Legendary actor Rajinikanth, who is gearing up for the release of his highly anticipated film Vettaiyan, was spotted outside Chennai airport today (September 28). The Jailer actor interacted with people and spoke about how TJ Gnanavel’s direction will be different from that of him and Nayanthara starrer Darbar.

Talking to the media about Vettaiyan, Rajinikanth said, “Vettaiyan has a lot of expectations from the audience, I definitely hope the film will fulfill their expectations. Both Darbar and Vettaiyan are crime films, but Vettaiyan will be very different from Darbar” (loose translation)

For the unversed, Rajinikanth’s upcoming film Vettaiyan tells the story of an IPS officer who is considered an encounter specialist in the police force. Directed by TJ Gnanavel, the film is said to be a typical Rajinikanth-style action film with the superstar once again essaying the role of a police officer.

On a related note, in an earlier interview with 123 Telugu, the film’s director shared that Rajinikanth will be seen in numerous action sequences and songs, bringing the much-needed spectacle to the screen once again.

Filmmaker TJ Gnanavel said, “After the huge success of Jailer, expectations from Rajini have increased a lot. Vettaiyan will also have songs and fights. But I didn’t deviate from what I wanted to convey. We’ve seen movies about encounter specialists before, but we’ve never seen their backstories. Vettaiyan sheds light on her thought process.”

Apart from Rajinikanth, Vettaiyan stars Amitabh Bachchan, Fahadh Faasil, Rana Daggubati, Manju Warrier, Rithika Singh, Dushara Vijayan, Abhirami and many more in pivotal roles. It is worth mentioning that the film marks the reunion of Thalaivar and Amitabh Bachchan after 33 years. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on October 10, 2024.

Meanwhile, Rajinikanth will also be seen in Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, alongside Vettaiyan. The film is expected to be an action film and will feature veteran actors like Nagarjuna Akkineni and Upendra Rao. Coolie will also star Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj and Soubin Shahir in pivotal roles.

READ ALSO: Amid massive uproar, Rajinikanth finally REACTS to the ongoing Laddu controversy

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MADISON, Wis. –

The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted unanimously Friday to fire a communications professor who wanted to keep his job after he was fired as chancellor of one of the system’s campuses for producing pornographic films.

Joe Gow, who served as UW-La Crosse’s chancellor for nearly 17 years, argued last week that he should retain a teaching position on campus. But the university’s lawyers argued that he behaved unethically, violated the terms of his employment contract, damaged the university’s reputation and compromised its mission.

The regents met in closed session Friday morning before publicly voting to fire Gow. There was no public discussion before the board vote.

Gow said he is considering filing a lawsuit to keep his teaching job. He did not immediately respond to a message Friday morning.

Gow has been on paid leave from his faculty position since the regents fired him as chancellor in 2023, shortly after university leadership became aware of the videos posted on pornographic websites.

The case has drawn national attention both for the salaciousness of a high-ranking university official making and speaking publicly about pornographic films and for the questions it raises about free speech rights.

Gow argued that his videos and two e-books that he and his wife Carmen published about their experiences in adult films were protected by the First Amendment. The university’s attorney argued that Gow’s videos themselves were legal, but that they were not protected by his employment contract.

Zach Greenberg, an attorney with the free speech advocacy group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, called the regents’ decision “a major blow to academic freedom and the right to free expression.”

“FIRE has said time and time again: Public universities cannot sacrifice the First Amendment to protect their reputations,” Greenberg said. “We are disappointed that the UW has caved to donors and politicians by alienating a tenured professor.”

Republican lawmakers already view Wisconsin’s university system as a liberal incubator. Last year they forced the company to scale back its diversity initiatives. System President Jay Rothman has tried to avoid further angering conservatives as he seeks approval for an $855 million increase in the next state budget.

Gow’s hope of teaching in the classroom again was rejected by his department head, Linda Dickmeyer. She said that because Gow had not taught in 20 years, he would be assigned general education courses, but she declined to allow him to return to teaching in any capacity.

Gow was criticized in 2018 for inviting porn actress Nina Hartley to speak on campus. She received $5,000 from tuition fees for her performance. The university said he came up with the idea of ​​bringing her to campus after filming a pornographic video with her.

Gow and his wife’s e-books were written under the pseudonyms “Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enhances Our Relationships” and “Married with Benefits – Our Real Adventures in the Adult Industry.” But they also star in a YouTube channel called “Sexy Healthy Cooking,” in which the couple cooks meals with porn actors.

