Sri Lanka produced a dramatic fightback against Australia in their T20 World Cup 2026 encounter, but it was Pathum Nissanka’s jaw-dropping catch that stole the spotlight. The stunning effort in the 17th over not only dismissed Glenn Maxwell but also symbolised Sri Lanka’s remarkable turnaround after a brutal Australian start. With Australia eyeing a total well beyond 200, Nissanka’s athletic brilliance shifted the momentum decisively in Sri Lanka’s favour.

Pathum Nissanka took a blinder to remove Glenn Maxwell

The moment arrived on the very first ball of the 17th over. Dushan Hemantha tossed one up outside off, tempting Maxwell into unleashing his trademark reverse sweep. Maxwell struck it flat and hard towards backward point, and for a split second it looked destined to race to the boundary.

But Nissanka had other ideas. Stationed at backward point, the Sri Lankan opener timed his leap to perfection, stretching high over his head to grab the ball cleanly. Despite losing balance and falling to the turf, he showed incredible composure to maintain control as he hit the ground.

It was redemption in style. Earlier in the innings, Nissanka had put down a simpler chance. This time, however, he held onto one of the toughest opportunities of the night — and Maxwell’s departure proved to be a massive turning point.

Here’s the video:

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Will Jacks and Sam Curran shine in England’s dramatic win against Italy

Australia’s innings of two contrasting halves

The opening assault led by Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head left Sri Lanka scrambling early on. The duo powered their side to 70 runs in the powerplay and stitched together a fluent 100-run partnership. At 100 in just 8.2 overs, a mammoth total of 220–240 seemed well within reach.

Head smashed 56, playing with trademark aggression, while Marsh contributed a commanding 54. Their clean striking had Australia cruising at 110/2 after 10 overs. But the tide turned dramatically in the second half. Once Head departed, Australia lost direction. Marsh followed soon after, and the middle order faltered under increasing pressure from Sri Lanka’s spinners. From a commanding position, Australia slipped alarmingly, losing four wickets for just 26 runs.

Maxwell and Josh Inglis attempted to stabilise the innings, but the tempo had dipped significantly. Sri Lanka’s bowlers tightened their lines, varied their pace cleverly, and chipped away at the wickets. The star with the ball was Hemantha, who claimed three crucial wickets. His clever variations and calm execution in the middle overs played a key role in dragging Australia back. Australia eventually folded for 181 all out in their 20 overs — a total that looked modest considering their position at the halfway stage.

Also READ: Janhvi Kapoor, Ajay Devgn and other Bollywood celebs react to India’s thumping win over Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026

Afghanistan’s team celebrate a wicket during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between Afghanistan and UAE at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. (PTI)

TimesofIndia.com in New Delhi: After the heartbreaking defeat against South Africa, the Afghanistan team converged in the manager’s room for dinner. The team sat down, just hours after going down in twin Super Overs, and talked positively about their effort.There was very good reason to be downbeat after such a loss. They could have won in regulation time. They could have won in the first Super Over but for a last ball six by Tristan Stubbs. And then a hat-trick of sixes wasn’t enough in the second Super Over.

Rashid Khan, a leader in the dressing room and one of the most experienced players in the format, stressed the need to keep their heads up or they would go “one or two years back.”The dinner helped as well. The squad devoured Peshawari food, including Dal Bukhara (Dal Makhani) and Tandoori Chicken, to “vent their anger.” It is understandable that the Afghan squad misses home food as they travel from country to country and are stationed away from home.Ever since becoming a Full Member of the ICC, Afghanistan have never played at home and have used different training facilities to prepare for major events such as the T20 World Cup. From Dehradun at start to Sharjah now, Afghanistan have never found a home footing.

Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz reacts after loosing his wicket during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Afghanistan and South Africa (PTI Photo)

“What we miss a lot is the home food, to be honest. We go around everywhere, we’re not getting that Afghani home food, and that’s something which we struggle with,” said Rashid on the eve of their contest against the UAE at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.“Other than that, I feel we have enough people around the team who give us the best company and we don’t really miss home. And also, wherever we go, we get so much love from everyone, and that’s something which doesn’t even let us to feel like we are not home.“But sometimes you do feel, you do miss your home. You want to be having your own crowd, people cheering for you, but unluckily we are not having that opportunity where we can play in front of that crowd. But still, it’s harder.“Professional cricket, you have to manage yourself with all these and not too much think about all those other stuff. I think what we’re here for; we have to put that thing first. And there are people who don’t go home for five, 10 years. We’re lucky. We go after the tour to home, and we have a good time with the family,” he continued.

