipers will enter the fifth season aiming to retain their crown. Gulf Giants won the inaugural season, followed by MI Emirates in Season 2 and Dubai Capitals in Season 3.

#stadium

Karnataka batter Karun Nair has taken a subtle but pointed swipe at South Zone after being overlooked for the playing XI in the ongoing Duleep Trophy final against East Zone at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Nair, who was part of the South Zone squad, was left out of the XI for both the semi-final and the final. After a post on X (formerly Twitter) described his omission as 'inexplicable', Nair reposted it with his own response.

'Inexplicable would be an understatement,' he wrote, accompanied by a laughing emoji.
The decision has gained further attention after South Zone endured a difficult first two days of the final, with East Zone piling up 708 runs before being bowled out.

Nair did not remain with the South Zone squad after learning that he would not feature in the final. Instead, he returned home to join the Karnataka State Cricket ******* ociation's pre-season red-ball camp.

The batter then made an immediate impact, scoring a century for KSCA Secretary XI against Chhattisgarh.

South Zone have not provided an explanation for Nair's omission from the playing XI for the final. His absence had already raised eyebrows before the previous match against North Zone, when captain Tilak Varma explained that Nair's exclusion was a tactical call.

At the time, Varma said Nair was 'just unlucky' after opting for Hyderabad's left-handed batter Kodimela Himateja in the middle order.

"Karun is just unlucky. He has scored a lot of runs in domestic seasons," Tilak had said while addressing the media at the CoE.

"I have chosen Himateja in place of Karun as they have good left-arm spinners. So we wanted a leftie in the middle order. He has also scored a decent amount of runs in domestic cricket. I was just backing him. As a youngster, he also has a good career. At the same time, it is very unfortunate for Karun."

However, Himateja's opportunity did not work out. He was dismissed for a two-ball duck and subsequently dropped for the final.

South Zone replaced him with another left-hander, Devdutt Padikkal, rather than bringing Nair back into the XI.
The omission of Nair has become an even bigger talking point after South Zone's bowling attack struggled to contain East Zone in the final.

East Zone resumed the second innings on 385/4 and continued to dominate from the outset. South Zone took the new ball after one over, hoping Mohammad Siraj and MD Nidheesh could make early inroads, but neither managed to break the partnership between Ishan Kishan and ******* ar Kushagra.

Kishan immediately attacked Siraj and Nidheesh, while Kushagra provided strong support from the other end. South Zone subsequently turned to Tripurana Vijay and Shreyas Gopal, but the change in bowling did little to halt the scoring.

Kushagra eventually completed his sixth first-class century, making 101 from 132 ******* with eight fours and five sixes before falling to Vijay shortly before lunch.

Kishan then took complete control of the innings.

The Ea

By Enas Alashray, Nayera Abdallah and Jana Choukeir
CAIRO/DUBAI, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Yemen's Tehran-backed Houthis attacked four cities in the south of U.S. ally Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, wounding more than 70 people and setting oil installations ablaze in what appeared to be a major expansion of the six-month-old Middle East war.
The Houthis, who ‌control most of Yemen's populated areas including the capital, said they had launched a broad operation deep into Saudi territory. They used drones and missiles to strike a ‌Saudi airbase in the southern city of Khamis Mushair, and targets belonging to Saudi Arabia's state oil company in nearby Abha, Najran on the Yemeni border and Jazan, a major Red Sea port.
Saudi authorities described blazes at the sites and said women and children were among the 73 people hurt. The reports of such large numbers of wounded suggested the attacks were among the biggest carried out against Saudi Arabia since the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran in February.
Confirmed images of the aftermath of the attacks in the Saudi cities were not immediately available. The Houthis released pictures of an explosion of what they said were trucks from Saudi Arabia they had struck at the border in another area.

#saudi #major #enas

CHENNAI: Ishan Kishan has developed a habit of saving his best for the big occasion. Last year, he led Jharkhand to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy ***** le and produced a match-winning century in the final, a performance that helped him earn his way back into India's T20I setup. After playing a matchwinning hand against Pakistan in Colombo in the T20 World Cup earlier in the year, Kishan delivered again in the Duleep final on Monday, leading East Zone against South at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Kishan smashed 270 off 334 ***** (30x4, 7x6), taking East to a mammoth 708 all out, ***** ar Kushagra chipping in with 101 as well. The double century, his second in first-class cricket, came after a gap of 10 years and has further strengthened his case for a return to India's red-ball setup.

A triple century seemed on the cards after he crossed 250, but Kishan said that personal landmarks never occupied his mind. Interestingly, he himself was unaware that it had been 10 years since he scored a first-class double century. "Honestly, I wasn't even thinking about 50, forget 300. I was only thinking about 50-run partnerships," Kishan said.

The double century came off 273 ***** . He then accelerated dramatically, reaching 250 in only 27 more ***** . But the intent, he said, was never to chase numbers. "I didn't change anything in my game plan. I was just batting normally. Once I got set, my thought was not to throw my wicket away. I have enough confidence in my shots to know that if I play well, I will either clear the field or find the gap," he said.

