India’s players and coaches run during a practice session before an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and South Africa, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo)

Former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar believes the India team have not fully lived up to expectations in the group stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, but said the team’s best performance is still to come. He also pointed to one area that needs improvement before the Super Eight stage. India remained unbeaten in the group stage with wins over the United States, Namibia, Pakistan and the Netherlands However, the side showed difficulty against spin, batted cautiously in the middle overs and dropped chances in the field.Speaking on JioStar, Bangar said the team had made a steady start and had not dominated opponents, which meant they appeared slightly below their usual level.“However, the good thing is that their best is yet to come. Another positive aspect is that all the players have had a chance to feature in the playing XI, which augurs well in case there are any injury concerns later in the tournament. All the players are match-ready. If there is one department where they would want to improve, it would be catching, because we saw a few chances being dropped against Pakistan and the Netherlands,” he added, as cited by news agency ANI.Bangar said that with limited runs from Abhishek Sharma, the world’s top-ranked T20I batter who is yet to score in three innings, Ishan Kishan has become crucial for India. Kishan has scored 176 runs in four matches at a strike rate of 202.29, including two fifties and a 40-ball 77 on a slow track against Pakistan in Colombo. He also highlighted Suryakumar Yadav and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah as key players.“From here on, three players who are going to be extremely critical to India’s journey in this T20 World Cup are the men in form. That’s where I feel Ishan Kishan, given the way he has been batting and the lack of runs from Abhishek Sharma, becomes crucial. The onus is now on Ishan Kishan to provide those explosive starts. So, he is player number one. Player number two is Suryakumar Yadav. He has scored runs in most games on a consistent basis, while understanding the situation of the match. The third player is Jasprit Bumrah, because everybody is talking about the spin strength of this Indian team, but I believe Jasprit Bumrah will hold the key when the match is on the line, as far as bowling is concerned,” he concluded.India have struggled against spin through the tournament. They lost three wickets for 42 runs in eight overs of spin against the USA, and five wickets for 61 runs against spin in eight overs against Namibia. Their run rates in those matches were 5.25 and 7.6. Namibia off-spinner Gerald Erasmus returned 4/20 in that game.Against Pakistan, 18 overs of spin were bowled, and India managed 144 for six against spin at a run rate of eight per over. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha dismissed Abhishek Sharma, while Saim Ayub and Usman Tariq kept things tight. India hit only two boundaries in four overs against Tariq.India’s best return against spin came against the Netherlands, scoring 70 runs in eight overs and losing two wickets at a run rate of 8.75.India will begin their Super Eight campaign against the South Africa in Ahmedabad on February 22. They will then face the unbeaten Zimbabwe in Chennai on February 26, before meeting the West Indies in Kolkata on March 1.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam with Shaheen Shah Afridi

Pakistan dropped ace left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi and demoted star batter Babar Azam against Namibia in a must-win game after facing heavy defeat against India in the T20 World Cup group-stage match, but the team’s head coach, Mike Hesson on Friday rejected suggestions that changes were reactions to the heavy loss against India. Hesson said the decisions, including moving Babar Azam down the order and leaving out Shaheen Shah Afridi for the match against Namibia, were made for tactical reasons.India defeated Pakistan by 61 runs in the group-stage match, with Ishan Kishan leading the win with a major innings.Shaheen conceded 15 runs in his final over, while Babar scored five runs.“No, I wouldn’t say that (Shaheen was dropped because of poor performance and Babar pushed down the order because of the loss to India). I think, as I said, (pacer) Salman Mirza deserved his opportunity,” said Hesson in a media interaction.“And Babar was the first to recognise when left-arm spin was taking shape and it was turning that it wasn’t a smart move to send out two right handers.”Babar did not bat against Namibia as Sahibzada Farhan scored an unbeaten century and carried the innings.“So no, certainly not a paradigm shift, (it was) more about roles,” said Hesson, when asked if there was a “paradigm shift” after the defeat to India.Pakistan will next face New Zealand in their Super 8 opener in Colombo on Saturday. Improving their powerplay returns is a key focus.Hesson said Babar was moved from the opening position because his scoring rate in the powerplay has been below expectations.“Babar is well aware of that. I think he’s well aware (his) strike rate in the powerplay in World Cups is less than 100 in T20s. So clearly, that’s not a role that we think here we need. We think he’s a fine player through the middle, if required, in terms of if we’re in a little bit of trouble, or as we saw against the USA,” said Hesson.“Once he gets himself set, he can increase his strike rate at that point. So, we brought Babar back in for a specific role post the Asia Cup. We wanted some batsmanship through the middle, and he certainly brings that for us.”Against Namibia, Shadab Khan was sent ahead of Babar. Farhan and Shadab batted through the full 20 overs.Hesson said Babar was not suited to come in around the 12th over when the team wanted to increase the scoring rate.“So, the other day we got to the 12th over mark and at that point, Babar Azam is not the best person to come in. We’ve got plenty of other options who can come in and perform that role towards the end. He knows that he’s got a certain set of skills that the team require, and there are certain times where other players can perform that role more efficiently,” added Hesson.