Fans cheer during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Afghanistan and UAE at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. (PTI)

Delhi, which hosted Afghanistan’s most recent match in the ongoing T20 World Cup, has a sizeable Afghan population. There are pockets in the national capital – such as Lajpat Nagar and Bhogal – which the refugees have called home for many years now.Some of them made the trip to the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday morning carrying flags and some wearing the traditional attire. Their presence, and noise, became even more important in the aftermath of the heartbreak that the team suffered less than a week ago.As it transpired, the Afghan team needed every ounce of that positive energy to go past the UAE — winning by 5 wickets with four balls remaining — and keep their T20 World Cup Super Eight hopes alive. New Zealand are still favourites to seal the second spot from the group, alongside the already qualified South Africa, if they beat Canada on Tuesday. That would render Afghanistan’s final contest against Canada as a dead rubber.

Rashid Khan bowls during the T20 World Cup match between Afghanistan and United Arab Emirates at Arun Jaitley Stadium. (Getty Images)

“Hoping for the best. Yes, (we) still have a little bit of hope, we can make it to the next stage and we just need to come up with a positive mindset (against Canada),” said Rashid after beating the UAE, once again stressing on the need to remain upbeat. “Next game, you never know, it’s a T20 game, we’ll have to come up with a good brand of cricket. Even if we don’t make it to the next round, we want to play with the same brand of cricket and make the country and our people proud and happy.”Having already faced heartbreak of gigantic proportions, as the ask got tougher in the 161-run chase vs UAE, the nerves started to climb.Coach Jonathan Trott expressed pride in how the team turned things around, especially after the suffering in Ahmedabad. “We were under pressure (and) that’s the pleasing thing for me as coach. I would have liked it (if it was a) lot easier. But at the end of the day when you come out on the right side of pressure situations… like we were having the history of the last game, I’ve certainly seen a shift. We’ve lost tight games like that and then after that it’s very much – been hard to pull it back, the confidence. So I see a bit of an improvement in the resilience, cricketing-wise, but also mentally,” said Trott in the post-match press conference.In the aftermath of a win, their first of the tournament, the mood in the team hotel would be a bit more upbeat. However, a trip to Lajpat Nagar for some home style food would be unfathomable, despite the suggestions of a reporter. For now, all the Afghans can do is stay positive and hope their stay in the Indian sub-continent gets longer.

The “Little Miss Drama” tour living up to its name. In a viral moment that has set social media on fire, Cardi B officially confirmed her split from New England Patriots star Stefon Diggs while also defending him against fellow rapper BIA.The confrontation, which unfolded during Cardi’s sold-out Los Angeles show on Sunday night, marks the first time the Grammy winner has publicly addressed the status of her relationship following a chaotic Super Bowl weekend.

Stefon Diggs and Cardi B Split: Rapper Fires Back at BIA Over Super Bowl Diss

The tension reached a boiling point after BIA took a low blow at Diggs on X.Mocking the wide receiver’s underwhelming performance in Super Bowl LX (3 catches for 37 yards), BIA tweeted: “Can u name someone with more bms [baby mamas] than receiving yards? I can! and I know that ykwnvm [you know who never mind] 😂😂😂”Cardi B, never one to let a slight slide, paused her set mid-concert to issue a direct PSA to the Boston-born rapper.“Let me tell you somethin’,” Cardi told the screaming crowd. “Just ’cause I ain’t fcking with my baby daddy doesn’t mean you get to talk about my baby daddy, btch! This for you!”She immediately transitioned into her diss track, “Pretty & Petty,” leading the crowd in a “mute challenge” during the lyrics mocking BIA’s career. The moment served as a dual-purpose announcement: confirming the breakup while asserting that Diggs is still “family” and off-limits to outsiders.The confirmation of the split follows a week of intense speculation. Following the Patriots’ loss to the Seahawks, fans noticed that Cardi and Diggs, who welcomed a son together in November 2025 had simultaneously unfollowed each other on Instagram.Reports suggest the relationship hit a breaking point during Super Bowl weekend in Denver. Cardi reportedly left the stadium immediately after her Halftime Show appearance with Bad Bunny, skipping the post-game festivities. The digital “wipe” of their photos and Cardi’s cryptic “Done” post on her IG Story fueled rumors that cheating allegations involving an ex-fling of Diggs were the final straw.This “us against the world” mentality is a familiar one for Cardi fans. Much like her past public spats involving Offset, Cardi has consistently maintained that while she may have personal grievances with the fathers of her children, she will not tolerate public disrespect toward them.By defending Diggs despite their split, Cardi is prioritizing the “family unit” over the romantic drama.