For Kishan, the most satisfying aspect of the innings was the temperament he showed. With East having won the toss and opted to bat, the priority was to build a total that would put South under pressure. "I would rate this innings very highly because I kept the team's goal ahead of my own runs. There were moments when I could have played more attacking shots, but the priority was to spend time in the middle, make good decisions and build a big total," he said.

That approach was shaped by a mindset Kishan believes has changed considerably during his time away from the Indian team. Having spent to two years grinding it out in domestic cricket, he said the experience taught him to simplify his game. "When you're playing for India regularly, sometimes you get into a flow and your growth can stagnate. Going back to domestic cricket makes you start from zero. You realise there are so many players scoring runs and that you have to perform better to get back," he said.

#year

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may have been among the early contributors for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy final, but it was captain Ishan Kishan who eventually stole the show with a breathtaking double century against South Zone at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Sooryavanshi opened the innings for East Zone and made a brisk 44 off 37 deliveries. During the match, former India cricketer and commentator Vivek Razdan used Kishan's remarkable innings to offer some advice to the teenage batter.

"Sooryavanshi sahab, now you have to learn from players like Ishan Kishan. Once you are set, you have to learn how to play a long innings," Razdan said on commentary.

The message came as Kishan continued to pile on the runs and turn the final into a one-sided contest.
Resuming on 385/4, East Zone's batters showed little sign of slowing down. South Zone turned to the new ball in search of wickets, but Mohammad Siraj and MD Nidheesh struggled to make an impact.

Kishan immediately put pressure on the bowlers, collecting consecutive boundaries against Siraj before taking on Nidheesh. ***** ar Kushagra also joined the ***** ault as South Zone rotated between pace and spin.

Kushagra eventually completed his sixth first-class century, scoring 101 from 132 ***** with eight fours and five sixes. His dismissal shortly before lunch finally gave South Zone a breakthrough.

Kishan, meanwhile, remained in complete control.

The East Zone captain repeatedly found gaps in the field and punished anything loose. Even when South Zone introduced part-timers Devdutt Padikkal and Shaikh Rasheed, the flow of runs did not stop.

Kishan brought up his double century from 270 ***** and continued attacking thereafter. He raced beyond 250 before fatigue briefly forced him to retire from the field.

East Zone continued marching towards a massive total, eventually crossing 600 and then 700. When Mohammed Shami was dismissed for a quick 28, Kishan returned to the crease with the possibility of reaching an extraordinary triple century.
Kishan's pursuit of 300 ultimately came to an end when he was caught near the long-on boundary. The left-hander departed for a monumental 270 from 334 ***** , having smashed 30 fours and seven sixes.

His innings was the eighth-highest individual score in Duleep Trophy history and formed the backbone of East Zone's mammoth 708 all out.

Razdan had earlier highlighted not just the quality of Kishan's batting but also the physical demands of staying at the crease for such an extended period.

"Every person who is present here at this time stood up and applauded this innings. Because this is not just technique, this is not just temperament, this is also match fitness. To stay out there for so long in such heat and play an innings like this. What an innings by Ishan Kishan."

Kishan's marathon effort, alongside Kushagra's century, ensured East Zone posted more than 700 for only the third time in first-class cricket history at Chepauk.

Valentina Shevchenko has suffered an injury that could keep her out for up to a year, forcing the UFC to strip her of the women's flyweight **** le. As a result, Natalia Silva and **** Cong will now battle for the vacant 125-pound belt in the main event of UFC 332 on October 3 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
The promotion announced the news during Saturday's UFC Paris broadcast. Now, Shevchenko's longtime coach, Pavel Fedotov, has provided some insight into the injury that forced the former champion out of the event.
According to Telegram Ushatayka, Fedotov revealed that "Bullet" was originally scheduled to face Silva at UFC 332. However, ligament damage to her shoulder and back forced the Kyrgyzstani fighter to withdraw.
ALSO READ: Michael "Venom" Page's UFC Future Takes Major Hit After Rankings Snub
With the recovery expected to take a considerable amount of time, the team has opted to vacate the belt rather than hold up the division. Fedotov also made it clear that the goal is for Shevchenko to return and immediately fight for the **** le once she is healthy again.

#Event

Shikhar Mohan, Jharkhand batter credited captain Ishan Kishan's constant guidance after making an impressive 85 on his Duleep Trophy debut against South Zone in the 2026/27 final.

Mohan, who came into the East Zone XI as a replacement for Jharkhand teammate Virat Singh, played a key role in rebuilding the innings after the early wickets. He added 94 runs for the third wicket with Kishan, helping East Zone recover and take control on the opening day.

Kishan remained unbeaten on 111 at stumps, while ******* ar Kushagra was not out on 63 as East Zone finished the day on 385/4 in 79 overs.

"Ishan bhaiya was giving me a lot of advice while batting. He was telling me what shot is on and what is not. Thanks to that, we had a great partnership," Mohan told reporters after play.
Mohan earned his place in the East Zone side after an outstanding debut Ranji Trophy season, where he scored 613 runs at an average of 55.72. Although primarily an opener, he had no issues adapting to the No. 3 position with Abhimanyu Easwaran and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi opening for East Zone.

