AHMEDABAD: In the last week of Feb in 2021, Axar Patel’s international career truly got rolling here at the revamped Narendra Modi stadium when he played the lead role in demolishing England in the Test series. The three preceding years out of the Indian team had already transformed him as a cricketer. Five years later, he will be stepping on to his home turf as a core member of the leadership group when the T20 World Cup enters its business end with India taking on South Africa on Sunday. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!In a chat with TOI in Jan, Axar claimed those three years out of the Indian team helped him identify the areas to work on to be a better person and understand what he needed to become a better cricketer.

Axar’s carefree and funny-to-the-bone on-screen demeanour, often ending up as memes, gains more traction on social media. He likes to keep everything around him as uncomplicated as possible. That said, for all the riches he has earned through cricket, he prefers building a new swanky house in his hometown in Nadiad which is around 60 km from Ahmedabad. He rushes to his comfort place in Nadiad when he isn’t with the Indian team. Yet, the process he follows to stay on top as an international cricketer is as rigorous and detailed as any. The extensive training sessions are all scheduled at the GS Patel Stadium in the Kheda district. It’s just that he has formed a safe and strong core team outside Indian cricket. Leading that team is his wife Meha, charting out his diet. “Meha is a qualified dietician. Even if he is travelling with the Indian team, he gets every meal cleared by Meha,” Axar’s childhood friend and confidant Keval Patel in Nadiad told TOI. “He comes gets a longish break from the Indian team maybe a couple of times in a year. He loves to eat cheese vada paav and laze with us when he comes here. Meha doesn’t stop him from eating but adjusts the next few meals accordingly,” Keval mentioned. Much of Axar’s evolution as a cricketer and as a batter in particular happened at the GS Patel stadium. Axar took it on himself to renovate the gym with very basic facilities and turn it into a high-end fitness centre for the youngsters in the region. “He usually follows the routine given to him by the support staff in the BCCI. But he realised that the local kids also need better facilities. Five years ago, he said he will fund the renovation of the gym. The gym has pictures of all the top Indian cricketers mounted on the wall,” said Keval. Soon, Keval talked about Axar’s meticulous cricket training drills. Before joining the Indian team for this T20 World Cup, he had a session with the Delhi Capitals team in Delhi where he trained for batting after the 15th over of the innings. He was probably intimated by the team management he would be needed to bat lower down the order unlike in the preceding assignments. “He plans training sessions according to different batting situations. He bats for four-five hours a day for the last five-six years. On certain days, he will be practicing against the new ball. On other days, he will bat on the centre square, practicing only power-hitting,” Keval revealed. In the chat with TOI, Axar said he regained confidence in his batting after MS Dhoni asked him to think like a regular batter around 2018 and he could work on it with Ricky Ponting’s backing at the Capitals from 2019. And what drills does he do for his bowling? “He just does spot bowling. His only focus is to get his pitching right. He will be hitting the same spot for a long period of time, varying pace and angles,” Keval said. Axar’s utility batting has overshadowed Axar the left-arm spinner in the last year or so made more headlines in the past year. But it’s hard to discount his consistent contributions with the ball after enduring a deluge of barbs from experts for the first half of his international career. In 2021, he had told TOI that he started believing he must be a special bowler to have made it this far without being a conventional left-arm spinner. “I did talk with R Ashwin but he does some really deep thinking. I can’t do that,” Axar had joked. It’s been a long journey for India’s one of the most understated cricketers in the last five years. The next two and a half weeks could propel him to becoming a poster boy of Indian cricket.

Pune: Opening of the Baner-side ramp of the integrated double-decker flyover at University Chowk is likely to be delayed further with Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) on Thursday saying the structure would be thrown open to public only after receiving a detailed safety and durability report from the concessionaire. Officials stressed that there was no urgency to commission the structure without completing all technical checks.The ramp was earlier scheduled for Jan 15 opening and later postponed to Jan 31 for additional caution following the recent Mumbai flyover slab collapse. PMRDA commissioner Yogesh Mhase told TOI that the authority would seek and verify the report before taking a final call on opening the ramp to the public. “We are in no hurry and will seek the detailed report from the concessionaire. Once the report is submitted, it will be verified by our team and only then we will open the ramp,” he said.