The Indira Gandhi National Open University has extended the last date for admission to its Open and Distance Learning and Online programmes for the January 2026 session. Students can now apply till February 28, 2026. The extension gives more time to fresh applicants and those who could not complete the process earlier. IGNOU offers undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma and certificate courses in various subjects through ODL and online modes. The candidates who fulfill the eligibility criteria can submit their applications through the official admission portals. The candidates are advised to complete the registration process before the new deadline to avoid any last-minute technical problems or payment failures.

How to apply online

Candidates can follow these steps to complete the application process:

Direct link to apply for IGNOU January 2026 registration.Applicants should keep a copy of the submitted form and payment receipt for future reference.Students are advised to apply well before February 28, 2026, to avoid heavy traffic on the website during the last days of registration.

Fresh admission for January 2026 session

IGNOU has extended the deadline for admission to both ODL and Online programmes till February 28, 2026. The extension has been applied to a number of courses such as BA, BCom, BSc, MA, MCom, MBA, and Diplomas.The university conducts admissions twice a year, in January and July sessions. For the January 2026 cycle, students now have additional time to submit their forms. Candidates must check the eligibility criteria, fee structure and course details before applying.Students should ensure that all required documents are uploaded correctly. Incomplete forms may be rejected.

Courses offered under ODL and Online mode

IGNOU offers programmes through Open and Distance Learning mode across study centres in India and abroad. The Online programmes are delivered fully through digital platforms.Undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma and certificate courses are available in arts, commerce, science, management, education and social sciences. The university also offers professional and skill-based programmes.Students applying for Online programmes must have access to internet and a valid email ID. All communication from the university will be sent through registered email and SMS.

Mumbai: In a major breakthrough in the Feb 1 firing at filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s bungalow, the city crime branch and the special task force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh have arrested seven persons, including the main shooter linked to absconding gangster Shubham Lonkar of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.Police identified Shubham Lonkar’s brother, Pravin, who is currently in Taloja jail in the NCP politician Baba Siddique murder case, as the mastermind. Shubham Lonkar had claimed responsibility for the attack by posting a message on social media hours after the incident and had actively participated in the conspiracy.The shooter has been identified as Deepak Chandra alias Sharma (24). The others have been identified as Sunny (23), Sonu Thakur (23), Hrithik Yadav (22), Vishnu Kushwaha (26), Jatin Bhardwaj (24) and Vishal Thakur. Most of them are residents of Bijauli village in Bah, Agra, while others hail from Gautam Buddh Nagar and Etawah. All the seven accused were produced before the special MCOCA court and were remanded in police custody till Feb 25. With this the number of arrests in the firing case reached 12. While seeking their custody, police said that they are yet to arrest four more accused in the case and they need to recover the weapon and mobile phones used in the crime.During joint interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed that they had conducted reconnaissance of the filmmaker’s residence in Mumbai before the incident and later opened fire using a semi-automatic pistol supplied by the gang. The weapon is yet to be found.During STF interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed that the attack was planned to create panic in the film fraternity and demonstrate the operational reach of the Lonkar gang. Police said the task of executing the firing was assigned through Vishnu Kushwaha, who reportedly had links with Goloo Pandit, an associate of the Lonkar gang allegedly involved in a Rs 5-crore extortion case in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. Investigators said the accused were influenced by the gang’s glorified portrayal on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram and sought to gain notoriety in the criminal underworld. “They admitted that they had conducted multiple reconnaissance visits to Mumbai prior to the attack to study the geographical layout, security arrangements, and escape routes near the filmmaker’s residence,” said ADG (law and order) Amitabh Yash.They also revealed that they kept changing locations based on media reports to evade arrest and received logistical support during their escape. Shooter Deepak Chandra also told police that when he developed cold feet, he consumed liquor before firing. Chandra confessed to the police that all the other accused, except co-accused Vishal Thakur, Jatin Bhardwaj and Hrithik Vinod Singh-Yadav, were aware of the conspiracy. At the time of firing, three other accused were in the vicinity of Juhu. Police on Monday also invoked additional criminal sections including destruction of evidence as investigations revealed that the accused had used the Telegram app to communicate and conspire. The posts were subsequently deleted to avoid getting tracked because the server of the app is in a foreign country. Chandra, acting on direct orders from Subham Lonkar, is accused of conducting a detailed reconnaissance of the target before carrying out the firing. He was reportedly assisted by 23-year-old Sunny Rakesh Kumar, who participated in the spot recce to map out the attack.Shubham and Pravin Lonkar allegedly served as the primary financier and strategist, providing the hit squad with arms, ammunition, a motorcycle, and technical assistance. To evade detection, the operatives communicated exclusively through the encrypted messaging app Signal, which was deleted from their devices immediately following the crime.During the preliminary inquiries the accused told police that they arrived in Mumbai and stayed in Sonu Thakur’s rented place in Kalyan and from Kalyan they came to Juhu and did several surveys before firing on Feb 1. “Immediately after the firing all dispersed and again met at Kalyan, from where they took a train to north India and stayed at their friend Vishal Thakur’s house. Now we don’t know whether Thakur had knowledge of the crime but he provided them shelter and gave money in Agra,” said an official. Accused Hritik Yadav, Sonu Thakur, Jatin Bharadwaj, and Vishal Thakur and Vishnu Khushawa are accused of harbouring the absconding accused and helping them evade arrest across state lines.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 witnessed a sensational night in Pallekele as Sri Lanka stormed into the Super 8 stage with a commanding eight-wicket victory over Australia. The hero of the evening was opener Pathum Nissanka, whose breathtaking unbeaten century sent fans into a frenzy and sealed a memorable triumph.

