BENGALURU: Over 200 jobs at Australian telecom major Telstra are expected to be cut as the company rolls out AI capabilities and shifts some roles to India, according to a report in The Guardian. Telstra and Accenture announced a $700-million joint venture in 2025 aimed at driving efficiency and modernisation.
MUMBAI: Nykaa will manage the India operations of Kiehl’s, a premium skincare brand from the stable of French beauty and personal care firm L’oreal. As part of the exclusive distribution pact signed with Kiehl’s, Nykaa will run the brand’s existing and upcoming exclusive outlets, India D2C platform and multi-brand retail distribution, the company said on Thursday. Besides getting access to Nykaa’s more than 42 million consumers and a wider distribution network, the partnership will also allow Kiehl’s to tap into Nykaa’s quick delivery service for faster fulfilment.
MUMBAI: HUL has acquired the remaining 49% stake in D2C brand Oziva for Rs 824 crore, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company. HUL bought an initial 51% majority stake in the brand in Dec 2022.Oziva, a plant-based, clean-label consumer wellness brand which focuses on spaces such as lifestyle protein and hair & beauty supplements has grown to a Rs 480 crore brand in 2025, HUL said. HUL also said that it has sold its minority 19.8% stake in Wellbeing Nutrition to USV in a Rs 307 crore deal.
NEW DELHI: India’s preparations for the high-voltage T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan have taken a clear tactical direction, with wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan insisting that the team is already equipped to tackle the unique challenge posed by spinner Usman Tariq. Fresh off a commanding win over Namibia, Kishan revealed that facing Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus — who also bowls with a sidearm action — offered valuable rehearsal ahead of the much-anticipated showdown.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Kishan’s explosive 24-ball 61 laid the foundation for India’s imposing 209/9, ensuring momentum even during a middle-overs slowdown. Speaking after the match, the left-hander emphasised that India’s batters have already completed their homework against Tariq’s unconventional action.
“No, I think we have already done the preparation part, and now it is just time to watch the ball and play our natural game,” he said, underlining the team’s belief in sticking to basics despite the hype around the Pakistani spinner.According to Kishan, video analysis and on-field exposure to Erasmus’ bowling proved crucial. “At this level, we just watch a few videos, and we get an idea of what kind of bowling is going to happen. So we are just keeping it simple. Yeah, he [Erasmus] bowled pretty well today, and I think there was quite a bit of learning for us,” he added, suggesting that India’s approach will revolve around clarity rather than overthinking.
Poll
How confident are you in India’s ability to handle Usman Tariq’s spin bowling?
Reflecting on the Namibia clash, Kishan explained that although the surface looked flat, the ball initially held up, forcing him and Sanju Samson to pick their moments carefully. The attacking opener’s knock, combined with Hardik Pandya’s blazing fifty, powered India to a total that proved far beyond Namibia’s reach as spinners later dismantled the chase.Kishan also spoke candidly about his personal evolution after leading Jharkhand to a maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy triumph. “I think I am a changed man now… earlier I used to joke around 24×7, but now it is just two-three hours. I am focusing more on batting and my wicket-keeping,” he admitted, highlighting a more disciplined mindset.Looking ahead to the Pakistan encounter, Kishan acknowledged the magnitude of the occasion but stressed that preparation remains process-driven. “Pakistan clash, obviously, it would be a special one for everyone… once we get there, we look at the wicket and just play accordingly,” he said.
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Brendan Taylor.
Afghanistan captain & leggie’s decision not to bowl in any of the two Super Overs in the defeat to South Africa was perplexing, especially since it was a spinner, Keshav Maharaj, who got the job done for the winners…There are some defeats that can crush you. For Afghanistan, it was one such afternoon in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The double Super Over loss to South Africa, that has all but ended the team’s T20 World Cup campaign, may seem the end of the world for now. But Afghanistan should take heart from the fact that it was their famed fighting spirit, so intrinsic to their cricket, that kept them in the game against all odds.
It’s not that Afghanistan haven’t endured heartbreaking losses before. The 2023 ODI World Cup defeat to Australia following Glenn Maxwell’s superheroics at the Wankhede probably cost them a place in the semifinals. The 2024 T20 World Cup semifinal defeat to South Africa was more sobering, but in this defeat, there was hardly anything that the Afghans could have done differently. Maybe just one thing — their choice of bowler in at least one of the Super Overs. Rashid Khan, their talisman for years and still considered one of the best in T20 cricket, chose to intriguingly keep himself away from the action.Rashid is somebody who used to bowl in the Powerplay for fun. However, in both losses in this World Cup, the superstar didn’t bowl in the first six overs. His decision to avoid the pressure cooker of a Super Over was slightly baffling, more so since South Africa opted for Keshav Maharaj in the second Super Over.
Poll
Do you think Afghanistan can learn from this Super Over defeat?
