India news: 'Cockroach' party holds protest at Jantar Mantar

India have called up batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for their upcoming series of T20 cricket internatonals against Ireland and England. 

Calls for India to recruit the 15-year-old intensified amid his spectacular IPL campaign, when he topped the overall scoring charts and broke a record for the most sixes in a single season from Chris Gayle that had stood since 2012.

Sooryavanshi was named the competition's Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the Best Emerging Player simultaneously. 

If the left-handed volume scorer goes on to make his debut against either Ireland later this month or England in early July, Sooryavanshi would become the youngest player ever to represent an Indian men's senior team. 

The current holder of that record is none other than Sachin Tendulkar, seen by many as India's or possibly the world's best ever batsman. 

"We've seen what he can do, towards playoffs, almost ‌single-handedly carried Rajasthan Royals," selection panel chairman Ajit Agarkar told reporters. "He's a game-changer. We've got high hopes of him and he has picked himself."

Shreyas Iyer is going to replace out-of-form Suryakumar Yadav as India's new T20I captain.

The 31-year-old's appointment was confirmed by India's chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, in the presence of BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, in Mumbai on Saturday.

It is expected that young Mumbai Indians batter Tilak Varma will be the new vice captain.

India's next games in the format are the T20I series against Ireland in Belfast on June 26 and 28.

Suryakumar, who led India to T20 World Cup victory earlier this year, was not included in the squad for the Ireland and England tour nor in the 2026 Asian Games squad.

Despite the team's success, he had struggled with the bat both at the World Cup and in this year's IPL tournament.

India captain Shubman Gill won the toss on Saturday and chose to bat against Afghanistan in a one-off cricket test.

Soon after lunch, India stood on a solid 135-1 — thanks in large part to a rapid 54 not out from Sai Sudharsan and an unbeaten 58 from KL Rahul. It was Rahul's 21st career test 50.

The one-off test between the two neighbours will only be considered a bilateral series and will not come under the World Test Championship cycle.

This is only the second test match taking place between India and Afghanistan, a newcomer to the format. Before this, the teams played in 2018, when India defeated Afghanistan in the Afghans' maiden Test match

The match is at the New PCA Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, and could run until Wednesday if it goes the distance.

Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has arrived in Delhi from the US and urged followers to join him in protesting at Jantar Mantar and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Dipke, who arrived at the airport amid heavy security, has urged protesters to carry a book and the Indian flag. 

The party is demanding Pradhan's resignation over alleged exam irregularities.

Citing an investigation by the Indian newspaper The Indian Express, which found that out of 45 major exam paper leaks over the past two decades, only two cases have led to convictions, CJP spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya said, "Out of the two, you have transferred one of them. How can someone's transfer be considered as punishment? Does it make any sense?"

Speaking to DW, he added, "The youth is facing problems all over the world. This movement should become an example for the youth across the world for bringing a change through peaceful protest."

Hello! This is Midhat from New Delhi, bringing you the latest from India today.

The Cockroach Janata Party is holding a protest at Jantar Mantar today.

Meanwhile, India is set to take on Afghanistan in a one-off test match.

Stay tuned with us as we bring you the latest developments from India.