Australia post competitive 181 after a strong start

After winning the toss and opting to bowl, Sri Lanka faced an early challenge as Australia’s top order came out firing. Captain Mitchell Marsh smashed 54 off 27 deliveries, while Travis Head struck a blistering 56 off 29 balls. The pair shared a century stand that put Sri Lanka on the back foot during the powerplay.

However, Sri Lanka clawed their way back through disciplined bowling. Dushan Hemantha delivered a game-changing spell, claiming three crucial wickets, including Marsh and Head. Support from Dushmantha Chameera and Maheesh Theekshana ensured Australia were restricted to 181 all out in 20 overs.

Despite late cameos from Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis, Australia’s middle and lower order faltered under pressure.

Pathum Nissanka’s century lights up Pallekele

Chasing 182, Sri Lanka lost Kusal Perera early, but what followed was a masterclass from Pathum Nissanka. Displaying impeccable timing and composure, Nissanka anchored the innings while accelerating seamlessly.

He remained unbeaten on a stunning 100 off just 52 balls, peppering the boundary ropes with 10 fours and five sixes. His strike rate of over 190 highlighted the dominance he exerted over the Australian attack.

Partnered by Kusal Mendis, who contributed a fluent 51, Nissanka built a decisive partnership that turned the tide firmly in Sri Lanka’s favor. The duo added 97 runs, neutralizing Australia’s bowlers and maintaining control throughout the chase.

After Mendis’ dismissal, Nissanka found another able ally in Pavan Rathnayake, who chipped in with a brisk 28 not out. The pair guided Sri Lanka to 184 for 2 in just 18 overs, sealing victory with two overs to spare.

Australia’s bowlers, including Adam Zampa and Nathan Ellis, struggled to find breakthroughs once Nissanka settled in. Marcus Stoinis was the only bowler to make inroads, picking up two wickets, but it was insufficient to halt Sri Lanka’s charge.

The emphatic win secured Sri Lanka’s place in the Super 8 stage and sparked wild celebrations among fans at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Chants echoed across the stands as Nissanka raised his bat to acknowledge the roaring crowd.

Also READ: Janhvi Kapoor, Ajay Devgn and other Bollywood celebs react to India’s thumping win over Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026

Here’s how fans reacted:

Pathum Nissanka…Woooww

#AusVsSL

— Jawwad (@_JA28) February 16, 2026

Pathum Nissanka, what an amazing knock. As clean as it can get.#slvsaus

— Arpit (@ArpitMittal108) February 16, 2026

Pathum nissanka 🔥🔥💥🫡

— Barfiii…….!!! (@dr_dootha) February 16, 2026

Impact of Pathum Nissanka! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Tjg4PgMfWa

— Khan (@ccricket713) February 16, 2026

🚨 PATHUM NISSANKA – FIRST BATTER TO SCORE A HUNDRED IN 2026 T20 WORLD CUP. pic.twitter.com/g5WLVKMbIy

— RCBian (@EhDiya) February 16, 2026

Pathum nissanka take bow man what a hunder in just 52 against mighty Aussies and cementing SL’s for super 8s bravado.

