Australia‘s campaign at the T20 World Cup 2026 came to an abrupt and disappointing end, and the aftermath has sparked a fiery exchange off the field. After the reigning 2021 champions were knocked out in the league stage, former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif took a swipe with “mighty Aussies” — a remark that did not sit well with former Australia batter Damien Martyn.

Australia’s elimination was sealed when the crucial Group B fixture between Zimbabwe and Ireland was washed out due to persistent rain. The abandoned match confirmed that the Aussies would not progress to the Super 8 stage, marking only the second time in ten editions of the T20 World Cup that they failed to move past the group phase.

It was a tournament of missed opportunities for Australia. They began on a positive note with a comfortable win over Ireland, but successive defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka left them hanging by a thread. Ultimately, the weather had the final say, forcing the team to pack their bags earlier than expected.

Mohammed Kaif questions Australia’s “mighty” tag following their early exit from T20 World Cup 2026

Taking to social media platform X, Kaif reflected on Australia’s recent ICC record since their 2023 ODI World Cup triumph. He suggested that the aura of invincibility surrounding the Australians had faded in recent years.

Kaif pointed out that since lifting the 50-over World Cup in 2023, Australia have not managed to clinch another ICC title. They reached the semifinals of the Champions Trophy last year and finished runners-up in the 2025 World Test Championship final, but silverware eluded them.

He also revisited the 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad, claiming that had Hardik Pandya been available for India on that historic November evening, the result might have been different. The remark quickly caught attention, with fans debating whether Australia’s dominance is indeed waning or simply going through a temporary dip.

“Mighty Aussies they were called after winning the 2023 50-overs World Cup. After that they had a sharp fall. 2024 World T20, 2025 Champions Trophy, 2025 World Test Championship – they were not Mighty. If Hardik Pandya had played the Ahmedabad final in 2023, the Aussies would have lost there too,” Kaif wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Mighty Aussies they were called after winning the 2023 50-overs World Cup. After that they had a sharp fall. 2024 World T20, 2025 Champions Trophy, 2025 World Test Championship – they were not Mighty. If Hardik Pandya had played the Ahmedabad final in 2023, the Aussies would have…

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) February 17, 2026

Also READ: BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla hails Zimbabwe’s rise after Australia’s dramatic exit from T20 World Cup 2026

Damien Martyn’s calm but firm response

Martyn, who recently made a recovery after battling meningitis and being placed in an induced coma, responded with measured confidence. Rather than engaging in a war of words, he chose to highlight Australia’s long-standing supremacy in world cricket.

In his reply, Martyn acknowledged that no team can remain at the top forever but reminded critics that Australia’s trophy cabinet still tells a compelling story. His message was simple yet pointed — dynasties may experience dips, but they do not disappear overnight.

Notably, Australia remain the most successful team in ODI World Cup history, with six titles to their name. They have also won two Champions Trophy titles, one T20 World Cup, and one World Test Championship. Martyn’s response subtly emphasized that one disappointing tournament does not erase decades of excellence.

“Can’t be great forever. But the cabinet looks pretty good. It will turn again,” responded Martyn.

Can’t be great forever. But the cabinet looks pretty good. It will turn again.

— Damien Martyn🏏 (@damienmartyn) February 18, 2026

Also READ: Big Bash League set for India debut as Cricket Australia explores plans to stage BBL 2026-27 opener in Chennai