Pune: Toddler Wall Collapse, Wedding Stabbings, Gas Bill Scam And More

The PMRDA officials said durability tests were currently under way for the ramp. “We had announced the opening date earlier, but the ramp will now be opened only after the required reports are submitted and scrutinised,” Mhase said.One person died and three others were injured after a slab of thegirder bridgeof under-construction Metro rail line collapsed on a few vehicles in Mumbai’s Mulund area on Feb 14. Against this backdrop, Shivajinagar MLA Siddharth Shirole wrote a letter to the PMRDA commissioner, seeking a comprehensive structural and on-site safety audit of the structure and the entire 23km Shivajinagar-Hinjewadi Metro route. “While opening the Baner ramp is essential, as it would help reduce the traffic logjam along the busy Ganeshkhind route, it should not be done without all the due checks and reports,” Shirole said.He also sought the identification of accident-prone stretches or design vulnerabilities, verification of structural stability and compliance with approved engineering standards, and inspection of temporary construction arrangements, including scaffolding, barricading, overhead fixtures and material storage.“The focus must be on identifying and immediately rectifying any unsafe construction practices, including loosely secured materials, exposed structural elements, improperly stored equipment or overhead components that pose a risk of falling and causing serious damage to vehicles or loss of life,” Shirole said.He also said coordination with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), traffic authorities and contractors should be strengthened to ensure construction debris, loose material and hazardous obstructions were cleared promptly, and that adequate safety signage and protective measures were in place.Shirole said development projects of this scale must reflect not only engineering excellence but also an uncompromising commitment to people’s safety.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has found himself at the centre of a heated online debate after calling on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to intervene amid reports that IPL-owned franchises could leave out Pakistan players from the auction for The Hundred 2026.

The controversy has reignited conversations around franchise ownership, political tensions, and the broader question of whether cricket can truly remain insulated from geopolitics. While Vaughan positioned his appeal as a stand for inclusivity, a section of fans quickly turned the spotlight back on England’s own sporting decisions in recent years.

Michael Vaughan calls for ECB intervention after amid reports of IPL-owned franchises excluding Pakistan players from The Hundred 2026

The debate began after reports suggested that franchises linked to Indian Premier League ownership groups may not pursue Pakistan players at the upcoming auction for The Hundred 2026. Although no official policy has been announced, the speculation was enough to spark strong reactions across social media.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Vaughan urged the ECB to step in and prevent any such move.

“The ECB needs to act fast on this. They own the league, and this should not be allowed to happen. The most inclusive sport in the country is not one that allows this to happen,” Vaughan wrote.

The ECB need to act fast on this .. they own the league and this should not be allowed to happen .. the most inclusive sport in the country is not one that allows this to happen .. https://t.co/IYysTSIYHt

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 20, 2026

Also READ: Here’s why half of The Hundred teams might avoid signing Pakistani players in 2026

Fans accuse Vaughan of double standards

However, Vaughan’s comments did not go down well with a large section of fans. Many accused the former skipper of ignoring England’s own precedents when it comes to geopolitical decisions in sport.

Several users pointed out that the UK imposed restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes during sporting events following the Russia–Ukraine conflict. In tennis, Russian and Belarusian players were barred from competing at UK events in 2022 — a move that drew global attention at the time.

Others referenced England’s long-standing reluctance to tour Zimbabwe during the regime of former president Robert Mugabe. England had halted tours to Zimbabwe for years, citing political pressure, human rights concerns, and security risks. For many critics, these examples weakened Vaughan’s argument that sport in England has always stood above politics.

Another strand of criticism focused on the ECB’s decision to open The Hundred’s franchise stakes to Indian Premier League investors. Fans questioned whether it was contradictory to invite private ownership groups and then expect them not to operate according to their own strategic or political considerations.

Here’s how fans reacted:

The most “inclusive” board in cricket history (ECB) is yet to play Zimbabwe in the last 2 decades!! https://t.co/ngZKtP8XGC

— Slogger (@kirikraja) February 20, 2026

🚨Michael Vaughan talking about “protecting the game” now?

