NEW DELHI: The dejection was evident on India captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s face when India, who cruised to the final of the ICC 2020 T20 World Cup on the back of contrasting wins, lost the final battle to Australia. India were looking like title favourites. They had already defeated their opponents – Australia – in the group stage, but the hosts bounced back and avenged their group-stage defeat by demolishing Harmanpreet’s team by 85 runs to win the trophy.
This time, in South Africa, Harmanpreet will once again lead the Women in Blue in the next edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup. Team India are still waiting for their first title.
The most successful team in the history of the tournament is Australia, who have won the title 5 times.
Since the inception of the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2009 India have managed to enter the final only once – in 2020 – under Harmanpreet’s captaincy.
This time India are placed alongside England, Ireland, Pakistan and West Indies in Group B. The Women in Blue will kick off their World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on February 12 at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town.

Harmanpreet Kaur (TOI Photo)
As the team gears up for the mega tournament, TimesofIndia.com caught up with India skipper Harmanpreet to talk about the team’s World Cup plans and potential title chances, key players, who amongst Yastika Bhatia and Richa Ghosh as the preferred wicketkeeper, young sensation and U-19 T20 World Cup winning captain Shafali Verma, Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni’s influence on her and much more…
What has been the biggest thing that you have learnt as India captain?
The amount of responsibilities I have been getting day by day. This is the biggest thing and this keeps me motivated. Every day is special for me. Leading a team is a big achievement for any cricketer. I am really grateful that I have got this opportunity to lead my country. The support I have been getting from the Indian media, fans and brands like Puma, these things motivate me to do well.
India finished runners-up at the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup when you were captain. Once again, you will lead the team. Whatare the plans?
The Tri-series (in SA – India, SA and WI) helped us in building the team ahead of the World Cup. Before the World Cup, we wanted to play a tournament like this (Tri Series) that could help us in building the team. We just wanted to do well in the tournament. This was something very important for all of us. We have to keep doing the right work which we have been discussing.

Image credit: T20 World Cup
India defeated Australia in the group stage but lost in the final in the 2020 edition of the T20 WC. What went wrong at that time, you think?
These things happen. You cannot change whatever happened (in the final). We learnt a lot of things. We wanted to improve on those areas. Everyone is contributing to the game and that’s what you expect from the players. We are not putting extra pressure on anyone but team contribution is something we have been discussing. In the last few months, we have seen some match-winners in the team. That’s why we have been discussing how important everyone’s contribution. It is good to see that every single player is getting involved and doing well. This was something missing in the past. Contribution from each player was important and this is something (which is) visible now.
India are placed alongside England, Pakistan, Ireland and West Indies in Group B. How easy or hard do you think it will be for India to qualify for the knockouts?
I don’t think any game is going to be easy for us. It’s not easy for us to qualify because all the teams really want to do well on the world stage. For us, it is important to do the right work and keep focussing on certain areas. All the teams are doing really well nowadays. We just need to focus.
According to you, which team will pose the biggest threat to India at the World Cup, this time?
All the teams are important. They are doing really well. We cannot take any team lightly. We just want to go there and back our strengths rather than thinking about what others can do. If we can focus on what we can do, that is going to be the key for us.

Image credit: T20 World Cup
In terms of captaincy, which Indian cricketer (male or female) do you admire the most?
For me, Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni. The way they led the team is something I really follow. When Sourav was leading the team, Indian men’s cricket was growing. The way he (Sourav) was changing the atmosphere (in the dressing room) and trusting and backing the players.

Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni, we know how clever he was on the field. Today, if you watch his (Dhoni’s) old match videos, you can still learn a lot of things from him. I have learnt a lot from Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni. I always try to pick up small small things that can help me and the team on the field. They have played a big role in my life, when we talk about captaincy.
You have almost 3000 T20I runs and also a century – which knock of yours is your personal favourite and why?
Each and every run is important for a player. Centuries are always important. They are always close to your heart. I give more importance to runs. Whether you score 10, 50 or 100, when you win the game for your team, when your team wins, that makes you more happy. For me, winning runs (runs that help a team win) are always more important than individual runs.
Who will be your go-to wicketkeeper in the World Cup – Yastika or Richa and why?
Both are really good wicket-keepers and have done really well for the country. It’s difficult for me to pick one, but Richa has done really well in the Under-19 World Cup and Yastika is doing really well in domestic cricket. Whenever she (Yastika) has got the chance, she has done well for the team. Both have done well and it’s difficult for me to pick one but whoever is in the best touch at the last moment and suits the combination, we will pick that girl.
Shafali was in tremendous form in the Under-19 World Cup. You must have been happy to see that and must be hoping she carries that form into the World Cup, to help India clinch the title…
Definitely. She has been a key player for us. Whenever she performs, we are always in a better position. I just want her to keep enjoying (her batting) and keep backing herself. Because whenever she is doing these things, she is in better shape. She should keep enjoying (herself), and keep doing the right work. Her teammates are always there for support. She will be a key player for us and I always like to back her.

