In an unexpected turn of events, a young entrepreneur’s routine cab ride in Mumbai transformed into a remarkable revelation when he discovered that his Ola driver was a former Olympian. The driver, Parag Patil, had proudly represented India in international competitions, accumulating an impressive total of two gold medals, eleven silvers, and three bronze medals.

Aaryan Singh Kushwah, the entrepreneur, shared this encounter on social media, stating: “My Ola driver is an Olympian. Meet Parag Patil, a Senior Olympian: 2nd in Asia in Triple Jump and 3rd in Asia in Long Jump. Each time he represented India internationally, he brought home medals—2 golds, 11 silvers, and 3 bronze. Yet, he has no sponsors and barely enough funds to support his family, let alone continue his athletic career. This post is a call for anyone who can help sponsor Parag to allow him to represent and win for India internationally.”

The post was accompanied by a heartfelt photo of Kushwah with Patil, encapsulating their unexpected yet significant moment together.

The story quickly gained viral attention, stirring a wave of emotions and discussions online. Many netizens focused on the stark realities facing retired athletes in India, expressing both pride in Patil’s achievements and frustration over the lack of systemic support for such heroes.

One user remarked, “This is both inspiring and heartbreaking. What a story of resilience!” while another lamented the state of athlete welfare, stating, “Our sports legends deserve better than this. We need to step up as a nation.”

Calls for immediate action emerged, with comments highlighting the absence of sustainable programs for athletes post-retirement. Suggestions ranged from urging brands and organizations to sponsor Patil to crowd-funding efforts, with one user remarking, “Let’s crowdfund this. Parag deserves another chance to shine.”

The story has reignited discussions about establishing sustainable career paths for retired athletes, with many advocating for policies that would ensure stable job opportunities, financial support, and recognition programs for those who have brought honor to the nation.

India’s fast bowler Arshdeep Singh has received a nomination for the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year award, as announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday, December 29.

He emerged as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup 2024, claiming 17 wickets in eight matches with an impressive average of 12.64 and an economy rate of 7.16.

In addition to his World Cup success, Arshdeep is the highest wicket-taker among Test-playing nations for the year, amassing a total of 36 wickets in 18 matches at an average of 13.50 and an economy of 7.49.

Surprisingly, Jasprit Bumrah, India’s premier fast bowler and Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup 2024, did not receive a nomination despite finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 15 wickets from eight matches, averaging 8.26 and boasting a remarkable economy rate of 4.17.

Also nominated is Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam, who led all Test-playing nations in T20I runs with 738 from 23 innings, averaging 33.54 with a strike rate of 133.21, including six fifties.

Further adding to the nominees is Australia’s explosive opener Travis Head, who topped the Australian charts in T20Is for 2024, scoring 539 runs in 15 innings at an average of 38.50 and a strike rate of 178.47, which includes four half-centuries.

Lastly, Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza is among the nominees, having set records by scoring the second-fastest century in T20Is earlier this year.

He accumulated 573 runs from 23 innings at an average of 28.65 and a strike rate of 146.54, featuring one century and two fifties.

Raza also took 24 wickets over the year at an average of 22.25, with his best bowling figures being 5/18. Voting for the award is currently open on the ICC website, allowing fans to support their favorite players.

The release of the sequel to The Batman has been postponed from its previously scheduled date of October 2, 2026, to October 1, 2027. Directed by Matt Reeves, production for this highly anticipated film will not commence until late summer 2025, and given its reliance on extensive visual effects, a fall 2026 release was feasible yet ultimately rescheduled. The new schedule has allowed Alejandro González Iñárritu and Tom Cruise’s film to occupy the now-open slot in fall 2026.

In addition to Robert Pattinson reprising his role, the cast of The Batman: Part II includes Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, Sophie Wilde, and Riz Ahmed, and follows a powerful man on a mission to prove himself.

The concept for the Batman sequel was first unveiled at CinemaCon in April 2022, and by August of the same year, Mattson Tomlin was brought on board to co-write the screenplay with Reeves. The title was officially announced by DC Studios executives James Gunn and Peter Safran in late January 2023.

Following the announcement of the delay to October 1, 2027, Gunn addressed fan concerns on Threads, acknowledging the disappointment stemming from the lengthy five-year gap between installments. He reassured fans that extended delays are common for major productions, referencing gaps between other notable sequels, such as the seven-year interval between Alien and Aliens, and the fourteen years between The Incredibles films.

In earlier comments on Threads, Gunn confirmed the delay was simply due to the script being unfinished. He emphasized Reeves’ commitment to quality, noting the unpredictable nature of script development and the typical two years needed for pre-production, filming, and post-production for large-scale projects.

In addition to overseeing the Batman sequel, Gunn is working toward the release of Superman: Legacy, which will mark his directorial debut as co-CEO of DC and feature David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. This film is set to premiere in theaters on July 11, 2025, and will explore Superman’s challenges against his nemesis and his struggle with his extraterrestrial origins.