Cricket doesn’t belong to one board anymore. The Board of Control for Cricket in India changed the game, raised the standards, and built the biggest stage in world cricket while the

England and Wales Cricket Board just… https://t.co/Fk1IQZdOJO pic.twitter.com/jgW275RXVY

— lokesh logu (@lokiMSD93) February 20, 2026

why there are restrictions on Russian players in UK sports?… i have said many times that these people are jealous of us and will go to any lengths even supporting a rogue nation that harbors terrorism
and this is where bcci & gov failed miserably https://t.co/JeQD388pEu

— @SA_SRK (@Srk_sa007) February 21, 2026

IOC has banned Russia for how long now 🤡 https://t.co/g10SZDsjMA

— Ujjwal Sinha उज्ज्वल सिन्हा (@ujjwal1976) February 20, 2026

Russian athletes can be banned but a country like Pakistan that is a breeding ground for terrorist is getting sympathy?
How many more innocent lives need to be lost before that country will take accountability of all the nonsense they do? https://t.co/wbF1MHzkfE

— Karen Noronha 🇮🇳 ⊙⊝⊜ (@Karen_noronha09) February 20, 2026

Maybe run the league yourselves then and don’t go to Indian investors? https://t.co/YUWmTKKdjD

— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) February 20, 2026

ECB has every right to say, ” we dont require money to run the franchise”. By the way is there any official communication saying so…Every Franchise has right to choose their own team…Dear Michael grow up now…when r u playing with Zim? https://t.co/CYPDAN7Tii

— Anand Bellad (@anandbellad) February 21, 2026

This is business why non performer pakistani players will be included ?? Why eCB not not giving NOC to PSL?? https://t.co/c2UBvPGqhR

— Ravi Singh (@ravimay25) February 20, 2026

Surprised by the outrage over Indian franchises not picking Pakistani players.

Franchise cricket runs on private capital — not charity. Investors put in massive money and make decisions based on business interests, not moral lectures.

If it’s so unfair, here’s a thought: bring… https://t.co/mRH9qQ4iI8

— The Nightwatchman (@SoyalSayyad) February 20, 2026

I love it when Ind-pak thing irritates English https://t.co/87NMmQBfQD

— Neel (@hypocrite_nri) February 20, 2026

There was a time when the winds of power blew from Britain to India; now the tide has turned, and Indian voices echo with strength in Britain. https://t.co/GIGJjCzA7x pic.twitter.com/xzPHSmWdmx

— Tarun🏏 (@Tarun113344) February 20, 2026

Buy your own team and then bring all the Pakistani players to please your unwanted commentary.

The owners has put their risk capital to buy the team and they have all the freedom to buy which player they want to represent their team. https://t.co/eWJMgTdSTB

— AJAYA KUMAR ROUT (@akrout81) February 20, 2026

Also READ: From Dewald Brevis to Jos Buttler: Complete list of direct signings and retained players for The Hundred Men’s 2026

‘Pushpa’ star Allu Arjun’s younger brother Allu Sirish will be tying the knot to his fiancée Nayanika Reddy on March 6. The family has already started the pre-wedding bash with a Dubat yacht party and the traditional and Pasupu ceremony. Now, the celebrations have added another special private party, as the party was hosted by the soon-to-be groom’s brother and sister-in-law.

Pre-wedding festivities begin in full swing

The pre-wedding party was hosted by Allu Arjun and his wife Allu Sneha Reddy. The small gathering, which included close friends and family members, was held at their home. Interestingly, the picture that is making the rounds on the internet also shows Ram Charan and his wife Upasana Kamineni Konidela at the bash.

Ram Charan and Upasana at the party

In the picture, Allu Sirish can be seen donning a smart black embroidered blazer, where he also put on a matching shirt and trousers. Meanwhile, his fiancée, Nayanika Reddy, is seen wearing a shimmery black dress and looks stunning.Talking about what the new parents of the twins wore, Ram Charan and Upasana Kamineni Konidela matched in stylish black outfits. Arjun wore a shimmery black suit, while Sneha Reddy chose a black dress with a white bow.

First wedding invitation given to Chiranjeevi

A few days ago, Allu Sirish went down to his uncle Chiranjeevi with his parents, Allu Aravind and Nirmala to give the first wedding invitation. In his Instagram post, he shared a picture and wrote, “As per Telugu customs, gave the first invite of the wedding to my uncle @chiranjeevikonidela garu and aunt Surekha.” Earlier, the actor also shared glimpses from the Pasupu ceremony held at their residence.

Pasupu ceremony at Allu residence

The decor looked bright and calm. Yellow marigolds and white flower garlands were everywhere. The entrance had flower hangings. A big flower backdrop was set for the rituals. Later in the video, women from the family were seen performing prayers in front of a deity idol placed on a decorated pedestal.Allu Sirish got engaged to Nayanika on October 31, 2025. Interestingly, their wedding date, March 6, is also the wedding anniversary of Allu Arjun and Sneha Reddy, making the day even more special.

