NEW DELHI: India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru star batter Virat Kohli has finally opened up about his decision to retire from T20 internationals following India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign in 2024.
Kohli called time on his T20I career after India, led by Rohit Sharma, clinched the T20 World Cup title with a thrilling seven-run win over South Africa in the final held in Barbados.
In the high-octane final, Kohli delivered when it mattered the most, scoring a crucial 76 off 59 balls, earning him the Player of the Match award.
Moments after lifting the trophy, Kohli announced his retirement from T20Is during the post-match presentation. Soon after, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja also confirmed their retirements from the format.
Speaking on the RCB Podcast, Kohli explained the reasoning behind his decision.

“I do not think things have changed for me in any way. The decision to leave T20Is was taken purely understanding that there is a new set of players who are more than ready and they need time,” he said.
“They need a two-year cycle to evolve, handle pressure, play in different parts of the world, and play enough games to the point where when the World Cup comes, they feel like they are ready.”

Kohli finished his T20I career with 125 matches, amassing 4,188 runs at an impressive average of 48.69. He was named Player of the Tournament in both the 2014 and 2016 editions of the T20 World Cup.
Currently, Kohli is showcasing top form in the ongoing IPL 2025, leading the charts for RCB with 443 runs in 10 matches at an average of 63.29.
RCB, placed second in the points table, are set to face Chennai Super Kings in a key encounter on Saturday.

In a scene that feels equal parts political satire and constitutional stress test, Marco Rubio has become the Trump administration’s man for all seasons, and all jobs.
Rubio, 53, now holds four prominent roles simultaneously: Secretary of State, Acting Administrator of the US Agency for International Development, Acting Archivist of the National Archives, and as of this week, Interim National Security Adviser.
The announcement came via a surprise post on Truth Social by former President Donald Trump, ousting NSA Michael Waltz and naming Rubio his replacement while nominating Waltz to serve as UN Ambassador.
The multi-hyphenate appointment raised eyebrows across Washington and drew laughs online.
US Vice President JD Vance, known for his sharp wit, couldn’t resist joking on X, “I think he could take on a bit more. If only there was a job opening for a devout Catholic…”, a tongue-in-cheek reference to the Pope, and the recent passing of Pope Francis.
Appearing on Fox News’ Hannity, Rubio gamely responded, “We thought about it, but you have to be an unmarried Catholic male. People don’t know that. You don’t have to be a priest, any unmarried Catholic male can be pope. But I got married and I’m happily married, so I guess I’ll miss out on that one.”
The rise of ‘secretary everything’
Rubio’s accumulation of power started when the Senate unanimously confirmed him as Secretary of State on Inauguration Day. But subsequent appointments have been more opaque.
In February, he was named acting USAID administrator just days before Trump loyalists Elon Musk and Pete Marocco began downsizing the aid agency. Then came his installation as acting archivist after Trump fired Colleen Shogan, reportedly in retaliation for the National Archives’ role in recovering classified documents from Mar-a-Lago.
Most recently, Rubio was tapped to replace Waltz at the National Security Council, learning of the decision, it seems, almost as suddenly as the public.
“We’ve seen him at the White House several times a week. His close working relationship with the president is clear,” said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce when informed of the news mid-briefing, as reported NYT. “This is the miracle of modern technology and social media.”
An unprecedented power grab or administrative necessity?
Rubio’s quadruple-title reign appears unprecedented in modern US political history. The closest parallel may be Henry Kissinger, who served simultaneously as Secretary of State and National Security Adviser from 1973 to 1975, a dual role that even back then drew criticism for consolidating too much foreign policy power in one person.
Critics today are sounding similar alarms. “Directing even one federal agency is a full-time job,” noted Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). “Rubio’s current positions are uniquely concerning.”
Ethical conflicts loom especially large in his dual roles as top diplomat and national archivist, a watchdog of federal agency records, including those from his own departments.
Is it about trust or control?
White House insiders say Rubio’s consolidation of power stems from the deep trust Trump places in him, and his close relationship with Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff and political gatekeeper, as reported NYT. Rubio has long been viewed as a foreign policy hawk with ideological alignment on China and Iran, issues that Trump wants streamlined.
Still, questions abound: Will Rubio be paid four salaries? Can one person reasonably lead four departments? Is this a temporary fix, or a sign of more centralized power structures in Trump 2.0?
On Hannity, Rubio appeared unfazed by the workload. He pivoted quickly to policy, defending Trump’s diplomatic push in Ukraine and characterizing the mineral deal signed this week with Kyiv as a “major win” for US leverage in the conflict.
“This is not our war,” Rubio said. “Trump’s been the only leader in the world trying to talk to both sides and end the killing. But if they’re not close enough, maybe we need to focus more on China and Iran.”
The punchline that stuck
Despite the high-stakes roles and serious foreign policy implications, it was JD Vance’s papal jab that stole the show.
With a wink to his recent Vatican visit, hours before the pope’s death, Vance’s tweet quickly went viral, with commenters dubbing Rubio everything from “Pope Marco I” to “Secretary of the Universe.”
Rubio’s response, half humor, half deflection, might become the unofficial slogan of his tenure: “I’m happily married.”

