How long can Team India ignore Shreyas Iyer’s T20 dominance?

by Hansraj Agrawal | Apr 17, 2026 | Sports

There are phases in cricket where performance alone should settle debates. This is one of those moments. And yet, Shreyas Iyer continues to exist in a strange grey zone, dominating the biggest T20 league in the world while remaining outside India’s T20 core. If numbers still matter in selection, then what Iyer is doing in Indian Premier League 2026 should have already forced a rethink.

IPL 2026: Numbers That Demand Selection

Let’s start with the raw data, because it is impossible to ignore:

Add Zee News as a Preferred Source

Matches: 5

Runs: 203

Average: 67.67

Strike Rate: 187.96

Highest Score: 69*

Fifties: 3

Sixes: 14

These are elite metrics in any T20 league. But context elevates them further. Iyer is not an opener cashing in during powerplays. He is batting at No. 4, often entering during transitional phases, where risk is higher and tempo control is critical.

A strike rate touching 188 at that position is extraordinary. Pair that with an average nearing 70, and you are looking at one of the most efficient T20 batting performances in the world right now.

Impact Innings: Runs That Win Matches

Statistics can sometimes flatter. These do not.

66 (35) vs Mumbai Indians – Chased down 196 at Wankhede

69 (33) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad* – Anchored a 220-run chase, unbeaten

50 (29) vs Chennai Super Kings – Controlled a 210 chase at Chepauk

18 (11) vs Gujarat Titans – Quick contribution in a shorter outing

Three fifties in high-pressure chases. Different venues. Different conditions. Different bowling attacks.

This is not form. This is control over the format.

The Evolution: From Anchor to Finisher

For years, Iyer was boxed into a limiting category, the “anchor.” His pre-2024 strike rate hovered around 130, and questions around his intent, especially against pace, were constant.

That player no longer exists.

Strike Rate Transformation

2024: 146.86

2025: 175.07

2026: 187.96

This is not incremental improvement. This is a complete shift in batting philosophy.

He has become what T20 cricket demands today, a hybrid batter. Someone who can absorb pressure early and dismantle attacks later.

Technical Reinvention: Fixing Every Weakness

Great players evolve. Elite players eliminate weaknesses. Iyer has done the latter.

1. The Short Ball Problem — Solved

Once his biggest flaw, it is now a strength.

Average vs short ball (2024): ~18

Average (2025): 88

Strike Rate vs short ball: 226

He has not just survived the bouncer, he has weaponised it.

2. Outside Off-Stump Vulnerability — Reversed

Earlier, bowlers trapped him in the fifth-sixth stump corridor.

Strike rate in that zone (2024): 120.5

Strike rate (2026): 209

The shift from tentative pushes to aggressive intent has changed how bowlers approach him.

3. Technical Adjustments

Working with Pravin Amre, Iyer:

Adopted a more open, upright stance

Developed a higher, looped backlift

Improved balance to play the ball later

These changes explain why he now handles both pace and spin with equal authority.

The Captaincy Factor: Leadership at an Elite Level

There is another dimension that strengthens Iyer’s case, leadership.

Only captain to lead three franchises to IPL finals

Delhi Capitals (2020)

Kolkata Knight Riders (2024 – Champions)

Punjab Kings (2025)

Win percentage: ~60% (highest among IPL captains)

Under Ricky Ponting at Punjab Kings, he has created a system where players thrive, including himself.

There is a composure to his captaincy that draws comparisons with MS Dhoni, combined with the consistency of Virat Kohli. Yet, his style is distinctly modern, data-aware, adaptable, and aggressive when needed.

The Price Tag and Pressure: ₹26.75 Crore Justified

When Punjab Kings invested ₹26.75 crore in him, it was not just for runs. It was for leadership, stability, and match-winning ability.

So far, he has justified every rupee.

More importantly, he has done so after adversity. A serious spleen injury during the 2025 Australia tour saw him lose 7 kg and raised concerns about his longevity. What followed in IPL 2026 is not just a comeback, it is a peak.

