Indian cricket star Virat Kohli is currently on a break from international cricket after his recent appearance in the ODI series against Sri Lanka. The former Indian captain, widely regarded as one of the greatest batters in the history of the sport, is spending quality time with his family during this hiatus. Kohli's illustrious career, which began with his standout performance in the 2008 U-19 World Cup, has seen him serve Indian cricket for nearly two decades.
Like Kohli, Shubman Gill, another promising top-order batter, also made his mark on the international stage after his successful stint in the U-19 World Cup in 2018. Many cricket enthusiasts and experts have hailed Gill as the next big thing in Indian cricket. Together, Kohli and Gill represent a formidable duo in India's batting lineup.
However, a fake video recently went viral, falsely depicting Kohli criticizing Gill. In the doctored video, Kohli appears to admonish Gill, saying there's a "big gap between showing promise and becoming a legend." The video, which has been widely circulated, shows Kohli comparing himself to legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. The comments in the video are believed to be the result of lip-syncing, and the incident has sparked concerns over the misuse of AI technology, with many viewers warning that "AI is dangerous."
In other news, the latest ICC Test rankings released on Wednesday saw several shifts among top players. Virat Kohli has moved up two places to secure the eighth spot, while Indian captain Rohit Sharma has dropped one place to sixth. Young Indian batter Yashasvi Jaiswal continues his rise, moving up one spot to seventh in the rankings.
Veteran England batter Joe Root maintained his position as the top-ranked Test batter in the world, following England's successful first Test against Sri Lanka in Manchester. Root's teammate, Harry Brook, made significant gains, jumping three places to fourth overall, surpassing Pakistan's Babar Azam, Australia's Steve Smith, and Rohit Sharma.
Babar Azam experienced a notable drop, falling six places from a shared third to ninth after a rare failure in the first innings of Pakistan's Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan climbed seven spots to enter the top 10, achieving a career-high ranking at a shared 10th place following his century in the same match.
Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim also reached a career-high rating, moving up seven spots to 17th place.
Among bowlers, seasoned Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin continues to hold the top spot, with pacer Jasprit Bumrah and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja maintaining their third and seventh positions, respectively. England's Chris Woakes climbed four spots to 16th, while Sri Lanka's Asitha Fernando made a significant leap of 10 places to 17th. Pakistan's Naseem Shah (up four places to 33rd) and England's Gus Atkinson (up four places to 42nd) also achieved career-best ratings after strong recent performances.
In the all-rounder rankings, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin continue to occupy the top two spots, with India's Axar Patel ranked sixth.
For a moment I thought it was real 😭
— Alter EGO | Sanju (@me_sanjureddy) August 28, 2024
AI is dangerous for sure#ViratKohli𓃵 #ShubmanGill pic.twitter.com/uhRvOwCfee
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.
Judge cites denial of home to Muslim girl, opposition to Dalit women cooking mid-day meals
Hyderabad, February 23, 2026: Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has said that despite repeated affirmations of constitutional morality by courts, deep societal faultlines rooted in caste and religious discrimination continue to shape everyday realities in India.
Speaking at a seminar on “Constitutional Morality and the Role of District Judiciary” organised by the Telangana Judges Association and the Telangana State Judicial Academy in Hyderabad, Justice Bhuyan reflected on the gap between constitutional ideals and social practices.
He cited a recent instance involving his daughter’s friend, a PhD scholar at a private university in Noida, who was denied accommodation in South Delhi after her surname revealed her Muslim identity. According to Justice Bhuyan, the landlady bluntly informed her that no accommodation was available once her religious background became known.
In another example from Odisha, he referred to resistance by some parents to the government’s mid-day meal programme because the food was prepared by Dalit women employed as cooks. He noted that some parents had objected aggressively and refused to allow their children to consume meals cooked by members of the Scheduled Caste community.
Describing these incidents as “the tip of the iceberg,” Justice Bhuyan said they reveal how far society remains from the benchmark of constitutional morality even 75 years into the Republic. He observed that while the Constitution lays down standards of equality and dignity, the morality practised within homes and communities often diverges sharply from those values.
He emphasised that constitutional morality requires governance through the rule of law rather than the rule of popular opinion. Referring to the evolution of the doctrine through judicial decisions, he cited Naz Foundation v Union of India, in which the Delhi High Court read down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, holding that popular morality cannot restrict fundamental rights under Article 21. Though the judgment was later overturned in Suresh Kumar Koushal v Naz Foundation, the Supreme Court ultimately restored and expanded the principle in Navtej Singh Johar v Union of India, affirming that constitutional morality must prevail over majoritarian views.
“In our constitutional scheme, it is the constitutionality of the issue before the court that is relevant, not the dominant or popular view,” he said.
Justice Bhuyan also addressed the functioning of the district judiciary, underlining that trial courts are the first point of contact for most litigants and form the foundation of the justice delivery system. He stressed that due importance must be given to the recording of evidence and adjudication of bail matters.
Highlighting the role of High Courts, he said their supervisory jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution is intended as a shield to correct grave jurisdictional errors, not as a mechanism to substitute the discretion or factual appreciation of trial judges.
He recalled that several distinguished judges, including Justice H R Khanna, Justice A M Ahmadi, and Justice Fathima Beevi, began their careers in the district judiciary.
On representation within the judicial system, Justice Bhuyan noted that Telangana has made significant strides in gender inclusion. Out of a sanctioned strength of 655 judicial officers in the Telangana Judicial Service, 478 are currently serving, of whom 283 are women, exceeding 50 per cent representation. He added that members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minority communities, and persons with disabilities are also represented in the state’s judiciary.
He observed that greater representation of women, marginalised communities, persons with disabilities, and sexual minorities would help make the judiciary more inclusive and reflective of India’s diversity. “The judiciary must represent all the colours of the rainbow and become a rainbow institution,” he said.
Justice Bhuyan also referred to the recent restoration by the Supreme Court of the requirement of a minimum three years of practice at the Bar for entry-level judicial posts. While acknowledging that the requirement ensures practical exposure, he cautioned that its impact on women aspirants, especially those from rural or small-town backgrounds facing social and financial constraints, would need to be carefully observed over time.
Concluding his address, he reiterated that the justice system must strive to bridge the gap between constitutional ideals and lived realities, ensuring that the rule of law remains paramount.