Shafali Verma (Twitter Photo)
How easy or difficult is it to be an attacking batter in women’s cricket?
Nowadays cricket has totally changed. Everyone likes to play aggressive cricket. It is not easy. It takes a lot of courage, lots of focus and lots of concentration. Nowadays, cricket demands attacking batting. It is good to see a lot of batters changing their batting style. They just brought that positivity in their batting. This is something I really like to watch.
BCCI recently announced equal match fees for men and women cricketers. Your comments…
It is the biggest step taken by the BCCI. I am really thankful to them. This will motivate the players to do well. This will also motivate and inspire other girls to take up cricket as a career. This is a great initiative taken by the BCCI.
You recently said that you are really looking forward to the women’s IPL – the first edition will be played this year. Do you think this tournament can revolutionise the women’s game in India, just like it did for the men’s game?
Yes definitely. When the men’s IPL started, we saw immense improvement in men’s cricket. The amount of talent in men’s cricket has increased too. The same thing is going to happen in women’s cricket also. We are going to see many talents coming into women’s cricket with the help of this Women’s IPL. I am really looking forward to it.
One thing that the IPL has done over the years for the men’s game is giving very talented cricketers the platform they need to showcase their skills eventually helping them play for India – the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya etc. have all followed this route. Do you think the same can happen for the women’s game via the women’s IPL?
Earlier, there was a bridge between domestic cricket and International cricket. When the players from domestic cricket, after their good show, got the chance in the international scene, took time to settle in with the international players and conditions. It was hard for them. After the IPL, we don’t see that pressure on the players. They always have that confidence and they always look in good touch. And the same thing is going to happen in women’s cricket as well.
After the Women’s IPL starts, we are going to see that change in women’s cricket too. Women’s IPL will cut down those differences in women’s cricket too. When the cricketers (women) will share the dressing room and face them (international players) on the field in the Women’s IPL and then face them on the international stage, it won’t make much of a difference to them and will ease the pressure as well.
If you could change one rule of international cricket, which one would that be and why?
When a player hits a six out of the stadium, it should be counted as more than six runs. Because it takes a lot of hard work and power to hit that big shot. I think that the batter should get more than six runs.

Harmanpreet Kaur (TOI Photo)
(Also) when we hit a boundary and run a single, double or three runs, those runs should also be counted. Those runs can be added to that boundary (four). If we can add those runs (run between the wickets) before the ball hits the ropes for a boundary, that will be interesting.
What does Harmanpreet like to do most when she is not playing cricket?
When I am not playing cricket, I like to spend time with my family. Nowadays, we don’t get much time to spend with family. I spend time with my dogs. When I am home, I don’t go on holidays or outings, I just like to be at home and spend as much time with my family. This is something I enjoy the most when I am not playing cricket.
Your take on your association with Puma…
I am really grateful. I never thought that one day I would be associated with Puma. I was sure that the hard work I have been putting in for so many years would pay off someday. The day has come. It is a big day not just in women’s cricket but in other sports as well. Nowadays, I see most girls, across sports, using Puma shoes and spikes, especially. These things we always needed on the field that Puma is providing. I am really feeling proud that I am going to be associated with Puma. The support, so far, I have got from them is great. They have been so kind to me.

Jasprit Bumrah is still recuperating from a prolonged back injury and is not part of the Indian squad for the first two Tests vs Australia. But over the years, Bumrah has, of course, experienced a phenomenal rise — from a rookie bowler to becoming the leader of India’s pace attack.
Ahead of the first India vs Australia Test which begins on February 9 in Nagpur, another bowler, who had been an intrinsic part of India’s pace battery for many years, has talked about what happened when Virat Kohli told him that he wants to have an on-field chat with Bumrah after a below-par first spell in a Test match in Australia.
Ishant Sharma, in a video on Cricbuzz, said – “I knew one day Bumrah will become a leader…I remember in 2018, when we were playing a Test in Australia, Bumrah’s first spell didn’t go down well. Virat told me – ‘I think I should go and speak to him’.”

(Getty Images)
Remember, 2018 was the year when Bumrah made his Test debut, in a Test in Cape Town against the Proteas in January of that year.
So what happened next?
Ishant revealed how he asked Virat to not have that chat with Bumrah, which might have thrown the then rookie pacer even more.

