The second T20I between India and England in Chennai witnessed a thrilling contest, ultimately decided by a masterful display of batting from India’s middle-order batsman, Tilak Varma. His unbeaten 72 runs proved to be the difference, a performance that even England’s pace bowling all-rounder, Brydon Carse, readily acknowledged in the post-match press conference.

Carse, reflecting on the match, conceded that despite England setting a challenging 166 runs and maintaining consistent pressure through wickets, Varma’s mature and calculated innings tipped the scales decisively in India’s favour. The victory secured a commanding 2-0 lead for India in the five-match series, leaving England with a significant uphill battle.

The match wasn’t just about Varma’s individual brilliance; it also highlighted the contrasting fortunes of England’s bowlers. While Carse himself contributed significantly with both bat (a quick 31 runs off 17 balls) and ball (three wickets), the spotlight fell heavily on Jofra Archer’s expensive spell. Archer conceded a hefty 60 runs in his four overs, a stark contrast to his impressive performance in the previous match.

Carse, however, offered a measured defence of his teammate, attributing Archer’s costly spell to a combination of factors rather than solely attributing blame. He pointed out that several of the boundaries conceded were well-struck shots over the keeper, highlighting the power and precision of the Indian batsmen. He emphasized that Archer’s overall performance wasn’t wholly negative; the expensive spell was an anomaly rather than representative of his capability. The sheer pace at which Archer bowls, Carse suggested, inherently carries a risk of such high-scoring overs.

Despite the defeat, Carse remained resolute about England’s aggressive strategy. He asserted that their approach, characterized by a commitment to taking risks in both batting and bowling during the power play, would remain unchanged. He acknowledged that room for improvement always exists, but stressed their intention to persist with this inherently high-risk, high-reward strategy. The lack of success so far, he indicated, does not warrant a change in their fundamental approach.

Looking ahead, Carse found some solace in the closely contested nature of the match. He viewed the narrow defeat as a positive learning experience, especially given the significance of close games in preparing for future tournaments, including the upcoming Champions Trophy. While acknowledging the disappointment of the loss, he emphasized the value gained from such high-pressure situations, believing that these experiences will be invaluable in their future performances.

The current predicament, however, is undeniable. With two consecutive defeats and only three matches remaining, England faces a daunting task. Carse recognized the lack of margin for error, stating that every remaining game would be a crucial battle. While acknowledging a degree of team disappointment, he expressed a sense of optimism, highlighting the improved performance compared to the first T20I as a building block for future success. The challenge is clear: win the next three matches to salvage the series.

The central government announced the recipients of the prestigious Padma Awards on Saturday. These awards, conferred annually on the eve of Republic Day, represent India’s highest civilian honours. They are presented in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (for distinguished service of a higher order), and Padma Shri (for distinguished service).

The awards recognize outstanding achievements across all fields, with a focus on public service. The recipients are selected by a committee appointed by the Prime Minister.

This year, a total of 199 awards were presented: 7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri. The President of India bestows these awards at a formal ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhawan, typically held in March or April.

List of Padma Award Winners 2024:

Padma Vibhushan:

• Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy
• Justice (Retd.) Jagdish Singh Khehar
• Kumudini Rajnikant Lakhia
• Lakshminarayana Subramaniam
• MT Vasudevan Nair (Posthumous)
• Osamu Suzuki (Posthumous)
• Sharda Sinha (Posthumous)

Padma Bhushan:

• A Surya Prakash
• Anant Nag
• Bibek Debroy (Posthumous)
• Jatin Goswami
• Jose Chacko Periappuram
• Kailash Nath Dikshit
• Manohar Joshi (Posthumous)
• Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti
• Nandamuri Balakrishna
• PR Sreejesh
• Pankaj Patel
• Pankaj Udhas (Posthumous)
• Rambahadur Rai
• Sadhvi Ritambhara
• S Ajith Kumar
• Shekhar Kapur
• Shobana Chandrakumar
• Sushil Kumar Modi (Posthumous)
• Vinod Dham

Padma Shri:

