England peppered the prodigy with short balls. Every delivery came with a disclaimer: age is of little relevance in the big boys’ club. Sooryavanshi swung and missed the first two deliveries he faced off Josh Tongue. His maiden international run was almost anti-climactic to the build-up: an inside-edged single while trying to survive a 145 kmph yorker.

Jofra Archer was once asked about Sooryavanshi’s weakness, to which he had replied: “I’ll tell you after the IPL.”

It became evident that he was saving his knowledge for today. He erred on his first ball to his Rajasthan Royals teammate, and was dispatched for a six. Thereafter, he pulled his length back.

However, whenever the ball was pitched up, it went flying. Like the first ball of the third over, which he almost caressed, but with enough venom to send it into the stands over midwicket. However, England did not let him settle.

Off-spinner Will Jacks was brought in the fourth over, and his first delivery to Sooryavanshi was an 80kmph floater. Having shown it the respect the delivery arguably did not deserve, he tried to smash the next one. Except, this was a 94kmph slider. Sooryavanshi found no connection, was beaten all ends up, and before he could react, saw the zing bails light up. Though two decades his senior, Jos Buttler was as sharp as ever behind the stumps.

Sooryavanshi has struck short deliveries with disdain and spite in the IPL. On a windy day at Manchester, though, the challenge was different. England’s plans paid dividends. But with two moments of brilliance, Sooryavanshi also offered enough glimpses into what seems to be a promising future.

Tendulkar had famously made his debut aged 16 years 205 days old in a Test match against Pakistan in Karachi in November 1989. Shafali was 15 years and 239 days old when she made her debut in a T20I against South Africa in Surat. Sooryavanshi is 15 years and 99 days old.

“You’ve seen him in the last couple of months, the way he’s been smashing the ball, taking on the best of the bowlers, shows immense confidence that he possesses,” said Iyer at the toss, which India won and chose to bat first. The five-match series remains tied at 0-0 with the first match having been washed out on Wednesday.

 

More to come…

Dr Subramanyam also believes we must eat when we are hungry. Having said that, she pointed out that nowadays, satiety and hunger signals have gone out the window because people are distracted and not listening to their bodies too much. “We are eating time-based, or based on when everyone else is eating,” she said, explaining why we are loading up on more calories than are necessary for the body.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.

According to Dr Bhavana P, chief dietitian, Gleneagles Hospital, Lakdi Ka Pul, Hyderabad, there is some merit to this claim. Too many meals in a day without allowing your body time to digest can lead to weight gain, especially if the meals are high in calories, sugars, or fats.

Are 3 meals, 2 snacks too much for the gut? (Source: Freepik)

“Frequent eating may also disrupt your natural hunger cues and put added strain on your digestive system, and also cause problems like acidity, bloating, gas, and indigestion. Various studies have also proven that grazing all day can increase the risk of metabolic disorders if not managed properly,” she said. In fact, eating too frequently without accounting for portion control or caloric balance can strain the pancreas, affect hormonal responses like leptin and ghrelin, and disrupt natural hunger cues,” said Dr Bhavana.

Exception to note

The only exception to this occurs if you suffer from insulin resistance. In that case, small, frequent meals (SFMs) are a dietary regimen characterised by multiple small eating episodes throughout the day, as they may help stabilise blood sugar levels, particularly in individuals with diabetes or insulin sensitivity.

“Clinical nutrition guidelines recommend SFMs (eg, 6-10 meals) to patients experiencing common symptoms (eg, early satiety) and gastrointestinal-related symptoms,” said Dr Bhavana. According to her, smaller, more frequent meals can also improve satiety, curb overeating, and support steady energy levels throughout the day.

“This approach is also beneficial for people with gastrointestinal issues like acid reflux, as it reduces the pressure on the digestive system compared to large, heavy meals,” said Dr Bhavana.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.

The comparison revealed striking similarities in mineral composition, suggesting that both the meteorite and the Chandrayaan-3 landing site may have originated from similar geological environments on the Moon.

The discovery helps scientists connect lunar samples found on Earth with specific regions on the Moon, something that has long remained difficult because meteorites are blasted into space after asteroid impacts and eventually fall to Earth without any record of where they came from.

Evidence of a complex lunar crust

One of the study’s most significant conclusions is that the lunar soil at Shiv Shakti Point is not made from a single rock type. Instead, it is a mixture of materials originating from different depths of the Moon’s crust.

Researchers believe repeated asteroid and meteorite impacts over billions of years excavated underground material and scattered it across the lunar surface. This constant “gardening” process has mixed ancient rocks from different geological layers into the soil now covering the region.

Such findings suggest that the Chandrayaan-3 landing site preserves a much more complicated geological record than previously understood.

Chandrayaan-3 continues to expand lunar science

Chandrayaan-3 became the first mission to achieve a successful soft landing near the Moon’s south pole in August 2023. Its Vikram lander and Pragyan rover conducted in-situ studies of the lunar surface, analysing rocks, soil composition, temperature variations and elemental abundance.

The latest study highlights how those observations continue to produce new scientific discoveries years after the mission concluded its surface operations.

