Habits die hard, especially of the notorious ones. Notably, nay irritatingly, of India’s cricketers — in particular the men in blue — getting dissected every ball, every inning and every match. The team led by Shreyas Iyer lost 0-2 to Ireland and critics across platforms are twisting the knife on batters who won the recent World Cup for the country in spectacular fashion, but failed to get going in Belfast.  The selection committee and the team management have placed their faith on the opening pair in Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson whose opening stand scores delivered 195 in four Twenty20 World Cup matches at 48.75, the best by an Indian opening pair in any World Cup in the shortest format. Samson dropped for a few matches, scored 321 runs off 161 balls in five outings with scores of 97*, 89 and 89 in the last three matches of the World Cup in India and Abhishek, after a 3-duck start and three more light scores made two 50s. The admirable part was the team management continued with Abhishek because of his approach – quick scoring ways in the power play. Samson’s scores in three innings in Ireland and England have been 5,0 and 1 facing a mere 12 balls. Clearly the likes of Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Iyer are firmly behind the Abhishek-Samson pair; they have not succumbed to pressure, but will be forced to introduce the rollicking and rip-roaring 15-year-old left hander Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to international cricket very soon. The circumstances will create opportunities for Sooryavanshi to show his talent in two-three matches of the remaining four remaining Twenty20 matches in England. Hopefully he will not be dissected every time he goes out to bat. Hits and flops come with the format.

It’s over a month since the electoral tsunami struck Tamil Nadu uprooting strongly entrenched Dravida models. The TVK under superstar Vijay stormed to power but needed support from small parties. The CPI, CPM, VCK and IUML gave the lifeline. But now every day seems to be a challenge to stay in power. Especially after the undignified show of taunting put up by the CM Joseph Vijay and an equally distasteful repartee by LoP Udhayanidhi Stalin (a wife is roaming the Chengalpattu Court in search of her husband). House decorum is often violated by such events when those with tenuous links dare to criticise. The Congress waited a full three days to react…presumably, the High Command had to okay it.  Former TN Congress leader K Selvaperunthagai condemned it saying “This is not a film set. Assembly is a historical institution”. Knowing the Congress penchant and predilection to latch on to power, Selvaperundagai’s quick and ignoble exit is not surprising. Of all the support givers, VCK’s Thirumavalavan is probably a step higher in the hierarchy. But when he too criticised CM’s choice of Karnataka Venkatnarayana (producer of Jana Nayagan) as TN’s representative to Delhi, the elasticity snapped. Vijay’s Man Friday Aadav Arjun quickly dialled Thiruma’s secretary and conveyed “It’s okay for all those wanting to quit the alliance…to go. We are capable of managing the government”. You can conjure up the shocked reaction of these small players who are clinging on for dear life … berths that have fallen like rare diamonds into their laps. Has Vijay found his grip over power? Or as many surmised, has Capo Di proved yet again that he is the real power?

It’s over a month since the electoral tsunami struck Tamil Nadu uprooting strongly entrenched Dravida models. The TVK under superstar Vijay stormed to power but needed support from small parties. The CPI, CPM, VCK and IUML gave the lifeline. But now every day seems to be a challenge to stay on in power. Especially after the undignified show of taunting put up by the CM Joseph Vijay and an equally distasteful repartee by LoP Udhayanidhi Stalin (a wife is roaming the Chengalpattu Court in search of her husband). House decorum is often violated by such events when those with tenuous links dare to criticise. The Congress waited a full three days to react…presumably, the High Command had to okay it.  Former TN Congress leader Selvaperundagai condemned it saying “This is not a film set. Assembly is a historical institution”. Knowing the Congress penchant and predilection to latch on to power, Selvaperundagai’s quick and ignoble exit is not surprising. Of all the support givers, VCK’s Thirumavalavan is probably a step higher in the hierarchy. But when he too criticised CM’s choice of Karnataka Venkatnarayana (producer of Jana Nayagan) as TN’s representative to Delhi, the elastic snapped. Vijay’s Man Friday Aadav Arjun quickly dialled Thiruma’s secretary and conveyed “It’s okay for all those wanting to quit the alliance…to go. We are capable of managing the government”. You can conjure up the shocked reaction of these small players who are clinging on for dear life … berths that have fallen like rare diamonds into their laps. Has Vijay found his grip over power? Or as many surmised, has the Capo Di proved yet again that he is the real power?

