India’s KL Rahul seeks respite from the afternoon heat during the drinks break on the first day of the cricket Test match between Afghanistan and India in New Chandigarh on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

Shubman Gill’s fans during the India-Afghanistan cricket test match in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh.

Cricket fans Sana and Aadya spent a lot of time making this collage

The family had come from Pune to watch a test match in New Chandigarh

Khyal Mohammad, a lone Afghan from Kabul, waving the flag of his country during the India-Afghanistan match in Mullanpur.

The stands remained largely empty during the India-Afghanistan Test match today as many spectators stayed away from the field due to rising temperatures.

India’s KL Rahul seeks respite from the afternoon heat during the drinks break on the first day of the cricket Test match between Afghanistan and India in New Chandigarh on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

Shubman Gill’s fans during the India-Afghanistan cricket test match in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh.

Cricket fans Sana and Aadya spent a lot of time making this collage

The family had come from Pune to watch a test match in New Chandigarh

Khyal Mohammad, a lone Afghan from Kabul, waving the flag of his country during the India-Afghanistan match in Mullanpur.

The stands remained largely empty during the India-Afghanistan Test match today as many spectators stayed away from the field due to rising temperatures.

India’s KL Rahul seeks respite from the afternoon heat during the drinks break on the first day of the cricket Test match between Afghanistan and India in New Chandigarh on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

New Chandigarh: : From an Afghan student cheering on his childhood friends to a family flying 1,500 km from Pune, die-hard fans turned away air conditioning and study guides to witness cricket history, turning the venue’s first Test match into a vibrant, multi-national carnival.Businessmen and engineering students from England skipped exams and braved 40°C heat to watch local favorites Shubman Gill And KL Rahul scored centuries and crushed a tiring Afghan attack on the very first day.The eclectic, international crowd that turned out for the India-Afghanistan clash in Mullanpur transformed the stadium into a mosaic of hand-painted placards, jersey-wearing fans and inter-continental harmony.Among the first to arrive was 25-year-old Khyal Mohammad, an Afghan MBA student at Chandigarh University who had moved 830 km from Kabul for his studies. Initially the only Afghanistan supporter in his block, Mohammad – who counts Afghan national players Nangyal Kharotai and Zia Sharifi as personal friends – was soon joined by a contingent of compatriots.“There was a time when we supported other teams because we didn’t have any,” Mohammed said. “It feels good to support myself now.”The allure of the five-day game proved stronger than the academic deadlines for a group of third-year engineering students from Andhra Pradesh. While studying at Lovely Professional University in Jalandhar, nine classmates traveled to New Chandigarh right in the middle of their university exams.“We love cricket and we had to watch Test cricket live,” said Venkateshwarlu, 21, who had bought tickets mainly to watch Indian batsman KL Rahul, who was visiting from Karnataka.This match was played for the first time for many people in the stands. A family of four traveled nearly 1,500 kilometers from Pune to fulfill their daughter’s passion for sports, while twin sisters from Delhi Public School, Chandigarh spent the entire day designing a giant stadium poster.Even international corporate travelers got caught up in the local excitement. Two British officials on a business trip to India made an unscheduled visit to Mullanpur to experience first-hand the unique atmosphere of regional Test cricket.All the sacrifices and gambles paid off with Indian dominance having a front row seat as home captain Shubman Gill took India to 368 for 3 at stumps. The opening day proved the enduring magic of the five-day game, a return to tradition after a long season IPL20 over slam blast.

New Delhi: What started as a satirical online reaction to comments he made regarding the Chief Justice of India spilled onto the streets of the capital on Saturday, three weeks later, with cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dubey leading a protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the examinations.While the protest passed off peacefully, with a large turnout, the CJP said it would wait for a week for the Center to sack Pradhan or seek his resignation. “If no action is taken, this movement will spread across the country,” a CJP statement said.Posting visuals of the packed protest site on his social media handle, Dipke wrote: “They said cockroaches will not come to the ground”.Dipke reached Delhi from Boston on Saturday morning. Supporters were asked to gather outside the Parliament Street police station, but the call was modified after the police gave permission for the protest at Jantar Mantar even before Deepke exited the IGI.

