Kuldeep Yadav has every reason to believe that he has been given the short shrift in the first three Tests of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy played at Leeds, Edgbaston and Lord’s. Clearly head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Shubman Gill did not have the confidence that Yadav, who had played only one Test previously at Lord’s in 2018 (0/44 in 9 overs), could deliver. So, what are the odds of the left-arm wrist spinner figuring in the team sheet at Old Trafford and The Oval. Yadav made his debut eight years ago against England at Dharamsala. Since then, he has played only 13 Tests and taken 56 wickets. Last year he took 22 wickets at 23.09 in 5 Tests, his best in six calendar years when he was given a chance. His important numbers overseas are 4 in an innings at Pallekele, 5 at Sydney, and 5 at Chittagong. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said that he would have played Yadav and that the team should find a way to pick him in the playing XI. Wrist spinners have taken 215 wickets at 34.36 @ Old Trafford and 297 at 39.19 @The Oval. Wrist spinners’ record is 370 wickets at 33.32 @ Lord’s, 184 at 35.48 @ Leeds and 91 at 39.13 @ Edgbaston. Warne, the right-hand leg spinner took 129 wickets in 22 Tests at 21.95 in England and turned out to be a match winner for Australia.  Whereas left-arm wrist spinners South Africa’s Paul Adams and Australia’s Fleetwood-Smith took 17 and 14 wickets respectively. With Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar certainties for Old Trafford, will Gill retain Akash Deep or get Yadav in? That’s the big question mark.

Bihar politics has eschewed the ‘Y’ component from its traditional ‘MY’ (Muslim-Yadav) factor that allowed RJD’s Lalu Prasad Yadav to rule the roost for decades just like SP’s Mulayam Singh Yadav did in Uttar Pradesh. The brutal July 5 killing of Ajay Yadav and severe injuries to his brethren after a Muharram procession turned violent and, the severing of the arm of another Hindu youth similarly in Dhaka in east Champaran district alongside the killing of a Hindu family of three in June has failed to impress principal political parties, including the ruling JD(U)-BJP or even the Opposition RJD adequately to call upon families of the deceased even as state assemblies are looming. The July 6 attack on a Hindu temple during another Muharram procession in the Katihar (Naya Tola) district also instilled fear in Hindu minds and yet, political parties have done little more than target each other for the violent incidents finding no time to assuage the feelings of bereaved Hindu families. While political parties are known to dance to the tune of their preferred voter base (the minority vote bank here), neither the Hindutva votary in power — BJP — through its Bihar president Dilip Jaiswal nor RSS functionaries in the state found time for an outreach to Hindu families drawing flak from Hindus of Bihar. Ironically, at East Champaran where the father of the nation had launched his Satyagraha movement, RJD efforts to flaunt his grandson Tushar Gandhi backfired when the village ‘Muhiya’ Vinay Kumar Sah asked Gandhi to leave over his “Badlo Bihar, Nai Sarkar” campaign after another colleague made disparaging comments regarding PM Narendra Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has once again invoked the powerful sentiment of Bengali Asmita ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. In a move reminiscent of her successful 2021 campaign, Banerjee accused the Centre of systematically targeting Bengali-speaking individuals and migrants across BJP-ruled states, painting it as part of a larger political design to marginalise Bengalis. This protest comes just days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled rally in Durgapur on July 18 and the TMC’s annual Martyrs’ Day on July 21. The TMC supremo led a protest rally on July 16, alleging that the Union government had secretly issued a notification permitting detention of individuals — especially Bengali speakers — on mere suspicion of being illegal migrants from Bangladesh. Walking alongside her nephew and party’s National General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee — amid speculations of a strained relationship — Mamata projected a message of unity and communal harmony by notably including a Buddhist monk and a Muslim cleric, underlining inclusivity in the face of alleged divisive policies. She raised concerns over Bengalis being labelled as Bangladeshis despite having Aadhaar and PAN cards. She pointed out that over 1.5 crore migrant workers from other Indian states are working in Bengal with dignity, unlike the treatment meted out to Bengalis elsewhere. Didi cautioned that if Bengalis are detained, Bengal will politically detain the BJP through the ballot box. Political observers believe that the choice of location for the PM’s rally on July 18 in Durgapur is strategic as it will encompass the two key Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bardhaman district — Bardhaman-Durgapur and Asansol. In both constituencies BJP was defeated in 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Modi’s address is expected to clarify BJP’s stance — whether it will continue with a Hindutva-driven approach or pivot toward inclusive development.