NEW DELHI: The governing NDA is set to further strengthen its tally in the Upper House after biennial polls for 37 seats in Rajya Sabha on March 16, but the fate of prominent retiring members such as Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP), Abhishek Manu Singhvi (Congress), Ramdas Athawale (RPI-A), Tiruchi Siva (DMK) and Priyanka Chaturvedi (Sena UBT) will depend on how their respective parties coordinate with their alliance partners.BJP-led NDA’s tally is expected to cross 130 with the advantage of at least four additional members in Rajya Sabha, whose current strength is 243 with one vacancy each in Jharkhand and West Bengal.The states where seats will be vacant in April are Maharashtra (7 seats), Tamil Nadu (6 ), West Bengal (5), Bihar (5 ), Odisha (4), Assam (3), Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Haryana (2 each), and Himachal Pradesh (1).NDA has govts in six – Maharashtra, Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Assam – of the 10 states where seats will be vacant due to members retiring, giving it a clear advantage. The opposition alliance has govts in Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and West Bengal.In Maharashtra, since the governing coalition, Mahayuti, is expected to secure six seats as against one by opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, it’s advantage NDA in the state.On the other hand, MVA will see a lot of political maneuvering as the alliance will have to choose between the candidates of Sena UBT and NCP(SP). In case NCP(SP) sticks with Pawar, it is to be seen whether NCP extends his support to him amid talks of a merger of the factions. Despite not having the numbers, NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule didn’t rule out the possibility of nominating her father, claiming that a MVA meeting would be held soon to finalise a name.The seven Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra whose terms are set to expire on April 2 are Pawar, Fauzia Khan (NCP-SP), Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad (BJP), Dhairyasheel Patil (BJP), Athawale, Chaturvedi and Rajani Patil (Congress).In Bihar, polls will be held for five seats, three of which are held by governing NDA, including two by JDU.RJD, the principal opposition party in the state, has only 25 MLAs, leaving the combined strength of the alliance (Congress and the Left) at 35 – five less than the number it would require to retain an RS berth. In this scenario, it would be extremely difficult for RJD to repeat MP and former Union minister Prem Ch-and Gupta in the Upper House.In West Bengal, the governing Trinamool Congress is expected to win four of the five RS seats while the opposition BJP may secure one.

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NEW DELHI: Sahil Dhaneshra’s mother has demanded that the underage driver be tried as an adult and stricter action taken against his father for allowing him to take the wheel.The minor’s father, against whom cops have filed an FIR and bound him down, told reporters that he was “sorry” and “regretful” for the accident. He claimed he was not in Delhi on the day of the crash.

Inna Makan, while grieving her son, Sahil, told TOI that she will formally challenge the FIR and appeal for stricter sections to be appended to it, adding that she had been waiting for his postmortem report before initiating a legal step. “I will approach the court soon,” she said.The case is reminiscent of an accident in Civil Lines in 2016 — a 17-year-old driving a Mercedes-Benz in a rash manner mowed down one Siddharth Sharma, 32. The accident similarly sparked a massive national debate over parental responsibility when high-end vehicles are placed in the hands of minors.Also read:FIR filed against father of minor; victim’s postmortem reveals skull fracture, brain oedemaWhile a legal battle looms in the current case, Inna’s personal loss is unfathomable. A single mother, she told TOI of the deathly silence in her Dwarka house and how she now clings to a few physical reminders of a bright life cut short. Among them are two handmade greeting cards that have become her most precious possessions. Sahil made one as a child to welcome her home from hospital, and the other with a simple note — “sorry mamma” — following a minor disagreement. Sahil’s friends remember him as a “happy-go-lucky” person, who as a teenager spent his free time watching motivational content online and dreamed of a future far beyond his current means. Inna recounted how his laptop’s wallpaper — a sleek sports car and a sprawling mansion — was a constant reminder of the ambitions he harboured. Having secured admission to a reputed university in Manchester, Sahil was to fly to the UK this Sept to pursue his master’s degree.Also read: As Dwarka crash accused teen gets bail, single mother seeks justiceThe motorcycle involved in the crash was a testament to his independence; he had financed it 11 months ago using his own savings from part-time insurance work and a small business he had started with his cousin. “He often used the bike to drop me at my office… those brief rides were the only time we spent together amidst our hectic schedules,” Inna said.

The momentum shifted decisively in India’s favour during the 6th over of the Netherlands chase in the T20 World Cup 2026 game when Varun Chakaravarthy produced a delivery that ignited the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Varun Chakaravarthy’s cracker of a delivery sends Max O’Dowd’s leg stump flying

Facing the dangerous Max O’Dowd, who had just broken the shackles with a six off Washington Sundar, Chakravarthy delivered a deceptive, skidding googly that completely flummoxed the batter. O’Dowd, attempting a forceful cross-batted heave into the leg side, misread the length and the trajectory entirely.