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Lee County is in recovery mode from the impacts from Helene today (Sept. 27). There was significant storm surge all over the county, from Fort Myers Beach to downtown Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel, Pine Island and Matlacha.

This is continues to be developing story and our reporters and photographers are providing coverage from different locations in Lee County again today, contributing the latest updates on flooding, damage, power outages, and what you need to know.

Helpful links

POWER OUTAGES: LCEC power map is HERE.

When the drama died down, Vance used his next question to call out Mandel for instigating the drama. “What a joke,” he said to applause.

It was seen as a pivotal moment for Vance, who at that point was struggling to gain traction in the crowded primary.

“He looked a lot better than me,” Gibbons recalled in an interview with the Globe. “He said exactly the right thing at the right time. And honestly, he went up in the polls after that.”

Walz, who has won a series of closely contested U.S. House elections and two statewide contests for governor of Minnesota, has faced sharp attacks before but often ignored them or tried to deflect them with deceptively sharp humor.

In 2018, his first run for governor, Walz faced sustained pressure from his Republican opponent Jeff Johnson, who repeatedly pointed out that Walz did not fully answer sensitive questions about undocumented immigration and single-payer health care.

In one memorable moment, Johnson pressed Walz about his knowledge of TV attack ads from Alliance for a Better Minnesota, a key outside group that supports the Democrat, which Republicans called dishonest.

“Here’s my pro tip, Jeff,” Walz quipped. “I haven’t watched TV for the last two weeks.” He then defeated Johnson by more than 10 points.

The fight should remain strict verbally as Vance and Walz meet for their only vice-presidential debate in New York – a moment that will highlight that dramatic political rise of both men.

Vance, a relative political newcomer with less than two years in the Senate, is sharp and relentless in his message and has a keen sense of how to exploit a moment. Walz, completely new to the national stage despite his nearly two decades in office, is a seasoned debater who doesn’t enjoy going on the offensive. Instead, he uses his disarming personal style to connect with the audience and outwit his opponents.

Ultimately, both candidates probably understood their task on Tuesday: It’s not about sharpening their own profile and winning votes for themselves, but about standing up for the top positions. The task has taken on greater importance because former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are unlikely to debate again before Election Day.

Nevertheless, there is plenty of reason for the two to argue. Democrats may want Walz to be in the spotlight a series of controversial comments Vance has made about “childless cat ladies,” his previously strong opposition to Trump, or his fomenting right-wing panic about Haitian migrants in Ohio. Republicans are eager for Vance to thwart what they see as Walz’s left-wing agenda as governor and for him to analyze occasional misstatements Walz has made about his military career.

Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota, a longtime Walz ally, said Walz’s strength in big moments has always been that he is “relentlessly grounded.”

“Tim is so focused on who he is that when he moves into a different environment, like a national debate, he doesn’t try to become anything else,” Smith said. “He debated in farm fields, at fair stands and in many other places. I have no doubt he will be willing to argue the case.”

Walz always seemed more comfortable making off-the-cuff remarks at rallies and in one-on-one interviews than fighting an opponent. The governor’s messaging skills are a big reason for his rapid rise from relative obscurity. Before Harris was elected, his use of “strange” as a succinct attack on Trump and Vance was adopted by the entire party. His appearances on cable television greatly increased his share of VP discussions. Since his appointment as vice president, however, Walz has not given a single interview with a mainstream media outlet, while Vance has been inescapable.

Still, Democrats see Walz as well-equipped to counter sharp attacks from Vance. Marissa Luna, executive director of the Alliance for a Better Minnesota, said Walz’s authenticity and warmth are what have endeared him to voters so far.

“What we’ve seen from Trump, JD Vance and the Republicans are these really mean and crude personal attacks,” Luna said. “What Tim Walz has done consistently, and what he does well, is he doesn’t make these really inappropriate, personally demeaning attacks – he explains what his opponent has done to hurt people in their daily lives, which is backed up by him.” Proof.”

While Democrats are pleased that Walz is contrasting Vance in both content and style, Republicans see Vance as particularly well-prepared to counter the governor. They praise his instincts and intellect and demand that he be as aggressive as possible.

“JD Vance versus Tim Walz is like Mike Tyson versus a junior Olympian in a boxing match,” said Josh Culling, a Vance ally who has long been involved in Ohio GOP politics. “That’s why he’s here.”