Cocktail 2 entered its second week on a relatively stable note despite the arrival of a major competitor in the name of heavyweight, Welcome to the Jungle. After a strong first week of Rs. 70.50 crore net, the Shahid Kapoor-Kriti Sanon-Rashmika Mandanna starrer collected Rs 4 crore on Friday (Jun 26) which was the 8th day, followed by Rs 4.25 crore on Saturday (Jun 27) and Rs 4.40 crore on Sunday (Jun 28) i.e. 10th day. These numbers were respectable for a film facing fresh competition, showing it could still command decent screens and audience interest over the weekend. However, Monday, the 11th day, it was a completely different story. Cocktail 2 crashed to just Rs 1.75 crore net from 3,873 shows at a low 16.51% occupancy, taking its domestic collections to Rs 84.90 crore. The nearly 60% drop from Sunday’s Rs 4.40 crore was brutal and exposed the film’s inability to sustain momentum once the new release tightened its grip. In stark contrast, Welcome to the Jungle delivered a blockbuster opening. The Akshay Kumar-Suniel Shetty comedy raked in Rs 15.25 crore net on its first day, jumped to Rs 20 crore on Saturday, Rs 24.75 crore on Sunday, and still posted a solid Rs 8.50 crore on Monday which was its 4th day. In just four days, it amassed Rs 72.25 crore net in India; more than Cocktail 2 managed in its entire first week plus four days of the second. But the moment Monday arrived; the ultimate testing day for every film’s staying power, Cocktail 2 completely surrendered. A Rs 1.75 crore Monday against a competitor’s Rs 8.50 crore is not a hold; it is a rout. The numbers don’t lie; competition killed Cocktail 2’s second week and effectively ended its theatrical momentum far earlier than it deserved.

The much-anticipated Union Cabinet reshuffle may simply get put off. Initially, there was excitement when George Kurian quit as Union Minister for Minority Affairs. It was presumed that he had set the ball rolling. With Modi government keen to push some important laws in the upcoming Monsoon Session of  the Parliament and increasing  its numbers in the House, there was a sense that a number of new ministers would soon join the government. For some reason, neither PM Modi nor Home Minister Amit Shah are in a mood to rush through this exercise and repent later.  With a series of international engagements for PM Modi beginning with a Seychelles visit at the end of June and a packed diplomatic schedule in early July, it now seems Modi is unlikely to reshuffle his team. Modi is expected to undertake visits to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand between July 6 and 11. In addition, Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi is scheduled to visit New Delhi from July 1 to 3. In view of these international engagements, BJP leaders say the likelihood of a Cabinet reshuffle before July 11 appears remote, although they remain confident that the exercise will be completed ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament that is expected to begin third week of July. BJP sources also discount the possibility of any major change in the Finance Ministry like easing out FM Nirmala Sitharaman or getting former RBI Governor Dr Shaktikanta Das to head the ministry. Sources say significant portfolio reshuffles in the Union government are most likely when elections are held for the office of President of India in 2027.

Finally, Biju Janata Dal has inducted ex-IAS bureaucrat Sujata Rout Karthikeyan in the presence of BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik. She is the wife of V K Pandian, the most powerful bureaucrat in Odisha once upon a time. Meanwhile, Naveen Patnaik has put to rest rumours by announcing that he will continue to lead the party till the next election. Sujata’s claim to fame is her association with BJD’s flagship programme Mission Shakti aimed at women’s empowerment wherein, she created 70 lakh Self Help Group building an impressive vote bank for the BJD. Soon after her induction she chucked a googly saying “The future of politics lies in “We” and not “I” highlighting the importance of team work and shared responsibilities. A highly placed BJD sources said, “BJD needs to diversify its leadership with induction of more people with diverse background and experience as it did with Sujata Rout.” Who will take over the party eventually is the rumour that has been doing rounds for the last two-three years and there was an indication Sujata R Karthikeyan was being groomed for top leadership position? This is because Patnaik trusts the Pandians totally. Now, the big message that is coming out of BJD Headquarters is that Naveen Babu is not passing the baton at least for now. That should be like sweet music to the ears of the senior BJD leaders.

The ‘Little Master’ Sunil Gavaskar has been spending a lot of quality time in “Aamchi Mumbai” these days. Even if he has relinquished the NRI status, the champion batter of the yesteryear, has shown remarkable energy and enthusiasm to travel hell of a lot in India and overseas for commentary duties, to raise money for charitable causes and catching up with fellow cricketers and friends. Very recently he had rostered his “annual do” at the Harish Thawani founded ‘The Indus Club’ in Bandra-Kurla-Complex (BKC) — for Club cricketers upwards, and on June 25, the first batter to breach the 10000 runs barrier in Test cricket, organised a “nice and comfy” evening with the flannels-wearing ‘ Kapil’s Devils’ of the 1983 Prudential World Cup winning team. Kapil himself, of the brand Tunbridge Wells-175 not out and magnificent catcher that ejected Vivian Richards in the final at Lord’s, was in the midst of the twilight hour party at BKC – dressed in Black Pathani and jacket. Each and every one of the team was ‘cool like a cucumber’ and relishing the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of the phenomenal achievement of knocking down the mighty West Indies. In attendance, apart from Kapil and SMG were, the Delhi gang in Mohinder ‘Jimmy’ Amarnath, Kirti Azad, Madan Lal and Sunil Valson, Bombay Boys, Sandy ‘Storm’ Sandeep Patil and the patka-clad swing King, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, “Nalla Madras’s Krishnamachari Srikkanth, and hip-hop Bangalore’s Roger Binny. Missing were Dileep Vengsarkar, Ravi Shastri and Syed Kirmani, all three busy elsewhere in the world. SMG shared his thoughts about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Rohit Sharma, Pratika Rawal and a lot more! It was a lovely evening at “The Indus Club” soon after Shyam Bhatia and Aditya Bhushan’s “Her Story, Her Glory’ book on Indian women’s cricket was launched...