"My journey has been very good so far. My first season in Ranji Trophy went very well, so coming into this match, I just wanted to carry that forward. I was looking to maintain that form from the Ranji Trophy," he said.

Mohan also accepted the challenge of facing South Zone's short-ball strategy, with five fielders stationed on the leg side. He showed patience before eventually falling to Chama Milind after an inside edge off a bouncer.

"The plan was that I would leave the ball first, and when they get tired, they will give me chances to score runs. I made a poor decision and got out," he admitted.

The youngster also felt his experience in the Jharkhand T20 League helped him handle the pressure of playing in front of a sizeable crowd at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

"I think it helped a lot. The crowds there were also very good, so today when there was a big crowd, it felt normal to me," Mohan said.

#east #ranji

After weeks of delays and behind-the-scenes attempts to cobble something meaningful together, UFC 332 in Salt Lake City, Utah finally has a championship main event: Natalia Silva vs. ****** Cong for the vacant women's flyweight belt.
Wait, what? The flyweight belt that Valentina Shevchenko has defended a whopping nine times since 2018 across two ****** le runs? That's now vacant? When announcing Silva vs. Cong, they cited a "Bullet" injury but didn't really get into details on how the belt was put back up for grabs. A statement from Shevchenko's coach Pavel Fedotov gave a bit more info.
"We were supposed to fight on October 3 against Natalia Silva, but due to an injury to the ligaments in the shoulder and back, we decided not to push things and postpone the fight," Fedotov wrote (via Ushatayka). "Given that the recovery will take a long time, we've made the decision to temporarily vacate the belt, and once she recovers, she will fight for it again."
According to Fedotov, they're expecting the injury to take eight months to recover from.
In the past, you might expect to see an interim ****** le go up for grabs after similar injuries taking under a year to heal. But these days, the UFC has gotten into the habit of asking its injured champions to relinquish their belts. Jamahal Hill did it when he ruptured his Achilles tendon, and so did Jiri Prochazka when he injured his shoulder. Now we've got Valentina Shevchenko doing it.

#fight

By Dmitry Antonov and Gleb Bryanski
MOSCOW, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin held more than three hours of "highly useful" talks on Saturday with two U.S. envoys seeking a deal to end the Ukraine war, a Kremlin aide said, but he gave no indication of any breakthrough.
The ‌aide, Yuri Ushakov, said Americans Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner "outlined a number of ideas regarding possible avenues for a settlement". Ushakov did not say what ‌these ideas were.
He said Putin had told the pair that Russia was making "real progress" on the battlefield and was confident of achieving its goals, while stressing the necessity of addressing "all the root causes of the conflict".
These are statements that Moscow has made repeatedly since Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Russia's smaller neighbour in February 2022. Both sides have intensified long-range air strikes in recent weeks while the front lines remain largely static.

#putin #aide #antonov #gleb

Ishan Kishan led from the front with a superb unbeaten century as East Zone finished Day 1 of the Duleep Trophy 2026 final on 385/4 against South Zone at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.

After winning the toss and opting to bat, Kishan anchored a strong batting display from East Zone, scoring 111 not out off 135 ****** . His innings featured 14 fours and two sixes as he took control of the contest in the final session.

Kishan found an excellent partner in ****** ar Kushagra, who remained unbeaten on 63 off 75 ****** . The pair added an unbeaten 144-run partnership for the fifth wicket off 160 ****** , completely taking the game away from South Zone towards the end of the day.
East Zone made a solid start through Abhimanyu Easwaran (72) and teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (44). Easwaran and Sooryavanshi gave the side a strong platform before both departed. Sudip ****** ar Gharami was then dismissed for 6, bringing Shikhar Mohan to the crease. Mohan played a composed knock of 85 off 120 ****** , helping East Zone build another important partnership before Chama Milind ended his innings at 241/4.

That dismissal brought Kishan and Kushagra together, and the pair ensured there were no further setbacks.

Kishan accelerated as the innings progressed and brought up his century in style, remaining unbeaten at the close. His knock was particularly important given his role as captain, with East Zone now firmly in control after the opening day.
South Zone's bowling attack found little ****** istance from a placid batting surface, while the bowlers also struggled with consistency. Chama Milind was the most successful bowler, finishing the day with figures of 2/56 from 13 overs. Tripurana Vijay picked up one wicket but conceded 114 runs from his 22 overs.

Mohammed Siraj, meanwhile, went wicketless despite bowling 14 overs and conceded 96 runs. East Zone also benefited from a late surge, scoring 74 runs without losing a wicket in the final 10 overs. Kishan and Kushagra's partnership allowed them to finish the day strongly at 385/4.

With Kishan unbeaten on 111 and Kushagra on 63, East Zone will resume on Day 2 with an opportunity to push towards a total of 400 and beyond. South Zone, meanwhile, will desperately need early wickets with the second new ball to prevent East Zone from building an even bigger first-innings total.

