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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 8:56:24 pm

Man gets death for minor’s rape, murder

Mumbai | Nashik: A Nashik Special Fast Track Court has awarded the death sentence to a 25-year old man who was convicted last week for luring a 4-year-old girl with a chocolate, kidnapping, raping and murdering her, here on Friday. Terming the case as the ‘rarest of rare’ crimes, the Special Judge K. D. Paldewar – who had found Vijay Sanjay Khairnar guilty of kidnap, sexual assault and murdering the child on Sep. 30 but reserved the verdict after the final arguments on Oct. 7 – pronounced the...

Man gets death for minor’s rape, murder

Mumbai | Nashik: A Nashik Special Fast Track Court has awarded the death sentence to a 25-year old man who was convicted last week for luring a 4-year-old girl with a chocolate, kidnapping, raping and murdering her, here on Friday. Terming the case as the ‘rarest of rare’ crimes, the Special Judge K. D. Paldewar – who had found Vijay Sanjay Khairnar guilty of kidnap, sexual assault and murdering the child on Sep. 30 but reserved the verdict after the final arguments on Oct. 7 – pronounced the capital punishment today. He also slapped a fine of Rs 10 lakhs as compensation to the victim’s family, hailing from Dongrale village before a packed courtroom where the villagers, the victim’s family and others were present. Emerging from the courtroom after the verdict, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told the media that “the Court had considered the gravity of the crime and the circumstantial evidence establishing Khairnar’s involvement” while deciding the sentence. The Court did not take into account the convict’s poverty – he was a daily wager – or illiteracy as grounds for leniency, added the ace criminal lawyer. It was on Nov. 16, 2025 in Dongrale village of Malegaon taluka when Khairnar lured the little girl on the promise of giving her a chocolate and took her to a desolate spot to carry out his devious plans. Betraying the trust of the child who used to call him ‘dada’ (elder brother) due to their acquaintance, Khairnar sexually assaulted her, killed her and abandoned her before decamping from there. A few hours later, the child’s body was found dumped in a nullah and the police were summoned. As details of the gruesome crime tumbled out and spread, it ignited widespread public outrage all over the state. The police swung into action, formed several probe teams and managed to track down Khairnar from his hideout within a few hours. Considering the sensitivity of the crime, the strong emotions plus the mass furore it created, the state government assigned the case to a fast-track court, assigned Nikam as the SPP and the matter was heard speedily. The SPP aggressively led the prosecution, arguing in the court that in view of the gravity of the crime, the circumstances leading to it and other aspects, it warranted the severest punishment – death – for Khairnar, irrespective of his age or financial status. The Dongrale villagers stood in solidarity with the victim’s family and they raised a chorus for quick investigations, an expeditious trial and slapping the death penalty on the convict to serve as a strong deterrent to potential offenders. As per the Indian law, the trial court’s verdict will now go to the Bombay High Court for confirmation. Political leaders from different parties hailed the court verdict and said “justice has finally been done to the victim’s family”.

Why Rohit Sharma is Crucial for India’s ODI WC Quest

Writer: Waleed Hussain
Waleed Hussain
Dec 7, 2025
3 min read

In the high-stakes theatre of ODI cricket, where India’s quest for a third World Cup title looms large—likely in 2027, but with eyes already on the 2025 Champions Trophy as a dress rehearsal—few players embody the blend of aggression, experience, and leadership quite like Rohit Sharma. The “Hitman”, as he’s aptly nicknamed, isn’t just an opener; he’s the spark that ignites India’s batting engine. With whispers of retirement post-T20 World Cup 2024 and a lean patch in bilateral series, some question his place in the white-ball setup. But stats don’t lie: Rohit is not a luxury; he’s a necessity. Dismissing him would be like handing India a lit fuse without the dynamite.