Disturbed by reports of squirrelling away of Ram Temple funds, PM Modi made it clear to both the RSS and VHP that everyone linked to the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation theft case must face a probe. Apparently, the PMO got details that shocked both Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath alike. It showed a wider network of influence, with several accused staff members being close associates of former temple Trust office-bearers such as Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, both of whom resigned after the FIR was filed. Rai incidentally is also a senior office-bearer of the VHP. Most of the eight staff members named in the FIR were close associates of both Champat Rai and Anil Mishra. Two of them have been arrested by the police and produced before a local court. Yogi’s Special Investigation Team could only find CCTV footage of temple donation counting for only 45 days. Video footage recovered so far showed the accused pocketing currency notes at least 70 times inside the counting room. Several of the accused have confessed to stealing donation money, while others have returned the stolen cash. The key person among the eight named in the FIR is Ramshanker alias Tinnu Yadav, Champat Rai’s driver. Tinnu had the keys to all the boxes containing donation money. He played a key role in hiring people for the temple and also allocating counting duty. Tinnu owns properties worth more than Rs 50 crore in Ayodhya and Lucknow. He owns a plush residence and several costly sedans. What has upset top Sangh leaders is that Champat Rai showed gross negligence in running the temple’s affairs. He even tried to obfuscate PM Modi’s efforts to get ahead with the probe. His role needs to be thoroughly probed they say. Anil Mishra, the trust member who resigned, owns a big residence in Ayodhya, and his personal property has increased several times in the past five years.

After the BJP’s shocking performance in UP in the Lok Sabha polls of 2024, the central BJP and its UP unit leaders, including UP CM Yogi Adityanath are working to ensure the assembly polls next year are better coordinated and ego hassles are avoided. The latest organisational overhaul in the Uttar Pradesh BJP is a good example of a new approach of caste balancing. It is designed to counter the Samajwadi Party’s PDA (Backwards, Dalit and Minority) strategy. A lot of representation has been given for backward classes, Dalits, EBCs and women. Top leaders agree that the BJP must consolidate a broader social alliance before the 2027 electoral battle in UP. The new team reflects the party’s effort to combine caste arithmetic, regional balance and organisational experience. The newly constituted state team bears the imprint of the new national BJP chief, Nitin Nabin, and the UP organisational in-charge, Dharampal. Kameshwar Singh, who is considered close to CM Yogi has been appointed as a state vice-president. Several leaders perceived to be close to key BJP functionary Sunil Bansal, including Triyambak Tripathi and Vijay Bahadur Pathak, did not find a place in the new setup, though Archana Mishra has been included.  Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s close aide, Ankur Sharma, has been appointed as state secretary. Union minister Pankaj Chaudhary was appointed as a state chief in December 2025.  Among the 19 vice-presidents, the BJP has appointed four Rajput leaders: Suresh Rana, Ramesh Singh, Neeraj Singh, and Kameshwar Singh; three Brahmin leaders: Archana Mishra, Braj Bahadur and Shankar Girihave have been included; Kritika Agrawal and Alok Gupta represent the Vaishya community. As for non-Jatav Dalit communities, they have appointed Devesh Kori and Priyanka Rawat as vice presidents. A significant part of vice-presidential positions has gone to OBC leaders representing different caste groups. To maintain caste balance, the party has named eight general secretaries.

After the removal of Trinamool Congress founder Mamata Banerjee as party chairperson, the rebel TMC faction on June 22 approached the Election Commission seeking recognition as the “real” TMC and stake claim to the party name and its election (twin flowers with grass) symbol. The dissident MLAs not only ousted Mamata Banerjee but also Abhishek Banerjee from the post of national general secretary. Former minister Arup Roy was unanimously elected chairperson, while the rebellion is being led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, who claims the support of 65 of the TMC’s 80 MLAs. In a counter move, Mamata submitted to the EC a list of what she described as the legitimate national working committee, that includes herself as chairperson, Abhishek as national general secretary, Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen as joint secretaries, Subhashish Chakraborty as treasurer and Sovondeb Chatterjee as Assembly leader. The crisis comes amid mounting challenges for Mamata, including a breakaway group of Lok Sabha MPs aligning with the NDA and the resignation of three Rajya Sabha MPs. While the rebels want her retained only in an advisory role, her camp has shrunk to loyalists such as Kalyan Banerjee, Madan Mitra, Mahua Moitra, Sougata Roy, Nadimul Haq and Kunal Ghosh. The TMC leadership has expelled several dissidents, including Javed Khan, Firhad Hakim, Rathin Ghosh, Biplab Mitra, Sabina Yeasmin, Aroop Biswas and Snehashis Chakraborty. Adding to the turmoil, TMC bank accounts holding around Rs 440 crore have been frozen following complaints by the rebel faction seeking an audit. With parallels being drawn to the Shiv Sena and NCP splits in Maharashtra, the battle is expected to involve the EC, Assembly Speaker and Supreme Court, potentially triggering a prolonged legal and political confrontation.