Moments like Vance’s spread of debate combat on stage helped him stand out in a crowded 2022 GOP primary. In the general election, Vance struggled to defeat his Democratic rival, former Rep. Tim Ryan.

But Republicans recall a key exchange at a debate when Ryan Vance – who had expressed fears that an “invasion” of migrants would “replace” voters already here – linked him to the white supremacist gunman who had just killed ten black shoppers in a supermarket in Buffalo, New York.

The typically even-tempered Vance responded angrily, citing his three children with his Indian-American wife.

“This is exactly what happens when the media and people like Tim Ryan accuse me of engaging in some grand replacement theory,” Vance said. “What is happening is that my own children – my biracial children – are being attacked online and in person by scumbags because you are so desperate for political power that you accuse me, the father of three beautiful biracial babies, of racism. We’re tired of it. You can believe in a limit without being a racist.”

Moments like these show Vance’s advantages, Culling said. “He is a critical thinker who is battle-tested – he has ideas and has had to defend them time and time again, often against unfair criticism. He is a willing fighter for these ideas, he really enjoys it.”

There appears to be a desire among some Republicans for Vance, a skilled debater, to poke holes in the Harris-Walz agenda in a way that Trump failed to do during the big presidential debate, when he frequently used personal insults and random ones secondary damage was distracted.

“I think he’ll handle himself a lot better than Trump,” Gibbons said. “I texted him and said, ‘I’m sure there are people more qualified than me to advise you, but let the JD Vance I know come through because that’s what people want see.'”

Democrats like Smith acknowledge that Vance is “political” as a debater, but claim Walz has proven he is no pushover.

“The thing about Tim is he’s going to be himself,” she said. “That’s why the Americans found him so likeable. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about being real.”

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Sam Brodey can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @sambrodey.

Is Apple’s new? iPhone mirroring function actually makes sense in the latest versions of iOS and MacOS? No matter where your iPhone is nearby – in another room where it’s charging or buried at the bottom of a bag – you can see and control it from your Mac.

Aside from the sheer convenience of not having to pick up the phone, I’ve found several reasons to use iPhone mirroring. In fact, I find myself using it regularly on my iPhone 16 since the release of iOS 18 and MacOS Sequoia. (And if you run this latest betaslets you experiment with one of the most interesting mirroring features, the ability to drag and drop items directly onto the phone and vice versa.)

Read more: How to control your iPhone from your Mac using iPhone mirroring

iOS 18 and MacOS Sequoia are available now and bring a variety of other features, such as: animated text messages and the ability to do so Customize your iPhone’s home screen.

When your iPhone is in a pocket, purse or other room

The simplest use case is when you want to access something on your phone but it’s buried in a bag, just out of reach, or you can’t get up (or you can, but the snoozing cat or dog on your lap would don’t do that). I don’t appreciate the disruption). The connection via iPhone mirroring is much more convenient.

However, this feature doesn’t work over long distances, such as if you accidentally left your iPhone at home and need to access it from work. iPhone mirroring uses Apple’s Continuity technology, which means the iPhone and Mac must be within Bluetooth range of each other.

If you need to check in via an iPhone app

Missed your daily Duolingo check-in and your phone isn’t at hand? If this is the case with your Mac, iPhone Mirroring can connect and ensure you keep your streak going.

Or maybe you need to complete today’s Wordle challenge, but while you’re working it would be too obvious that you’re looking at your phone. The discreet iPhone Mirroring window can be easily covered or hidden if necessary.

If you want to use an app, not a web interface

Even today, some popular services still work much better in apps than in web interfaces. Yes, we’re looking at you, Instagram. Posting through an app often includes more options or a better user experience. Because iPhone mirroring gives you almost complete access to the iPhone interface, you can post with a mouse cursor instead of a finger.

If you want to quickly transfer items between devices (coming soon)

I take a lot of screenshots for work and personally take even more photos, all of which end up in my photo library. These images are then synced to my Mac via iCloud – but sometimes it seems to be at a pace aptly described as “when the phone gets around to it.” If I need something on my Mac immediately, I use AirDrop between devices, which It works, but it’s more complicated than I’d like.

Later this year, however, we’ll be able to drag and drop all types of files – not just images – between an iPhone and the Mac running the iPhone Mirroring app. This also works both ways: Drop a video or important PDF file from a Mac Finder window onto the mirrored iPhone to transfer it to the phone. (You can play with it now Beta versions for iOS 18.1 and MacOS Sequoia.)