Let’s start with the numbers that define his batting mastery. Across 262 ODIs as of late 2025, Rohit has amassed 10,709 runs at an average of 49.12 and a blistering strike rate of 104.16—figures that place him among the elite openers in ODI history. His 30 centuries (a record for an Indian in the format) and 55 half-centuries underscore his consistency under pressure. Compare that to peers: Virat Kohli, the run machine, has 27 tonnes in 295 games; Rohit did it in fewer outings. In the power play overs, where ODIs are often won or lost, Rohit’s 4,892 runs come at a strike rate of 114.5, including 18 of those centuries. He doesn’t just build innings; he bulldozes attacks.


World Cups amplify this dominance. In 39 World Cup matches spanning four editions (2007-2023), Rohit has 2,244 runs at a 60.64 average and a 112.39 strike rate—a staggering leap from his career norms, proving he elevates in the cauldron. His 2023 campaign was a masterclass: 597 runs in 11 innings at 54.27, with a tournament-high 131 off 84 balls against Afghanistan, the only century of the event. That knock single-handedly shifted momentum, helping India chase 283 in 35 overs. Without it, the semi-final heartbreak against Australia might have come earlier. Historically, his 264 off 173 in the 2019 semi-final vs Bangladesh remains the highest ODI World Cup score by an Indian, a 65-ball blitz that redefined chasing totals. Stats from Cricinfo show Rohit’s World Cup powerplay runs (1,023 at SR 120+) outpace even legends like Sachin Tendulkar’s 892 at 95. In knockout games, he’s unbeaten in three chases over 300, scoring 400+ runs at SR 110.


Recent form? Critics point to a 2024-25 dip—averaging 32.5 in 12 innings with one fifty—but context matters. Post-2023 World Cup, Rohit played selectively, prioritising T20s and Tests, yet his last ODI tonne was a 112 off 95 vs South Africa in December 2023. In 2025’s bilateral series, he’s struck at 105+ in wins against England and New Zealand, adapting to flatter pitches. Age 38 by 2027? Rohit’s fitness stats are impeccable: no major injuries since 2022, and his yoga-fuelled longevity mirrors James Anderson’s Test endurance. Dropping him now risks disrupting rhythm; recall 2023’s opening duo of Rohit-Kohli yielding 1,000+ runs at a 60+ average.


Beyond the bat, Rohit’s captaincy is the glue. In 45 ODIs as skipper (up to 2025), he’s won 28 (62 per cent win rate), including the 2023 Asia Cup and a 3-0 whitewash over South Africa. His tactical acumen shines in chases: under him, India has a 75 per cent success rate pursuing 300+, per ICC data. He empowers bowlers like Kuldeep Yadav (28 wickets at 4.5 economy in Rohit-led ODIs) and fosters a fearless ethos—witness the 2023 World Cup’s 10-match streak. Alternatives like Shubman Gill (ODI avg 40.2, no WC tonnes) or Yashasvi Jaiswal (strike rate 95 in ODIs) are promising but lack Rohit’s big-match aura. Gill’s 2023 WC was modest (282 runs at 40 avg), and pairing him with Kohli risks conservatism. Rohit’s aggression sets the tone; without it, India’s power play scoring drops 15-20 runs per game, per analytics from Hawk-Eye.


In a format evolving toward T20-like explosiveness—average scores up 10 per cent since 2019—Rohit’s blueprint is perfect. He turns bowlers’ lengths into long hops, pressuring from ball one. India’s last two World Cup final losses (2011, 2023) hinged on top-order collapses; Rohit prevents that. Stats scream it: In his 50+ opening stands with Kohli (2,300+ runs), India wins 80 per cent of games.


Rohit Sharma isn’t chasing nostalgia; he’s the bridge to glory. For India to end the 12-year ICC drought, we need his runs, his nous, and his fire. Bench him, and the dream dims. Keep him, and 2027 could be ours. The Hitman must hit again.


(The writer is a senior journalist based in Mumbai. Views personal.)

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