India have retained their position at the top of the ICC men’s ODI team rankings after the annual update, but their lead over New Zealand has reduced from eight to five points.

After the update, India has dropped to 118 rating points from 119, while New Zealand has moved up two points to 113. Reigning ODI World Cup champions Australia are at third place with an unchanged rating of 109.

The only change in the top 10 is South Africa moving ahead of Pakistan to fourth position. South Africa now has 102 points, while Pakistan has slipped to fifth place with 98 points. With this update, the gap between ninth-placed Bangladesh and West Indies has also increased and now there is a difference of 10 rating points between the two teams.

Further down the table, Ireland have overtaken Zimbabwe into 11th, the United States have moved above Scotland into 13th, and the United Arab Emirates are now 19th, ahead of Canada.

The annual update reflects the results over a continuous period and underlines India’s consistency in the 50-over format. The Rohit Sharma-led side has been one of the most impressive ODI teams in recent years and continues to hold on to the top despite a slight dip in their rating points.

India’s capture of the No. 1 ranking comes at a time when the team is preparing for a new ODI cycle ahead of the 2027 World Cup in South Africa. The upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan is expected to serve as a starting point for those preparations.

However, India has already suffered major setbacks before the series. All-rounder after Virat Kohli’s exit Hardik Pandya has also been sidelined Due to injury. Sources told India Today that Pandya is recovering from a quadriceps injury and is expected to take around three weeks to regain full fitness.

The injury dates back to IPL 2026, where Pandya was leading Mumbai Indians. The all-rounder featured in only 10 matches before missing the latter stages of the tournament due to fitness concerns.

The ODI series against Afghanistan will begin in Dharamsala on June 14, before moving to Lucknow on June 17 and Chennai on June 20. With senior players unavailable, the series could provide an opportunity for several young players to stake their claim in India’s ODI setup.

India’s updated ODI squad against Afghanistan: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey.

India’s dominance is not limited to the ODI format. They also top the ICC men’s T20I team rankings after the annual update conducted last week. Meanwhile, Australia top the ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings and are also ranked No. 1 in both Women’s ODI and Women’s T20I.

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Bill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein (Images/Agencies)

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates told the US House panel investigating Jeffrey Epstein that his meeting with the disgraced financier was a ‘serious error in judgment’, as lawmakers reviewed his past relationship with the convicted sex offender.In a written initial statement released to reporters, Gates said he ‘should never have met Epstein’ and acknowledged that any contact that might have provided legitimacy to Epstein’s image was deeply regrettable.“Now I see that he tried to create an image of legitimacy around himself, using connections with prominent and powerful people to dodge investigation and attempt to rehabilitate his reputation. “If the time I spent with Epstein gave him any credibility, I am deeply sorry,” Gatz said.Gates also told lawmakers that after ending contact with Epstein, the financier allegedly used ‘sensitive information about my personal life’ to pressure him into contacting him again, Bloomberg reported, though he said he never saw any evidence of Epstein’s involvement in ongoing criminal conduct.The House Oversight Committee is investigating Epstein’s extensive networks with powerful figures, following the release of Justice Department files detailing his ties to politics, finance and technology.Lawmakers questioned Gates about the meetings between 2011 and 2014, years after Epstein pleaded guilty to procuring a minor for prostitution in Florida. Epstein later died in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.Committee members referenced unverified claims made by Epstein about Gates’ personal and financial affairs, as well as emails, calendar entries and documents suggesting discussions on philanthropy.Gates told the panel that he believed Epstein often ‘wrote emails that were false’ and denied any knowledge of criminal activity involving him.Gates said he was introduced to Epstein through professional and philanthropic networks and initially engaged with him on global health funding ideas, later ending contact when those proposals did not materialize.He has previously said that he never visited Epstein’s private island or properties and did not interact with any of his victims.Lawmakers said Gates voluntarily appeared before the committee, which is investigating how Epstein maintained access to influential figures despite his criminal record and prior convictions.The investigation is also part of a broader review of potential failures in federal oversight related to Epstein’s activities.Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges involving minors and died in custody that same year. He previously pleaded guilty in 2008 to charges related to the trafficking of a minor for prostitution.The Justice Department released several batches of documents last year outlining Epstein’s contacts in specific networks, with all of the individuals named denying wrongdoing.Gates’ former wife, Melinda French Gates, has said that her relationship with Epstein caused strain in their marriage. Gates had previously called his dealings with Epstein a “big mistake” and said he regretted ever meeting him.