#balls

MOSCOW, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Tuesday that Russian ‌President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald ‌Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping may hold a trilateral meeting at the next Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November.
Asked on state TV about the possibility of such a meeting, ‌Ushakov said: "This ⁠issue was discussed, yes."
He said all three leaders were expected to ⁠attend the summit, adding: "And if it turns out as has been said, then the three of them will be able to have a ‌meeting."
Ushakov was speaking from the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, where Putin and Xi had attended a gathering of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Russia, China and the United States are part ‌of the 21-member APEC. Shenzhen, China, will host the next leaders' summit November 18-19.

#next

Vice President JD Vance's wife, Usha Vance, recently compared her style to Melania Trump's.
In an interview with Fox News that aired on Sunday, August 30, the second lady, 40, said, "The first lady's style is very elegant and very much hers."
"I always admire it, but there's no universe in which I will ever look as good," Usha laughed. "So I just go in my own direction."
The Yale Law School graduate then spoke about her maternity wear style, which became a topic of conversation while she was pregnant with her son Alec, who was born in July.
Greg Nash/UPI/Newscom/The Mega Agency

#august

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

CHICAGO — Last mile costs continue to rise. On Thursday, FarEye released new research putting that cost into perspective using survey data.
The survey found median last-mile costs rose 12 percent in 2026, matching the increase operators saw a year ago. Six in 10 operators reported increases above 10 percent, and one in five reported increases above 20 percent.
Eighty-eight percent of operators said delivery cost is growing as fast as revenue or faster. Only one in eight operators is creating operating leverage. FarEye CEO and co-founder Kushal Nahata presented these findings Thursday at the Last Mile Leaders America event in Chicago.
"We thought probably it's an anomaly, it's not in double digits, but we saw that again this year as well," Nahata said. "So now it's probably the new normal that our delivery costs overall are increasing by almost double digits year on year."
The survey gathered more than 3,000 data points from U.S. delivery operators in the first half of 2026. Control figures are based on the 41 operators who answered the control question. Fleet-mix figures are based on 84 operators.

#mile #survey #delivery

CHICAGO — Last mile costs continue to rise. On Thursday, FarEye released new research putting that cost into perspective using survey data.
The survey found median last-mile costs rose 12 percent in 2026, matching the increase operators saw a year ago. Six in 10 operators reported increases above 10 percent, and one in five reported increases above 20 percent.
Eighty-eight percent of operators said delivery cost is growing as fast as revenue or faster. Only one in eight operators is creating operating leverage. FarEye CEO and co-founder Kushal Nahata presented these findings Thursday at the Last Mile Leaders America event in Chicago.
"We thought probably it's an anomaly, it's not in double digits, but we saw that again this year as well," Nahata said. "So now it's probably the new normal that our delivery costs overall are increasing by almost double digits year on year."
The survey gathered more than 3,000 data points from U.S. delivery operators in the first half of 2026. Control figures are based on the 41 operators who answered the control question. Fleet-mix figures are based on 84 operators.

#percent

MUMBAI: When the Duleep Trophy semifinals began at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on Sunday, 19-time champions West Zone were conspicuous by their absence.

West crashed out after a 52-run defeat to North Zone in a low-scoring quarterfinal, with North posting 251 and 222, while West managed 187 and 234.

Former Mumbai first-class cricketer Amit Dani, who coached West Zone this season, believes the tournament's knockout format needs a rethink.

"I suggested to the BCCI that it should seriously consider not having knockout matches until the final in the Duleep Trophy. It's the first tournament of the season and players are often a bit rusty. Even if North Zone had been knocked out after just one game, it wouldn't have been fair on their players either," Dani told TOI.

Dani argued that the current format limits opportunities for players and selectors alike.

"The selectors wanted to watch Tanush Kotian, but they got to see him in only one match. It was a difficult wicket where the ball was gripping and turning, making batting tough. Players need more games. With the final scheduled only on Sept 6, there is room for one more league match," he said.

Despite the early exit, Dani found plenty of positives in West's campaign. He reserved special praise for Musheer Khan, whose 96 in the fourth innings was the highest score of the match.

"On that wicket, it was a top-quality knock. It wasn't easy to bat there, but Musheer showed superb temperament and skill," Dani said.

He felt Anshul Kamboj's brisk 60 in North's first innings and Ruturaj Gaikwad's run-out while batting on 66 in the chase proved decisive.

"For us, Musheer, Tanush and Tushar Deshpande stood out. Tushar bowled with real fire and intensity. I hope all three are considered for India A or the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup," Dani added.

#west #musheer #first

A key Spartans recruiting target has reportedly canceled one of his upcoming official visits, which could bode well for Michigan State.
Michigan State target Jaydn Jenkins has reportedly canceled an upcoming official visit to NC State, according to 247Sports insider Dushawn London. Jenkins is reportedly just coming off a visit to Xavier but still have other visits planned with Ohio State, Michigan State and Georgetown.
Jenkins is listed as a high four-star prospect, with a recruiting rating of 98.24 in 247Sports' composite system. He ranks as the No. 6 center and No. 42 overall prospect in the 2027 class, according to 247Sports.
With NC State clearly no longer in the running for Jenkins, Michigan State's odds of landing this prized prospect has certainly grown. Michigan State will get their chance to have him on campus from September 10-13, with visits to Georgetown and Ohio State to follow. We should have a pretty good understanding of how things will play out by later September, with hopefully Michigan State winning this key recruiting battle.
Contact/Follow us The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X RobertBondy5.

