1st Test: O’Rourke Picks Three As NZ Gain Upper Hand By Reducing India To 34/6

Earlier Thursday, various sources confirmed to IANS about Badani and Rao joining the franchise’s coaching staff as they pivot towards an all-Indian coaching staff. The overhaul in DC’s support staff comes with the side not having any IPL title since its inception in 2008.

Badani represented India in four Tests and 40 ODIs, and now replaces Ricky Ponting, who left after seven years, in the top role at DC. He previously worked with Sunrisers Hyderabad from IPL 2021-2023 seasons as a fielding coach and a batting coach in successive seasons.

Badani, who represented Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket, comes with an impressive coaching record in T20 cricket - leading the Jaffna Kings franchise to two consecutive Lankan Premier League titles, and being the head coach of Chepauk Super Gillies winning the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) four times.

Badani also worked as a batting coach with the title wining Sunrisers Eastern Cape side in the inaugural edition of the SA20, and was head coach of the Dubai Capitals side that reached this year’s ILT20 final.

“It’s my absolute honour to be joining Delhi Capitals, and I’m deeply grateful to our owners for trusting me with the job. With the mega auction around the corner, my job, in collaboration with the rest of our coaching staff, is cut out. I can’t wait to get started,” said Badani.

On the other hand, Venugopal, who also holds Director of Cricket position at GMR Sports, co-owners of Delhi Capitals, played 16 ODIs for India. He was a part of the 2009 IPL winning squad with Deccan Chargers, and represented DC from 2011 to 2013. At DC, he will take the role previously held by former India captain Sourav Ganguly.

Like Badani, he has also been part of Dubai Capitals as a mentor in the inaugural season and Director of Cricket in the next year, apart from the duo being together in coaching staff of Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket (MLC) in USA.

“It’s my absolute honour to be joining Delhi Capitals, and I’m deeply grateful to our owners for trusting me with the job. With the mega auction around the corner, my job, in collaboration with the rest of our coaching staff, is cut out. I can’t wait to get started,” said Rao.

There has been no word on future of other support staff members of DC, though IANS understands Munaf Patel is likely to take up the bowling coach role at the franchise. This coaching overhaul comes in the light of a change in structure of the franchise’s operations happening on a two-year rotational basis.

The GMR Group will run cricketing operations of the Delhi Capitals in IPL for the next two years, while co-owners JSW Sports will be at the helm of the franchise in Women’s Premier League (WPL).

It will be followed by a switch between the two parties in 2027, with Ganguly now set to be DC’s director of cricket in WPL and for Pretoria Capitals in SA20 in 2025 and 2026. The DC co-owners said key decisions like auctions, captaincy, player release and retentions of both teams will be made by the franchise’s board, and will be decided mutually by senior leadership of both groups.

With regards to player retention strategy, Delhi Capitals’ are likely to retain Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. A word on them retaining the team’s young overseas performers Fraser-McGurk and Tristan Stubbs is yet to come. All ten teams have time till October 31 to finalise their retentions ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction, whose dates and venue are yet to be confirmed.

(IANS)

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Experts say the surge in gold prices came amid a confluence of factors, including major central banks' dovish outlooks, slightly lower bond yields, and heightened geopolitical tensions.

Ajay Kedia, Director of Kedia Advisory, explained the factors driving the historic rise in gold prices in an exclusive conversation with ANI.

He said, "MCX Gold reached an all-time high of Rs 76,899 as major central banks' dovish outlooks and slightly lower bond yields boosted demand for non-interest-bearing bullion. The Federal Reserve is expected to cut rates in its two remaining decisions this year, with a 25-basis-point cut in November looking increasingly likely."

He further added, "Gold prices were also boosted by uncertainty surrounding the US presidential election and renewed Middle Eastern tensions, following Israel's intensified air strikes on Lebanon on Wednesday."

Adding to the analysis, Kaynat Chainwala, AVP-Commodity Research at Kotak Securities, noted that global gold prices were also experiencing an upswing.