If you don’t want to clutter up your Mac with software junk

MacOS has a long history of supporting system extensions, startup items, and various background processes that you probably don’t realize are running most of the time. For example, some large application suites distribute these accessory files like a dropped Lego box. In many cases, resource consumption is negligible, but these parts still consume memory and processor power.

In contrast, iOS has always been built as a siled system, with each app having its own protected storage and tightly controlled routes for interacting with other apps. Especially for apps that you don’t use often but need to keep, you may want to install a mobile version to avoid the app creep that occurs on macOS.

iPhone Mirroring offers you the opportunity to continue using such an app on your Mac without infecting MacOS with all the associated junk that is normally installed.

If you want to log in to your bank’s app instead of doing so on the computer

Unfortunately, some of these suggestions focus on the theme of “an app is better than a website,” and there is often no better example than banking websites.

It can be easier and more secure to access your bank accounts or investments by using iPhone Mirroring to sign in with the iOS app instead of a web browser on your Mac. You’ll still need to authenticate the iPhone app when you open it (since you can’t use Face ID or Touch ID on the device), but that might be a more convenient option.

If you want to access locked and hidden apps on your phone

In iOS 18, you can hide sensitive apps or require authentication (e.g. Face ID) to open them. If you’d rather use them on your phone rather than through an app or web interface on your Mac, iPhone Mirroring lets you access them when the phone isn’t nearby.

If you do this, the iPhone Mirroring app will require authentication via Mac, as expected. Enter your Mac’s login password, use Touch ID, or authenticate with your connected Apple Watch to open locked apps or reveal the hidden folder on your phone.

If you are giving a presentation and want to show what is on the iPhone

Admittedly, this is a smaller subset of use cases, but if you need to demonstrate something on iPhone during an online or in-person presentation, iPhone Mirroring is a far easier option than other methods.

Aside from installing an overhead camera, the predominant method is to connect the iPhone to a Mac via a cable and use QuickTime Player to display the phone’s screen. Then you would still have to use the phone with your hands.

With iPhone Mirroring, the phone can now be connected wirelessly and operated using your Mac’s trackpad or mouse and keyboard.

The main limitation with this approach is that the mirrored connection will be interrupted if you need to do something on the phone.

And a streaming restriction that we would like to see changed

An unknown feature between Apple devices is the ability to stream media from an iPhone to a Mac using AirPlay. Is it time to sit back and watch a movie or catch an episode of your favorite TV show? You can launch it on iPhone and target Mac with its larger screen.

Since iPhone mirroring allows you to control an iPhone that is out of reach, it would be nice to start a movie playing on the Mac screen. However, digital rights management kills this idea when it comes to iPhone mirroring. Even though you can open an app like TV and start a show, the picture remains black.

This black screen also occurs when you use AirPlay to stream while iPhone mirroring is active. This only works if you physically control the phone and stream to the Mac.

iPhone Mirroring is just a new feature on iPhone and Mac running iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia. Don’t miss it How to spice up your texts in messages and how to work with the updated Control Center.

Speaking to his supporters, Trump claimed: “If Kamala Harris wins, she’s going to take your cars, your money and your guns. She wants to confiscate all the guns, you know that.”

Trump also attacked Harris for recently visiting the border to “make up some lies like she said about the border law that stopped Trump.”

“Let me tell you, number one, I didn’t stop it. The senators stopped it. But this is the worst bill ever drafted. This is a waste of paper.”

ALSO READ| Donald Trump praises “good relations” with Vladimir Putin, “…let’s hope for good relations,” asks Zelenskyj

Social media platforms were soon flooded with reactions to Trump’s comments

Many accused Trump of exaggerating and making unfounded claims. As one user posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Listen to this idiot. Completely shit. By the way, during the debate, which Kamala won by a large margin, Kamala mentioned that she and Tim Walz are both gun owners and don’t take guns away from anyone.”

While another simply wrote: “Crazy idiot alert” in response to the viral clip of Trump’s rant.

“If you think that…Trump has already confiscated your brain,” one quipped.

Another agreed, saying, “Trump’s guns have already been confiscated because he’s a convicted felon.” Trump also said he wants to impose a 200% sales tax rate on all imported cars. So, he’s the one who’s going to take your money.”

Harris said, “If someone breaks into my house, they will be shot.”

Notably, Harris addressed the issue of gun ownership during “Unite for America” ​​with Oprah Winfrey, clarifying, “If someone breaks into my house, they’re going to get shot.” Sorry, I probably shouldn’t have said that! But my staff will take care of it later.”