• Advaita Charan Gadanayak
• Achyut Ramchandra Palav
• Ajay V Bhatt
• Anil Kumar Boro
• Arijit Singh
• Arundhati Bhattacharya
• Arunoday Saha
• Arvind Sharma
• Ashok Kumar Mahapatra
• Ashok Laxman Saraf
• Ashutosh Sharma
• Ashwini Bhide Deshpande
• Baijnath Maharaj
• Barry Godfray John
• Begam Batool
• Bharat Gupt
• Bheru Singh Chouhan
• Bhim Singh Bhavesh
• Bhimawa Doddabalappa Shiilekyathara
• Budhendra Kumar Jain
• C S Vaidyanathan
• Chaitram Deochand Pawar
• Chandrakant Sheth (Posthumous)
• Chandrakant Sompura
• Chetan E Chitnis
• David R Syiemlieh
• Durga Charan Ranbir
• Farooq Ahmad Mir
• Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid
• Gita Upadhyay
• Gokul Chandra Das
• Guruvayur Dorai
• Harchandan Singh Bhatty
• Hariman Sharma
• Harjinder Singh Srinagar Wale
• Harvinder Singh
• Hassan Raghu
• Hemant Kumar
• Hriday Narayan Dixit
• Hugh and Colleen Gantzer (Posthumous)
• Inivalappil Mani Vijayan
• Jagadish Joshila
• Jaspinder Narula
• Jonas Masetti
• Joynacharan Bathari
• Jumde Yomgam Gamlin
• K. Damodaran
• K L Krishna
• K Omanakutty Amma
• Kishore Kunal (Posthumous)
• L Hangthing
• Lakshmipathy Ramasubbaiyer
• Lalit Kumar Mangotra
• Lama Lobzang (Posthumous)
• Libia Lobo Sardesai
• M D Srinivas
• Madugula Nagaphani Sarma
• Mahabir Nayak
• Mamata Shankar
• Manda Krishna Madiga
• Maruti Bhujangrao Chitampalli
• Miriyala Apparao (Posthumous)
• Nagendra Nath Roy
• Narayan (Bhulai Bhai) (Posthumous)
• Naren Gurung
• Neerja Bhatla
• Nirmala Devi
• Nitin Nohria
• Onkar Singh Pahwa
• P Datchanamoorthy
• Pandi Ram Mandavi
• Parmar Lavjibhai Nagjibhai
• Pawan Goenka
• Prashanth Prakash
• Pratibha Satpathy
• Purisai Kannappa Sambandan
• R Ashwin
• R G Chandramogan
• Radha Bahin Bhatt
• Radhakrishnan Devasenapathy
• Ramdarash Mishra
• Ranendra Bhanu Majumdar
• Ratan Kumar Parimoo
• Reba Kanta Mahanta
• Renthlei Lalrawna
• Ricky Gyan Kej
• Sajjan Bhajanka
• Sally Holkar
• Sant Ram Deswal
• Satyapal Singh
• Seeni Viswanathan
• Sethuraman Panchanathan
• Sheikha Shaikha Ali Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
• Sheen Kaaf Nizam (Shiv Kishan Bissa)
• Shyam Bihari Agrawal
• Soniya Nityanand
• Stephen Knapp
• Subhash Khetulal Sharma
• Suresh Harilal Soni
• Surinder Kumar Vasal
• Swami Pradiptananda (Kartik Maharaj)
• Syed Ainu Hasan
• Tejendra Narayan Majumdar
• Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi
• Tushar Durgeshbhai Shukla
• Vadiraj Raghavendracharya Panchamukhi
• Vasudeo Kamath
• Velu Assaan
• Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar
• Vijay Nityanand Surishwar Ji Maharaj
• Vijayalakshmi Deshamane
• Vilas Dangre
• Vinayak Lohani

Note that “(Posthumous)” indicates the award was given posthumously.

At the 76th Republic Day celebration in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday asserted the importance of unity and understanding in a diverse society. His speech, delivered after unfurling the national flag at a local college, extended beyond the celebratory aspects of the day, focusing on the responsibilities inherent in Indian citizenship.

Bhagwat’s central theme revolved around the need for societal cohesion, a concept he presented as crucial for harmonious coexistence. He acknowledged the presence of diversity within India, contrasting the nation’s approach with global conflicts often fueled by similar differences.

He argued that while individual distinctions and specializations should be respected, they should not overshadow the paramount importance of mutual respect and collaborative living. His analogy extended to the familial and community levels; just as a family requires harmony for its well-being, so too does a town and, ultimately, the nation. Internal conflicts, he implied, undermine the collective good.

He further emphasised the critical role of knowledge and dedication in achieving individual and societal success. Bhagwat used the simple act of cooking rice as a powerful metaphor. He explained that simply possessing the ingredients – rice, water, and heat – is insufficient; the knowledge of how to combine them properly is essential for a successful outcome.

Attempting a task without understanding, he warned, is akin to acting like a “lunatic,” leading to wasted effort and potential problems. This concept extended beyond culinary skills to encompass all aspects of life, highlighting the need for informed action and diligent work ethics.

His message extended into the realm of interpersonal relationships, highlighting the importance of faith and dedication. He contrasted the impersonal service received at a hotel with the welcoming hospitality often found in a home.

At a hotel, a simple request for water might be met with indifference or even hostility. However, at home, a similar request is usually met with generosity and warmth. This difference, he explained, lies in the presence of faith and dedication; actions rooted in trust and commitment invariably yield more positive results. Bhagwat concluded by emphasising that such faith and dedication are vital not only for personal fulfilment but also for building strong, harmonious communities and a thriving nation.