Comparison With the Best: Where Iyer Stands

Even in a league featuring players like Virat Kohli, Sai Sudharsan, and Heinrich Klaasen, Iyer stands out.

Most fifties in IPL 2026 so far (3)

Strike rate higher than many established middle-order players

Average above 60 while maintaining aggression

Unlike pure finishers, he sustains impact across longer innings. Unlike anchors, he scores at elite pace.

That combination is rare.

The Selection Question: What More Does He Need to Do?

This is where the conversation becomes uncomfortable.

India continues to search for a reliable No. 4 in T20s. At the same time, a player is dominating that exact role in the IPL with unmatched efficiency.

So what is missing?

It cannot be:

Form

Strike rate

Adaptability

Leadership

The only remaining explanation is perception.

Once labelled an anchor, Iyer seems to be battling an outdated image, even as his game has evolved dramatically.

Source link

OpenAI updates Codex with memory, automation, plugins and more: What's new

by Hansraj Agrawal | Apr 17, 2026 | Technology

OpenAI has announced a major update to Codex, expanding its role beyond coding into a more active assistant across the entire software development cycle. The update introduces features such as computer control, memory, automation and deeper integrations with developer tools to help users handle tasks from start to finish. It also brings over 90 new plugins that combine skills, app integrations and MCP servers, allowing Codex to gather context and take actions across a wider range of tools.

Codex update: What’s new

According to the latest update, Codex is no longer limited to writing code. It can now operate a user’s computer by seeing, clicking and typing using its own cursor. Multiple agents can run tasks in parallel without interrupting ongoing work, which can be useful for testing apps or making frontend changes in tools that don’t offer APIs.

The app also includes an in-app browser, allowing users to interact directly with web pages and give instructions. This feature is currently useful for frontend and game development and is expected to expand further over time.

Improved tools and integrations

Codex now supports image generation using a built-in model, making it easier to create visuals, mockups and design elements within the same workflow. Codex uses GPT-image-1.5 to generate and refine images alongside code and screenshots. Additionally, more than 90 new plugins have been introduced, enabling integration with tools such as JIRA, GitLab, Microsoft apps and other developer platforms.

The app also adds features such as reviewing pull requests, managing multiple terminal tabs, connecting to remote systems via SSH and previewing files such as PDFs and spreadsheets. It also offers a summary panel that helps track ongoing tasks, sources and outputs in one place.

Automation and memory

Codex now supports automation for long-term tasks, allowing it to reuse past conversations, schedule work and continue tasks over time. Its automation features can retain previously built context from existing threads, helping workflows stay consistent. It can also schedule tasks in advance and automatically resume ongoing work, even across days or weeks. The blog mentioned that the teams use these automations to handle tasks such as closing open pull requests, following up on work and tracking conversations across tools like Slack, Gmail and Notion.

Codex is also introducing a preview of memory, allowing it to retain useful context such as preferences, corrections and past inputs to improve future tasks. It can now also suggest next steps by using context from projects, plugins and previous activity, helping users pick up where they left off with a prioritised list of actions. For example, it may highlight pending tasks from documents or messages and present a prioritised list of actions.

Availability and rollout

The update is rolling out to Codex desktop app users signed in with ChatGPT. Personalisation features, including context-aware suggestions and memory, will roll out to Enterprise, Edu and EU and UK users soon. Initially, computer control is available on macOS, with wider availability planned.

