Tata Motors has brought back the iconic Tata Sierra after nearly 25 years. Moreover, the company has priced it aggressively at Rs 11.49 lakh (introductory, ex-showroom). This move directly challenges popular SUVs like the Hyundai Creta, Maruti Grand Vitara, and Mahindra Scorpio-N.

The original Sierra was famous in the 1990s for its unique wrap-around glass design. Now, the new version carries a modern look while keeping some classic touches. Additionally, it comes packed with advanced safety features and cutting-edge technology that appeals to younger buyers.

Shailesh Chandra, MD & CEO of Tata Motors’ Passenger Vehicles division, explains that competitors mostly offer similar products. However, the Sierra stands out as an original design. Furthermore, he revealed plans to launch an electric version between 2026 and 2027.

Design That Catches Eyes: The new Sierra has a boxy, rugged appearance with bold ‘SIERRA’ lettering on both front and back. Meanwhile, it features sleek LED lights, two-tone alloy wheels, and modern flush door handles. Although the famous wraparound rear glass from the old model is missing, black trim and large windows create a similar visual effect.

Photo sourced from Tata Sierra Instagram Account

In contrast, the Hyundai Creta offers a more urban design with softer curves and polished panels. Nevertheless, the Sierra provides more features than its rivals. These include three digital displays, a 12-speaker JBL sound system, and a panoramic sunroof. Additionally, buyers get 5G connectivity, connected car technology, and an augmented-reality heads-up display.

An Instagram poll with 7,525 votes revealed interesting results. Specifically, 84 percent of voters chose the Sierra over the Creta. This shows strong public interest in the new model. However, the Creta still received 16 percent of votes, proving it remains popular among buyers.

Safety Features Lead the Segment

Tata Motors has always focused on passenger safety across all models. Consequently, the Sierra comes with impressive safety equipment from the base variant onwards.

The SUV includes Level 2+ ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) with over 20 features. These include adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and autonomous emergency braking. Similarly, it offers blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, and traffic sign recognition. These systems help prevent accidents even when drivers aren’t fully attentive.

Furthermore, the Sierra provides a 360-degree camera with multiple viewing angles and 3D views. This makes parking easier and helps while driving through narrow streets. The blind view monitor displays your blind spots on the screen when you signal a lane change.

Clever Safety Innovations: Tata has added thoughtful safety touches throughout the vehicle. For instance, the Sierra has emergency tail lamps inside the boot. Therefore, even if you drive with the boot open in foggy conditions, vehicles behind you can still see your tail lights.

The electronic parking brake with auto hold comes standard from the base Smart+ variant. This means you don’t need to pull a heavy handbrake anymore. Instead, a simple button press does the job.

All variants come with six airbags as standard. Based on Tata’s strong safety record, experts expect the Sierra to achieve a 5-star rating from Bharat NCAP. In fact, Tata conducted internal crash tests by colliding two Sierras together. Both vehicles showed minimal damage with intact cabins, demonstrating excellent build quality.

Competition and Market Position: The Sierra competes against several established SUVs. These include Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Honda Elevate, Skoda Kushaq, and Volkswagen Taigun. Despite tough competition, the Sierra’s combination of features, safety, and pricing makes it attractive to buyers.

Tata plans to release the complete price list in early December 2025. Currently, only the introductory price has been announced. This strategy builds anticipation while allowing customers to experience the vehicle firsthand.

The Tata Sierra represents more than just another SUV launch. It brings back a beloved nameplate with modern technology and comprehensive safety features. The strong public interest shown in polls indicates positive market reception. With competitive pricing and plans for an electric variant, the Sierra could become a game-changer in India’s competitive SUV market.

Indian women’s cricket star Smriti Mandhana wedding with singer Palash Muchhal had to be postponed their wedding ceremony just hours before it was scheduled on November 23. Moreover, the decision came after Smriti’s father, Srinivas Mandhana, experienced a medical emergency on the morning of the ceremony. The sudden health scare forced both families to put all wedding plans on hold indefinitely.