#state #prospect

India's World Test Championship hopes have taken a hit after the Colombo Test ended in a draw, with former India cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth warning that the missed opportunity could have serious consequences for their qualification campaign.

India appeared well placed to complete a 2-0 series sweep after taking control of the second Test. Sri Lanka began the final day with six wickets down, leaving India needing only four more wickets to seal victory.

Instead, the visitors could manage just two wickets as Sonal Dinusha produced a stunning unbeaten century to frustrate India. The Sri Lankan batter remained unbeaten on 133 and stitched together vital partnerships with the lower order, helping the hosts survive and force a draw after following on.

The result meant India had to settle for a 1-0 series victory rather than the 2-0 sweep that had looked within reach.

The dropped opportunity in Colombo could prove significant in the race for the WTC Final. India remain fifth in the standings, with Sri Lanka sixth, and now have very little room for error across their remaining seven Tests.

According to Srikkanth, India may need an almost perfect run from here to stay in control of their qualification hopes.

"This draw will make it difficult for India to qualify for the WTC final. Even if India wins five or six of the last seven matches, they'll have to depend on other results. It's questionable if India can beat Australia 5-0 at home. If we give rank turners in that series, Australia can also beat India," Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.

India have seven Tests left in their WTC campaign and need to win at least six of them to control their own destiny.

A major challenge will come when Australia travel to India. Srikkanth cautioned against ****** uming that home conditions will guarantee results, particularly if India prepare heavily turning pitches.

Srikkanth was particularly critical of India's failure to close out the Colombo Test after creating a strong position.

He also highlighted Dinusha's contribution, with the Sri Lankan batter producing twin centuries at the Sinhalese Sports Club and playing a decisive role in keeping his team alive on the final day.

"India messed up big time. Sonal Dinusha was amazing throughout the series. This is where you miss a bowler like ****** rah. You need a finishing bowler like him. Though rain helped Sri Lanka a bit, India should have won the match hands down," said Srikkanth.

Dinusha's unbeaten 133 proved crucial as Sri Lanka survived India's late push and secured a draw, leaving the visitors with a 1-0 series win but also a potentially costly setback in their WTC campaign.

#India #lanka #final #draw

India head coach Gautam Gambhir praised his team for displaying the character and mental strength required in Test cricket after Shubman Gill's side secured a 1-0 series victory over Sri Lanka. India had a chance to complete a 2-0 sweep after winning the series opener in Galle, but Sri Lanka mounted a spirited fightback in Colombo to force a draw despite being asked to follow on.
Following the conclusion of the series, Gambhir took to social media to acknowledge India's performance while also highlighting the impact of Sri Lanka batter Sonal Dinusha.

"Test cricket needs character, patience and mental toughness that's shown by our boys! Special shoutout to Sonal Dinusha for his exceptional performance," Gambhir wrote on X.
Dinusha was the central figure in Sri Lanka's resistance. He scored centuries in both innings of the Colombo Test, including an unbeaten 133 in the second innings, frustrating India's efforts to wrap up the match.
India made a dominant start after choosing to bat first in Colombo. Devdutt Padikkal led the charge with a superb 117, while Dhruv Jurel remained unbeaten on 115. Rishabh Pant added 63 and captain Gill contributed 50 as India amassed 503/9 before declaring. Asitha Fernando was Sri Lanka's most successful bowler, finishing with four wickets.

Sri Lanka were dismissed for 290 in their first innings, but Dinusha once again stood out with a composed 103. Pasindu Sooriyabandara also played an important role, scoring 80, while India's Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar claimed three wickets each. Asked to follow on, Sri Lanka were in serious trouble at 218/6 and India appeared to be closing in on another victory. Dinusha, however, refused to give India an opening.
Dinusha joined forces with Keshara Nuwantha to produce a crucial 112-run partnership. Nuwantha's 46 came from 150 deliveries as the pair absorbed pressure and consumed valuable overs. Sri Lanka's lower order then provided further support, allowing Dinusha to remain at the crease until the close.

He finished unbeaten on 133 from 264 ****** , with eight fours and two sixes, as Sri Lanka reached 429/9 to secure the draw. The result ended India's hopes of a clean sweep but secured them a 1-0 series victory.

India had established their series advantage in the opening Test at Galle, where they secured a 165-run victory. Manav Suthar was the star of the contest, claiming his maiden 10-wicket haul in Test cricket, while Padikkal played a pivotal role with a 167 in India's first innings.

#dinusha #lanka #victory

Sri Lanka batter Sonal Dinusha emerged as one of the biggest positives from the drawn two-Test series against India, producing a remarkable display of resilience and consistency to thwart the visitors' hopes of a series clean sweep.

Dinusha scored three centuries across his four innings in the series, finishing as the leading run-scorer with 420 runs at an average of 140.00. He also faced 722 deliveries, the most by any batter in the series, underlining the patience and endurance that made him such a difficult player for India to dislodge.