TMC MP with Vice President

New Delhi: After resigning from the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Trinamool Congress MP Prakash Chik Baraik said he quit after coming to the conclusion that the mandate in West Bengal was in favor of the BJP.Baraik, the third TMC MP to resign this week, also said he would “do as the CM (Suvendu Adhikari) says” and insisted that he was “not being pressured by the BJP”.His resignation is another blow to the Mamata Banerjee-led party, which is grappling with growing signs of rebellion within its ranks.Speaking to reporters after submitting his resignation, Badaik said, “I resigned after considering the mandate of the people of Bengal. Now, I will do whatever the CM (Suvendu Adhikari) tells me…I am not being pressured by the BJP.Explaining his decision, he said that the election verdict in West Bengal has convinced him that it is no longer appropriate to continue in his post.He said, “It can be seen that TMC does not have a mandate and in a democracy if people want one party to win then we should respect it. That is why I have resigned.”Elaborating on this, Barak said, “The mandate in West Bengal…in whose favor was the decision of the people in this democratic country?” Bharatiya Janata PartyAnd the party formed the government there. In my own constituency, we could not win even a single seat. The results were not good in North Bengal also. In view of this mandate, I felt that it is no longer appropriate for me to continue in my post. Therefore, I resigned from both my post and the party.”He said, “What happens next, please wait and see. Things will come to light in time. Look, I am not old. Time will decide what I will do in politics in the future. Please wait and let time tell the answer.”Sources said Badaik met Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan and submitted his resignation.In his resignation letter, the West Bengal MP wrote, “I am resigning from the membership of Rajya Sabha, which please be accepted with immediate effect.”He also thanked the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and officials of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat for their support and cooperation during his tenure.A tribal leader from West Bengal, Baraik served on the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and the Consultative Committee on Tribal Affairs.Third TMC MP to resign this weekBadaik’s resignation comes amid the exit of several high-profile people from the Trinamool Congress.On Wednesday, former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev resigned from both the party and the Upper House. Explaining her decision she said that she did not want to be “in two boats at the same time”.“I don’t want to be in a situation where I’m in two boats at the same time. That’s not the right way to do it… Because of my family background and upbringing, I have never stayed in one party and served the other party,” he said.When asked about the news of joining BJP, Dev said, ‘When I take any decision, I will let you know.’His subsequent meeting with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma further fueled speculation about his next political move.Earlier this week, Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Shekhar Ray also resigned from the Upper House and later left the Trinamool Congress citing differences with the party leadership.The rebellion within TMC has deepenedWith Badaik’s resignation, TMC has now lost three Rajya Sabha MPs in a matter of days, increasing the challenges faced by the party after its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections.The party is also battling internal rebellion that has weakened its parliamentary and organizational structure.Sources in the rebel camp claim that they have secured the support of at least 19 Lok Sabha MPs – more than two-thirds of the party’s strength in the House – and are preparing to stake claim to the parliamentary wing of the party.The move mirrors developments in the West Bengal Assembly, where most of the rebel MLAs have already taken control of the party’s legislature party.The rebel group is expected to join forces with the BJP-led NDA at the Centre. The names associated with the group include several prominent TMC MPs including Sayoni Ghosh and Mala Roy, both of whom are considered close to Mamata Banerjee.Rebel MP Shatabdi Roy said, “I don’t know whether Sayoni has signed (the letter written by the rebel group to the Speaker) or not, but others have.”Sources also indicated that the rebel MPs and MLAs may jointly stake a claim on the Trinamool Congress, a strategy similar to the one adopted by breakaway factions of the Shiv Sena and the NCP in Maharashtra, both of which were recognized by the Election Commission as parent parties and later formed an alliance with the BJP.This version removes duplication, tightens the narrative, and places the rebellion angle in a separate section for cleaner news flow.

Charles Barkley addressed his ESPN future after reaction to Cardi B’s joke during the NBA Finals (Getty)

Charles Barclay Controversy is nothing new, but the most recent controversy came midway through the NBA Finals. a joke involving cardi b It spread rapidly online during halftime, with some viewers criticizing it and others supporting it. As the debate over the comment intensified, attention shifted to another question. Could the backlash affect Barkley’s future at ESPN?Barkley finally addressed this speculation himself, and his answer sounded exactly like what sports fans have seen for years: blunt, nonchalant and completely unfazed.

Charles Barkley laughs off ESPN speculation as Cardi B joke sparks debate during NBA Finals