Rashid, who has presented Afghanistan with many memorable moments, wasn’t asked why he kept himself away. Nor was coach Jonathan Trott made to face the question, but it remains to be asked, is Rashid still the bowler he used to be?The question is pertinent because the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is a ground that the bowler knows like the back of his palm. Rashid plays for Gujarat Titans in the IPL and has immense experience of Indian conditions. He took 2-28 during the South African chase and was Afghanistan’s most economical bowler during the 20 overs. And most importantly, no other bowler in his team generates the fear factor that he does.Yet Azmatullah Omarzai was asked to bowl the second Super Over and the 24 the medium-pacer conceded really made the task immensely difficult. But one player who still made a fight out of it was Rahmanullah Gurbaz.The three sixes that Gurbaz hit off Maharaj showed his strength of character as it followed his 42-ball 84 during Afghanistan’s chase.The 24-year-old has been the lynchpin of the Afghan batting lineup for a while now.Coach Trott felt that the kind of talent Gurbaz has, he should come up with more such performances.“It’s probably the best innings I’ve seen him play and it’s unfortunate he couldn’t get us over the line. With the amount of talent, physique, sporting ability and natural hand-eye coordination that he has, it’s about going forward for him now.“He wears his heart on his sleeve and over the years, I have just tried to get him to be a little more consistent in everything that he does,” Trott said.With time, it will be interesting to see if Gurbaz gets more responsibility, taking the baton from Rashid and turning Afghanistan into a team that deals with the crunch moments a little bit better.
New Delhi: 45/1 to 77/6 against the USA. 205/4 to 209/9 against Namibia.India won their first two T20 World Cup contests rather convincingly but two batting collapses, occurring at different junctures of the game, should serve as a wake-up call for the batters ahead of the game against Pakistan on February 15 in Colombo.
In both matches, the word from the Indian camp remained constant. They expected the wicket to be flatter and behave a certain way but the sluggishness in Mumbai and the odd low bounce in Delhi caught them off guard. Colombo is expected to be no different and will require a lot of adaptation and unlearning for a destructive batting unit which has feasted on batting paradises in the bilateral fixtures which preceded the multi-nation tournament.The sample size isn’t that big but both Shadley van Schalkwyk and Gerhard Erasmus have provided a blueprint to the remaining teams. If you must stop this marauding Indian unit, be tactically smart: mix up your approach and have different plans ready. This Indian XI boasts of as many as five, even six when Abhishek Sharma played the first game, left-handers in the top-eight but they are all different. What works for Ishan Kishan may not work for Abhishek and a similar plan will not get the job done for the likes of Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh and Axar Patel. From their approach to hitting arcs to technicalities, there is very little similarity, which makes it all the more important to have clear and precise plans for each one.
Shadley van Schalkwyk celebrates a wicket during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match between India and USA at the Wankhede Stadium. (Getty Images)
Schalkwyk mixed up his bumpers based on advice from his USA teammates and Erasmus was very smart in using angles, different release points and the crease. The delivery which got Tilak Varma took forever to reach the India batter because the bowler released it from far behind the crease. Even the step-out didn’t achieve the desired connection. Namibia coach Craig Williams praised his skipper, lauding his ability to deliver the toughest overs of an innings.“He trains incredibly hard at all these variations, and I think – he plays cricket around the world in some leagues and bowls all the difficult overs, he bowls some really tough overs. And, he’s continuously working on his game and trying to see how he can be more effective against batters. And I think tonight, again, against a world-class cricket team, he showed the world again what he’s got and his execution was just really good tonight. “I think his first three overs went for 16 or something and then to bowl that 19th over as all under pressure – first ball going for six and then pulling it back, I think it was just really fantastic so I’m really happy for him he trains hard and he works hard at these variations in his game,” said Williams at the post-match press conference.
Namibia’s Gerhard Erasmus troubled India’s batting in the T20 World Cup. (Agencies)
Erasmus certainly came prepared. While the occasional sling in the action can disrupt a batter’s concentration, Ishan felt it only takes a couple of balls to get used to it and clear it from one’s mind. Does it affect the plans to go big? Not really!“It might play in your head for a couple of balls, but I think at this level you need to have trust on your own strength as well. Even if he is trying to do something, we can go for sixes or boundaries at the same time. So important thing is how we are thinking at that point of time when the bowler is trying to do something different. But if we are just looking for boundaries and sixes and we are believing in our own strength I think that helps the batters more so we are just doing trying to keep it simple yeah some batters might score on, some batters won’t but it’s part of game and you keep on learning game by game,” said Kishan.India were set for another big total vs Namibia but ran out of steam in the last two overs, losing five wickets and added just four runs off the ten deliveries they faced. The set pair of Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube departed off consecutive balls, Axar Patel didn’t score, and the ending starkly contrasted the explosive start Ishan and Sanju Samson provided. Ishan echoed the team’s sentiment on the pitch but felt the unit fared well with the bat and appreciated the opposition for executing their plans under pressure. The wicketkeeper-batter expects his side to take learnings from this fixture into the remaining games of the tournament.