— 🇮🇳Raj (@RajIndia__) February 16, 2026

One of the best T20I innings from Pathum Nissanka…..just beautiful ❤️🔥👏👏👏 #T20WorldCup #AusVsSL

— AA (@photuuu99) February 16, 2026

🚨 PATHUM NISSANKA – FIRST BATTER TO SCORE A HUNDRED IN 2026 T20 WORLD CUP. 🚨

Wat a innings stand and salute 🫡

Australia 🇦🇺 are in edge of the seat to get eliminated from tournament #T20WorldCup #AUSvsSL pic.twitter.com/fVwB93AgtI

— lokesh logu (@lokiMSD93) February 16, 2026

Ohhh Pathum Nissanka, wow!!! Just wow!!!#SLvsAUS #SLvAUS #T20WorldCup #ICCMensT20WorldCup2026 #PathumNissanka

— Wudbeiser (@__beinghooman__) February 16, 2026

A stunning chase as Sri Lanka have qualified for the Super 8 stage 🔥💪#T20WorldCup2026 #AUSvsSL
Scorecard 👉 https://t.co/saxNeAaQuV pic.twitter.com/klpBditrBM

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 16, 2026

The first hundred of this year’s T20 World Cu. – Pathum Nissanka, take a bow. What an unbelievable chase this has been. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/trdlfSLrNW

— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) February 16, 2026

Pathum Nissanka wow just wow this is how you win a game single handedly

— Huzaifa Mansoor (@huzaifam1717) February 16, 2026

Pathum Nissanka. Take a bow ❤‍🔥#AusVsSL pic.twitter.com/xd64YX9XUG

— Angshuman (@angshumorous) February 16, 2026

PATHUM NISSANKA.

Take a Bow 🙏

WHAT AN INNINGS ❤️

— Harijith Ramesh (@HarijithRamesh) February 16, 2026

Also WATCH: Pathum Nissanka pulls off a screamer to dismiss Glenn Maxwell in AUS vs SL T20 World Cup 2026 game

NEW DELHI: India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan credited the fans and his teammates after delivering a match-winning performance against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup on Sunday, saying the Player-of-the-Match honour was not his alone.Kishan said he approached the high-voltage clash with a calm mindset, treating it like any other fixture. He focused on watching the ball closely, assessing the pitch and target, and backing his natural game. There was no sense of panic, he noted, and he drew confidence from the plans discussed within the group. However, he stressed that the job is far from complete and that his focus has already shifted to the next game.

Continuing his rich vein of form in T20s, Kishan countered Pakistan’s spin strategy with authority, striking his second consecutive T20 World Cup fifty. His fluent knock of 77 powered India to a commanding 61-run victory in Colombo. Behind the stumps too, he made a significant impact, highlighted by a sharp stumping to dismiss the dangerous Usman Khan, who was attempting to rebuild with a measured counter-attack.In a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Ishan Kishan said: “Not only for me, I feel this is for all the supporters who were supporting us throughout the game, throughout the tournament, when we were preparing very hard. So credit goes not just to me, but to the whole of India. “I think I was just keeping it simple, like I said in the press conference earlier that day it’s just another game. You have to watch the ball and play your shots, which you believe in, which are on. You have to assess the wicket, how is it playing, what’s the good total for all of our teammates, I think they had that in plan and that was giving me much confidence. There was no panic about anything before the match or in between the games. I was just keeping it simple and playing my shots. No, I think the job is not over. So I wouldn’t say I’m very satisfied we need to forget this one and move on to the next game,” he said.After winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bowl. India suffered an early setback when Abhishek departed for a duck, but Kishan’s aggressive 77 and Tilak’s composed 25 steadied the innings. The Men in Blue slipped to 126/4, losing their set batters along with all-rounder Hardik Pandya (0). Skipper Suryakumar, along with Shivam and Rinku, then ensured a strong finish, timing their acceleration well under challenging conditions. India posted 175/7, with Saim Ayub (3/25) emerging as Pakistan’s most successful bowler.In reply, Pakistan were rocked early, reduced to 34/4 by strikes from Hardik, Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel. Usman Khan fought back with 44 off 34 balls, including six fours and a six, but lacked substantial support as India bowled Pakistan out for 114 in 18 overs to seal their third straight win and advance to the Super 8 stage.Axar (2/29) led the bowling effort, while Hardik (2/16), Bumrah (2/17) and Varun Chakaravarthy (2/17) also chipped in with crucial wickets. India sit atop Group A with three wins from three matches. Pakistan are third with two victories and a defeat, while the USA hold second place with two wins and two losses. India’s head-to-head record against Pakistan in T20 World Cups now stands at eight wins and one loss.

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Reference #18.c4f5d217.1771266747.b32bb3ff

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.c4f5d217.1771266747.b32bb3ff