The controversy began during halftime coverage of the NBA Finals. As the crew discussed Cardi B’s appearance, Barkley made a joke about the rapper’s stage name.Barkley said during the broadcast, “I don’t know if they’re B. They could be Cardi D. I’m pretty sure they’re not B. Her initials are wrong.”The comment immediately attracted attention online. Critics argued that the joke crossed a line and seemed inappropriate for a national broadcast. Others defended Barkley, saying that his unfiltered humor has always been part of his appeal and that audiences know what to expect from him.As clips of the exchange continued to air, Barkley addressed the backlash during an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show. Instead of being concerned about the possible consequences, he turned the discussion into another joke.Barkley discussed questions about his ESPN future on The Dan Patrick Show, saying, “I’m hoping they fire me. I have six or seven years left on my contract, even though they know I have no chance to do that. I would love for them to fire me and pay me for the next six or seven years.”The comment directly responded to growing speculation regarding his job status. Barkley made it clear that he is not losing sleep over criticism or fear of disciplinary action.Additionally, ESPN has given no indication it plans to punish the Hall of Famer. The network has not commented publicly on the matter. Cardi B has also not publicly criticized Barkley. For Barkley, the story ultimately became less about the joke and more about his reaction to the fallout. Facing questions about his future at ESPN, he showed no signs of backing down. Whether fans see this as refreshing honesty or unnecessary controversy, one thing is for sure. Barkley remains one of the most unpredictable voices in sports television

Morgan Stanley has overweight rating on ONGC with a target price of Rs 345. According to analysts, over the past two decades, ONGC has paid out about $33 billion in dividends, roughly equal to its current market capitalization, while generating an average after-tax Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) of 12%. Over the next 20 years of 2P’s reserved life, analysts expect dividends to double the historical rate. Production’s 3% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over FY26-FY29, with growth driven by gas production domestically and turnaround in profitability in international operations, drives 14% earnings CAGR.HSBC has initiated coverage of Max Financial Services with a buy rating and a target price of Rs 2,120. Axis Max Life Insurance (AMLI), the principal operating subsidiary of Max Financial, is one of the fastest growing life insurance companies in India. Analysts believe its focus on diversifying distribution and products will drive sustainable, predictable growth with stable margins. He also believes that continued operating performance and progress on a potential merger are key catalysts for the company. The sector’s valuations have declined over the past few years due to regulatory constraints, but I believe Max Financial’s resilience is reflected in its fundamentals. Analysts also flagged some key downside risks for the stock including delays, regulatory hurdles, or adverse outcomes in the reverse merger; possible introduction of bancassurance limits; And any lack of focus by Axis Bank on selling insurance products.Jefferies has initiated coverage of Meesho with a target price of Rs 225. Analysts said Meesho is building a scale-based value commerce platform based on affordability, discovery and logistics efficiency. A loyal user base, supported by a deep MSME supply network, is driving a strong flywheel. A growth-led approach should keep monetization back-end, with rates increasing over time. The company’s balance sheet is net cash with negative working capital, supporting capital-efficient growth.DAM Capital has initiated coverage on Physicswala with a target price of Rs 140. Analysts said this is an Indian ed-tech story where scale did not come at the expense of P&L. He expects the company to achieve 24% revenue CAGR and 71% EBITDA CAGR during FY26-FY28. Driven by near-zero-cost range online expansion (civil services, CA, state boards), maturing academic clusters offline, and operations benefit from an approximately 2,500-strong centralized content and faculty base serving both channels. Analysts believe it is the only major Indian ed-tech player to come close to profitability, a direct result of the industry’s lowest customer acquisition costs. Also, the refusal to pay salaries to star-teachers left every partner broke.CLSA has outperform rating on SBI with a target price of Rs 1,275. Analysts looked at the lender’s annual reports. He said FY26 was a good year for the bank. On the deposit side, the focus was on ‘retailisation’ of deposits, with retail savings and term deposits (TDs) growing 12-15% year on year (YoY). Corporate salary accounts grew 11% to cross 2 crore in FY26. There was significant improvement in Priority Sector Lending (PSL) compliance despite a sharp decline in PSL certificate purchases. Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) assets are also stable since FY24, which means less pressure on net interest margin (NIM). During the year, SBI initiated a complete operational process re-engineering exercise, which is ongoing. Variants of business loan products were also launched during the year, he said. (Disclaimer: The recommendations and views given by experts on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

“The World Cup is a true celebration of football and humanity.”

Oh, Peter Drury. We have come a long way since 2010.

Typically, the last few days before the World Cup are reserved for important debates. Who are the favourites? Is this finally Lionel Messi’s last dance? Can Cristiano Ronaldo somehow do it again? Which teen is going to be football’s next superstar? Which dark horse is going to ruin someone else’s summer?

Till 2026.

Many supporters seem almost worried about this time What can go wrong during the tournament Because they are about what can happen on the pitch.

Writing about the World Cup seems like a strange sentence.

For generations, this tournament has been football’s grand event that comes every four years and sends fans into a frenzy. This is usually the month when sport temporarily convinces us that nothing else is as important as 90 minutes and extra time.

Yet as the FIFA World Cup 2026 finally arrives, football’s biggest celebration brings a level of burden that few previous editions have had to deal with.

At its heart are geopolitical tensions that have increasingly come to the fore within the tournament. The ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran has further complicated regular World Cup preparations. Iran and other teams have had to deal with visa concernsLogistical uncertainty and even teams being forced to relocate their preparation venues, and questions about who can enter the host country and under what conditions have become a large part of the build-up.