(Getty Images)
Ishant said – “I replied – ‘He (Bumrah) is a very smart bowler. He understands things. Usko chhor de. Usko pata hai kya karna, kya nahi karna hai (Let him be. He understands what is needed). That he’s quite smart. He understands the game and situation.’ When you understand the situation, especially in Test cricket, you can come back quickly,” Ishant further said on Cricbuzz.
So far in his Test career, Bumrah has played 30 Tests and taken 128 wickets, with the best innings figures of 6/27.

After impressing one and all with his chartbuster songs like, ‘Angaat Aalaya’, ‘Kuni Mhanale’, ‘Aaple Saheb Thackeray’, ‘Saheb Tu Sarkar Tu’ and others, music director Rohan Pradhan is all set to compose songs for upcoming biopic ‘Ranjana Unfold’ helmed by Abhijeet Mohan Warang.
In an exclusive interview with ETimes, music director Rohan Pradhan said, “‘Ranjana Unfold’ is a biopic on legendary Marathi actress Ranjana Deshmukh. She has always been a vibrant personality and had a lot of ups and downs in her life. She was from Parel Mumbai and was born and brought up in the same vicinity. I could connect with her personality immediately as I grew up seeing her aura throughout my childhood. So when makers approached us, we were extremely happy to be a part of such a legendary project. This is our second project with them as i had already worked with them for ‘Thackeray’

“I have always tried to do projects that give us an opportunity to explore music in different ways. I always feel people should remember us Rohan Rohan as versatile music composers rather than being typecast. And as they say, we are the Musical Kings of Biopic it becomes a great responsibility for us to create a musical world which helps the film in every aspect. I have been very fortunate to be a part of legendary biopics like ‘Sanju’, ‘Thackeray’, Kashinath Ghanekar,’ Rohan added.
“Ranjana Unfold’ is a musical and has 4-5 songs which in today’s times is difficult to be a part of. The music of this film is going to pursue different shades of her life and will help the story to move ahead. I am looking forward to bringing this wonderful musical journey in front of the audience soon this year,” Rohan concluded.

Talking about the film, The name Ranjana Deshmukh is at the forefront among the actresses who made the black-and-white era colourful with her all-around acting.

Born in Mumbai, Ranjana entertained her fans by playing various characters from 1960 to 2000. She entered the film industry at the age of five, acting as a child artist in the film ‘Harishchandra Taramati’. At a young age, she won acclaim by playing the lead role in the film ‘Asla Navra Nakoga Bai’.

The film is slated to release on March 3, 2023.

After a whole host of limited-overs series, Team India and its fans are gearing up for a mouthwatering Test series. Next up for India will be the touring Aussies. India and Australia are scheduled to play four Tests, starting from February 9.
This will be overall the 16th edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which was initiated from the 1996-97 series.
Since then, India have won nine series out of 15 completed so far, while Australia have won five. One series ended in a draw.
As the two teams gear up for the first Test, which will be played in Nagpur, TimesofIndia.com takes a look at some of the biggest records and interesting statistics for the India vs Australia Test cricket rivalry:
1. India enjoy a success percentage of 29.41 in Tests vs Australia, winning 30 and losing 43 out of 102 contested (Tied 1 and Drawn 28).

2. Sachin Tendulkar is one of three batsmen to have managed 3,000-plus runs vs Australia in Tests.
3. Tendulkar’s aggregate of 3630 (ave 55.00) in 39 Tests is bettered only by England’s Jack Hobbs – 3636 (ave 54.26) in 41 Tests. England’s David Gower is the only other batsman to have amassed 3000-plus runs vs Australia.
4. Tendulkar’s tally of eleven hundreds in Tests vs Australia is bettered only by Jack Hobbs. However, Tendulkar’s tally of 20 hundreds across formats vs Australia is a world record.
5. Harbhajan Singh, by dismissing Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne off successive deliveries in the 2000-01 Kolkata Test, accomplished India’s first hat-trick in Tests.
6. India (171 & 657/7 decl.) defeated Australia (445 & 212) by 171 runs at Kolkata in March 2001. The said instance provided the third occasion when a team lost the Test after enforcing a follow-on.