Kaynat Chainwala said, "Comex gold prices surged, bolstered by falling US Treasury yields and strong safe-haven demand amid escalating geopolitical tensions. However, prices pulled back from higher levels due to a stronger dollar. Despite this, safe-haven bids stemming from heightened tensions in the Middle East, particularly following Israel's strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon, helped limit the decline, allowing COMEX gold to close 0.5% higher at $2,691.30 per ounce."

He further added, "Today, Comex gold has continued its upward trend, reaching $2,700.60 earlier in the session, amid uncertainty surrounding the upcoming US elections and anticipation of key US economic data. US Retail sales and jobless figures are being closely watched for insights into the pace of Federal Reserve easing this year. So far, signs of resilience in the US economy have led to speculation that the Federal Reserve may adopt a less aggressive approach to rate cuts."

The combination of lower bond yields, geopolitical tensions, and central banks' dovish stances appears to be setting the stage for a continued rally in gold prices, with safe-haven demand showing no signs of waning. (ANI)

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The curtain-raiser event, held on Wednesday, with representatives from 60 countries attending the event.

Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy and President of the ISA Assembly, Pralhad Joshi, addressed the gathering, saying, "ISA has evolved into a key platform for global solar cooperation, now encompassing 120 Member & Signatory Countries. This growing commitment demonstrates solar energy's significant role in addressing our shared energy access challenges and the adverse effects of climate change."

He added, "The progress made by ISA's Member Countries in adopting solar energy is remarkable. Solar energy, available year-round and in abundance in some of our Member Countries, holds the potential to be the game-changer in the theatre of global climate action. Its attributes of being clean, reliable, free and easily accessible to all make it central to achieving universal energy access. Our efforts through the ISA focus on expanding solar infrastructure, creating green jobs, supporting livelihoods, and mitigating climate impacts."

Under the presidency of the Republic of India and co-presidency of the Republic of France, the Seventh Session of the ISA Assembly will be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from November 3 to November 6, 2024. Ministers, mission heads, senior officials from 120 Member and Signatory Countries, partner organizations, private sector representatives, and key stakeholders will participate.

In his opening remarks, Ajay Yadav, Joint Secretary, MNRE, Government of India, noted, "Global solar deployment presents its challenges: investments, infrastructure, and indigenisation. Countering these challenges demands targeted efforts to support the sector's expansion."

He further highlighted the ISA's role in addressing these challenges, saying, "To address these challenges through various programmes, initiatives, and collaborations with governments, private enterprises, and international organisations and by working with its Member Countries, ISA creates opportunities to diversify global supply chains and boost solar energy demand, contributing to manufacturing capacity growth."

"Elaborating on the focused efforts, he added, "We proudly count 120 among our Member & Signatory Countries, with 102 ratifying the ISA Framework Agreement, showcasing our growing global influence. With the firm support of Member Countries, ISA has successfully launched initiatives to accelerate solar adoption, foster innovation, and enhance capacity-building efforts," he added.

Ajay Mathur, Director General of the International Solar Alliance, said, "The International Solar Alliance stands at the forefront of global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDGs 7 & 13 on affordable and clean energy and climate action, respectively. The International Solar Alliance is a force for change. It harmonises and aggregates demand for solar finance, technologies, innovation, research and development, and capacity building. This initiative is more than just a coalition; it is a revolutionary movement reshaping our energy landscape and our planet's future."

"As we approach the mark to last five years to realise the goals defined by the 2030 Agenda, this session of the ISA Assembly is an important nudge to accelerate our actions and raise our ambitions. All stakeholders must make this decade count in favour of climate action. Our work at the ISA directly supports the implementation of the Paris Agreement and contributes to the broader UN framework for sustainable development. ISA is working with Member Countries to help shape conducive policies to bring in investments in solar energy, a sustainable pipeline of solar-powered projects, and help build skills to sustain solar projects in the long term," he added.

The upcoming ISA Assembly will focus on accelerating solar deployment, particularly in regions with limited energy access. Discussions will also cover ISA's flagship initiatives related to entrepreneurship, skill development, mobilizing finance, and promoting solar energy adoption. (ANI)

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