The ball darted back in sharply, sneaked past the gap between bat and pad, and crashed directly into the leg stump, uprooting it in spectacular fashion. The sight of the timber flying provided the breakthrough India desperately needed, ending O’Dowd’s stay at 20 and breaking a steady opening partnership. Chakravarthy’s immediate impact in his first over, conceding just three runs and taking a wicket, once again proved why he is India’s “X-factor” spinner heading into the Super 8s.

Here’s the video:

Also WATCH: IND vs NED: 41-year-old Roelof van der Merwe silences Ahmedabad crowd with screamer to dismiss Tilak Varma in T20 World Cup 2026

Shivam Dube’s brutal onslaught resurrects the Indian innings against Netherlands 

The narrative of Indian innings was completely rewritten by Shivam Dube, who produced a savage 66 off just 31 balls to propel India to a massive total. Entering the fray at a point where the scoring rate had dipped following the dismissal of Suryakumar Yadav, Dube unleashed a barrage of six towering maximums that left the Dutch bowlers without answers.

He found a perfect partner in Hardik Pandya, who played a calculated cameo of 30, and together they orchestrated a 76-run partnership that dismantled the Netherlands’ death-overs strategy. Dube was particularly ruthless against Logan van Beek and Roelof van der Merwe, targeting the straight boundaries with brute force and reaching his half-century in just 25 deliveries. Even though he fell on the second ball of the final over while attempting another big hit, the damage was already done, as India had successfully converted a precarious 110/4 into a daunting 193.

His performance stood in stark contrast to the top order’s struggles, where Abhishek Sharma unfortunately equaled the record for most ducks by an Indian in T20 World Cup history after falling for a three-ball zero. The late-inning surge ensured India scored 75 runs in the final five overs. The Netherlands’ response has been a struggle for survival against the world-class Indian attack, as they reached 110/4 after 13.3 overs, still needing a monumental 84 runs from just 38 balls.

Also READ: IND vs NED: Fans express shock as Abhishek Sharma records third consecutive duck in T20 World Cup 2026

A glimpse of International Fleet Review off the coast of Visakhapatnam (Pic credit: Kanaka Nalam)

NEW DELHI: Reviewing the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 off the coast of Visakhapatnam, President Droupadi Murmu — the supreme commander of the armed forces — said on Wednesday “the spirit of friendship on display today through participation of so many friendly-foreign countries highlights the truth that we are collected rather than divided by the seas. India’s approach to international relations, including the maritime domain, is guided by our ethos of ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’ or ‘the world is one family’.”“This approach reflects the wisdom that global security, growth, sustainability, and stability are built through friendship,” she said.The President said the Indian Navy is vigilant in safeguarding the country’s maritime interests and contributing to stability across the wider maritime commons. Navy units deployed in the region serve as credible instruments of deterrence and defence against threats and challenges arising in the seas, she said, adding the Indian Navy is often the first responder in times of humanitarian crises and natural disasters, extending quick assistance with compassion and competence.Over 74 countries participated in the IFR, marking a grand maritime spectacle. Eighty-five ships, including 19 foreign warships, participated in the fleet review, reflecting the scale and diversity of maritime participation. The Indian fleet included 60 ships of the Indian Navy, four Indian Coast Guard vessels, and one ship each from the Shipping Corporation of India and the National Institute of Ocean Technology.The review also featured three Indian Navy submarines, one French Atlantique maritime patrol aircraft, and participation by over 60 aircraft, underscoring the multi-domain operational capability and the coordinated maritime presence on display.The President also reviewed the Indian naval air arm, marked by a flypast of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. This was followed by a mobile column of warships and submarines steaming past the Presidential yacht. The IFR will be followed by the MILAN exercise. To welcome foreign delegates and naval personnel, the Navy has set up a MILAN village in the coastal city.The IFR reaffirmed India’s commitment to maritime cooperation, interoperability and collective security, in keeping with the theme “United Through Oceans”, while highlighting the Navy’s indigenous capability, operational professionalism and enduring partnerships with like-minded navies.On the sides of the fleet review, Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi held a bilateral interaction with US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen T Koehler. The meeting on Tuesday focused on MALABAR and RIMPAC exercises, and on strengthening interoperability. The Navy chief also met Kyrgyzstan’s armed forces chief and first deputy minister of defence, Col Otonbaev Tariel Zarylbekovich, and Myanmar navy chief Vice-Admiral Aye Min Htwe.

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