His performance has now earned high praise from former India Test batter Cheteshwar Pujara, who believes the young Sri Lankan has shown glimpses of two of the country's greatest modern-day batters, ****** ar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

"The way he has batted throughout the series has been phenomenal. He takes me into that era of batters like ****** ar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. When I was growing up, I used to look up to those Sri Lankan players," Pujara said in a video on ESPNcricinfo.

Pujara believes Dinusha has the potential to become one of Sri Lanka's leading batters in the years to come.

"In five to 10 years, Sonal Dinusha can be one of the greats of Sri Lankan cricket. He has shown that potential. The way he batted on the last day of the second Test match, it was a commendable effort," he added.

Dinusha's finest contribution came in the second Test at Colombo, where his unbeaten 133 off 264 ****** ensured Sri Lanka held India to a draw and denied the visitors a series clean sweep.
Coming to the match, India opted to bat first, with centuries from Padikkal (117 in 193 ****** , with 12 fours), Dhruv Jurel (115* in 177 ****** , with nine fours and two sixes) and half-centuries from Rishabh Pant (63 in 89 ****** , with six fours and two sixes) and skipper Gill (50 in 108 ****** , with six fours) taking India to 503/9, with Asitha Fernando taking four-fer.

In their first innings, SL was skittled out for 290, with Dinusha's second century (103 in 162 ****** , with eight fours and three sixes) and a fine 80 from Pasindu Sooriyabandara (in 133 ****** , with nine fours) standing out. Prasidh Krishna and Suthar were among the wickets for India with three each.

During the follow-on, India had SL down for 218/6, but a 112-run stand between Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha (46 in 150 ****** , with four boundaries) pushed Sri Lanka towards a sizeable lead. Dinusha (133* in 264 ****** , with eight fours and two sixes) reached his third ton of the series, with the resistance from lower order, who soaked in deliveries to support him. SL ended at 429/9, drawing the Test.
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#dinusha

Ravichandran Ashwin believes Rishabh Pant needs to show greater awareness of match situations and take more responsibility with the bat, despite the wicketkeeper-batter putting together a respectable series against Sri Lanka.

Pant finished the two-Test series with 168 runs and two half-centuries. However, Ashwin feels the numbers do not tell the complete story and wants the India batter to exercise more judgement when deciding how to attack.

Pant's aggressive approach has come under scrutiny over the past few months, with questions being raised about whether he sometimes takes unnecessary risks and fails to put enough value on his wicket.

The former India spinner pointed to Pant's dismissal against South Africa in Guwahati last year as an example. While captaining India in the absence of Shubman Gill, Pant charged down the track against Marco Jansen and edged the delivery to the wicketkeeper.

Pant is currently a Test-only player for India after falling out of favour in the white-ball formats. Ashwin believes his decision-making in Test cricket remains an area that needs attention.

"My expectation from Rishabh Pant hasn't been fulfilled till now. I am very sorry. Sonal Dinusha had his strike rate up there. But the difference is high-risk options. When you have the game in your hand, these are all statements: 'That's how Rishabh plays.' It is about what your team needs," Ashwin said on 'Ash Ki Baat'.
During the discussion, the host argued that Pant's unique ability and his history of producing match-winning performances meant he should be given some freedom to play his natural game.

Ashwin, however, insisted that even an exceptional player cannot be exempt from the demands of the situation.

"Rishabh played a class knock in Sydney and Brisbane, but you couldn't have won that match without Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur. It takes 11 cricketers to build a Test and win it in the last session of the game, but it takes only 1 moment of foolishness to lose a Test," said Ashwin.

The former off-spinner clarified that his criticism was not directed at Pant's attacking style itself. Instead, he wants the batter to recognise when the situation demands a different approach.

"I am just talking about the times when these chances are being taken when the game is on the line. I love Rishabh the player. It is about playing situations in this format. Sehwag and Gilchrist played high brand of cricket, but these two don't get edged out while dancing down to Marco Jansen when your team is trailing by 500 runs. Don't place these marketing lines in front of me ever again," he added.
Ashwin also called for more straightforward feedback for Pant, arguing that his status as a special talent should not shield him from criticism.

The former India spinner pointed out that Pant has now played 50 Tests and believes his experience means he should be expected to take greater responsibility.

"Don't give one player special treatment. Thi

NEW DELHI: India captain Shubman Gill said "Test cricket won today" after Sri Lanka fought hard to force a draw in the second Test in Colombo on Thursday. India had controlled much of the match and were in a strong position to push for victory.

However, Sonal Dinusha produced another outstanding innings, scoring his second century of the match and staying unbeaten as Sri Lanka survived 154 overs.

The result saw India finish the two-Test series with a 1-0 victory.
Gill said India made every possible effort during Sri Lanka's long second innings but could not break through their resistance.

"We fielded for about 150 overs, we did everything that we can. I don't think we could have done anything differently. Keeping the weather in mind, we could talk about these things (enforcing follow-on) only in hindsight.