Twenty–four old Pune based Marathi actress Ritika Shrotri will visit the UK at the end of August with her English play The Light Catcher. In this one-woman play, Ritika plays 10 characters on stage. This play is based on a photographer who goes on an emotional search for her ‘favourite’ photo, only to find it in the most unexpected moment of her life. She tells stories behind her photos and her subjects come alive on stage. Characters from India to UK, Venezuela to North Korea, and Ethiopia. Those who have seen the play in Mumbai and Pune describe it as a visually stunning, intercultural theatrical experience, in English. Ritika, who’s been working in the Marathi film industry for 15 years, has featured in films like Bucket List (as Madhuri Dixit’s daughter), Boyz, Mukkam Post Bombilwadi, Darling, London Misal etc. Some latest Bollywood films like Raid 2 and Meenakshi Sundareshwar (Netflix original). The Light Catcher is written by Niranjan Pedanekar, an AI Scientist whose inspiration for the play came from Kevin Carter’s haunting photograph of a starving Sudanese child being watched by a vulture – a powerful image that sparked global debate on ethics. Ritika boasts that her play was selected for NSDF UK. Earlier, she was invited to the National School of Drama’s Bharat Rang Mahotsav. The Light Catcher bagged the Best Play at the Red Curtain International Festival and Ritika won the Best Actress award. After having over 30+ sold-out shows at Prithvi Theatre, NMACC and across India, Ritika will be touring London (10–11 Aug) and Edinburgh Fringe (18–23 Aug).

The Vidhan Bhavan is increasingly witnessing scenes of bad blood and sharp exchange between legislators. While sarcastic one-liners comments and humorous leg pulling have been traditionally acceptable and even encouraged, the current exchange of barbs between political rivals has taken on a downward spiral. So, when the BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar questioned Sharad Pawar’s family members following different faiths, not surprisingly, it was followed by NCP(SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad passing nasty remark to Padalkar when the latter was giving bites to news channels. The duo continued their duel right till the parking lot of the Vidhan Bhavan. The discourse turned further downwards when Opposition members turned up in banians and towels to poke fun at Eknath Shinde’s MLA Sanjay Gaikwad turning up in that gear at the MLA hostel in a viral video. In fact, Aaditya Thackeray and Nitesh Rane had a one-to-one duel on the floors of the assembly over the former terming the latter’s party as Chaddi-Banian party. Even the normally genial Aaditya Thackeray did not spare others and called out deputy chairperson of the legislative council Dr Neelam Gorhe for her comment that Mercedes had to be gifted for posts in the Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. The TV cameras caught Gorhe returning an angry stare. The same evening saw Aaditya’s cousin and fellow legislator Varun Sardesai accusing Gorhe’s bodyguards of pushing him around, again the spat flowing out before full media glare. While the TV cameras positioned outside the Vidhan Bhavan provide much needed oxygen in such reel-worthy and hits-hungry viral times, it’s not surprising to see the political friction play before the media gallery at this monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

There is a worry in top echelons of the government that a lobby of busy-bodies has emerged in the power echelon in Delhi that eagerly offers to fix appointments with government officials and secure policy solutions for some consideration. The rise of such a busy-body has begun to deter honest bureaucrats from entertaining any requests for interactions with any non-familiar persons. It is being said PM Modi felt it was necessary for the officials to come up with public feedback on government policy decisions for improving delivery. In the absence of any interaction with common citizens and NGOs, officials were also not coming up with fresh ideas. It is in this context that Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan’s letter to secretaries of the central government asking them to interact with people is interesting and makes sense. He flagged the “perceived reluctance” among several senior central government officials to give appointments to people, saying such interactions can give insights into ground realities, and clarify misunderstandings about “government policies or intentions”. In his letter, Somanathan made it clear that such meetings should be held in offices and not clubs or hotels. He said people from various sections of society have told him that there is a “perceived reluctance” among several secretaries of the central government and other senior officers to give appointments to people other than officials, who may wish to meet with them in connection with the work of their ministries. He said the work of the government is such that it affects or benefits many people and organisations. In some cases, “if you feel it is necessary as a precaution, you could ask another officer to be present.”

The Bombay High Court is not amused with the second ‘closure’ report filed over the sensational June 2020 Disha Salian unnatural death case that lived on like a political potboiler ever since. On July 2, 2025, the closure report in the case was submitted to court bearing the signatures of Malvani police station’s senior police inspector Shailendra Nagarkar (in SIT) and a state public prosecutor, neither of whom bothered to attend the day’s court proceedings. Strong observations followed over their absence particularly since no ‘closure’ report was sought by the court in the first place. The court also considered invocation of contempt proceedings against the officers concerned. A legal source reveals, “A disgraced IPS officer, allegedly responsible for the first closure report filed in the case under then MVA ruled Maharashtra is believed to have actively ensured the second closure report also by the SIT set up during the current litigation through the writ petition filed by Disha’s father seeking a CBI probe into his daughter’s death. The High Court justice questioned why the missing in action officers submitted the closure report in the first place and will take issue with them come July 16.” A well placed political source in Delhi notes, “Then Mumbai police commissioner, Parambir Singh, thoroughly disgraced the city’s police force by acts of omission and commission, was even cited for the so-called Thane model of corruption and yet, only five days back he was acquitted in the extortion and corruption case in Thane. He was also suspended following the ‘Antilla’ case (Ambani residence) when he was Mumbai CP and yet, continues to operate with impunity or tacit political backing.” Reportedly, his son is married to a Nagpur-based politician’s daughter.