The contest could hinge on how effectively New Zealand’s middle order handles the craft and variation of Pakistan’s spin attack when the two teams meet in the opening Super Eight Group 2 clash of the T20 World Cup on Saturday.So far in the tournament, the Kiwi batting unit has not quite found top gear. Openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen have led the charge with three half-centuries between them, but the middle order has struggled to provide consistent support. Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell have all shown flashes without stringing together impactful contributions.

Phillips and Ravindra have registered a fifty each, yet their overall returns remain modest. Ravindra, for instance, has scored 72 runs in four outings, with 59 of those coming in a single innings against Canada. Adding to their challenge is the fact that this will be New Zealand’s first match in Colombo in this edition of the tournament.Pakistan, in contrast, have been based in the Sri Lankan port city since the start of the World Cup and have already featured in two matches at the Premadasa. Their bowlers — especially the spinners — understand the tempo and lengths required on a slow surface where patience often trumps aggression.For New Zealand, it will be crucial that the middle order complements the Powerplay thrust provided by Allen and Seifert. A measured approach will be needed to either post or chase a total in the region of 180 on a pitch that demands calculated strokeplay.Pakistan’s spin arsenal — Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan — gives them a clear advantage. However, they have their own concerns with the bat. Shadab, with 88 runs, is their second-highest scorer behind Sahibzada Farhan (220), the tournament’s leading run-getter.Against a seasoned New Zealand outfit, Pakistan will require a stronger collective effort from their batting unit. The biggest concern for the team management remains Babar Azam, who has managed just 66 runs in four matches at a strike rate of 115.78. The former captain has struggled to adapt to the tempo demanded by modern T20 cricket.Another failure could prompt Pakistan to consider Fakhar Zaman, who has yet to feature in the tournament. They are also weighing up the option of recalling left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, omitted for the must-win fixture against Namibia.Afridi has claimed three wickets in three matches but at a costly economy rate of 11.22, underlining his difficulty in adjusting to slower conditions. His struggles serve as a warning for New Zealand’s pace-heavy attack.Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy and James Neesham have all been somewhat expensive and may need to rethink their approach. Greater reliance on variations — knuckle balls, slower bouncers and leg cutters — could be key to unsettling Pakistan’s batters and easing the burden on the spin trio of Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, along with part-time options Ravindra and Phillips.

Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 World Cup 2026 match: Head-to-head record in T20Is

Total matches: 49Pakistan won: 24New Zealand won: 23No Result: 2Performance of both teams in their last 5 matchesPakistan: W, W, W, L, WNew Zealand : L:, W, W, L, W

Pakistan vs New Zealand Super 8s T20 World Cup: R Premdasa stadium T20I record

Total matches: 51No result: 1Most wins by teamIndia – 12 winsSri Lanka – 10 winsAustralia – 7 winsPakistan – 6 winsSouth Africa – 5 winsBangladesh – 5 winsZimbabwe – 3 winsWest Indies – 3 winsNew Zealand – 3 winsEngland – 2 wins

Pakistan vs New Zealand Super 8s: Weather report

Beyond the on-field rivalry, the weather in Colombo threatens to have a major say in the outcome. Rain has been forecast both ahead of and during the contest, which is slated for a 7 PM local start. Showers are likely in the opening half of the evening, with temperatures ranging between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius and humidity levels climbing past 80 per cent.There is no reserve day allocated for this Super 8 encounter. Should persistent rain force an abandonment, the teams will split points — a result that could significantly hurt their chances of progressing to the semi-finals.Match officials will have an extra 90 minutes at their disposal in an effort to produce a result. However, if conditions do not allow even a five-over-a-side game, the fixture will be officially called off.

Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 World Cup 2026 match: Full squads

Squads:Pakistan: Salman Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi.

TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: Two days ahead of their Super Eight clash against South Africa, India meant business. Frenetic energy gripped the Narendra Modi Stadium for over four hours as Suryakumar Yadav & co. took over the gigantic venue. Refreshed and energised after the one-day break, players began descending the long staircase from the dressing room to the field around 5:30pm and immediately got to work. There were no absentees and everyone made their presence felt with bat, ball and the catching session under fielding coach T Dilip.What initially started as a hit on one practice pitch trickled down to the far end of the practice square where ground staff made late arrangements for range hitting. Even the practice cage toward the stadium’s main enclosure was lit, hosting Kuldeep Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Mohammed Siraj working on their skills, with Jasprit Bumrah joining late. There was activity everywhere and it became difficult to keep a tab on multiple hot spots which were activated for the marathon yet high-intensity training session.