"You take the best decision you can in the moment and something didn't go our way. But it was a brilliant game and I think Test cricket won today," Gill said after the match here on Thursday.

Gill also gave credit to Sri Lanka for their fightback and said India could learn from the way the hosts responded under pressure.

"A lot of positives for us, learning from the opposition. The way they came back, it was tremendous to see. I don't think we could have done things differently. They bowled brilliantly in this game."
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Gill also spoke highly of left-arm spinner Manav Suthar and backed him to play an important role for India in the future.

"How well he releases the ball, I think he's going to be crucial for us in the upcoming years," Gill said.

#India

TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: In his first press conference of the tour, Shubman Gill termed qualifying for the World Test Championship as the "ultimate goal," a sentiment he maintained while preparing to leave the country. In between his two media interactions, the Indian captain saw his team register a comprehensive win in Galle and then settle for a draw in a fixture they were well positioned to win in Colombo. Although the series was won, the trophy secured, and his undefeated run as captain checked off crucial boxes, India left behind crucial WTC points needed to boost their win percentage.

As captain, he had his most challenging few days under the sun in Colombo when Sonal Dinusha and the Sri Lanka's tail frustrated the visitors and prevented them from getting the result they desperately wanted. There were moments he would helplessly stand and observe from the short-cover position, have an intense chat with head coach Gautam Gambhir when nothing worked and then even egg his teammates on when their shoulders started dropping.

"It gets very frustrating," he said regarding the challenges, explaining the questions that follow. "Was follow-on the best decision, was it not? But then you have to go back in the moment and see, what can I do? Did I make the best decision in that moment? Yes, I did. Then you can't do anything about it. You have to keep trying your best, and I think we did that," added the Indian captain.

While they struggled to remove the Sri Lankan tail in both innings, Gill was not ready to pin the blame on any of his teammates and lauded their effort.

"We tried all that we could, and at the end of the day, even from the players, you can expect them giving their 100%, their top efforts, and I don't think there was any lacking in intensity or the efforts that we put in," said Gill.
Highlighting the volume of overs the spinners bowled on a surface which became easier to bat as the game progressed, Gill gave them 10/10 for effort and intent, and continued to focus on the ultimate goal - the World Test Championship.

"The spinners bowled 50-60 overs on the trot for three days. Fielding for three days is not an easy task in these conditions with the heat. In terms of effort, I would say 10 out of 10 for the effort and the intent. A lot of learning, so many things won't always go as you plan, but as long as we still have a chance to qualify for the World Test Championship," added Gill.

India operated with in-out field positions for most of the match, offering significant protection against the sweep, especially when Sonal Dinusha was at the crease. While it did open up easy singles, Gill felt there couldn't have been a better plan as the slow turn off the surface meant bowled and LBW were the dismissals out of the equation.

"The ball was spinning but the wickets were not in play. As a batsman, if you know that your bowlers do not have 2 modes of dismissal in play, then it becomes easier to bat. Unless you are play

NEW DELHI: India captain Shubman Gill on Thursday ruled out any injury concern for Mohammed Siraj after the pacer appeared to be below his best during the drawn second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Siraj bowled at a reduced pace and often used a shorter run-up during the Test. His fitness also came under the scanner after he landed heavily while trying to take a catch in Sri Lanka's first innings.

Gill, however, made it clear that Siraj was not carrying an injury.
Gill said Siraj had not been feeling his best even during the first Test in Galle and was also returning to international cricket after a break.

"Firstly, Siraj is not injured. He didn't feel well even in the first match (at Galle). He last played against Afghanistan in June…so he was playing almost after a couple of months. It takes time for someone to come back to the rhythm.

"Even in the first Test, we felt that his pace was slow. But sometimes when you play more, you come back to the rhythm. But as far as the injury is concerned, there is nothing," he said.

Siraj's lack of his usual pace was noticeable as India struggled to finish off Sri Lanka on the fifth day. The hosts batted through the final day, with Sonal Dinusha scoring an unbeaten 133 to secure a draw.
India had reduced Sri Lanka to 229/6 by the end of the fourth day but could not force the remaining wickets on the final day.

"It gets very frustrating. We attacked a lot in the beginning. But I think as the match went on, the wicket got slower. It was not like the ball was not moving and when the ball was spinning, the wickets were not in play. It was not like the wicket was very flat," said Gill at the post-match press meet.

The India captain said Sri Lanka's defensive approach made it difficult for his bowlers to create chances.

"Unless you are playing a shot and looking to make a run, then it is difficult to take a wicket. We tried all that we could, and I don't think there was any lack of intensity or the efforts that we put in. The spinners bowled 50-60 overs on the trot for three days.

"Fielding for three days is not an easy task in these conditions. I would say 10 out of 10 for the effort and the intent. They also played really well," he added.

Gill also felt India could have been in a better position if they had taken their chances on the fourth day.

"On day 4, we thought we had created chances. If there was a little more pressure, the wickets would have come and then maybe the result would have been better. But as long as we still have a chance to qualify for the World Test Championship (final), it's fine."
Gill was pleased with the progress made by Prasidh Krishna.

