RCB signs South African pacer Wayne Parnell as replacement for injured Topley in IPL 2023
Bengaluru: The Royal Challengers Bangalore have reportedly signed South African pacer Wayne Parnell to replace the injured Reece Topley for IPL 2023. Topley sustained a dislocated shoulder during the team's first home game against the Mumbai Indians and has been ruled out of the tournament. According to ClubCricketSA, Parnell is expected to join the team soon and will be eligible for selection.
In the meantime, on Thursday, the Royal Challengers Bangalore suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens, losing by a margin of 81 runs. Despite being in trouble early on with a score of 89/5 in 11.3 overs, KKR managed to recover and secure victory in their first home game of IPL 2023. During the match, David Willey and Karn Sharma each took two wickets in two consecutive balls, causing concern for KKR's chances, but they were ultimately able to turn things around.
Shardul Thakur, who almost got out on his first ball, which was also the hat-trick ball, managed to score an impressive 68 runs off just 28 balls, hitting the joint-fastest fifty of the season in just 20 deliveries. Despite a close call on his first ball, where the inside edge narrowly missed the leg-stump, Thakur went on to deliver an outstanding performance.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz played a striking innings at the beginning of the match, scoring 57 runs filled with stylish and aggressive strokes. Rinku Singh also made a significant contribution with a crucial 46 runs, as he shared a partnership of 103 runs in just 47 balls with Thakur, which helped KKR achieve a massive total of 204/7.
During the Royal Challengers Bangalore's innings in reply to Kolkata's 204/7, the team faced difficulties against the three mystery spinners of KKR - Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine, and debutant Suyash Sharma. Together, these spinners claimed nine wickets, with Chakaravarthy taking four wickets for 15 runs, Narine taking two wickets for 16 runs, and Sharma taking three wickets for 30 runs. Leaving the RCB batters confused and unable to score, ultimately resulting in their dismissal for a total of 123 runs in just 17.4 overs.
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Suvendu Adhikari says Bangladesh should be taught a “lesson like Israel taught Gaza”
Kolkata: Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Suvendu Adhikari has sparked controversy after stating that Bangladesh should be taught a “lesson like Israel has taught Gaza.”
Adhikari made the remark while speaking to reporters outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata on Friday, December 26. “These people must be taught a lesson, just like Israel taught Gaza. Our 100 crore Hindus and the government working in the interest of Hindus must teach them a lesson just as we taught Pakistan a lesson in Operation Sindoor,” he said.
The statement came amid protests being held outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission since December 22, following the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old garment factory worker in Bangladesh. Das was killed on December 18 in the Mymensingh district, where his body was allegedly hung from a tree and set on fire in public view.
Adhikari was part of a five-member delegation that met senior officials of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission on Friday. Speaking after the meeting, he claimed that the diplomats had “no answer to most of his questions” related to the killing and the situation of minorities in Bangladesh.
Reacting to his comments, the All India Trinamool Congress accused the BJP of promoting hate and intolerance. In a post on X, the party described Adhikari’s remarks as hate speech and alleged that they amounted to a call for violence, while also questioning the absence of legal action against him.
Adhikari’s statement has added to political tensions in West Bengal and raised concerns over inflammatory rhetoric linked to sensitive international and communal issues.
The @BJP4India’s Bengal ‘face’ wants a Gaza like operation against Bangladesh. Dog whistles that the @narendramodi government is for ‘Hindus’ only. Do you concur with this @narendramodi @DrSJaishankar ? Dirty politics of Divide and Rule won’t work in Bengal, @SuvenduWB pic.twitter.com/vLWm9b3AXb
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) December 27, 2025