After completing his usual release work with the resistance band and getting a feel for the main ground, Bumrah went to the nets with bowling coach Morne Morkel. The South African was asked to remove his boots which were precisely placed around the popping crease and Bumrah had his target locked. The bowler delivered a few looseners from a short run-up; once satisfied with the run-up and grip near the landing area, he bowled with full effort.It was a masterclass in accuracy as he repeatedly bowled to perfect his art of nailing yorkers at will and received constant feedback from the bowling coach. The two would break into short chats after almost every delivery and like a very patient learner, Bumrah soaked in the advice he received. Mohammed Siraj, still padded up, dropped by and the two had some nice banter before Bumrah resumed business. By the time he was done, Morkel’s footwear was severely damaged as the ball thudded into the pair on many occasions but the coach wasn’t complaining. It was a job well done, and attention returned to the main ground.​​

The ring of fire was lit in its full glory and shouts of “Watch out! Mind!” reverberated in the empty stands as a barrage of sixes were launched by the India batters, Hardik Pandya in particular. The right-hander switched nets and partners but looked to go big almost every delivery. The onslaught began against the Indian squad’s spinners, continued against the seamers, and concluded with the destruction of everything net bowlers and side-armers sent his way during the marathon two-hour hitting session.His teammates had to duck for cover and the handful of officials and media personnel watching the nets from the sight screen were constantly focused on the ball. This could well be India’s last full-throttle hit before the Super 8s get underway and no player showed any drop in intensity during their time in the middle. From Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak, and Suryakumar Yadav to the bowlers Siraj, Kuldeep, and Varun Chakravarthy, and then the all-rounders —Axar Patel, Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar — they arrived fresh but left drenched in sweat after what seemed like a satisfying outing.

As expected, initial attention was restricted to World No.1 T20I batter Abhishek Sharma, who is yet to get off the mark in the tournament. With three ducks in as many games, the youngster looked a bit low on confidence and his delayed entry into the batting net raised some eyebrows. It, however, was similar to what he had done on the eve of the match vs USA at Wankhede where he was one of the last players to have a hit. Similar to that pleasant evening in Mumbai, the left-hander first bowled an extended spell and then focussed only on hitting sixes in Ahmedabad on Friday. The connections however weren’t as sweet and the baggage of three ducks did seem to weigh him down a bit.Before proceedings got underway, Coach Gautam Gambhir gave an extended pep talk. The fist bump between the two after their animated chat assured that management has his back. Bowling coach Morne Morkel echoed this sentiment at the press conference preceding the training.

“Abhishek is a world-class player. Luckily, there were guys standing up with Abhishek obviously not scoring the runs he would like. But we’re going through a very important phase of the World Cup now and I’m pretty sure he’s going to deliver,” said Morkel when asked about discussions around Abhishek in the Indian camp.“Not so much just for the team, but also for all the viewers watching the game, because he’s entertaining and we love to see that. So, yeah, I’m pretty sure [he’ll turn it around]; he’s hitting the ball well in the nets. It’s just a matter of getting that start and getting his innings going,” the 41-year-old further added.​​Abhishek’s nearly 20-minute hit had everyone glued to the net he was batting in. From coach Gautam Gambhir to captain Suryakumar Yadav and other support staff members, everyone watched the young lad who has had a forgettable T20 World Cup campaign so far. The way everyone grouped outside the nets explained what the left-hander’s return to form means for the entire group, and how much they value his contributions and role in the side.

Ahmedabad: From left, India’s Kuldeep Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy and Tilak Varma 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/Gurinder Osan) (PTI02_20_2026_000442A)

With quality players, the question is always when, not how. There are very few doubts about their ability and it’s that one sweet connection everyone waits for. The wait wasn’t long as Abhishek managed to connect a few shots in his brief hit but the way he exited the net and stood near his training gear, he didn’t look content. For a batter who has sent shivers down the opposition’s spine, the struggle to return to form seemed real. It was also a reminder of how this sport unfolds and continues to be a great equaliser.Come Saturday, the belligerent southpaw will have another opportunity to hit the right notes, as the rest of the clan is expected to relax in the team hotel while only a few endure the afternoon heat.