Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma (BCCI Photo)

Ahmedabad: Abhishek Sharma was understandably the most talked-about cricketer at the Narendra Modi stadium here on Friday. Two days out from India’s first Super 8 match against South Africa, one could cut the tension around this colossal arena with a knife. The reason? India’s prime weapon coming into this T20 World Cup is yet to get off the mark.Friday was about preparing for a match which is going to be highly tactical.

Brothers Morne Morkel and Albie Morkel, in coaching roles for India and South Africa respectively, haven’t spoken to each other for a fortnight.Most of the drills — from the South African team’s practice in the scorching afternoon heat to Abhishek taking guard with bat in the nets at the fag end of the day — revolved around left-handers.South Africa captain Aiden Markram, off-spinner George Linde, Keshav Maharaj and the pace attack spent over an hour practicing bowling to left-handers in the nets with assistant coach Albie Morkel taking stance at the batting end.Abhishek may have not got going but he still instills fear in the opposition camp.Markram has played enough cricket with and against Abhishek in the IPL to know the damage he can cause to South Africa on Sunday.However, it’s not just about Abhishek.In pursuit of striking the right balance, India ended up with a deluge of left-handers in the batting lineup.Naturally, the off-spinners came into play.Maharaj kept firing full deliveries outside the offstump while pacers Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi frequently switched between bowling from over the wicket to bowling from round the wicket.After India’s last match against the Netherlands, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate did concede the team’s rather submissive performance against the finger spinners in the tournament.South Africa is a professional enough unit to work on further exposing India’s supposed frailties with the bat.There may be murmurs around India becoming too predictable by stacking their batting with too many left-handers.It wasn’t surprising when Abhishek did get into the nets, after a long chat with head coach Gautam Gambhir.He spent a lot of time batting against the spinners.There was much restraint instead of wild swinging.It was back to basics for him even against the seamers.The big shots came rarely off his bat.“Luckily, there’s been someone standing up for Abhishek. But we are in the important phase of the tournament. I am sure, not just for the team but for the viewers, he will come good because of the entertainment he offers,” India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel said on Friday evening.It’s strange how a batting lineup which went about ruthlessly assaulting bowling attacks barely a month ago has suddenly started to look a tad vulnerable going into the business end of the tournament.The first round of matches — three against the associate nations of the ICC — were meant to iron out the chinks.Instead, India go into the Super 8 stage still reworking their strategies.“That’s been the makeup of the team coming into this World Cup. The opposition bowlers will still have sleepless nights,” Morne said of the team composition.“We know the South African bowlers will be working on taking the ball away from the left-handers. So, we will prepare for that,” he added.Thus, India’s nets session under lights for the next three hours focused on what the South Africans and the teams going forward would throw at them.Ishan Kishan, in the dreamiest phase of his career, looked more intent on driving and punching off the backfoot through the off side.Arshdeep Singh hung around that line for much of Ishan’s batting stint.The spinners stuck to the off-stump line to the lefthanders.Tilak Varma, not at his fluent best yet in the tournament, moved to the practice pitches outside the stadium with throwdown specialists just to work on the off-side game.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Meerut on Sunday to flag off the Meerut Metro and the Namo Bharat train from Shatabdi Nagar Namo Bharat station. (Image Credit: Anushka Kogta/TNN)

NEW DELHI/MEERUT: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Meerut on Sunday to flag off the Meerut Metro and the Namo Bharat train from Shatabdi Nagar Namo Bharat station. He will undertake a metro ride from Shatabdi Nagar to Meerut South station before inaugurating and dedicating development projects worth around Rs 12,930 crore to the nation.PM Modi is also scheduled to address a public gathering during the event.Namo Bharat: India’s First Regional Rapid Transit SystemThis includes the inauguration of the remaining sections of India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) — the 5-km stretch between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar in Delhi, and the 21-km stretch between Meerut South and Modipuram in Uttar Pradesh.

Image Credit: Anushka Kogta/TNN

Designed for a top speed of 180 kmph, operational speed 160kmph, Namo Bharat is India’s first regional rapid transit system aimed at transforming high-speed intercity travel. The corridor connects key urban centres such as Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Modinagar, and Meerut with Delhi.Multi-Modal Connectivity At Sarai Kale KhanSarai Kale Khan, the originating station of the corridor, is among the four Namo Bharat stations being commissioned. It has been developed as a major multi-modal hub, seamlessly integrating with Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, the Pink Line of Delhi Metro, Veer Haqeeqat Rai ISBT, and the Ring Road.

Image Credit: Anushka Kogta/TNN

The other three stations being commissioned — Shatabdi Nagar, Begumpul and Modipuram — are located in Meerut. The project is expected to decongest roads and significantly reduce vehicular carbon dioxide emissions.Meerut Metro: India’s Fastest Metro SystemSeparately, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Meerut Metro services between Meerut South and Modipuram. In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, the Meerut Metro will operate on the same infrastructure as the Namo Bharat corridor.With a maximum operational speed of around 120 kmph, the Meerut Metro will be India’s fastest metro system. The metro is expected to cover the entire stretch in approximately 30 minutes, including all scheduled stoppages.This integration of intercity Namo Bharat services with intra-city Meerut Metro operations on a shared corridor is being projected as a benchmark model for urban and regional transit planning in India.