Not just Gen Z, crowds from different generations also gather at CJP protests

The supporters had by then started gathering outside the Parliament Street police station and were asked to move to Jantar Mantar through repeated announcements by the police. There was heavy police deployment, including RAF personnel, and several layers of barricades around the area. Water sprinklers were on standby.As the hours passed the crowd increased. By 11 am the site was completely packed. This is known as the Gen Z movementHowever, the protests at Jantar Mantar attracted people across generations. Apart from school children and college students, parents, job aspirants, working professionals and older people also joined the movement. Common perception: The system has become increasingly unresponsive, and repeated exam leaks have undermined public confidence in institutions. Senior citizens, professionals and children of farmers came from different states to participate in it.Environment activist Sonam Wangchuk was also present along with CJP members and supporters. Wangchuk had earlier announced that he would fast for six weeks if Dipke was arrested.People gathered peacefully carrying the tricolor, copies of the Constitution and other books, and placards demanding accountability. Many participants wore cockroach masks, carried flowers and wore T-shirts bearing the movement’s symbol. As supporters waited for Deepke’s arrival, slogans of “Vande Mataram”, “Shame” and “Dharmendra Pradhan resign” echoed at the venue. The demonstration also received support from university campuses, with members of various student unions and student groups coming out in support.The protest ended at around 3.30 pm after Deepke’s health deteriorated.The BJP called it “negative politics”, while the Congress said its youth wing had done a lot for the welfare of students. The movement has been supported by AAP, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Left parties, among others.Pandurang Jadhav, 50, who traveled more than 1,300 km from Pune to take part in the protests, said he fears for the future of his two sons, aged 17 and 21. “My children have lost faith in the system. Every few months there is some controversy – sometimes paper leaks, sometimes glitches in the CBSE system. I have come here for their future,” said Jadhav, a financial analyst.Sajeev Kumar, 24, from Jaunpur, said he changed several trains and traveled for about 10 hours for the protest.The youngest participant was Abhimanyu of class three who wore a cockroach-style face mask and came with his elder brother. “All I know is that the paper was leaked and responsibility for it should be taken and the education minister should resign,” he said.Many participants described the protests as extending beyond exam leaks.For 83-year-old retired driver Itwari Lal Mathur, the issue was very personal. “Young people are losing hope. Children are suffering because of these failures. Who will bring back the lives lost due to such pressures?”There was brief chaos at the protest site when some people allegedly raised slogans against CJP supporters. Police personnel intervened and detained three people.

Jaipur: The wait lasted for over a decade, but the dry spell for Rajasthan’s cricket fraternity finally ended on a historic Saturday morning in New Chandigarh. Ever since Pankaj Singh stepped into ancient India, no cricketer from the state has won the coveted Test cap. After a gap of 12 years, the desert state is back in the Test arena thanks to young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar from Sriganganagar.With this monumental feat, 23-year-old Manav entered an elite club, and became only the fifth cricketer from the state to represent the state in Test cricket after the great Salim Durani, Hanumant Singh, Parthasarathy Sharma and Pankaj Singh.Long before the national selectors took notice, the foundations for this historic moment were being laid in the home trenches. Vineet Saxena, former Rajasthan player and coach of the senior men’s team in the 2022-23 season, remembers a quiet morning ranji trophy The match of that year when he got his first glimpse of a human during a competitive game.“He was the guy who was getting players out in defense and slip,” recalls Saxena.For a seasoned guru like him, the wickets on the scorecard can sometimes be misleading, but the technical precision of dismissals reveals the bowler’s true ability. Saxena explains that what really makes Manav an exceptional left-arm spinner is his ability to fundamentally outwit batsmen, defeating them when they are actively trying to protect their stumps.“So generally, when we look at a bowler, the numbers don’t really indicate the way he is taking wickets. But if a bowler is getting the batsman out in his defence, it means that bowler has really good quality,” the former state coach said.Not only did his tactical brilliance catch everyone’s attention, but the incredible physical attributes of his bowling also caught everyone’s attention. Suthar had an innate ability to manipulate the ball in the air, giving it a heavy turn that became a nightmare for the home batsmen.“The other thing I noticed is the revs he puts on the ball, it’s amazing,” says Saxena. “In our language, we say the ball is spinning and flowing, and cutting through the surface. So it has to do with the revs he is able to impart on the ball. That’s something special he has.”That special quality came into reality during Manav’s second Ranji Trophy season in 2022-23. The young spinner tore apart the opposition lineup, taking 39 wickets in just six matches at an incredible economy of 2.90, including two five-wicket hauls and a match-winning ten-wicket haul.Yet, what makes Suthar the ideal modern cricketer, and why many are already looking at him as a potential successor to Ravindra Jadeja, is his immense all-round ability. Suthar was never satisfied with being a one-dimensional expert.“In one game that season, he took five wickets against Pondicherry and missed a century. So it would have been a big achievement,” says Saxena. “He can develop into a good all-rounder. And even in batting, what I saw at that time was that he was very eager to learn. So his mentality and attitude was the same.”Naturally, any young left-arm orthodox spinner who can bat and score massive runs at the domestic level will immediately be compared to Jadeja. As Manav officially begins his Test journey, the hype is palpable, but Saxena urges a balanced perspective while validating the young player’s immense talent.“Jadeja is probably one of India’s greatest all-rounders. So I think it would be wrong to compare humans with them at the moment. Man has to go a very long way to accomplish this,” says Saxena.Suthar’s adaptability became even more evident when he converted these red-ball performances into high-risk white-ball cricket. Saxena recalls how effortlessly the spinner held his own against some of the most dangerous, established pinch-hitters in the country, proving that he is a genuine all-format asset.“Facing a star-studded Mumbai team in the practice games ahead of the Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Ahmedabad, he produced an extraordinary performance against Shivam Dube. Despite Dube’s notorious dominance over left-arm spinners, he reduced the all-rounder’s scoring rate to under a run-a-ball and ended it by dismissing him. That fearlessness was not a one-off,”When the tournament officially began, Manav made his T20 debut against Madhya Pradesh as an impact player, tasked with containing the in-form Venkatesh Iyer.“Iyer is a good striker of the ball. In that game, he scored almost 60 runs off 30 balls. Of those, against Manav, it was just run-a-ball, and Manav bowled him around 8 to 10 balls. So even against pinch hitters, he was able to stop them. He has that skill for T20s as well. He is an all-format player, it’s not like he can only survive in the longer format,” he added. Said.

