The BCCI is considering Shreyas Iyer as India’s next ODI captain, replacing Rohit Sharma. A report suggests Iyer could lead until the 2027 World Cup. While Shubman Gill was once seen as a possible all-format leader, the board has ruled him out due to workload concerns. Gill is already captain in Tests and vice-captain in T20Is. Iyer, with 2845 runs in 70 ODIs and strong recent form, impressed in India’s Champions Trophy win earlier this year. Rohit, 38, may step down after the Australia series, making way for Iyer. A final decision will be taken after the Asia Cup. (PC: HT)

Nikki Haley, former US Ambassador to the UN, has warned that relations between the US and India are near breaking point. Writing in Newsweek, she urged Donald Trump’s administration to treat India as a key democratic partner, not like China. She said US tariffs on India over Russian oil purchases risk damaging 25 years of progress. Haley stressed India’s importance in supply chains, defence, and Middle East stability. She added that India’s growing economy and young workforce are crucial to counter China’s rise. “Damaging ties with India would be a strategic disaster,” Haley warned. (PC: NDTV)

Apple will produce all iPhone 17 models in India ahead of their September launch, including the Pro versions, for the US market. This is the first time all new iPhones will ship from India at launch. The company now operates five factories in India, including new plants in Tamil Nadu and Bangalore, with Tata Group emerging as a key partner. Apple exported $7.5 billion worth of iPhones from India between April and July, nearly half of last year’s total exports. The shift comes as Apple reduces reliance on China due to tariffs, trade tensions, and supply chain risks. (PC: X)

A Class 10 student of Seventh Day Adventist School was stabbed to death by his junior after an argument on Tuesday. The victim died during treatment at night. Police later found a chilling chat where the accused admitted, “Yes, I stabbed him,” and told his friend, “Whatever happened has happened.” The boy even asked his friend to inform others that he had killed the victim. In the chat, the friend scolded him, saying he could have just fought instead of killing. On Wednesday, massive protests broke out at the school. Parents vandalized property and demanded strict action. Investigation continues. (PC: India Today)

Doctors and veterinarians have written to the Chief Justice of India asking for a stay on the Supreme Court’s 11 August order to capture and confine stray dogs in Delhi-NCR shelters. They warned that overcrowded shelters could spread zoonotic diseases like rabies, leptospirosis, and brucellosis, harming both humans and animals. Doctors said removing dogs from streets creates a “vacuum effect,” allowing unvaccinated dogs to return. Experts and NGOs urged vaccination, waste control, and enforcement of Animal Birth Control Rules 2023. A University of Edinburgh study also found removing street dogs could worsen public health risks. (PC: The Print)

Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has urged President Trump to rapidly repair the strained relations with India, cautioning that losing such a key democratic ally would mark a “strategic disaster.” Writing in Newsweek, she emphasized India’s critical importance as a counterbalance to China, particularly in supply chain diversification. Haley highlighted that while China—as a Communist state—faces fewer trade barriers, India, a democratic partner, is being penalized with tariffs. She underscored that undermining 25 years of U.S.–India strategic momentum would not just be unwise—it would severely damage American credibility in Asia. (PC: X)

India’s state-run refiners—Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL)—have restarted buying Russian crude for September and October cargoes, following a pause in July. The decision was prompted by steeper discounts on Russia’s Urals grade—roughly $3 per barrel—making imports economically compelling despite political scrutiny from Washington. Previously, both firms halted Russian oil purchases amid U.S. criticism and looming tariff threats. Besides Urals, IOC has secured other grades like Varandey and Siberian Light. The companies emphasized that procurement decisions remain grounded in economic rationale.

Australia has offered to assist India as it gears up to bid for the 2036 Olympic Games. In an exclusive with India Today, Australia’s High Commissioner Philip Green described a “genuine partnership” opportunity—leveraging Australia’s expertise in hosting major sporting events like the Olympics in 1956 and 2000, multiple Commonwealth Games, and proficiency in stadium planning, marketing, security, and ticketing—as India strengthens its global sports infrastructure . Green cited the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad—designed by an Australian firm—as a sign of this evolving collaboration. (PC: India Today)

Three leading industry bodies—the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), and E-Gaming Federation (EGF)—have written to Home Minister Amit Shah seeking urgent intervention against the proposed Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. They warn that a blanket prohibition on real-money games could decimate a ₹2-trillion industry, jeopardizing over 200,000 jobs, shuttering 400 companies, and costing ₹20,000 crore in annual tax revenue . The sector also faces concerns that users may migrate to unregulated offshore platforms, increasing risks of fraud and data security breaches .  

During a light-hearted moment on The Hundred broadcast, former India wicketkeeper–batter Dinesh Karthik joked that UK viewers had sent letters and tweets to broadcasters complaining that India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, never smiled throughout the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy in England. Karthik quipped that three personalities—Gambhir, commentator Nasser Hussain, and Rockets coach Andy Flower—were blamed for their unforthcoming expressions on camera . Despite his intense, focused demeanor during the high-pressure Test series, Karthik reassured fans that those within the Indian team know Gambhir’s lighter side well. (PC: AP)