And Iran is hardly alone.

From visa disputes and supporter travel bans to security concerns, ticket-pricing controversies and growing questions around access, much of the build-up has felt as if football is sharing tabloid space with other global politics news.

Yet football has a habit of fighting back.

When the lights go up at the Estadio Azteca and Mexico takes the field against South Africa after an opening ceremony featuring Alejandro Fernandez, Tyla, J Balvin and Ryan Castro, none of them will be able to score.

Football finally got the stage back.

Whether it can regain full conversation in the next month is simply a waiting game.

World Cup of Anarchy

Former England and Arsenal legend Ian Wright recently described the tournament as the “World Cup of Anarchy”. And debating that is a war in itself.

At the time of writing this, with huge sympathy for FIFA business chiefs, it was believed that this would be a safe World Cup.

The tournament was awarded to three countries with established infrastructure, huge stadiums and decades of experience hosting major sporting events. In comparison to some of the controversies surrounding Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, North America was considered to represent stability.

Instead, the build-up has left every football fan with a sour taste of hype.

Iran’s training plans were disrupted. Somali referee Omar Artan, who was set to become his country’s first official to officiate at a World Cup, was denied entry to the United States. Fans from many participating countries have publicly shared stories of visa complications despite having already spent significant amounts of money on flights, accommodation and tickets.

Then there is the matter of tickets.

For years, supporters have dreamed of experiencing the World Cup in North America. Many people immediately discovered that the dream came with a frightening bill. Dynamic pricing, rising accommodation costs, expensive transportation and a resale market that often looks different from reality have all contributed to frustration among travel advocates.

A strange paradox is also looming over the tournament. FIFA talks of record revenues and record attendances, yet thousands of tickets remain available for some group-stage fixtures just days before kick-off.

Not many people can argue that when it’s the World Cup, it’s an easy assumption that the football will still be great.

But there is no denying the fact that the road to this World Cup has been much worse than anyone expected.

What does the FIFA World Cup mean?

Perhaps that’s why it’s worth remembering what the World Cup often represents when football is at its most powerful.

In October 2005, Ivory Coast qualified for its first FIFA World Cup.

At the time, the country was divided by civil war.

Didier Drogba and his teammates could have easily celebrated qualification. Instead, they gathered inside a dressing room, looked directly at the television cameras and appealed for peace. The players dropped to their knees and requested fellow Ivorians to lay down their weapons.

It is one of the most extraordinary moments in sports history.

For a brief moment, football achieved what politicians had struggled for years to achieve.

The World Cup has always brought that unique potential.

That’s why people still remember where they were when Zinedine Zidane shone in 1998, when Anders Iniesta broke Dutch hearts in Johannesburg, when Mario Gatz took control of a nation-sized dream in Rio or when Lionel Messi finally perfected football in Qatar.

This tournament has always been more important than football.

Twenty-one years after Drogba used football as a tool of unity, the sport’s biggest event comes as it wrestles with negotiations about borders, visas, access and geopolitics.

The irony of shedding tears.

Will noise take over the World Cup?

Probably not.

Because football has spent decades proving that it has a superpower that very few things on Earth can match.

It distracts.

Soon, the conversation will move away from visas and ticket prices and back to Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappé, Neymar, Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal and every other story that makes the World Cup impossible to resist.

Argentina arrived to defend their crown. Spain is a favorite of many people. France have enough attacking talent to scare anyone. Brazil believes Carlo Ancelotti can restore former glory. England are once again trying to convince themselves that this really could be that year.

Especially for Indian fans, the commitment required to follow this World Cup borders on the absurd. About 90 percent of the matches will start between midnight and sunrise. It screams how sleep schedules will collapse, followed by caffeine-fueled work hours.

Yet millions of people will do it anyway.

Tomorrow morning, offices across the country will be filled with people with dark circles under their eyes and huge smiles on their faces. Someone will be replaying some amazing goal or referee call.

And that’s why, despite all the noise surrounding this tournament, it would be foolish to win the debate against football once again.

FIFA World Cup 2026: All 12 groups

Along with the big chaos list, the definitive list for this World Cup has also become longer.

FIFA has expanded the 2026 tournament to 48 teams. The new format consists of 12 groups of four teams, replacing the familiar eight-group setup. From there, the top two sides and eight best third-placed teams in each group will advance to the newly introduced Round of 32, which will open the door to more countries, more knockout drama and, inevitably, some surprise runs.

* Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia
* Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
* Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
* Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Truckee
* Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
* Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
* Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
* Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
* Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway
* Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
* Group’s: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia
* Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

Where can fans watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup in India?

Fans in India can watch all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Zee’s Unite8 Sports television channels, while live streaming will be available through the Zee5 app and website after the broadcaster secured the rights shortly before the tournament begins.

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