Source link

जन्म से बहरेपन का इलाज अब मुमकिन! इस इंजेक्शन से लौटेगी बच्चों की सुनने की शक्ति

by Hansraj Agrawal | Apr 17, 2026 | Health

Can Gene Therapy Cure Congenital Deafness: जन्म से सुनने की समस्या झेल रहे लोगों के लिए दुनिया हमेशा से कुछ हद तक खामोश रही है. इस स्थिति को कंजेनिटल डेफनेस कहा जाता है, जो जन्म के साथ ही शुरू हो जाती है और व्यक्ति के बातचीत, पढ़ाई और रोजमर्रा की जिंदगी पर गहरा असर डालती है. अक्सर इसके पीछे जेनेटिक कारण होते हैं, यानी कुछ खास जीन में बदलाव, जो पीढ़ियों के जरिए आगे बढ़ते हैं. अब तक ऐसे मामलों में हियरिंग एड या कॉक्लियर इम्प्लांट जैसे विकल्प ही उपलब्ध थे, जो मदद तो करते हैं, लेकिन पूरी तरह से प्राकृतिक सुनने की क्षमता वापस नहीं ला पाते.

नई उम्मीद

इसी बीच स्वीडन के करोलिंस्का इंस्टिट्यूट से आई एक नई स्टडी ने उम्मीद की नई किरण जगाई है. यह रिसर्च प्रतिष्ठित जर्नल नेचर में प्रकाशित हुआ है. इसमें बताया गया है कि जीन थेरेपी के जरिए एक खास तरह की जेनेटिक बहरापन को काफी हद तक ठीक किया जा सकता है, वह भी बच्चों और युवाओं दोनों में.

कहां हुई है खोज?

इस रिसर्च में साइंटिस्ट ने चीन के अस्पतालों और विश्वविद्यालयों के साथ मिलकर 1 से 24 साल की उम्र के 10 मरीजों पर काम किया. इन सभी में सुनने की समस्या OTOF जीन में बदलाव के कारण थी. यह जीन ओटोफरलिन नाम के एक प्रोटीन को बनाने में अहम भूमिका निभाता है, जो कान से दिमाग तक ध्वनि संकेत पहुंचाने में मदद करता है. जब यह प्रोटीन ठीक से काम नहीं करता, तो कान आवाज को महसूस तो कर लेता है, लेकिन दिमाग तक सही तरीके से सिग्नल नहीं पहुंच पाता.

इसे भी पढ़ें: नाखूनों से पहचानें सेहत का हाल, ये संकेत हो सकते हैं खतरनाक, तुरंत लें मेडिकल सलाह

ऐसे निकला समस्या का हल

इस समस्या के समाधान के लिए रिसर्चर ने जीन थेरेपी का इस्तेमाल किया. इसमें एक स्वस्थ जीन को शरीर में पहुंचाया जाता है. इसके लिए एक सुरक्षित वायरस एडेनो-असोसिएटेड वायरस का इस्तेमाल किया गया, जिसके जरिए काम करने वाला OTOF जीन सीधे कान के अंदर पहुंचाया गया. यह प्रक्रिया कॉक्लिया के निचले हिस्से में मौजूद राउंड विंडो नाम की जगह पर एक छोटे इंजेक्शन के जरिए की गई. नतीजे काफी उत्साहजनक रहे. कई मरीजों ने सिर्फ एक महीने के भीतर ही सुनने में सुधार महसूस करना शुरू कर दिया. छह महीने बाद सभी प्रतिभागियों में स्पष्ट रूप से फायदा देखा गया. वे पहले की तुलना में काफी धीमी आवाजें भी सुनने लगे, जो पहले उनके लिए असंभव था.

बच्चों में सुधार

खास बात यह रही कि बच्चों में सुधार सबसे ज्यादा देखा गया, खासकर 5 से 8 साल की उम्र के बीच. एक छोटी बच्ची ने तो इलाज के कुछ महीनों के भीतर लगभग सामान्य सुनने की क्षमता हासिल कर ली और अपनी मां से आसानी से बातचीत करने लगी. इससे यह भी संकेत मिलता है कि समय रहते इलाज शुरू किया जाए तो परिणाम और बेहतर हो सकते हैं.

इसे भी पढ़ें – दिल्ली की लेट मॉर्निंग…मुंबई की नींद गायब, जानिए भारतीय शहरों की स्लीप स्टोरी, कौन कितना सोता है?