The vice president shot back at Trump, saying, “This thing is about taking away everyone’s guns – Tim Walz (Harris’ vice president) and I are both gun owners.”

ALSO READ| Post-White House era: Is Joe Biden considering the Hollywood star’s Californian ranch as a new home? Rumors addressed

“We’re not taking away anyone’s guns, so stop lying about this stuff all the time.”

“Here’s my point of view, Oprah. I’m not trying to take away everyone’s guns. I believe in the Second Amendment. “It’s just common sense,” Harris said.

new York
CNN
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When Jordan Myrick first moved to California in high school and heard about dirty sodas, she wasn’t the biggest fan.

“It was a strange thing,” Myrick said.

But in 2023, Myrick, who said she was “hugely passionate about lemonade,” visited Utah on a “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City”-themed weekend trip. At a local shop called Thirst, she tried a classic dirty soda combination: Dr Pepper with coconut cream and raspberry syrup.

Now, “I’m begging them to open a location in Los Angeles,” she said.

Dirty soda is a non-alcoholic drink combined with creams, flavored syrups or fruits. The drinks are rooted in Mormon culture in the Mountain West, where the faith prohibits the consumption of coffee and alcohol. But thanks to social media, Mormon mom influencers and a new Utah-based reality TV show, the sugary drinks are becoming more mainstream — and the stores that popularize them have expansion ambitions to match.

However, some critics point out the drinks’ high sugar content and empty calories. And others wonder whether it’s just a passing fad for the rest of the country. Drinking more than one sugary soda per day puts you at risk for obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. However, both soda shops and their fans say you can make the drink healthier by using things like bottled water.

Beneath all that carbon dioxide is the fascination of Utah culture. In an episode of the Hulu reality show “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” a group of moms in matching hair extensions and workout clothes meet at Swig, the owners of the “Dirty Soda” brand. It is the self-proclaimed “vice” of wives.

“Six of the seven days of the week I drink at least one 44-ounce soda,” cast member Layla Taylor said on the show. “I’ll probably only live to be 50, but it makes me happy.”

Some people on social media have made videos recreating the moms’ complicated orders (44 ounces, sparkling water, sugar-free coconut, sugar-free vanilla, sugar-free raspberry, sugar-free pineapple, and coconut cream). Another on TikTok asked if Swig was the Mormon Starbucks.

Well, sort of.

“What we’re doing for soft drinks is a little bit what Starbucks did for coffee,” Swig CEO Alex Dunn told CNN. “People drank coffee before Starbucks came along, and of course people drank soft drinks before Swig, but we created this premium brand and experience based on that.”

Dirty sodas have their chance because, says Chris Goodchild, managing director of Boston Consulting Group, “more and more people are looking at them and using them to fulfill pleasure aspects.”

The skyrocketing popularity of soda shops is also spreading from the Mormon Corridor, a part of the western United States. Founded in 2010, Swig will be in 13 states by the end of the year and already has plans to open in two additional states in 2025. The expansions are focused on the South – Florida, Kentucky and the Carolinas are among their plans – but Kansas, Indiana and Missouri in the Midwest also have or will have locations.

The company, which launched with 61 stores in 2024, has ambitious plans to open 1,000 new stores in the next six to seven years. Swig is not a publicly traded company and has not disclosed details of its financials.

While Swig appears to be the market leader based on the number of stores, competitors are catching up. FiiZ has opened around 60 stores, followed by Sodalicious with 25. The fast food drive-in Sonic is offering its customers the Dr. Pepper option to “get it dirty.” This year Coffee Mate even collaborated with Dr. Pepper launched a limited-edition coconut lime creamer to make dirty lemonade at home.

Dairy products mixed with soda are nothing new to much of the world. In the Punjab region of South Asia, doodh soda (directly translated as milk lemonade) is a popular lemon-lime drink, especially during the fasting month of Ramadan. Persians indulge in doogh, a carbonated yogurt drink. Korean “milkis” are a staple in K-towns and are sold in a variety of flavors from banana to apple. And of course there’s the classic American ice cream truck, reminiscent of the days of soda drinkers who ran soda fountains in the 20th century.

Soft drink manufacturers have themselves tried to sell milk and soda to American customers. Two years ago, Pepsi launched a campaign to try out the combination, calling it a “secret hack among Pepsi fans” and naming Lindsay Lohan the face of “Pilk.”