"I think he's been in the pick of our bowlers. When things are not happening, he's been our go-to bowler, especially this season. He's created chances, which is what I want as a captain. We want a go-to bowler when wickets are not guaranteed. I think he did that brilliantly," he said.

#India #siraj

TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: With the handshake looming, Shubman Gill introduced himself into the attack. Judging by their body language, India had already checked out of the fixture with Sri Lanka's lead over 200 runs and little time remaining. A result in India's favour was almost out of the equation and the visitors were waiting for the formalities to be completed. Yashasvi Jaiswal was introduced from the other end, and even Dhruv Jurel rolled his arm over as the writing was on the cards. India would rue drawing a Test they were in a very good position of winning, squandering the opportunity to bolster their World Test Championship (WTC) final chances.

Sometimes, draws feel like wins and Sri Lanka must have a similar feeling in Colombo. With chips down and backs to the wall, Sonal Dinusha produced a performance for the ages, who had an equally stubborn lower-order for company. He has been the rockstar for the hosts in this series and made India dance to his tunes when he battled for close to two days to eke out a hard-fought draw. The 25-year-old's sequence of scores in the series read 100, 84, 103 and 133*, and across the four innings his compact technique, composure and solid temperament stood out.

It wasn't easy; whenever he came out to bat, the team was in a spot of bother and he mostly had the lower-order and tail for company. In the second Test alone, he spent nearly 147 overs out in the middle, facing 71 overs, frustrating the visitors and keeping the win out of their reach.

It didn't help that Mohammed Siraj wasn't running in with the steam he would have liked and the pitch offered turn but not enough threat. The tone was set by the pair of Keshara Nuwantha and Dinusha for over 40 overs and the former ended up playing 150 deliveries in the process. Lahiru ***** ara and Asitha Fernando followed the drill and India just carried on in hopes of things miraculously falling into place.

The 116th over of the Sri Lankan innings was significant in more ways than one. Siraj patiently waited to bowl as Sarfaraz Khan suggested field changes to Shubman Gill before the fast bowler began. The short-ball trap was set. After trying it for two deliveries, which Sonal Dinusha ducked safely, the bowler walked up to the stumps and flipped the bails. This was India's second attempt, followed by a very creative field setting, likely the first of its kind that day.
The entire field moved towards the off-side, placing enough men in catching positions for a miscued drive. Dinusha had been pushed back for most of the over and here Siraj was trying to induce a false shot from the most consistent batter of the series. The plan didn't work but India's attempt to finally make things happen brought success when Prabath Jayasuriya was dismissed in the very next over while driving against Ravindra Jadeja. India, even after picking up two wickets in the first hour after Lunch, were still two wickets away from beginning their chase but that 12-ball perio

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

If it's Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel that have emerged as India's batting stars of the future in this series, Sonal Dinusha is making a similar statement for Sri Lanka. The left-hander followed his scores of 100 and 84 in Galle with an unbeaten 85 (137b, 2x6) to lead a gritty fightback on a rain-hit third day of the second Test at SSC on Tuesday.

Dinusha found an able ally in fellow youngster Pasindu Sooriyabandara, who struck 80 (133b, 9x4) in only his second Test innings, as Sri Lanka frustrated India for large parts of the day before ending on 265 for eight. The hosts still require 38 runs to avoid the follow-on after India posted 503 for nine declared, but the resistance shown by their young batting brigade has ensured they remain in the contest.

Dinusha, now the leading run-scorer of the series with 269 runs at 134.50, was closing in on a second Test century in as many matches when rain and bad light forced an early finish to the proceedings. Together with Lahiru **** ara (8 batting), he added an unbeaten 35-run stand for the ninth wicket, after earlier sharing a crucial 57-run partnership with Keshara Nuwantha (18).

The 25-year-old has now registered three consecutive 80-plus scores in the series, underlining his credentials as a long-term solution to Sri Lanka's batting woes in the middle order. With Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal unavailable, Dinusha has shouldered responsibility admirably.

India had appeared well placed to secure a sizeable lead and potentially enforce the follow-on after reducing Sri Lanka to 216/7. However, Dinusha and the lower order displayed plenty of resolve to blunt the visitors' bowling attack.

Earlier, Sri Lanka showed intent from the outset. Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis (32) stitched together an 87-run third-wicket partnership, helping the hosts add 122 runs while losing only two wickets in the opening session. Sooriyabandara brought up his maiden Test fifty off 76 **** before falling to Ravindra Jadeja while attempting a late cut.

Prasidh Krishna was India's standout bowler, returning figures of 3/57. The pacer provided the early breakthrough when debutant opener Kamil Mishara (19) gloved a sharply rising delivery to wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel. Prasidh later removed Kamindu with another short ball.

Manav Suthar then dismissed captain Dhananjaya de Silva for 8 with a delivery that spun away sharply, while Mohammed Siraj accounted for Niroshan **** wella, who gloved a leg-side catch to wicketkeeper Jurel for a duck.

Yet, Sri Lanka refused to surrender. Aided by interruptions and determined lower-order resistance, Dinusha ensured India were left waiting for the final two wickets.

#dinusha #batting