Disclaimer: यह जानकारी रिसर्च स्टडीज और विशेषज्ञों की राय पर आधारित है. इसे मेडिकल सलाह का विकल्प न मानें. किसी भी नई गतिविधि या व्यायाम को अपनाने से पहले अपने डॉक्टर या संबंधित विशेषज्ञ से सलाह जरूर लें.

Check out below Health Tools-
Calculate Your Body Mass Index ( BMI )

Calculate The Age Through Age Calculator

Source link

अक्षय तृतीया से पहले गिरा सोने-चांदी का भाव, जानें कितनी कम हुई कीमत? चेक करें लेटेस्ट रेट

by Hansraj Agrawal | Apr 17, 2026 | Business

Gold Silver Price Today Live: लगातार तीन सेशन तक अपनी बढ़त बनाने के बाद शुक्रवार को सोने ने अपनी बढ़त खो दी है. आज 24K, 22K और 18K सोने की कीमतों में भारी गिरावट देखने को मिली. यह गिरावट भारतीय रुपये के शुरुआती कारोबार में मजबूत होने के बीच आई है. हालांकि, अंतर्राष्ट्रीय बुलियन बाजार में इसका रुझान मजबूत बना रहा. आज सोने की कीमत में आई हालिया गिरावट से रिटेल आभूषण खरीदारों और निवेशकों के लिए राहत की बात है क्योंकि 19 अप्रैल को अक्षय तृतीया से पहले सोने की कीमत घटने से पैसों की अच्छी-खासी बचत होगी.

सोने की कितनी कम हुई कीमत?

बता दें कि आज देश में 24 कैरेट सोने की कीमत 137 रुपये प्रति ग्राम गिरकर 15,420 रुपये प्रति ग्राम हो गई है. इसी तरह से 22 कैरेट सोने का रेट 125 रुपये प्रति ग्राम घटकर 14,135 रुपये प्रति ग्राम रह गई है. 18 कैरेट सोने की दर 103 रुपये प्रति ग्राम फिसलकर 11,565 रुपये प्रति ग्राम हो गई. शुक्रवार को सोने की कीमतों में आई गिरावट का मतलब है कि भारत में 24 कैरेट सोने के प्रति 100 ग्राम की कीमत 13,400 रुपये कम होकर 15,42,000 रुपये हो गई.

चांदी में भी आई गिरावट

भारत में शुक्रवार, 17 अप्रैल को चांदी की कीमतों में भी गिरावट आई। भारत में चांदी की कीमत 5 रुपये प्रति ग्राम गिरकर 265 रुपये प्रति ग्राम हो गई. इस हिसाब से प्रति किलोग्राम इसमें 5000 रुपये की गिरावट आई है. इसी के साथ देश में अभी चांदी की कीमत 2.65 लाख रुपये प्रति किलोग्राम है. इस साल जनवरी और फरवरी के महीने में काफी उतार-चढ़ाव के बाद चांदी अपने अब तक के सबसे हाई लेवल 4 लाख रुपये प्रति किलो से ऊपर पहुंच गई थी, लेकिन अगले ही महीने कीमत 3 लाख रुपये से नीचे गिर गई.

जहां शुक्रवार को भारत में सोने और चांदी की कीमतें गिरीं, वहीं इन कीमती धातुओं की अंतर्राष्ट्रीय कीमतें स्थिर रहीं. ट्रेडिंग इकोनॉमिक्स के अनुसार, शुक्रवार 17 अप्रैल को अंतर्राष्ट्रीय सोने की कीमत 4,800 डॉलर प्रति औंस के करीब बनी रही. इसी के साथ यह कीमती धातु लगातार चौथे हफ्ते की बढ़त की ओर अग्रसर है.

ये भी पढ़ें:

US-ईरान वॉर ने बढ़ाई टेंशन, भारत से मुंह फेर रहे विदेशी पर्यटक; टूरिज्म और हवाई यात्रा को 18000 करोड़ का झटका

Source link

High copper prices, unseasonal rains may hit consumer durables; top picks

by Hansraj Agrawal | Apr 17, 2026 | Share Market

The consumer durables sector is highly sensitive to economic cycles, interest rates, and changes in disposable income, as these factors directly influence consumer demand. In India, the market is price-sensitive too, with analysts saying that pricing plays a key role in purchase decisions.

