Virat Kohli created history during Delhi's Vijay Hazare Trophy opener against Andhra Pradesh on December 24, becoming the second player after Sachin Tendulkar to score 16,000 List A runs. Kohli achieved the milestone in just 330 innings, beating Tendulkar's 391 innings by a massive margin, making him the fastest ever. The 37-year-old is the only player in this elite nine-member club averaging above 50, with a stunning 57.34 average. Kohli holds 57 centuries and needs just three more to match Tendulkar's world record of 60 List A tons. He's also the fastest to 10,000, 11,000, 12,000, 13,000, 14,000, and 15,000 List A runs, with 90% scored internationally.

Ishan Kishan celebrated his India T20 World Cup 2026 comeback by smashing a 33-ball century for Jharkhand against Karnataka in Vijay Hazare Trophy at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on December 24. The left-handed wicketkeeper-batter scored 125 from just 39 balls, hitting 7 fours and 14 sixes, helping Jharkhand post 412/9. Ishan broke 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi's record, who scored a 36-ball century earlier the same day. Bihar's Sakibul Gani holds the fastest Indian List A century record at 32 balls. Ishan finished as highest run-getter in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, earning his first India selection in over two years. Australian Jake Fraser-McGurk holds the world record at 29 balls.

The Union environment ministry has ordered states to stop granting any new mining leases across the Aravalli range, which runs from Delhi to Gujarat. The ban will apply to the full length of the hills to curb illegal and unplanned mining. The ministry has asked the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education to find more no-mining zones in the region. It will also prepare a science-based plan to study environmental impact and guide future action. The draft will be shared for public feedback. For existing mines, states must enforce strict rules and follow Supreme Court orders to limit damage to the fragile ecosystem. (PC: India Today)

Ukraine says Russian troops carried out a night raid on the border village of Hrabovske in the Sumy region and took 52 civilians to Russia. Thirteen Ukrainian soldiers were also captured, officials said. About 100 Russian troops are believed to have crossed the border during the attack. The civilians were gathered in a church before being moved across the border, Ukraine’s military said. Some may be held in the Russian city of Belgorod, but their location is not confirmed. Fighting was reported in the village after the raid. Ukraine says most of those taken were elderly residents who had refused earlier evacuation orders. (PC: BBC)

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli marked their return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy with commanding centuries on Wednesday. Rohit smashed 155 from 94 balls as Mumbai beat Sikkim by eight wickets in Jaipur. It was his first match in the tournament in seven years and he was named Player of the Match. Kohli scored a rapid hundred from 83 balls for Delhi against Andhra Pradesh in their Group D game. During the knock, Kohli crossed 16,000 List A runs. He became only the second Indian after Sachin Tendulkar to reach the mark. In another match, Ishan Kishan hit a 33-ball century for Jharkhand. (PC: NDTV )

Cambodia has accused Thailand of destroying a statue of Lord Vishnu in a disputed border zone during ongoing clashes between the two countries. A government spokesman in Preah Vihear province said the statue stood in the An Ses area and was “inside our territory”. He said the demolition took place on Monday, about 100 metres from the border, though online maps place it farther away. The statue, built in 2014, was toppled by a bulldozer used by Thai military engineers. A video of the act spread on social media and caused anger. Thai authorities have not responded. Fighting along the border has killed more than 40 people and forced many to flee. (PC: HT)

India’s aviation sector is set to add more players after the civil aviation ministry granted no objection certificates to Al Hind Air and FlyExpress. The move follows recent nationwide disruptions at IndiGo and reflects concern over heavy reliance on a few large airlines. Another carrier, Shankh Air from Uttar Pradesh, has already received clearance and plans to start flights in 2026. India now has nine scheduled domestic airlines, with IndiGo and the Air India group controlling over 90% of the market. Officials say new airlines will widen choices, support fast-growing passenger demand, and strengthen regional links under the UDAN scheme. (PC: India Today)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a new 20-point peace plan includes options for demilitarised or free economic zones in eastern Ukraine. He said the draft was agreed with US officials and Russia was expected to respond soon. Zelensky said Ukraine is against troop withdrawal but may consider pulling heavy forces back if Russia does the same. Any zone would remain under Ukrainian control and police. He said the plan offers security guarantees from the US, Nato members, and Europe. The proposal also calls for a referendum on the deal, Russian troop withdrawal from several regions, and Ukraine keeping a large peacetime army of up to 800,000 soldiers. (PC: BBC)

Delhi authorities have lifted the strict GRAP-4 pollution curbs after air quality improved across the region. The decision was taken at a meeting of the GRAP sub-committee on Wednesday. The Commission for Air Quality Management said the Air Quality Index showed a clear improvement since Tuesday night. It added that strong winds and better weather helped reduce pollution levels. GRAP-4 measures were imposed a week ago after the AQI fell into the severe category. These steps included limits on construction work and vehicle use. Officials said they will keep monitoring the situation and may reapply controls if pollution rises again in the coming days. (PC: HT)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the treatment of the Unnao rape survivor after she was forcefully taken away during a protest at India Gate. The protest followed the Delhi High Court order granting bail to former MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 rape case. Gandhi asked if it was the survivor’s fault that she was seeking justice. He said treating a survivor in this way was wrong and called the bail order disappointing. The survivor said she will challenge the High Court decision in the Supreme Court. She said she fears for her safety and that of her family after Sengar’s release. (PC: HT)