7. Australia remain the only team to earn the above dubious distinction on all three occasions that this has happened. The first two occasions being at Sydney in 1894 and at Leeds in 1981 – both times vs England.
8. With their defeat in the Kolkata Test in March 2001, Australia’s winning streak of sixteen Tests was broken.
9. Harbhajan Singh’s impressive tally of 32 wickets (ave 17.03) in the 2000-01 series remains an Indian record against any opponent in a three-Test series. He remains the only Indian bowler to capture 30 wickets in a three-Test series.
10. VVS Laxman remains the only Indian batter to manage 500-plus runs in a three-Test series vs Australia – 503 (ave 83.83), including a hundred and three fifties, in 2000-01.
11. Laxman’s career-best fantastic knock of 283 off 452 balls at Eden Gardens, Kolkata in March 2001 remains an Indian record for the highest individual innings vs Australia in Tests.

(File image of R Ashwin celebrating the dismissal of Steve Smith – Getty Images)
12. Anil Kumble is the only bowler to complete a century of wickets in Tests involving India and Australia.
13. Virat Kohli remains the only Indian batter to hit four hundreds in a Test series vs Australia – in Australia in 2014-15.
14. Kohli, with 692 runs (ave 86.50) in the four-Test series in 2014-15, holds a record for the highest run-aggregate in a series for India vs Australia.
15. Three Australian batters have managed 700-plus runs in a Test series vs India – 769 (ave 128.16) in the four-Test series in Australia in 2014-15 by Steven Smith; 715 (ave 178.75) in the five-Test series in Australia in 1947-48 by Sir Donald Bradman and 706 (ave 100.85) in the four-Test series in Australia in 2003-04 by Ricky Pontng.
16. Kohli was the second batsman in Test annals to post two hundreds (115 & 141 – at Adelaide in December 2014) on captaincy debut – the first being Greg Chappell (Australia) – 123 & 109 not out vs West Indies at Gabba, Brisbane in 1975-76.

17. Kohli is the only captain to register two centuries in a Test match against Australia in Australia. He is the second Indian batsman (and the sixth overall) in Test Cricket to register a century in each innings of a Test match in Australia – the first Indian batter being Vijay Hazare – 116 & 145 at Adelaide in January 1948. England’s Herbert Sutcliffe, Wally Hammond, Denis Compton and West Indian, Rohan Kanhai are the other four batsmen to have achieved the distinction against Australia in Australia.
18. Kohli scored 256 runs in the 2014 Adelaide Test – the most by any batsman on captaincy debut, obliterating New Zealand’s Graham Dowling’s tally of 244 (239 & 5) against India at Christchurch in 1967-68.
19. Mahendra Singh Dhoni enjoys a success percentage of 61.53 as captain – winning eight, losing four and drawing the remaining one out of 13 Tests played vs Australia.
20. One of the two visiting batsmen to have recorded three hundreds at Adelaide, Kohli is averaging 98.50 (394 in four innings) – his sequence of scores being 116 & 22 in January 2012 and 115 & 141 in December 2014). England’s Jack Hobbs had registered three hundreds in ten innings at this venue.

21. Kohli remains one of two Indian captains to have managed a hundred in the fourth innings in a Test vs Australia – 141 off 175 balls vs Australia in December 2014. Mohammad Azharuddin was the first to accomplish the feat – 106 off 162 balls vs Australia at Adelaide in January 1992.
22. VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid had shared a stand of 376 for the fifth wicket in the 2000-01 Kolkata Test – a record stand for any wicket for India vs Australia in Tests.
23. Just one other century stand is higher than the above Laxman/Dravid’s stand in India-Australia Tests – 386 for the fourth wicket by Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke in the 2011-12 Adelaide Test.
24. Craig McDermott had bagged 31 wickets at 21.61 runs apiece in the five-Test series in Australia in 1991-92 – the best performance by an Australian bowler in a Test series vs India.
Stats Courtesy: Rajesh Kumar

Bhojpuri star Ravi Kishan’s elder brother Ram Kishan Shukla has passed away due to a heart attack. Reportedly, he was admitted to Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai. The actor himself gave information about this sad news through social media.
The actor shared a photo of his Ram Kishan on social media and wrote, “Sad… My elder brother Mr. Ramkishan Shukla ji has passed away at 12 noon in Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai due to sudden cardiac arrest. I pray to Mahadev to give me a place at your feet Om Shanti Shanti Shanti “.

दुःखद …मेरे बड़े भाई श्री रामकिशन शुक्ला जी का अचानक ह्रदय गति रुकने के कारण मुंबई के नानावटी अस्पताल… https://t.co/DRtVxuQFtl

— Ravi Kishan (@ravikishann) 1675585558000

रामकिशन भैया सच में हमारे घर के राम थे शांत मुस्कुराता चेहरा छल कपट नहीं उनका अचानक चले जाना स्तब्ध कर दिया हम सब… https://t.co/9NvpeXresA

— Ravi Kishan (@ravikishann) 1675617017000

Several famous Bhojpuri celebrities such as Dinesh Lal Yadav, Aamrapali Dubey, Akshara Singh, Vinay Anand and others also expressed condolences to the family with humble tribute.