HYDERABAD: A 16-year-old schoolgirl missing from her home in Narsingi since Monday was found confined to a flat in Chengicherla and raped by three, including two juveniles. Police rescued her on Wednesday.The 24-year-old accused, who has a suspect sheet against him, has been sent to jail and one of the minors has been remanded in a juvenile home. Third accused is on the run.

The survivor, a Class 8 student, was familiar with the arrested juvenile who worked as a salesperson at a footwear shop in Charminar. She had first met him on Feb 7 and later stayed in touch over the phone. On Feb 16, after school, she went to Madina to meet him.Later in the evening, the two other accused joined them and took the girl to an empty apartment in Chengicherla. There, the three allegedly assaulted her and forced her to consume alcohol at knife point.“During medical examination it was found that the survivor suffered injuries to her private parts,” police said.The matter came to light when the survivor’s mother approached police to file a missing person’s report early on Tuesday. She said the minor, who lived with her maternal grandmother in a housing society in Narsingi, where the grandmother works as a caretaker, left for school at 8 am on Monday but did not return home.“My daughter usually gets home by 4 pm. But when she did not come back, my mother alerted us. We rushed from Shaheen Nagar to her place and searched for her in the surrounding areas. We also made enquiries with relatives and her friends, but could not locate her,” the girl’s mother stated in her complaint.Based on the complaint, police registered a kidnapping case under section 137(2) of BNS and started an investigation.Using CCTV footage, mobile phone data and local inputs, police traced the girl and two suspects to a govt double-bedroom flat in Chengicherla.“The 24-year-old accused is a habitual offender with eight previous cases, including robbery, theft and assault. He also has a suspect sheet against him at Rein Bazaar police station,” said Ch Srinivas, DCP, Serilingampally, adding that they will seek custody of those arrested for further questioning. The survivor’s statement will also be recorded before the magistrate.It would have been extremely difficult for police to track down the survivor had it not been for a call she made to the juvenile offender from a local shopkeeper’s phone in Narsingi. “We tracked that number to locate the survivor and eventually rescue her,” an official said.

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has found himself in the unusual position of making headlines for both his on-field heroics and his off-field romance. Following his match-winning 77-run knock against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2026, speculation about his relationship with Aditi Hundia reached a fever pitch – only to be met with contradictory statements from his own family members.

The drama began when Ishan’s grandfather, Anurag Pandey, spoke to media following India’s emphatic victory over Pakistan in Colombo on February 15. In an interview with ANI, Pandey openly confirmed that the cricketer is in a relationship with model Aditi Hundia and expressed the family’s complete acceptance of his choice .

“Whoever Ishan chooses to marry, I fully accept. We are ready to accept whoever Ishan Kishan wants to marry. Aditi is his girlfriend. She is a model. One should accept what makes children happy,” Pandey told ANI .

The grandfather went further, suggesting that wedding bells could be on the horizon. According to family discussions, the marriage may take place by the end of 2026 or in 2027, depending on Kishan’s cricket schedule. He even shared an emotional backstory, revealing that he had told his grandson, “I want to see my daughter-in-law’s face before I die,” prompting Kishan to openly acknowledge the relationship .

The statement, which went viral within hours, led to widespread speculation that India’s star opener was set to tie the knot soon after the World Cup .