A high-level standoff between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at four points along the India-Bangladesh border in Bengal ended suddenly overnight, with all 40 Bangladeshi nationals stranded at the zero points since Friday missing by Saturday morning.The most tense confrontation took place at Pillar No. 134 at Panishala in Mekhliganj, Cooch Behar, where 10 people were stranded as the BGB refused to accept them, claiming they were being “illegally pushed back” from India.When BSF demanded a flag meeting, BGB refused. After several hours of standoff and a major controversy in the early hours of Saturday, the BGB backed down. BSF said all the stranded people have returned to Bangladesh.Despite the immediate resolution of the standoff, the BGB issued an official statement through its public relations officer Shariful Islam on Saturday, claiming to have foiled eight separate “push-back” attempts by the BSF in the last 24 hours.A similar pattern played out at three other locations – Sitalkuchi and Dinhata in Cooch Behar and Sakti in Jalpaiguri Sadar – where around 30 Bangladeshi nationals, including women and children, remained stranded till Friday before disappearing overnight.In a video that surfaced during the standoff, purportedly showing a conversation between BSF-BGB in front of the trapped persons, a woman is seen saying that she is from Khulna and wants to return to her village. Sources said the BSF used the footage to put pressure on the BGB to accept them back.Among the incidents cited by the BGB in its statement, three persons were stopped at the Jadabpur border near North 24 Parganas and Nadia; 17 were returned to Karamudanga border near South Dinajpur; 21 were blocked at Barkhata and Payashottibari border near Dhubri in Assam; And seven were stopped from crossing at the Dighaltari border near Cooch Behar. “Increased vigilance, intensive patrolling and immediate preventive measures resulted in the foiling of eight separate attempts,” the BGB statement said.The episode unfolds in the backdrop of the new BJP government in West Bengal expediting the identification and deportation of unidentified Bangladeshi nationals.The Center on Friday also asked Dhaka to speed up the verification process of suspected illegal immigrants to facilitate deportation. Since then BSF has increased vigil on the border.

A Delhi court convicted him on Saturday Raju Kumar SinghBJP MLA from Sahebganj, Muzaffarpur, Dr. Archana Gupta was killed in the firing case at an eight-year-old New Year party. Singh was convicted of culpable homicide under the IPC and Arms Act. Special Judge Vishal Gogne of Rouse Avenue Court ordered his detention. His wife, Renu Singh, and two others, Rana Rajesh Singh and Ramendra Singh, who were accused of destroying evidence, were acquitted. The court will hear arguments on the sentence on June 9.The case pertains to celebratory firing during a party at a farmhouse in Fatehpur Beri, Delhi on December 31, 2018. Gupta was shot in the head and died in hospital on January 3, 2019.