Ishan Kishan smashed a 24-ball 61 against Namibia in the T20 World Cup. (Pic credit: BCCI)
“I think they batted pretty well. In both the wickets, I feel it was a bit different from what we expected to happen. And today, looking at the death overs, when we were not able to regularly hit big sixes, I think we need to also give credit to Namibia bowlers because they were bang on with their yorkers, they were bang on with their slow ones. “So yeah it was a good learning maybe if some other team is doing the same thing maybe we can use the crease more or we can do something different which can irritate the bowler. So it was a good learning in this game and especially I think It was not about our batters not able to hit sixes, but it was more of them bowling very well in the death overs,” explained Ishan.The USA had India on the mat, Namibia had their moments and an immediate course correction with the bat is needed to cover all bases against a spin-heavy Pakistan, who have already experienced the Colombo strip. The Suryakumar Yadav-led unit has bludgeoned attacks in the build-up to the World Cup but what worked yesterday may not work today and tomorrow is always a dive into the unknown. The muscle memory of tonking bowlers on flat pitches will need a quick unlearn as Colombo, and remainder of the tournament, may not follow the script everyone is so used to seeing played on loop.India’s remaining opponents would surely have noted the cracks that both the USA and Namibia exposed.
New Delhi: India all-rounder Riyan Parag is all set to be named as the new Rajasthan Royals captain at 4pm today. While options included Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel and even the experienced Ravindra Jadeja, the think tank favoured Parag, who has been with the franchise since making his IPL debut in 2019. The RR unit has consistently backed the youngster and even retained him for Rs 14 crore ahead of the 2025 edition of the cash-rich league.He was always groomed for bigger roles in the franchise and the big hint came last season when he served as the stand-in captain in the absence of the injured Sanju Samson. The original captain also signalled what the future could hold.
“I won’t be Rajasthan Royals‘ captain forever. There has to be someone groomed for the future. The franchise has developed multiple leaders, and for the next three games, we believe Riyan Parag is ready and capable of leading the side,” Sanju Samson told PTI in 2025.The 24-year-old has been with the IPL franchise for seven years but his best performance came in 2024 where he scored 573 runs in 16 games at an average of 52.09 and a healthy strike rate of 149.22. His IPL outings put him on the selectors’ radar, earning him his first T20I and ODI caps for the country that same year.Under Parag, who became the youngest player to lead RR last season, the franchise is set to usher in a new era and hopes the long wait for the title — which was last won in the inaugural IPL edition under the late Shane Warne — will end.
Hrithik Roshan took to his social media to drop a morning post featuring himself posing with a lake and mountains in the background. However, more than the images, it’s the caption that grabbed everyone’s attention. In the caption of the post, he added lines inspired by the work of author Wendell Berry. Let’s take a look at it.
Hrithik Roshan shared pictures of himself clad in a red t-shirt with a beige-colored jacket teamed with baggy denim and black shoes. He was also sporting a cap as he posed for the pictures. He added lines inspired by author Wendell Berry’s novel ‘The Peace of Wild Things’, which focuses on finding solace in nature, away from the grief and fear of the human world.
The caption read, “It is upon me now, in front of me. The unmistakable essence of myself in the things I see. Change is coming. Long overdue. The world is churning anew. In the presence of still water, in the wild things around me. I see the nakedness shedding its covers, coming out to be free. Free… like wild things like me. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. And for a time I rest in the grace of the world. Finally I am free.Inspired by the works of Wendell Berry”Check out the post here.
Soon, netizens comment on his post. A person dropped a GIF of the viral penguin walking away in the Antarctic mountains. Fans poured in fire and heart emojis in the comment section. Meanwhile, HR’s girlfriend, Saba Azad, asked if the lines are inspired by the novel ‘The Peace of Wild Things’. Check it out here.
Hrithik Roshan’s last film, ‘War 2’, co-starring Jr NTR and Kiara Advani, tanked at the box office. The actor is currently working on his next project, ‘Krrish 4’. The film is currently in the pre-production phase.
Cardi B is joining the long list of celebrities who have condemned ICE for its actions over the past couple of weeks. During her ‘Little Miss Drama’ tour, the singer made some comments about ICE and their ongoing crackdowns on immigrants in the US. After her comment during the tour went viral, she ended up getting into a heated debate online after the Department of Homeland Security commented on her words.Here is all that has happened so far.
After videos of Cardi B’s comment against ICE went viral online from her concert, the Department of Homeland Security took to their social media account to hit back. They reshared a news article covering her comments and commented on the post, “As long as she doesn’t drug and rob our agents, we’ll consider that an improvement over her past behavior.”
During the opening show in Palm Desert, California, for her latest tour, ‘Little Miss Drama,’ Cardi B stopped on stage for a moment to make a comment about ICE. She condemned the organization for its latest actions and for the crackdown that they have conducted against immigrants in the US. During the tour, Cardi B said, “If ICE come in here, we’re gonna jump they asses… I got some bear mace in the back. They ain’t taking my fans, b****. Let’s go!” She then continued with her concert and sang ‘I Like It.’The singer and rapper has recently made headlines after rumors of her split with NFL player Stefon Diggs have been swirling around. Fans have pointed out that the two have officially unfollowed each other on social media. The two had their first baby together in November, which they announced on their accounts by sharing photos from the hospital bed, posing along with their newborn baby boy.
