Fit-again Saha set to return to action after nine months
Kolkata, Feb 17: Bengal on Sunday selected a fit-again Wriddhiman Saha in their 15-member squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20 domestic tournament.
The former India Test wicketkeeper batsman, who went under the knife for a shoulder injury, is set to return to action for the first time since May 25 when he last played for his IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens here.
"I'm approaching the tournament as just like returning from a normal break. It's like the start of the season for me," Saha said of his comeback.
Bengal will open their campaign against Mizoram in their group D fixture in Cuttack on February 21.
Things have changed dramatically for Saha in this nine months with Rishabh Pant establishing his place in the national side.
"I've never played cricket thinking about selection. It's not in my hands. I'm focused on what is in my control and that is my performance. I'm keen to make full use of the opportunities that come my way," the 34-year-old said.
India's next Test assignment will only be after the World Cup when they visit the West Indies for a two-Test series in July.
Manoj Tiwary will lead the Bengal side with Abhimanyu Easwaran as his deputy. Bengal had last won the title in 2010/11 season.
Bengal are clubbed along side Mizoram, Karnataka, Assam, Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha in group D, the matches for which will be held in Cuttack.
Bengal squad: Manoj Tiwary (captain), Abhimanyu Easwaran (vice-captain), Wriddhiman Saha, Shreevats Goswami, Vivek Singh, Writtick Chatterjee, Ritwik Roy Chowdhury, Shahbaz Ahamad, Pradipta Pramanik, Kanishk Seth, Ashok Dinda, Sayan Ghosh, Ishan Porel, Prayas Ray Barman and Ayan Bhattacharjee.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
“Modi has opened his legs for Israel,” says US journalist during broadcast
New Delhi: A remark made by an American journalist about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy stance towards Israel has triggered discussions online after a clip from a recent broadcast went viral on social media.
Ana Kasparian, co-host and executive producer of the progressive US news programme The Young Turks (TYT), made the comment while discussing Israel’s influence on global alliances and the foreign policies of various countries.
During the segment, Kasparian said: “It looks like Narendra Modi opening up his legs to Israel. Congratulations.”
The statement came in the context of a broader discussion by the programme’s hosts on Israel’s relations with global powers. Kasparian and her co-host Cenk Uygur criticised what they described as one-sided alliances with Israel and argued that such partnerships could draw countries into conflicts in the Middle East.
The discussion also touched on India’s growing strategic ties with Israel, including cooperation in defence, technology and agriculture. Some foreign media outlets have recently highlighted India’s positions in international forums, including votes related to the Gaza situation at the United Nations, as evidence of a shift in its traditional foreign policy stance.
The clip from the broadcast has circulated widely on social media platforms, with users in India and abroad sharing and debating the remark. Some users translated the comment into Hindi and other languages, further expanding its reach online.
Kasparian has previously drawn criticism from pro-Israel groups for her comments on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Her remarks in the latest broadcast have also prompted mixed reactions online, with some users condemning the language used and others engaging in discussions about India’s foreign policy alignment.
Dear @narendramodi ,
— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) March 5, 2026
Look what this American Journalist is calling you.
Unacceptable, please send a team of Delhi Police to Los Angeles and get her arrested ASAP under NSA.
pic.twitter.com/F7TqlV54Lz
