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Pacer Shikha Pandey and leg-spinner Poonam Yadav are the notable exclusions in the latest player retainership list announced by the BCCI for the senior national women's team. Poonam hasn't represented India in any format since March 2022 while Shikha hasn't played ODIs since 2021 and has been in-and-out of the T20I squad as well. Incidentally, Poonam finds herself going from having a Grade A contract last year to being removed from the 17-member list altogether. On the other hand, Shikha held a Grade C contract in the last cycle. Wicket-keeper Taniya Bhatia and Arundati Reddy are the other major exclusions from the contracts list. Meanwhile, Jemimah Rodrigues and dynamic keeper-bat Richa Ghosh earned promotions up to Grade B while fast bowler Renuka Singh Thakur moved straight in to the second pay grade with her first central contract. All three players have been a key part of India's limited-overs fixtures over the past 12 months and have deservingly been rewarded. The...

The former Australia captain urges the selectors to opt for Bancroft or Renshaw as the back-up opener David Warner had a torrid run during the recent series in India Mark Taylor reckons David Warner should be given three Tests to fight for his spot in England, while urging Australia's selectors to make Cameron Bancroft or Matt Renshaw the next opener in line. Selectors are expected to name a squad for the World Test Championship final against India and the Ashes this week, with the focus firmly on the top of the order. Warner is expected to be named in that squad and picked for the WTC final at The Oval on June 7 before the Ashes begin, returning from an elbow injury that cut short his India Test tour. Ben Stokes requests 'fast, flat wickets' for the Ashes Ghosts of 2019: Warner's Ashes fate remains uncertain Bancroft's case for Test recall could prove hard to ignore Shield final specialist Marcus Harris is keeping Ashes in perspective The heat remains on the opener...

Is anything more Indian than the IPL? To some Indians that would be a provocation: Yoga, Bollywood and richly varied cuisine, for a start. But, just as it would be arrogant to expect the world to know who or what 'Adho Mukha Svanasana, Shah Rukh Khan or Roti are, it would be naive to assume everyone knows cricket existed in India before April 18, 2008. Since that day, when Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders took to the Chinnaswamy to play the first IPL match, the tournament has done for cricket what slicers have done for bread. Bread that comes in loaves, that is. So not roti. Nor indeed chapati, naan or paratha. Just as true is that Bollywood blares with blingy bombast on screens far from India in the thrall of people who are anything but Indian, and that yoga has, in Westernised countries, been bastardised into exercise muddled with pseudo-spiritual mumbo jumbo, aromatherapy candles and incense and incongruous statues of Buddha. But while you can take the...

Do you lie awake at night, struggling to get the rest you need? You may be one of the millions of people dealing with insomnia. While prescription sleep aids can be effective, they come with the risk of side effects. There is good news, though—it is possible to treat insomnia naturally, without the risk of any adverse reactions.  One of the cornerstones of any successful natural insomnia treatment is ensuring that your body is ready to rest when it’s time to sleep. That means avoiding stimulants like caffeine in the hours leading up to bedtime. Eating a light, healthy dinner early in the evening and engaging in calming activities like meditation or yoga can help relax the body and get it ready for sleep.  Exercising during the day can also aid in getting a good night’s sleep. Physically active individuals have been found to experience greater quality of sleep and shorter sleep latency—the amount of time it takes to actually get to sleep. However, it is important to time your e...