‘Government cannot escape responsibility’: MLA on deaths

During this period, the state government paid Rs 5.1 crore as compensation. However, there is a huge variation in payments across districts, highlighting the gap between reported deaths and settled claims. Bikaner got compensation of Rs 92 lakh, Churu Rs 72 lakh, Jodhpur Rs 58 lakh and Hanumangarh Rs 48 lakh. Sriganganagar got Rs 18 lakh. Jhalawar received only Rs 18 lakh despite reporting 42 deaths. There were eight deaths in Deeg but no compensation was received, while there were 11 deaths in Kota and Rs 2 lakh was received.Officials blamed the disparities on claims verification and approval processes. Agriculture department records do not reveal the exact cause of each death. The data includes deaths associated with pesticide use during agricultural work. It included only cases reported and verified by authorities.“If hundreds of farmers are dying while doing routine agricultural work, the government cannot wash off its responsibility by just giving compensation. We need accountability, strict regulation of pesticides and a comprehensive safety program for farmers across Rajasthan,” said Kishanpole MLA Amin Kagzi.The number of deaths emerged alongside other figures from the Assembly: 189 pesticide samples failed quality tests over the same two-year period. Of the 5,570 pesticide samples collected across Rajasthan, 5,521 were analysed. While 5,332 met the prescribed standards, 189 were found substandard.Authorities issued 282 notices, filed 14 court cases, suspended 14 licenses and canceled 22 licenses after quality checks. Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh top the list of substandard pesticide samples with 17 each, followed by Bikaner (13), Kota (10) and Bhilwara (9). Sriganganagar recorded the highest number of notices at 34, followed by Bikaner (20), Hanumangarh (19) and Churu (17). Legal action was initiated in 14 cases, including five in Bikaner and three in Sriganganagar.These figures paint a clear picture of the dangers of pesticides in India. Heavy reliance on chemical pesticides has long been a pillar of high-yield farming, but experts have repeatedly warned that inadequate protective gear, unsafe handling practices, overspray and poor-quality agrochemicals can turn fields into toxic workplaces.In addition to human health risks, overuse of pesticides has been linked to soil erosion, water pollution, loss of biodiversity, and declining populations of pollinators and beneficial insects. State Agriculture Minister Kirori Lal Meena tried to play down the figures, saying the data compiled from police stations would be reviewed by the Home Department.

New Delhi: Ahead of the India Block meeting on Monday, CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby has made the allegations in a sharply worded letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Rahul Gandhi And other senior leaders during Kerala elections said that CPI(M) and BJP had struck a deal and demanded ED action against the then CM Pinarayi Vijayan. The Left party has asked the Congress to “clarify the position regarding such disruptive steps”.According to sources, in the letter to Kharge, Baby has alleged that a “systematic campaign” was run by the Congress leadership during the Kerala elections, alleging that Vijayan had also struck a deal with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asking a question ‘otherwise, why was he not interrogated or arrested by the Enforcement Directorate’?Baby makes it clear that “unless these matters are clarified, the very purpose of the India Block will remain in question”. Baby is understood to have put the ball in Kharge’s court in the letter, saying, “As Congress President, it is up to you and the Congress leadership to clarify the situation regarding such disruptive steps.”The CPM general secretary has said that these were not sporadic comments made in the heat of the election campaign, but were “the centerpiece of the political campaign of the Congress party-led UDF. Every national leader, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and you have repeatedly made such allegations,” Baby said in the letter.In this backdrop, Monday’s India Bloc meeting is likely to see some direct talks and fireworks. The two-time CPI(M)-led LDF lost to the Congress-led UDF in the recent assembly elections. Senior leaders said that despite the strong tenor of the letter, it is expected that the CPM will not boycott the meeting, although the party leadership will take a final decision on Sunday.In his letter highlighting that Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi repeatedly called for ED action against then Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, the CPM general secretary asked Kharge “can this be called an anti-BJP stance or is it a case of inviting the Modi government to take illegal punitive action against a fellow opposition leader?”Baby recalls that the India Bloc was formed as a broad platform to fight the BJP politically, and the CPI(M) has worked sincerely for such a united platform to emerge.It is strange that now, CPI(M) is being accused of colluding with the BJP, with Baby saying in the letter that this is a rumor which they cannot take lightly, as “it attacks the foundation of unity built against the BJP.”However, Baby has assured that CPI(M) will extend full cooperation in Parliament with India Bloc and other opposition parties to fight a united fight against the authoritarian, communal and anti-people policies of the Modi government.The India Bloc meeting, being held after a long gap, comes amid changing dynamics within the alliance, with the DMK already saying it will not attend it in the backdrop of Congress breaking ties with it to support TVK to form government in Tamil Nadu. On Thursday, DMK spokesperson TKS Ekangovan told ANI that the DMK is no longer a part of the India Bloc.At Monday’s meeting, where it is proposed to chalk out the future strategy of the India Bloc, former West Bengal CM and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee will be there to present the TMC’s views and garner support amid the current developments in the state. TMC, which has established itself as a major regional player within the Indian block, is set to lose party clout in the backdrop of recent developments – the defeat in Bengal and the recent split in the party.According to sources, in the India Block meeting, TMC leaders proposed to share their views on the role of the Election Commission, the developments on the day of counting and the reasons for the defeat, besides various issues.

The Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs emerge as the top landing spots for the $4M New England Patriots WR. (Image via X)

New England Patriots star player Kayshon Boutte may soon be added to the team along with AJ Brown and Romeo Doubs, although the team has not yet responded to the rumors. Amidst all the confusion, the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs have been linked to him.

Which teams are interested in Kayshon Boute?

While several teams have been linked to Kayshon Bout since AJ Brown was traded to the New England Patriots, the Las Vegas Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Commanders have emerged as potential landing spots for the star player, according to NFL insiders.

What are insiders saying about the trade rumors?

A few hours ago, according to Newsweek’s Rowan Fisher-Shotton, the Las Vegas Raiders or Kansas City Chiefs could make a move for Keyshon Boutte.Newsweek’s Rowan Fisher-Shotton said in a recent report, “The Raiders may be the cleanest fit. Las Vegas still lacks depth and is in the midst of building a young offensive core, with Trey Tucker, Jalen Naylor and Jack Beech currently among the team’s top receivers. Bout would come in as a low-cost, high-upside addition who would give No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza another explosive Will be able to step into meaningful snaps along the way.”The report said, “Kansas City’s receiver room has upside, but also plenty of uncertainties. Rashee Rice remains a key piece, though injuries and off-field issues have complicated his outlook. Xavier Worthy is expected to take another leap, while Jalen Royals, Cyrus Allen and Tyquan Thornton are still trying to establish themselves as reliable contributors. Bout would offer a low-cost solution with starting experience, giving Patrick Mahomes another reliable target without requiring a large investment.“

Contract Details and Salary Cap Implications

New England Patriots star player Kayshon Boutte has entered the final year of his initial four-year, $4.03 million contract with the team. He will have a $3.72 million salary cap hit for the season, which includes a base salary of $3.67 million. For the New England Patriots, his trade would free up $3.67 million in immediate salary cap space, while his remaining prorated signing bonus would incur a $46,818 dead cap penalty.

How can business impact teams?

For the Kansas City Chiefs, trading for Kayshon Boutte would be quite economical as the team has approximately $12.5 million in available salary cap space. Keyshawn Boute would also be hugely impactful for the team as trading for him gives Patrick Mahomes an economical, speedy deep threat to help his passing game.For the Las Vegas Raiders, Keyshon Boutte will give the team’s young quarterback a new starting target and boost a weak wide receiver group.

The selection committee has asked Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill to prioritize red ball and 50-over cricket during the 2027 ODI World Cup cycle despite a stellar 2026 IPL, so that he remains fresh for the bigger tasks ahead.

on saturday, T20 squads announced for UK Tour and Asian Games And the stylish Indian Test captain was not considered as he has two major ICC assignments in a chalk-a-block calendar.

Gill scored 732 runs at a healthy strike-rate of over 163 in the recently concluded IPL – his best in the season – but with Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the team, it is difficult to place another quality top-order batsman.

“The selectors are concerned that there is no burn-out issue with Gill.

With the kind of calendar that the Indian cricket team has for the next 18 months, it is almost impossible to stay fresh if one plays three formats.

“Gill is scheduled to lead India in nine WTC Tests and also play around 35 ODIs before the start of the 2027 World Cup,” a BCCI source with knowledge of the development told PTI.

“The communication has been clear that he needs to be fit for these two ICC assignments. He will also be playing the IPL where he will lead Gujarat Titans,” the source said.

Although Gill is not in the T20 plans at the moment, he is expected to be back in action before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics or the start of the T20 World Cup in Australia.

He said, “There is still a lot of time left for the two major T20 events in 2028. For Gill, the focus is on the immediate future. Two years from now, no one knows which player will be in what kind of form and fitness. So it is time till the 2027 ODI World Cup.”

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