The Union Budget this year came with welcome changes for different categories of taxpayers. Unlike the previous years, the Hon’ble Finance Minister doled out some benefits for literally every cross-section of people – women and their daughters, senior citizens, professionals, high net-worth individual and the public. Introduction of standard deduction in New Personal Tax Regime (“NPTR”), changes in the basic exemption limit, changes in the income tax slab rates, reduction of the peak marginal tax rate, increase in gross receipts limits for presumptive income for professionals, etc. are all strong positives and a hit with the public. So, there is a strong ‘feel good’ factor all around.
However, several of these benefits came with an important pre-condition attached – namely participation in the New Personal Tax Regime. And there are some changes which are bound to leave some sections deeply unhappy. So, what are some of the key elements which have been left out, contrary to our expectations? Let us take a closer look at three big misses of this Budget.
Also Read | New Income Tax Slabs 2023 – 2024 Highlights: Full list of new tax slabs for new income tax regime, comparison & FAQs answered
New Personal Tax Regime (NPTR): Most of the beneficial tax provisions such as higher basic exemption limit from Rs. 2.5 lakhs to 3 lakhs, rationalization of tax slabs, bringing down the peak surcharge from 37% to 25%, income limit for 100% tax rebate from Rs. 5 lacs to Rs. 7 lacs are all tagged to NPTR. So far, most people continue to opt for the old tax regime as popular exemptions and deductions like HRA, LTA, Chapter VIA deductions (covering PF, PPF, insurance premia, medical insurance, NPS contributions, etc.) as these are important elements of spend for the common man.
While the Government wants to simplify the tax regime and continue with only NPTR in future, the disallowance of exemptions and deductions under this regime may not help achieve this objective in a hurry. Further, knowing that largely the low- and middle-income group puts money in different options to save and invest, taking away deductions and exemptions under NPTR will discourage them. Just like the FM brought in standard deduction into the NPTR for salaried people, introducing these existing deductions into the NPTR along with a sunset clause might have been a more fruitful approach.

Capital gains (CG) tax: The provisions related to CG were in urgent need of simplification. Factors like different category of assets, period of holding, multiple tax rates, indexation/ deeming/ grandfathering provisions, criteria for exemptions, reporting requirements etc. play a pivotal role in computing the correct income and taxes but are very difficult to comprehend. Rationalization and simplification of this gamut of provisions could have helped the taxpayers compute the resultant income and taxes correctly and easily.
Procedural hassles: As we all know, the Indian Government has been taking several steps to make tax compliance easier for taxpayers. Mandatory online filing, linking of Aadhaar and PAN, faceless and online assessment procedures, linking of bank accounts with PAN for faster processing of refunds, easy access to personal data via Form 26AS, AIS, etc. – all these measures have resulted in a remarkable reduction in average processing period of returns from 93 to 16 days! As the FM mentioned, 45% of the returns get processed within 24 hours these days. This is no mean feat and really makes a difference to taxpayers.

Explained: Budget takeaways for your money – tax, salary, senior citizens & more

Now is the time to forge ahead towards the next level of change. There are practical challenges faced by the taxpayers while complying with all the requirements. The set algorithms in the department’s technology and software do not adapt to different and unique situations which the taxpayers might have during return filing or other compliance procedures. For example, Tax Residency Certificate (TRC) is a must to avail the tax treaty relief but in a situation where the TRC is not issued by the foreign jurisdiction, the taxpayers face genuine hardship in claiming this relief. This goes against the spirit of double taxation avoidance agreements, where India is a signatory to the agreed protocol with another country.
Another situation is where e-verification of Form 67 for an individual who has already left India and does not have access to the available modes of e-verification. It is impossible for such individual to follow the online steps required by the software. Again, where the overseas tax return is not available before the due date of filing India income tax return/ revised return owing to the timing difference between the two countries, the taxpayers are not able to claim foreign tax credit, which rightfully belongs to them. The Government needs to look into these with urgency.
Also Read | Budget 2023 Income Tax Slabs Savings Explained: New tax regime vs Old tax regime vs regular tax regime
This year’s proposals are clearly aimed towards simplification and reduction of administrative time of taxpayers, employers as well as the tax authorities on compliance procedures. Some of the above points would add to this objective. We hope this is an early enough call-out to the Government to take the necessary steps in this regard.
(Ishita Sengupta is Partner and India Leader at Vialto Partners. Manavi Gupta, Associate Director and Sagar Dhamija, Manager also contributed to the article. Views expressed are personal)