Rohit Sharma’s captaincy of Team India in Tests and ODIs is facing scrutiny following his lackluster performance in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The seasoned player was absent for the first Test, which India won in Perth, with Jasprit Bumrah stepping in as the acting captain. Upon his return from paternity leave before the second Test, things took a turn for the worse, culminating in a disappointing 1-3 series defeat.

In addition to his subpar performance, several controversies have emerged that have not aided his standing as skipper. Reports of leaks from the dressing room surfaced, and Rohit ultimately chose to withdraw from the final Test due to his struggles. Furthermore, media speculation suggested that there might be a rift between him and head coach Gautam Gambhir, raising questions about his future as captain.

However, during a press conference on Saturday, Ajit Agarkar announced India’s squad for the upcoming England ODIs and the 2025 Champions Trophy, reaffirming Rohit’s captaincy as he was included in the squad. The announcement took place in Mumbai and was made in the presence of Rohit.

During the press conference, Rohit addressed inquiries regarding his relationship with Gambhir, particularly following the dressing room leak allegations. He stated, “Both of us are very clear on what we wanted to do. I am not going to sit here and discuss what goes behind the scenes, every game tactically.”

He further emphasised, “It’s very clear in my mind. Gautam Gambhir is someone who trusts the captain on the field once we enter it. The discussions happen off the field, and when we take the field, it’s all about my decisions. That’s the kind of trust we share, and that’s how it should be.”

According to reports, Gambhir has expressed concerns about discipline within the Indian squad during the Australian series. Additionally, there are suggestions that the relationship between Gambhir and Rohit may have deteriorated, with another senior player reportedly lobbying for the captaincy position.

The announcement that West Coast rap icon Snoop Dogg would be performing at the Crypto Ball—an event organized by Donald Trump associate David Sacks—took many by surprise. Joining him on stage will be rapper Nelly. This news prompted shock, confusion, and frustration among fans, many of whom struggled to comprehend why these artists would choose to associate with an event linked to Trump.

Snoop Dogg’s participation raised eyebrows, particularly given his 2017 music video “Lavender,” in which he parodied the former president. This stark contrast to his current involvement in an event supporting Trump left many puzzled.

A fan shared a screenshot from the parody video on X, showing Snoop aiming a pistol at a Trump impersonator, who is clad in clown makeup and sporting an overly orange complexion. When Snoop pulls the trigger, a flag reading “bang” emerges.

At the time of the parody’s release, Trump reacted strongly to how he was depicted, stating on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Can you imagine what the outcry would be if @SnoopDogg, failing career and all, had aimed and fired the gun at President Obama? Jail time!” as reported by The Mirror US.

There was a time when Snoop and Trump enjoyed a friendly relationship; Trump even praised the rapper’s music on The Apprentice in 2007. Snoop later participated in Trump’s Comedy Central roast in 2011, solidifying their amicable rapport.

Despite any apparent tensions, Snoop Dogg expressed his affection for Donald Trump last year, stating, “I have nothing but love for Donald Trump,” in an interview with The Sunday Times in 2024. He added, “Donald Trump? He ain’t done nothing wrong to me. He has only done great things for me. He pardoned Michael Harris.”

Michael “Harry-O” Harris, co-founder of Death Row Records—which Snoop now owns—plays a significant role in the rapper’s connection to the industry’s history. While their relationship has seen ups and downs, it’s evident that Snoop and Trump have reconciled, as demonstrated by the rapper’s scheduled performance at the upcoming pre-inaugural event.

In the Vijay Hazare Trophy final held in Vadodara on Saturday, Karnataka set a formidable target of 349 runs for Vidarbha. After winning the toss, Vidarbha opted to bowl first. Karnataka experienced a shaky start, losing three wickets for just 67 runs. Captain Mayank Agarwal contributed 32 runs, while Devdutt Padikkal and KV Anish managed 8 and 23 runs, respectively.

However, Smaran Ravichandran’s crucial century of 101 runs stabilized the innings, allowing Karnataka to reach a total of 348 for 6 in their 50 overs at Kotambi Stadium. Ravichandran forged a vital partnership of 160 runs with KL Sreejith (78) for the fourth wicket, with Sreejith striking 9 fours and a six in his innings.

Following his dismissal at the score of 227, Ravichandran teamed up with Abhinav Manohar to add another 106 runs for the fifth wicket, where Ravichandran completed his century in just 89 balls.

Smaran’s innings included 3 sixes and 7 fours, and he played a noteworthy knock amidst pressure when Vidarbha was on top. After his dismissal for 101, Abhinav Manohar continued the attack with a blistering 79 runs off just 42 balls, featuring 4 sixes and 10 fours. Ultimately, Karnataka reached 348 runs for 6 wickets.

Vidarbha’s bowlers, including Darshan Nalkande and Nachiket Bhute, who claimed 2 wickets each, had strong initial spells, but as the innings progressed, Karnataka’s batsmen proved overwhelming.

With a challenging total on the board, all eyes will be on Vidarbha captain Karun Nair, who has been in sensational form, scoring 752 runs in his last seven innings at an astonishing average of 752. Nair’s recent scores include 112, 44, 163, 111, 112, 122, and 88, with all but one of those runs coming in unbeaten knocks.

Vidarbha (Playing XI): Dhruv Shorey, Yash Rathod, Karun Nair(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Shubham Dubey, Apoorv Wankhade, Harsh Dubey, Nachiket Bhute, Yash Kadam, Darshan Nalkande, Yash Thakur.

Karnataka (Playing XI): Mayank Agarwal(c), Devdutt Padikkal, Aneesh KV, Smaran Ravichandran, Krishnan Shrijith(w), Abhinav Manohar, Shreyas Gopal, Hardik Raj, Prasidh Krishna, Vasuki Koushik, Abhilash Shetty.