India captain Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed for 20 runs, giving South Africa a crucial breakthrough in the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup Final at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. Spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba delivered a clever ball from wide of the crease, attacking the stumps. Kaur, attempting a late cut, missed completely, and the ball crashed into her wickets, leaving India at 223/4. The dismissal halted India’s strong momentum built by openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, as South Africa seeks to regain control in the high-stakes title clash.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticised the Indian government over the deportation of Italian Hindi scholar Francesca Orsini, calling it a setback for India’s global academic image. Orsini, a renowned Hindi literature expert from the University of London, was deported from Delhi on October 21 over alleged visa rule violations. Tharoor said such actions project India as intolerant toward intellectuals and urged authorities to adopt “a broader mind, a bigger heart, and a thicker skin” when dealing with foreign scholars contributing to Indian studies. (PC: NDTV)

India are three wickets down in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final against South Africa at Navi Mumbai. Shafali Verma set the stage with a brilliant 87 off 78 balls before falling short of a century. Jemimah Rodrigues added 24 before being dismissed, leaving captain Harmanpreet Kaur to take charge in the middle. Earlier, Smriti Mandhana scored 45 and broke Mithali Raj’s record for the most runs by an Indian in a single World Cup edition. Put in to bat first, India reached 171/3 in the 30th over, aiming for a strong total in the final. (PC: BCCI)

Smriti Mandhana achieved a historic milestone during the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final against South Africa in Navi Mumbai, breaking Mithali Raj’s record for the most runs scored by an Indian batter in a single edition of the tournament. Mandhana reached 416 runs, surpassing Raj’s 409 from 2017. Her blistering partnership with Shafali Verma gave India a strong start, crossing fifty runs within seven overs. While South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt remains the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 470 runs, Mandhana is closing in on the top spot. (PC: AP)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a sharp attack on the RJD-Congress alliance during his rally in Bihar on Sunday. He accused the opposition of “political gundagardi” and said the RJD “snatched” the chief minister’s post from Congress by “holding a gun to its head.” Modi said both parties are divided and fighting among themselves. He also took a swipe at Congress with a Pakistan reference, saying, “When blasts happened in Pakistan, Congress’s royal family lost sleep.” The Prime Minister claimed the people of Bihar understand everything and will give the NDA a big win. (PC: HT )

India are in a strong position in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final against South Africa at Navi Mumbai. After the Proteas chose to field, openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave India a solid start. Mandhana scored freely before getting out, bringing Jemimah Rodrigues to the crease. Shafali continued her attacking form, reaching a fifty off 49 balls. Mandhana also broke Mithali Raj’s record for the most runs by an Indian in a single World Cup edition. At 114/1 in 19.4 overs, India look steady and confident in the high-stakes final. (PC: BCCI)

A retired IPS officer G Sampath Kumar has appealed to the Madras High Court against the appointment of an advocate-commissioner to record evidence of former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in his ₹100 crore defamation suit. Dhoni’s case, filed in 2014, alleges media outlets and the officer linked his name to the 2013 IPL betting-and-spot-fixing scandal. The court had ordered trial and the appointment of the commissioner in August 2025. Kumar contends the appointment is unjust and seeks relief, while Dhoni proceeds with evidence-recording steps. (PC: PTI)

2 people are fighting for their lives after a mass stabbing on a train from Doncaster to London King’s Cross on Saturday night. Nine others were injured in the attack. Police arrested two men, aged 32 and 35, within eight minutes of the first emergency call. Both are British nationals and are being questioned on suspicion of attempted murder. Officers said there is “nothing to suggest” a terrorist link. Passengers described the scene as “like a horror film” as they hid in toilets to escape. The King and Queen, along with UK leaders, expressed shock and sympathy for the victims. (PC: PA)

A Delhi-based startup founder, Kapil Dhama, shared a viral video revealing how his indoor Air Quality Index (AQI) surged from 97 to over 500 within a minute of opening his door, despite four air purifiers running. The incident underscores the alarming pollution levels across Delhi-NCR, where post-Diwali smog has pushed AQI into the ‘severe’ category. Social media users called the situation a “nightmare for residents,” with many expressing concern over the deteriorating air and advising people to consider temporary relocation from the capital region.

Shafali Verma hit India's first six in the Women's World Cup final, lofting Nadine de Klerk over long-off with the full face of the bat. India reached 89/0 after 15 overs, with Shafali on 45* and Smriti Mandhana on 34*. The openers surpassed the highest opening partnership against South Africa in this World Cup, beating the 73-run stand between England's Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones in Guwahati. The statement shot from Shafali broke the shackles after South Africa had tightened control following India's rapid start. The terrific batting from India's opening pair continues to dominate the final at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, with South Africa struggling to contain the momentum. (PC: X)