By linking the landing site’s composition with a meteorite found on Earth, researchers now have another valuable reference point for studying lunar evolution and understanding how different parts of the Moon are connected through ancient impact events.

The findings improve scientists’ understanding of how the Moon’s crust evolved over time and how impact events have redistributed material across its surface.

“Shubman Gill has already shown that it can be done with consistency at the international level, and for me, international cricket remains the premium standard. Just as we see footballers like Lionel Messi represent both club and country successfully, there is room for different approaches in cricket,” Hayden explained.

Hayden, who has been a coach and a respected cricket commentator, said each and every player should search within to find a way to go about their job in their own individual style.

“I strongly believe in helping players find their own inner warrior. Sooryavanshi and Shubman Gill are completely different personalities with different backgrounds and different journeys. That’s the beauty of cricket. It’s a skill-based game, and every player arrives with unique technical strengths and experiences,” Hayden said.

“I grew up admiring Brian Lara, but I wasn’t Brian Lara. I wasn’t West Indian either. I grew up in regional Queensland where sport was central to everyday life. I developed my own game based on my instincts, and that eventually allowed me to become one of the best players in the world.” For Hayden, it is important for every player to find his own identity, making them unique. Sport is full of unique personalities. There will never be another Jonah Lomu (rugby great), another Lionel Messi or another Kelly Slater (surfer). As coaches, our job is to discover those players, nurture their individuality and make sure their development is sustainable,” he added.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.

1. Mangoes

How to identify chemically ripened mangoes? (Image: Pexels)

Dr Vatsya explains that mangoes that are bright yellow with green patches near the stem, unevenly ripened, hard to touch, and lacking a natural aroma may have been artificially ripened. These may cause “stomach upset, nausea, diarrhoea, headaches, and throat or mouth irritation.” A naturally ripened mango usually softens evenly and has a sweet smell.

2. Muskmelon

A muskmelon that has a “uniform yellow colour” despite being hard, with weak aroma and less sweetness, could also be suspicious.  “These can lead to stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and throat irritation.”

3. Watermelon

Some watermelons may look attractive from the outside but reveal problems once cut. How to identify? “Unevenly coloured flesh, poor sweetness, and hard texture”

If consumed, they may cause “digestive discomfort, nausea, diarrhoea, headaches, and mouth irritation.”

4. Bright red lychee

If a lychee has very bright red skin but firm, less juicy flesh and poor natural sweetness, it may not have ripened naturally.

According to Dr Vatsya it can trigger “stomach upset, nausea, diarrhoea, headaches, and throat or mouth irritation.”

How to identify chemically ripened pineapples? (Image: Pexels)

5. Pineapple

A pineapple with yellow outer skin but hard texture, weak fragrance, and sour taste instead of natural sweetness may also be a warning sign, as per Dr Vatsya.

He further explains that eating such carbide-ingested pineapples “may lead to stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and mouth irritation.”

So check fruits for natural smell, softness, and sweetness instead of relying only on bright colour. Buying from trusted sellers and washing fruits well before eating can also reduce risk. Sometimes, the most perfect-looking fruit may not be the safest one on your plate.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.

Muscle quality matters more than muscle size

Instead of measuring muscle mass alone, the researchers examined skeletal muscle attenuation, which reflects muscle density. Denser muscle appears brighter on CT scans because it absorbs more X-Rays and generally contains less fat.

The analysis found that for every 10-point increase in muscle density, participants were 31 per cent less likely to experience a heart attack and 39 per cent less likely to die during the decade following their scan.

Interestingly, the overall size of a person’s muscles showed no meaningful association with heart attack risk or survival, indicating that muscle quality is more important than muscle bulk.

Exercise could be the key

Although the study did not directly examine exercise habits, researchers believe people with denser muscles are likely to be more physically active and have stronger core muscles.

Professor Michelle Williams, the study’s senior author, said the findings were convincing enough to influence her own fitness routine.

She said she now goes to the gym twice a week and aims to walk for an hour daily, while also favouring activities such as cycling, Pilates and planks, which strengthen the chest, back and core muscles.

However, Williams cautioned that more research is needed to understand exactly how different types of exercise affect muscle density and whether improving muscle quality directly lowers the risk of heart disease.

Potential role in future heart care

The researchers believe AI-powered analysis of routine heart scans could eventually help doctors identify patients with poor muscle quality who may face a greater risk of cardiovascular disease.

Such patients could benefit from personalised exercise programmes, closer medical monitoring or earlier treatment with medications designed to reduce heart attack risk.

Also Read: Why walking gets difficult with age: New study points to the ankles

They also noted that participants with denser muscles were likely to be more physically active, reinforcing the well-established link between regular exercise and a healthier cardiovascular system.

What the findings mean

While the research shows a strong association between muscle density and heart health, it does not prove that stronger chest and back muscles alone prevent heart attacks. Other lifestyle factors, including regular exercise, healthy eating and maintaining a healthy weight, may also contribute to both improved muscle quality and lower cardiovascular risk.

Even so, the study highlights a promising new way of using AI and existing medical scans to identify people who could benefit from earlier interventions, potentially improving long-term heart health outcomes.