Although the sector continues to attract new buyers, several factors, including unseasonal rains just ahead of summer, have likely dampened demand. Also, after an exceptional growth in FY2025, which saw a record growth in volumes by up to 25 per cent, led by a sharp acceleration in room air conditioner (RAC) demand, FY26 marked a phase of disruption and reset. A cooler-than-normal summer impacted sales, while the transition to new Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) norms led to short-term cost pressures. Rising copper prices further resulted in the contraction of margins across the industry.

Dealers reduce inventories by 20%

According to Yes Securities, demand for summer products moderated in March 2026 after a noticeable improvement seen in January and February. It said that channel inventory has now normalised, and dealers now remain cautious about stocking up for the upcoming season. In fact, dealers have reduced inventories by about 20 per cent compared to last year.

On the demand side, it said that some slowdown is visible, particularly from the construction segment, where purchases have been delayed in anticipation of price corrections. The brokerage also noted that while enquiries remain steady, they are not converting into firm orders, resulting in lower offtake.

Expensive copper increases input costs

Vincent K A, senior research analyst at Geojit Investments, said the revenue growth in Q4FY26 is expected to remain in the range of 8-10 per cent. Margins may stay under pressure, mainly due to a 33 per cent Y-o-Y increase in copper prices. Additionally, BEE-related price hikes of 5-10 per cent and elevated inventory levels from the weak 2025 summer season could weigh on the overall performance of the sector.

Data showed that in FY25, the extended heatwave drove room AC volumes up by 20-25 per cent Y-o-Y to around 12.5 million units, creating a high base that FY26 has struggled to match.

Shift in weather patterns

Sunny Agrawal, head of fundamental research at SBI Securities, said that the sector entered FY26 with high inventory levels, expecting strong summer demand. “But weather anomalies impacted sales across categories, particularly air conditioners,” he said, adding that the room air conditioner (RAC) segment is estimated to have contracted by around 5 per cent in FY26.

He further explained that rising input costs, especially copper prices reaching record highs of $13,000 per tonne, forced manufacturers to increase prices, which in turn affected demand.

Gas shortage due to West Asia conflict reshapes demand

Additionally, in Q4FY26, gas shortages due to the West Asia conflict led to a sudden spike in demand for induction cooktops, causing temporary shifts within the kitchen appliances segment.

Despite these challenges, analysts said that FY26 represents only a short-term slowdown caused by largely external factors. They expect a low double-digit topline growth for the industry in FY27.

Vincet said that though the near-term earnings may see some pressure, the sector continues to have strong long-term growth potential, driven by rising incomes, increasing household penetration, premiumisation trends, and growing demand for smart and energy-efficient appliances.

“India is on track to become the world’s fourth-largest consumer durables market by FY27, with the industry expected to grow at around 11 per cent CAGR to reach ₹3 trillion by FY29. Also, the BEE transition could support medium-term profitability, as the shift toward higher star-rated products is likely to improve product mix and realisations from H2FY27 onward, partly offsetting near-term cost pressures,” said the analyst.

Consumer durables: Top picks

The BSE Consumer Durables Index is currently trading at about 30 times one-year forward earnings, which is a 15 per cent discount to its five-year average. According to Vincent, this presents a reasonable entry point for medium- to long-term investors. He added that he prefers a mix of defensive compounders such as Havells, Voltas, Amber Enterprises, and PG Electroplast.

Sunny said that his top picks from the sector include LG Electronics, Amber Enterprises, Voltas, Blue Star, and Havells. ==========================

Disclaimer: View and outlook shared belong to the respective brokerages/analysts and are not endorsed by Business Standard. Readers’ discretion is advised.

Source link

« Older Entries

Next Entries »

Times Top News

Times Top News