But it’s the breezy drive-thru soda shops — with drink names like Poppin’ Pineapple and Unlucky Ducky — that have brought these drinks into the national consciousness.

And if there’s one thing the American consumer loves, it’s variety, Goodchild said. Stores like Swig offer a mind-boggling selection of options to express your crazy beverage preferences. On a diet? Replace cola with mineral water. You can add a fresh lime, artificial syrups from raspberry to toasted marshmallow, and mix it with fruit puree, coconut cream, vanilla cream – or a combination of all three.

Like coffee chains like Starbucks and Dutch Bros, consumers value a personalized experience.

“It’s almost a form of self-expression. That’s my drink, that’s what I want,” Goodchild said.

What surprised Myrick most about dirty soda shops was the sheer amount of choices.

“I really thought I was just going to go to a restaurant that only served Diet Coke with half of it,” Myrick said.

Swig’s demographic is female and younger (18 to 45 years old). Swig has certainly benefited from the use of social media and claims that most social media posts are organic. Nara Smith, a Mormon The social media personality and model even filmed herself sampling the sweet drinks in her car.

The liquor stores also cover car-dependent cities and suburbs. Swig’s locations are only about 1,200 to 1,800 square feet, further emphasizing the chain’s drive-thru focus — although the same model may not be as successful in major cities. Most other chains also offer drive-thru locations.

Soda shops need to continue making drinks relevant as social media evolves, especially with such ambitious growth goals.

“As it continues to rise, you would expect to see either traditional providers offering these types of things in their existing stores or some traditional providers expanding into new formats,” Goodchild said.

When a drink is hard to find, more people are drawn to its allure. This type of format and technology already exists and could be a future competitor if dirty soda becomes sufficiently mainstream – a Coca-Cola-style Freestyle machine the company launched in 2009 could easily start with, half and half or add syrup. And social media users who live far from soda shops are already creating “dupes” at Wawas and 7-Elevens, but using gas station milk instead of paying a soda barista.

Yet Cool Sips, a Swig-style soda shop, has opened even in overpriced, latte-loving New York City. However, it may take some time for it to become a permanent part of the culture in the Northeast.

“It’s something you grow up with and it could be an alternative, but it’s not just comparable if you’re already a coffee drinker,” said Klea Mulla of New York City. “It’s difficult here because the liquor stores have a drive-thru feel.”

NEW DELHI: Rain and a wet outfield played spoilsport in the second Test between India and India Bangladesh at Green Park Stadiumas the weather threatens to jeopardize India’s quest for a place in the world World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Only 35 overs were bowled on the first day as Bangladesh struggled to 107/3 at Indian pace Akash Deep impressive by taking two crucial wickets. However, persistent drizzle on the second day left the cover open and raised concerns that a significant portion of the game could be lost.
India is currently at the top of the WTC standings with a PCT score of 71.67 percentage points after ten games and is therefore well placed to reach the final for the third time in a row. With a 2-0 series win against Bangladesh, India would have needed just three wins from the remaining eight games to secure a place in the series WTC final.
However, with the threat of heavy rain in the second Test, a draw could complicate India’s path to the final.
Should this Test end in a draw, India will need to win five of their next eight Test matches to cement their place in the WTC final, assuming other contenders for a place in the top two do not lose points.
This presents a more challenging route for India as everything will likely need to be cleaned there New Zealand 3-0 at home and secure at least two wins in the five games Border-Gavaskar series against Australia Under.
India have won the last two series in Australia but repeating that feat will be a daunting task, especially with the pressure of WTC qualification hanging over them. The team’s dominant home record combined with recent successes Down Under gives India some confidence, but the margin for error has narrowed significantly if this game goes to waste.
The home series against New Zealand will be crucial for India’s campaign. While the Indian team has been virtually unbeatable on home soil, a 3-0 win against the New Zealanders is crucial to ease the burden of having to win multiple away games in Australia.
Given India’s history in Australia, two wins in the Border-Gavaskar series would still be an impressive result, but the challenge is immense.
The Indian camp is hoping for a rain break so that play can resume in Kanpur. Any session lost due to weather could mean India faces an uphill battle en route to the WTC final. With a host of talented bowlers, including Akash Deep, already impressing in the game, India will look to grab every opportunity to take control of the game once the weather clears.
There is a lot at stake and India’s immediate focus remains on Bangladesh. However, the shadow of WTC qualification is looming, with Green Park Stadium’s rain-soaked outfield adding unwanted complexity to India’s otherwise well-thought-out plans.