Ishan’s mother clears the wedding buzz

However, the excitement generated by the grandfather’s revelation was short-lived. Ishan’s mother, Suchitra Devi, stepped in to provide a definitive clarification that poured cold water on the wedding buzz .

Speaking to IANS, Suchitra Devi made the family’s position unequivocally clear:

“It’s not about marriage, it is time for him to play cricket. He’s not old enough to talk about marriage. Grandpa is getting a little old. Old people are always a little excited. Something or the other keeps coming up on social media. He said all this based on what he saw on social media.”

She stressed that her son’s focus must remain on his cricketing career, especially during a crucial phase like the World Cup. “His focus is on Team India matches, performances, responsibilities. When he calls, we skip cricket chat – he knows the field best. Let’s celebrate his contributions, not personal life,” she added.

The mother’s statement has effectively put an end to immediate wedding speculation, emphasizing that Kishan’s current priority is representing his country on cricket’s biggest stage.

Who is Aditi Hundia? The woman behind the headlines

Amidst the family drama, attention has also turned to Aditi Hundia herself. The Jaipur-born supermodel has carved a significant niche in the fashion and beauty industry .

Aditi was a finalist at Femina Miss India 2017 and also achieved success at Miss Diva 2018, which established her identity in the modelling world. Her father is a businessman based in Jaipur, and she completed her early education in the Pink City before developing an interest in modelling during college.

With over 2,90,000 followers on Instagram, Aditi maintains an active social media presence and has built strong fashion credentials through various brand collaborations .

The relationship between Ishan and Aditi first sparked public interest during the IPL 2019 season, when she was frequently spotted in the stands at his matches.

Their social media interactions and cosy pictures over the years only fuelled speculation about their relationship .

Notably, Aditi reportedly travelled to the West Indies in July 2025 to celebrate Ishan’s birthday during India’s tour, which made the family realise the relationship was serious. She has also been present at several of his matches, including games in the current World Cup.

Also WATCH: Hardik Pandya makes Mahieka Sharma’s birthday extra special with cake-cutting ceremony at the team hotel

Ishan’s stellar batting-form continues

While his personal life generates headlines, Kishan’s primary focus remains firmly on cricket -exactly as his mother insists .

The 27-year-old left-hander has been in sensational form during the T20 World Cup 2026. He is currently the leading run-scorer for India in the tournament, having amassed 158 runs in three innings at an astonishing strike rate of 197.50 .

His match-winning knock of 77 off just 40 deliveries against Pakistan – featuring 10 fours and three sixes – earned him the Player of the Match award and turned the tide of the high-pressure encounter in India’s favour. The innings was particularly significant as it showcased his growth against spin bowling, an area that once raised concerns about his game .

Kishan’s return to form follows a difficult two-year period when he was out of the Indian team. During that time, he focused on domestic cricket, leading Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title while finishing as the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 517 runs at a strike rate of 197.31.

Also READ: ICC T20I Rankings – Ishan Kishan among the four Indian batters in Top 10

Gujarat deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi, who has itnroduced the proposal

GANDHINAGAR: The BJP govt in Gujarat has proposed ‘anti-love jihad’ amendments to marriage registration rules that would require couples to inform their parents before registering their union – a move welcomed by AAP, met with silence by the Congress and flagged by legal experts as a potential constitutional violation.Under the draft rules introduced in the assembly Friday, couples seeking to register their marriage will have to submit an undertaking stating whether they have informed their parents. The assistant registrar will notify the parents of both bride and groom electronically, including over WhatsApp, or through physical communication.Registration will be granted within 30 days after verification, with all submitted details uploaded to a govt portal. Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi, who introduced the proposed changes, said the govt had nothing against “love marriage” but couldn’t allow deception in the name of mutual consent. “Innocent girls are being trapped and such practices are spreading like termites in society. Salim masquerading as Suresh will not be allowed,” he said. Citing instances from Panchmahal district, Sanghavi said investigations were ordered after nikaah certificates were allegedly issued in villages where there was no mosque or even a single Muslim family. In villages such as Kankodakui and Nathkuva, hundreds of such certificates were allegedly issued by talati-cum-mantris (village panchayat secretaries), Sanghavi said. In the assembly, AAP legislator Hemant Ahir, who had moved a private member’s bill on similar lines earlier in the week, congratulated the govt on tabling the proposed amendments. “Changes in the rules were the need of the hour. There were several loopholes in the rules,” he said. BJP MLA Lavingji Thakor, a strong proponent of stricter norms, said the move would benefit families of all communities. Congress stayed mum. Several community organisations, including those representing the Patidar and Kshatriya Thakor groups, have long pressed for mandatory parental involvement in love marriages. Over the past three months, as many as 30 meetings were held between the state govt and representatives of various organisations to finalise the changes. Legal experts said the proposal might not stand judicial scrutiny. “This infringes upon the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution,” said advocate Mahesh Baria. Fellow advocate Nilesh Bhavsar said while the govt had described the measure as mere intimation, parental objections could potentially influence registration decisions, leading to litigation.

