Actor Anushka Sharma and her cricketer husband, Virat Kohli, recently visited Shri Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, with their children, Vamika and Akaay. Their interaction with the saint has gained significant attention on social media.

In a widely shared clip, Anushka is seen asking the saint for the “devotion of love” and expressing that she frequently listens to his spiritual discourses. Virat, on the other hand, quietly held Akaay in his arms, listening intently to the conversation.

During her discussion with Premanand Maharaj, Anushka shared, “The last time I came, I had a few questions in my heart. I wanted to ask them, but others present there asked similar questions.” She smiled as she continued, “When I was considering coming here, I was speaking to you in my mind. The next day, while reading ‘Kanti Vartalap,’ those very questions would be raised by someone else. All I seek now is your blessings.”

In response, Premanand Maharaj admired their devotion, saying in Hindi, “It takes great courage to dedicate oneself to God after achieving such fame in the world. We believe that your (Anushka’s) devotion to God will positively influence him (Kohli) as well.”

The video also features Shri Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj praising Anushka for keeping Virat Kohli grounded in humility and faith, despite his immense success.

Anushka and Virat have recently returned to India following the Australia Test series.

The couple welcomed the New Year in Sydney, Australia, and a video of them walking hand-in-hand through the city has gone viral online. Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli have been in Australia for a while as the Indian cricket team competes against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

The video, which has been shared by numerous fan pages dedicated to the couple, features them coordinated in stylish black outfits. Virat looks sharp in a black suit, while Anushka dazzles in a chic little black dress. They were accompanied by Indian cricketer Devdutt Padikkal as they seemingly ventured out to celebrate and welcome 2025 together.

Earlier, on December 11, the couple was photographed outside their hotel while celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary. They also enjoyed a Christmas breakfast at a café in Melbourne, which later shared a picture of the couple and expressed their happiness at having hosted them.

Former cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin said that Hindi is not the national language of India but merely an official language. He made this remark during a convocation ceremony at a private college near Chennai on January 9.

During his address, he asked the students which language they preferred for him to speak; while some opted for English, there was significant enthusiasm when he offered to speak in Tamil. However, there was no interest shown for Hindi.

“Hindi—no response. I thought I should mention that it is not our national language but an official language,” the former Indian all-rounder remarked.

Ashwin encouraged the youth to strive for excellence and to continue their learning journey even after their formal education has concluded. Speaking at the 23rd Graduation Day of Rajalakshmi Engineering College, where 1,601 candidates, including PhD recipients, received their degrees, he reflected on the school and college years as the best times of life. He urged young graduates to connect with a greater purpose after completing their higher education.

“Regardless of what lies ahead—career, financial independence, or any other goal—you should align yourself with a good cause. This will empower you with a steely resolve to face challenges,” he advised. He encouraged students to disregard negativity, stay focused, pursue excellence, and never stop learning.

Recalling his own student experience, the off-spinner noted the difficulty of balancing academics with cricket. “Effective time management was key… it was a challenge, but looking back, I realize that what I learned and the hardships I faced have shaped who I am today,” he said.

The chief guest for the event was Prabu David, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, USA. The ceremony also featured remarks from Chairperson of Rajalakshmi Institutions, Thangam Meganathan, and Vice Chairman Abhay Meganathan.

The Indian women’s cricket team cruised to a commanding 6-wicket victory over Ireland Women in the first ODI at Rajkot, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The chase of 239 was spearheaded by opener Pratika Rawal’s composed 89 and Tejal Hasabnis’ unbeaten 53, sealing the win in just 34.3 overs.

Ireland’s valiant effort

Opting to bat first, Ireland had a shaky start as Titas Sadhu and Sayali Satghare dismantled their top order, reducing them to 56/4 in the powerplay. Captain Gaby Lewis and Leah Paul then orchestrated a crucial 117-run partnership, stabilizing the innings. Lewis played a captain’s knock of 92, narrowly missing out on a century, while Paul contributed a gritty 59.

Late cameos by Arlene Kelly and Georgina Dempsey lifted Ireland to a competitive total of 238/7. Priya Mishra impressed with figures of 2/56, keeping the visitors in check during the death overs.

India’s emphatic chase

India’s reply began on a high note with stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana smashing a brisk 41 off 29 balls. During her explosive innings, Mandhana achieved a milestone, becoming the fastest Indian women’s cricketer to reach 4000 ODI runs.

After Mandhana’s dismissal, opener Pratika Rawal and middle-order batter Tejal Hasabnis took control. Rawal showcased her class with a 96-ball 89, striking 10 boundaries before being dismissed while attempting an ambitious lofted shot. Tejal Hasabnis, on the other hand, played a steady hand, remaining unbeaten on 53 to anchor the chase after Rawal’s departure.

Despite Aimee Maguire’s three-wicket haul, Ireland’s bowlers failed to trouble the Indian batters, who capitalized on loose deliveries and fielding lapses to maintain a dominant scoring rate.

Series outlook

The victory underlines India’s all-around strength, with both batters and bowlers stepping up to the occasion. Ireland, however, will aim to regroup and fight back in the second ODI to keep the series alive.