Father’s Health Crisis Changes Everything: During breakfast on Sunday morning, Srinivas Mandhana’s health suddenly deteriorated. Initially, the family waited, hoping he would feel better. However, his condition worsened rapidly. Therefore, they immediately called an ambulance and rushed him to Sarvhit Hospital and Medical Research Centre in Sangli.

Smriti’s manager, Tuhin Mishra, explained the situation clearly. He stated that Smriti shares an extremely close bond with her father. Consequently, she decided without hesitation to postpone the wedding until he fully recovers. The emotional decision reflected her priorities during this difficult time.

Photo sourced from Smriti Mandhana’s Instagram Account

Positive Medical Updates Bring Relief: Fortunately, doctors at the hospital provided reassuring news. After thorough examination and tests, they found no blockages in Srinivas’s heart. Additionally, the angiography results came back clear. The medical team confirmed that his condition has stabilized completely. Furthermore, he no longer faces any immediate danger from heart-related issues.

According to hospital management reports, Srinivas has now been discharged. This development brought significant relief to the entire Mandhana family. Nevertheless, the families have chosen not to announce a new wedding date yet.

Just one day after the wedding postponement, Palash Muchhal also required medical attention. Subsequently, he was admitted to SVR Hospital in Goregaon, Mumbai. Reports suggest that continuous travel for concerts and wedding preparations created extreme stress for him.

Palash’s mother, Amita Muchhal, spoke to media about her son’s condition. She revealed that Palash shares a very close relationship with Smriti’s father. In fact, their bond is even stronger than some might expect. When Srinivas fell ill after the haldi ceremony, Palash became deeply distressed.

The emotional stress affected Palash so severely that he cried extensively. As a result, his own health deteriorated rapidly. Medical staff kept him under observation for approximately four hours. During this time, they administered IV fluids and conducted an ECG along with other necessary tests. Thankfully, all reports returned normal. However, he continues experiencing stress-related symptoms.

Social Media Sparks Confusion: Meanwhile, social media platforms became flooded with speculation and rumors. Fans noticed that Smriti had removed all wedding-related posts from her Instagram account. Similarly, her cricket teammates also deleted videos from pre-wedding ceremonies. These actions triggered widespread confusion among followers.

Some users began spreading unverified claims about the couple’s relationship status. Additionally, old photographs of Palash with a former girlfriend resurfaced online. One image showed him proposing to someone identified as Birva Shah, reportedly from 2017. Nevertheless, these claims remain unconfirmed and unverified.

A fact-check by TOI Sports clarified several important points. Contrary to social media rumors, Smriti has not unfollowed Palash on Instagram. Screenshots suggesting otherwise turned out to be incorrect. The couple still follows each other on the platform.

Both families have emphasized that the wedding postponement stems purely from medical circumstances. There is no breakup or relationship crisis as some rumors suggested. Instead, both families are focusing entirely on health and recovery.

Amita Muchhal confirmed that Palash had actually considered postponing the wedding even before Smriti made the final decision. His concern for her father’s well-being played a major role in this thinking.

Photo sourced from Palash Muchhal’s Instagram Account

Currently, neither family has announced a rescheduled wedding date. Both families agree that health comes first. They want to ensure that Srinivas fully recovers before making any new plans. Likewise, Palash needs time to recover from his stress-related health issues.

The situation demonstrates the strong family values both individuals hold. Rather than rushing through ceremonies, they prioritized their loved ones’ well-being. This decision earned respect from fans and supporters across the country.

Smriti Mandhana wedding has been postponed with and Palash Muchhal reminds us that family health always comes first. Despite intense public interest and social media speculation, the couple has maintained dignity throughout this challenging period. Both families deserve privacy and support as they navigate these medical situations. Fans worldwide continue sending good wishes for the speedy recovery of both fathers and hope to celebrate the couple’s wedding soon under happier circumstances.

South African off-spinner Simon Harmer has turned Test cricket in India completely upside down. During the second Test in Guwahati, he outbowled renowned Indian spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar on their home ground. Moreover, his exceptional bowling revealed surprising gaps in India’s spin-bowling strategy and selection.

Harmer’s Exceptional Bowling Display: Throughout the series, Harmer has looked like the most threatening spinner on either side. On a spinning Kolkata pitch, he appeared unplayable with square turn and uneven bounce. Furthermore, on the flat red-soil surface in Guwahati, he operated at a completely different level compared to other spinners.