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi (File photo)

New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Friday said that the India trade deal was on track and described his relations with the country as “fantastic”. He said India will continue to pay the 18% tariffs that was decided as part of the interim framework.Indian authorities are closely watching Trump administration’s response to the US Supreme Court decision on tariffs, with some seeing a possible room for manoeuvrer as the interim trade deal is yet to be signed.India has agreed to reduce tariffs on majority of items as part of the interim trade deal in return for the US lowering reciprocal tariffs to 18%, with sector-specific tariffs on iron and steel, copper and aluminum and auto and auto parts staying at 50%. Govt did not comment, with officials saying it was too early to gauge the ruling’s impact.

How duties changed for stakeholders

“India has not signed the agreement yet so there may be some scope for a dialogue. But we will wait and see how the US govt responds to the ruling,” an official said. A team led by India’s chief negotiator Darpan Jain is headed to Washington to finalise the legal text with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.The USTR is scheduled to visit Delhi to sign the interim agreement next month.Earlier Friday, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal had said that the agreement will be operationalised in April. On Friday, Indonesia became the latest country to sign a trade deal with the US, locking reciprocal tariffs at 19%. It joins Malaysia, Argentina, Cambodia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Bangladesh and Taiwan, which have signed trade agreements. Some American experts have suggested that the validity of the deals is under question as the Congress may step in.Govt is approaching the development with caution, given that tariffs have been a core policy tool used by the American president since returning to office last year.Trump has used ‘Plan B’ by invoking provisions under section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 – temporary tariffs of up to 15% for balance of payments reasons – and decided to impose 10% additional tariff on all countries. Besides, Trump said he will use section 301 to order investigations against countries for unfair trade practices. The probes may take five months, he indicated, and is likely to follow the action with tariffs. The US is the largest market for Indian exports, accounting for nearly a fifth of the shipments.

Yuvraj Singh and Marcus Stoinis (Agency Image)

Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has heaped praise on former India star Yuvraj Singh, describing him more as a mentor than a teammate and saying he commands “nothing but absolute respect.” “I played with Yuvraj Singh in the IPL. Although I was playing with him, I describe him more as a mentor. I was quite young, and he was obviously very experienced,” Stoinis said in a recent video released by the ICC.

He went on to highlight Yuvraj’s supportive nature, calling him “very helpful” and a “nice guy.” “Super talented, elegant, powerful. Not the typical power that maybe is on highlight around the world today. It was a more relaxed, rhythmical power. Very nice guy, very helpful. I mean, to a young overseas player coming to the IPL, he was very good to me. Nothing but absolute respect,” Stoinis added. Turning to Australia’s current form, the team has struggled at the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and is already out of the tournament. After starting with a convincing 67-run win over Ireland in the 14th match at R Premadasa Stadium, the Aussies were stunned by Zimbabwe in their next game, failing to chase 170 and being bowled out for 146. The struggles continued against co-hosts Sri Lanka, with Australia losing by eight wickets as Sri Lanka chased down 182 in just 18 overs. Their qualification hopes then depended on Ireland defeating Zimbabwe, but the match was washed out, giving one point to each team and ending Australia’s campaign prematurely. Australia will now take on Oman in their final group-stage match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Friday, aiming to finish the tournament on a positive note.