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday reiterated his remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that hie is “compromised.” In a social media post on X, Rahul said the PM Modi‘s “betrayal” stands exposed and he “will surrender again.”“The PM is compromised. His betrayal now stands exposed. He can’t renegotiate. He will surrender again,” Rahul said.Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also launched a broadside against the Centre and asked why did the “Modi government not wait for the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs before rushing to fall into a TRAP DEAL.”“Clueless Foreign Policy or One-Sided Surrender? Why did the Modi Govt not wait for the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs before rushing to fall into a TRAP DEAL, which extracted huge concessions from India?” Kharge asked.“The Joint Statement spoke of zero tariffs on several American exports to India, virtually opening up India’s agriculture to American goods, a plan to import USD 500 billion worth of US goods, a commitment to halt on purchasing Russian oil hurting our energy security and several tax concessions on the digital front,” he added.This comes a day after workers of Youth Congress carried out a shirtless march protesting against US-India trade deal.Meanwhile, US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the Trump administration exceeded its legal authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 to impose broad-based import tariffs.Terming the SC’s ruling as a “terrible decision”, Trump announced he would sign an executive order for a 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This authority allows for a temporary import surcharge (up to 15%) for 150 days to address balance-of-payments deficits.On Friday, Congress leader and former finance minster P Chidambaram also demanded that the government must explain the impact of the judgment on the “deal” that was announced on February 6 between the US and India.Chidambaram said he had stated that if the Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s imposition of tariffs, the result would be that the US and India would revert to the status quo ante of before April 2, 2025.“Meanwhile, the US has extracted several concessions from India without conceding any. What will happen to those concessions? The joint statement announced Zero tariff on many goods that the US will export to India; that India intends to import USD 500 billion worth of goods from the U.S.; that India will not buy Russian oil; that India will address the non-tariff barriers to U.S. goods, and so on,” the former finance minister said.“What will happen to those promises? An Indian team is now in the U.S. to finalise the text of the Framework Agreement. What will the team do now?” Chidambaram said.

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LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government has clarified its stand on the use of loudspeakers in mosques during the holy month of Ramzan, stating that existing Supreme Court directives on sound restrictions remain applicable. According to news agency PTI, the issue was raised in the state Assembly during Zero Hour by Samajwadi Party member Kamal Akhtar, who urged the government to allow mosques to make announcements for ‘sehri’ and ‘iftar’.

Ramzan commenced on Thursday.

Opposition raises issue in Assembly

Akhtar said that festivals of all religions — including Holi, Diwali, Dussehra, Kanwar Yatra as well as Christian and Sikh celebrations — are observed in the state, and mosques should similarly be allowed to use loudspeakers during Ramzan. He said brief announcements are traditionally made from mosques to inform people observing fast about the timings of ‘sehri’ (pre-dawn meal) and ‘iftar’ (meal to break the fast). Akhtar also claimed that the government recently removed loudspeakers from most religious places, and urged it to permit mosque announcements during Ramzan to provide relief to people.

Supreme Court order cited

Responding to the issue, Finance and Parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said the Supreme Court has clearly directed that loudspeakers should not be used after 10 pm. The Supreme Court prohibits the use of loudspeakers, public address systems, and sound-producing instruments from 10 pm to 6 am, except in closed premises such as auditoriums, conference rooms, and banquet halls for internal communication. Khanna said that even at weddings, police ensure compliance if complaints are received about loudspeakers being used beyond the stipulated time. Referring to the tradition of mosque announcements for ‘sehri’ and ‘iftar’, Khanna said the practice originated when clocks were not common and people estimated time by the position of the sun. “Today, almost every person – whether a rickshaw puller, street vendor or vegetable seller – has a mobile phone that shows time. So the necessity is no longer there,” he said. He added that while the government does not interfere in anyone’s religious beliefs, the Supreme Court has laid down the rules on the use of loudspeakers, and “it is not our order”.

Continued disagreement

Akhtar maintained that the apex court order relates to sound levels and does not prohibit the use of loudspeakers, and urged the minister to allow the announcements during Ramzan. The minister did not offer any further reply.

The 41st match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 brings together two powerhouse teams, New Zealand and Pakistan, at the iconic R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. As the Super 8 stage kicks off, this Group 2 clash is vital for setting the momentum toward the semi-finals.

Both teams enter the Super 8s after finishing as second-placed teams in their respective groups. New Zealand arrive with clinical momentum, having dominated their recent chases with record-breaking opening stands from Tim Seifert and Finn Allen. Pakistan, meanwhile, have shown high variance—moving from low-score collapses to 190+ totals. Their strength remains a formidable spin unit that has been the most successful in the tournament so far. The battle will likely center on whether New Zealand’s high-tempo top order can dismantle Pakistan’s middle-over spin stranglehold.

