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Shane Watson to help coach IPL's Delhi Capitals

Former all-rounder Shane Watson will join the coaching staff of the Indian Premier League's Delhi Capitals under the leadership of fellow Australian Ricky Ponting, the franchise announced Tuesday.

Watson, who played with two separate championship teams in the Twenty20 competition, joins Delhi as assistant coach ahead of the tournament's return next week.


"I've got incredible memories as a player, first of all with Rajasthan Royals winning it in 2008, led by the incredible man Shane Warne," Watson said.

"I've got incredible memories as a player, and now coaching opportunities," he added.

"To be able to work under the great Ricky Ponting, he's an amazing leader as a captain... and one of the best coaches in the world now."

The 40-year-old Watson, an aggressive batsman and fast bowler who was part of two ODI World Cup titles in 2007 and 2015, made 3,875 runs and 92 wickets across his IPL playing career.

Joining him and Ponting in the team's hunt for a maiden championship win are assistant coaches Pravin Amre and Ajit Agarkar, along with bowling coach James Hopes.

"I am super pumped to get over there, work with the boys, help them out as much as I can and hopefully, we can win the first title," said Watson.

Delhi, led by Rishabh Pant, will kick off their campaign against five-time champions Mumbai Indians on March 27 in a tournament that expanded this season from eight to 10 teams.

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Seema Malhotra raises concern over student asylum claims during India visit

Highlights

  • Indo-Pacific minister addresses immigration concerns during Chennai visit.
  • 16,000 students applied for asylum in UK after finishing studies last year.
  • Indian student numbers to UK drop 11 per cent amid tougher immigration rules.
Britain's Indo-Pacific minister Seema Malhotra has stood by the government's immigration reforms while visiting India, highlighting concerns over international students who claim asylum after their courses end.
During her visit to Chennai, Malhotra told the BBC that the reforms were "in line with what countries around the world do" to stop abuse of immigration systems. She stressed there was a "very strong message we also send, which is that we welcome those coming legally".
The minister disclosed that roughly 16,000 international students worldwide had filed asylum applications in the UK following the completion of their studies last year, describing this trend as clear evidence of legal pathway abuse. Latest Home Office data indicates an additional 14,800 students made similar asylum claims between January and June 2025.

Student number drops

India continues to be a major source of international students for UK institutions, representing a quarter of all foreign student arrivals in 2023-2024. Despite this, interest appears to be waning, with an 11 per cent decline in Indian student applications from the previous year as stricter immigration measures come into force.

This downturn has raised alarm amongst British universities already facing financial pressures and dependent on international student revenue.

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