US vice president JD Vance on Thursday responded to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam last month that killed 26 people. Vance said he hopes India will respond to Pakistan in a way that avoids a “broader regional conflict” while also asking Pakistan to cooperate with India to find those responsible for the attack.
“Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesn’t lead to a broader regional conflict,” Vance said in a podcast interview with Fox News.
“And we hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that they’re responsible, cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with,” Vance added.
“I’m worried about any time you see a hot spot breaking out, especially between two nuclear powers,” Vance said in the interview on Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier” show.
Vance’s comments are the most direct link made by a US official since the April 22 attack that left 26 people dead, possibly suggesting Pakistan’s involvement in terrorist activities in India.
The US vice president had earlier also reacted to the Pahalgam attack. In a post on X, he had said, “Usha and I extend our condolences to the victims of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India. Over the past few days, we have been overcome with the beauty of this country and its people. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they mourn this horrific attack.”
The Pahalgam attack, in which 25 tourists and one local were killed, was among the most deadly terrorist attacks on civilians in the Kashmir Valley in recent years. The attackers had targeted a scenic meadow that could only be reached by hiking or using a pony service.
Other senior US officials, including President Donald Trump, have also reacted to the attack. They called it “terror” and “unconscionable” and expressed support for India, but did not mention Pakistan.

Stock market today: Indian equity benchmark indices, Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, opened in green on Friday, the first trading day of the month. While Nifty50 rose over 100 points to cross 24,400, BSE Sensex was above 80,600. At 9:19 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 24,424.00, up 90 points or 0.37%.BSE Sensex was at 80,679.58, up 437 points or 0.55%.
Market experts anticipate range-bound trading with focus on individual stocks and sectors, primarily influenced by fourth quarter results.
VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “After the sharp market correction triggered by Trump’s reciprocal tariffs and the Pahalgam terror strikes, April has closed with above 4% gains in Nifty. This surprising resilience of the market has been primarily driven by the sustained FII buying for eleven trading days in a row taking the cumulative FII buying for this period to Rs 37375 crores.FII buying has been driven by weakness in the dollar and declining growth prospects in the US. Other macros like declining interest rates in India, decline in the crude price and green shoots of pickup in demand are positives for the market. The high probability of India among the five ‘allies’ of the US entering into early trade deals with the US is also a significant positive factor. However, at the current juncture of high valuations (Nifty trading at above 20 times estimated FY 26 earnings) and high India-Pak tensions, the near-term risk-reward is not in favour of high reward. Therefore, investors can play it safe by increasing the cash component in the portfolio even while remaining invested.”
US equities moved higher on Thursday, with both Dow and S&P 500 achieving their eighth consecutive positive session, supported by robust performance from technology giants Microsoft and Meta, alleviating AI investment concerns.
Asian equities showed modest gains while US index futures recovered losses on Friday following China’s announcement regarding potential trade discussions with the US.
Gold prices were heading towards their largest weekly decline in over two months on Friday, as diminishing trade conflicts reduced safe-haven appeal. Investors await the U.S. non-farm payrolls report scheduled for release later in the day.
The U.S. dollar advanced towards its third consecutive weekly rise, supported by positive developments in trade discussions with partners and stronger-than-anticipated economic data, bolstering confidence in the U.S. economy.
Foreign portfolio investors shifted to net purchases at Rs 50.57 crore on Wednesday. Domestic institutional investors acquired shares valued at Rs 1792 crore.

NEW DELHI: Due to Pakistan’s closure of its airspace to Indian carriers, Air India anticipates additional expenses of approximately $600 million if Pakistan’s airspace restriction continues for a year, and has requested compensation from the central government, according to a company letter obtained by Reuters.
Indian airlines are preparing for increased fuel expenses and extended flight durations due to Pakistan’s closure of airspace following a terror attack on tourists in Kashmir’s Pahalgam last week that killed 26 including a foreign national from Nepal.
On Sunday, Air India reportedly submitted a request to the Indian government for a ‘subsidy model’ corresponding to the financial impact, calculating losses exceeding 50 billion Indian rupees ($591 million) annually whilst the restriction remains in effect, as per Reuters, that claims to have viewed the letter sent to the civil aviation ministry.
“Subsidy for affected international flights is a good, verifiable and fair option … the subsidy can be removed when the situation improves,” the letter stated. “The impact on Air India is maximum due to airspace closure, due to additional fuel burn…additional crew.”
The correspondence was issued after government officials requested Air India executives to evaluate the consequences of the airspace restriction on Indian carriers, according to a Reuters source. The Tata Group-owned carrier, currently implementing a multi-billion dollar restructuring following state ownership, faces growth limitations due to delayed aircraft deliveries from Boeing and Airbus.
The airline recorded a net loss of $520 million in fiscal 2023-2024, with revenues of $4.6 billion.
Air India, holding 26.5% market share in India, services routes to Europe, the United States and Canada, frequently utilising Pakistan’s airspace. The airline operates significantly more long-distance routes compared to its domestic competitor IndiGo.
According to Cirium Ascend data, IndiGo, Air India and Air India Express collectively scheduled approximately 1,200 flights from New Delhi to Europe, the Middle East and North America in April.
India is exploring solutions to minimise the impact on the aviation sector from Pakistan’s airspace closure. One Reuters source indicated that Indian carriers consulted with the civil aviation ministry to develop alternatives, including routes over challenging terrain near China and potential tax relief measures.
Air India’s letter requested government intervention with Chinese authorities regarding specific overflight permissions, without providing details. Additionally, it sought approval for deploying extra pilots on United States and Canada routes to accommodate increased journey times.