🌧️ NZ vs PAK, Colombo Weather Forecast

Overcast conditions are expected in Colombo this evening, with weather likely to play a significant role in the contest. There is an 87% chance of precipitation and a 52% probability of thunderstorms, with around 8.4 mm of rain forecast and approximately 1.5 hours of rainfall expected. Cloud cover will remain high at 82%, which could aid seam bowlers early in the innings, especially under lights. Winds from the NNE at 6 km/h, with gusts reaching 15 km/h, are not strong enough to heavily impact play, but the threat of rain interruptions looms large. Captains may factor in the possibility of DLS calculations at the toss, making the decision to bowl first a tempting option in these potentially tricky conditions.

💧 NZ vs PAK, Dew Factor

In the coastal humidity of Colombo, the dew factor often acts as a silent 12th man for the side batting second. With humidity levels expected to surge to 86% after 8:30 PM local time, the outfield at the R. Premadasa Stadium will likely become increasingly slick. This creates a dual-disadvantage for the team defending a total. Both Pakistan’s Shadab Khan and New Zealand’s Ish Sodhi rely on a dry seam to generate rip.

As the ball gets wet, spinners struggle to grip it, leading to unintended full tosses and a lack of turn, which effectively neutralizes the pitch’s natural spin-friendly nature. Once the ball is damp, it tends to skid off the surface rather than stick in the pitch. This allows New Zealand’s power-hitters like Finn Allen to play through the line with much more confidence, as the two-paced nature of the wicket disappears.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8: Date, Match Time, Broadcast, Live Streaming details

NZ vs PAK, Toss Prediction

The toss will be crucial due to the overhead conditions and the R. Premadasa’s historical trends. While 4 out of the 5 matches at this venue in this tournament have been won by the team batting first, the rain threat and potential for dew make bowling first the likely choice. Captains will want to know exactly what the DLS target is in a rain-interrupted chase.

🔴 Spin-Friendly: The pitch is a traditional black-soil surface that is slow, two-paced, and offers significant grip for both finger and wrist spinners.

🔴 Variable Bounce: On this used strip, batters will find it difficult to hit through the line, particularly in the middle overs.

🔴 Pace Variations: While the new ball might offer some movement under the lights, pacers will need to rely on cutters and cross-seam deliveries rather than raw speed.

Humidity is expected to hover around 85%. If the rain stays away for a sustained period, dew will become a hidden game-changer. This would make the ball difficult for spinners to grip in the second innings and allow the ball to skid onto the bat, significantly favoring the chasing side.

Also READ: Oldest captains to win Player of the Match Award in ICC tournaments ft. Sikandar Raza and Rohit Sharma

In a shocking development, Bollywood star Ranveer Singh has found himself at the center of an extortion case, allegedly targeted by Harry Boxer of the notorious Bishnoi gang. A threatening voice note from a US number has prompted the Mumbai Police to issue a Look Out Circular for Boxer, intensifying their investigation into a staggering Rs 20 crore ransom demand.

Ranveer Singh recently received extortion threats through a voice note, which was sent on his manager’s phone. Soon, the actor approached the Mumbai Police, and cops are now investigating the matter. It was reported that the threat was sent from a US number and Bishnoi Gang’s Harry Boxer is behind the same. And now, according to the latest development, a lookout notice has been issued against him.

Mumbai Police issues a Look Out Circular

According to the ANI report, the Mumbai Crime Branch has issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against a person named Harichandra, alias Harry Boxer, who is one of the key members of the Bishnoi gang, in connection to the extortion threat to Ranveer Singh. As per the report, the Mumbai Police had sent the threatening voice note received by Ranveer Singh’s manager to Punjab and Haryana for verification. The sender of the voice note identified himself as Harry Boxer and demanded a ransom of Rs 20 crore.Earlier, a report had mentioned that the demand made was for Rs 10 crore from the Bollywood actor. Reportedly, a senior police official shared that the sender of the voice note identified himself as Harry Boxer. The cops also contacted US authorities to get more details about the number.As per the reports, the voice note was sent shortly after the firing incident that took place outside Rohit Shetty’s home in Mumbai.

Aftereffects of extortion threats

Soon after the actor received extortion threats, Singh’s security was beefed up by the Mumbai police. Reportedly, six guards in civil uniform have been stationed at this Beau Monde society in Worli, Mumbai. The Crime Branch has recorded statements of Ranveer’s manager and is investigating the matter further.Meanwhile, no FIR has been made so far.

More about Ranveer Singh

The actor is gearing up for the release of his next film, ‘Dhurandhar’, directed by Aditya Dhar. The film is scheduled to arrive in theaters on March 19, 2026. Apart from this, the actor is also in the news for his fight with Farhan Akhtar’s production house after his exit from ‘Don 3’.