Harmer demonstrated remarkable versatility in his bowling speeds. He bowled at 92 kilometers per hour to hurry batters’ responses when the pitch behaved unpredictably. Additionally, he slowed down to 78 kilometers per hour, floating the ball above the batters’ eyeline and scrambling their judgment of line and length.

AI Generated

South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad explained why his spinners performed better in these conditions. He stated that South African spinners don’t usually bowl on spin-friendly surfaces at home. Therefore, they develop a stronger defensive game and learn to bowl with more guile and variation.

In contrast, Indian spinners typically bowl on pitches that turn sharply from early on. Consequently, they bowl faster because the ball reacts more quickly on such surfaces. However, this habit may have limited their ability to adapt to flatter pitches.

Statistics revealed this difference clearly. During India’s first innings, Harmer and Keshav Maharaj bowled at an average speed of around 83 kilometers per hour. Meanwhile, their slowest deliveries clocked around 77 kilometers per hour. On the other hand, Jadeja and Washington bowled at average speeds around 91 kilometers per hour, with their slowest balls around 83 kilometers per hour.

Critical Dismissals Highlight the Gap: KL Rahul’s dismissals in both innings perfectly illustrated the challenge Harmer posed. In the first innings, Rahul stretched forward but couldn’t reach the pitch of Maharaj’s delivery. Similarly, in the second innings, he played all around a Harmer off-break that ripped out of the footmarks.

Former India captain Anil Kumble analyzed Rahul’s second-innings dismissal during commentary. He praised Harmer’s delivery while explaining Rahul’s mistake. “Simon Harmer bowled a brilliant off-spinner with plenty of dip and revolutions. KL committed too early and didn’t get to the pitch,” Kumble observed.

Kumble further explained that experienced batters usually adjust their stance on deteriorating pitches. However, Rahul’s positioning left his off-stump vulnerable. The ball gripped the surface, turned sharply, and bowled him for just 6 runs.

Harmer and Maharaj showed far more comfort bowling slower through the air with increased overspin. This allowed the ball to dip and bite into the surface effectively. Conversely, India’s fingerspinners struggled to match this range of variation.

India did recognize this issue during South Africa’s second innings. Washington bowled a long spell with conspicuous overspin at mid-80s speeds rather than low 90s. He generated an impressive dip and bounce, getting Temba Bavuma caught at leg slip. Nevertheless, by then South Africa had already gained a commanding position.

India’s recent preference for preparing square turners at home may have created unintended consequences. Their spinners have become habituated to bowling in a particular way. Additionally, India has prioritized similar qualities when selecting fingerspinners – air speed, control, and batting depth.

With R Ashwin now retired, India lacks fingerspinners with more traditional flight-bowling traits in their Test squad. They do have Kuldeep Yadav, a wrist-spinner who excels at giving the ball loop and varying speeds. However, captain Rishabh Pant showed reluctance to give him long spells in Guwahati.

After introducing Kuldeep with a seven-over spell on day one, Pant never gave him a single spell extending past five overs in either innings. This limited Kuldeep’s effectiveness, as spinners typically need longer spells to build rhythm and settle into their lengths.

Lessons From Recent History: Between 2016 and 2019, India played most home Tests on true pitches. During this period, Ashwin and Jadeja consistently outbowled every visiting attack. Since 2021, however, India has mostly played home Tests against strong opposition on pitches that turn sharply and early.

Meanwhile, touring sides have learned from India’s successes. They’ve built spin attacks better suited to Indian conditions. These spinners practice regularly on less helpful pitches in international and domestic cricket. Therefore, they develop multiple facets of their game.

Simon Harmer’s outstanding performances in this series have exposed important truths about India’s spin bowling. While India possesses enviable depth with three quality spin-bowling all-rounders, their fingerspinners share broadly similar strengths. This similarity, combined with playing predominantly on helpful surfaces, may have prevented them from developing into more complete bowlers across different conditions. India’s spinners remain world-class, but they may no longer be the undisputed best across all surfaces.