Migration of India’s well-placed millionaires has now become a concern area for India. As per Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2024, 4,300 millionaires will leave India by the end of 2025 indicating nominal slow down. In 2024, 5,100 Indians moved their houses from India opting to work in Dubai, London, Europe, USA, Singapore and others.  This year, though there is a ‘wee bit ‘ slowdown of high networth individuals’ (HNIs) migration, what comes out loud and clear from the report is that for these HNIs, India is no longer where their heart is. They think that greater opportunity, freedom, and stability lie elsewhere. The HNIs have chosen Singapore, Middle East, Dubai, London, Europe and America and other countries as their destination of work, leisure and stay. The worrisome part is, there is now an increasing trend to renounce Indian citizenship as well. As of 2023, over 216,000 Indians holding Indian passports have already surrendered their citizenship. Sanjaya Baru, ex-Media Advisor to Dr Manmohan Singh, in his latest book Secession Of The Successful explores why India as a country increasingly becoming nationalist but the elite and successful are quite happy to migrate to other countries, a trend which is now increasing. He says Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) have become Non-Returning Indians. According to him, individuals are leaving India because India has not created an environment to retain the talent. The dichotomy is India’s HNIs chant “Bharat Mata ki Jai” while opting to live and work overseas but not returning to India for good. The challenge for any government is to improve the civic and urban life facilities making it worthwhile for people to come back.

KL Rahul, a true blue of Test match cricket, became the second Indian after Dilip Vengsarkar to make the crowd at the fabled Lords cricket ground in London applaud a three-figure knock a second time; Vengsarkar earned the sobriquet “Lord of the Lord’s” for his three  centuries at the celebrated venue in the capital city of England. On the third day of the third Test between England and India, the stoical, but stylish opener scored an exact 100 and he must have felt emotions running high. Lord’s is without a doubt the Mecca of cricket. The famous cricket correspondent of the ‘Yorkshire Post’ James Maurice Kilburn referring to the Lord’s, wrote in ‘Overthrows’: I always feel as though I am stepping into history. Top batters regret not getting the magical number at Lord’s, but 10 Indian batsmen have made together 13 centuries at the Marylebone Cricket Club which is the home ground for the Middlesex County. The first Indian to carve a century at Lords was the great all-rounder, Mulvantrai Himmatlal ‘Vinoo’ Mankad in a Test match known as “Mankad’s Test” because he scored 72 and 184 and took 5 for 196 in the first innings of the 1952 series.  After Mankad’s stupendous effort with the bat and ball, Gundappa Viswanath, Vengsarkar, Ravi Shastri, Mohammed Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid,Ajit Agarkar,  Ajinkya Rahane and Rahul have sparkled at the Lord’s. The Honours Board at the venue was embellished with names — 173 batsmen with a total of 252 centuries in all. England’s Joe Root made the count 253 and Rahul 254. Rahul had lorded over Lord’s in August 2021 making 129!  

Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd (TAFE) of the Amalgamations group appears to have used `the naked licensing’ argument to press its claim for the iconic Massey Ferguson brand when it was engaged in legal battle with its over 65-year-old partner AGCO Corporation of the U.S. Of course, both have settled their dispute out of court and TAFE has been confirmed the owner of Massey Ferguson in India and two other countries. The term “naked licensing” in the context of trade mark laws refers to the practice of granting a licensee the right to use a trademark without demonstrating any control or supervision of the trade mark. In this instance, though TAFE has been using the Massey Ferguson brand for over six decades, AGCO had taken virtually no interest or contributed to its development in India. Apparently, this has proved a significant legal roadblock for AGCO to claim the ownership of Massey Ferguson brand in India. Also, TAFE has been strategic in its relationship with AGCO Corporation over the years. Its decision to invest in AGCO (it has over 16% shareholding in the U.S. company) has given TAFE the negotiating edge in effectively sealing its ownership for the Massey Ferguson brand in India. From hindsight, it could be argued that TAFE did well in consistently persuading AGCO Corporation to pare its holding in TAFE gradually from 49% a few years ago to less than 21%.  The strategy, assiduously initiated by TAFE over the years, appears to have emerged victorious in the end. If proof is required, the out-of-court settlement is there for all to see.