MUMBAI: The country’s credit card spend is consolidating, with HDFC Bank and State Bank of India moving close to controlling half of total card spending by value, while the top five issuers together have expanded their dominance to 85.6% of transaction value by Jan 2026.The shift marks a migration of high-value spending towards legacy lenders. At the start of FY26 in April 2025, the top five banks collectively accounted for 81.2% of total credit card transaction value. Within 10 months, their share rose by 4.4 percentage points, leaving smaller banks and fintech issuers competing for less than 15% of industry spending despite continued expansion in card issuance.The consolidation is being driven overwhelmingly by the top two issuers. HDFC Bank, already the market leader, increased its share of transaction value from 28% in April to 28.4% in Jan. SBI emerged as the biggest gainer of the fiscal year, expanding its share sharply from 19.3% to 24.7%. Together, the two banks absorbed more than five percentage points of market share from competitors, offsetting declines recorded by ICICI Bank and Axis Bank. Kotak Mahindra Bank retained fifth position with a modest increase in share from 3.3% to 3.5%.

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The dominance of the top banks has been further reinforced by the drop in the share of foreign banks from 5% to 4.5%. Citi was the most recent foreign bank to exit the credit card business. Some smaller banks that issued credit cards in partnership with fintechs and NBFCs have also faced regulatory restrictions.Despite the concentration in spending value, the distribution of credit cards remains comparatively stable. The top five banks accounted for 75.2% of active cards in April 2025, slipping marginally to 74.7% by Jan 2026. The divergence between card share and spending share suggests that while smaller lenders continue to expand card issuance, consumers rely disproportionately on cards from the largest banks for high-value purchases such as travel, lifestyle consumption, and major e-commerce transactions.Jan 2026 data further reinforced this concentration even as overall spending cooled after the year-end festive surge. Total industry credit card spending declined 2.7% month-on-month to nearly Rs 2 lakh crore from close to Rs 2.5 lakh crore in Dec. Online spending fell 2.5% to Rs 1.23 lakhcrore but retained dominance with a 61.8% share of transaction value, while point-of-sale spending declined 3.2% to Rs 76,000crore, reflecting a sharper drop in offline discretionary consumption.Even as the total spending pie shrank in Jan, HDFC Bank and SBI increased their combined share. Their joint transaction value fell from Rs 97,127 crore in Dec to Rs 94,544 crore in Jan, a smaller contraction than the industry-wide decline, lifting their combined market share marginally from 47.4% to 47.5%. In Jan alone, HDFC recorded Rs 56,518 crore in credit card payments and SBI recorded Rs 38,026 crore, indicating their near-majority control of industry spending. The consolidation trend was also visible in transaction volumes, with the two banks accounting for 43.9% of total credit card transactions in January.

England scripted a dramatic chapter in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign as they edged past Pakistan by two wickets in a nail-biting Super 8 clash in Pallekele on Tuesday. With this hard-fought victory, the 2-time champions became the first team to book their place in the semi-finals of the global tournament.

Chasing a competitive total under pressure, England held their nerve in the final overs to seal the contest, showcasing the depth and resilience that have defined their white-ball revolution in recent years.  Led by skipper Harry Brook, England have displayed a balanced brand of cricket throughout the tournament. Whether it was their calculated chases or disciplined bowling performances, the side has consistently found different heroes stepping up in crunch moments. Against Pakistan, it was once again a collective effort that propelled them over the line in a tense finish.

Having navigated past tough opponents and high-pressure situations, England now shift their focus to securing a top-two finish in the Super 8 standings, aiming to carry momentum into the knockout stage.

Jos Buttler endures a tough phase with the bat

While England’s campaign has been largely successful, one of their most experienced campaigners, Jos Buttler, has endured an uncharacteristic lean run with the bat in the tournament.

Buttler has managed just 62 runs so far in the competition. His scores read 26 against Nepal, 21 versus the West Indies, three against Scotland, and three against Italy during the group stage. The struggles continued in the Super 8 phase, where he registered seven against Sri Lanka and just two against Pakistan.

Harry Brook opens up on the poor form of Buttler

Despite the dip in form, skipper Brook came out strongly in support of the veteran wicketkeeper-batter after the win over Pakistan. Speaking to the ICC, Brook dismissed concerns around Buttler’s form and urged critics to show patience.

“No, like I said plenty of times, he’s a powerhouse of world cricket. He’s done it on every stage. He’s won World Cups in ODIs and T20s and it’s just a matter of time,” Brook said.

Brook highlighted Buttler’s vast experience and impact in world cricket, pointing to his impressive numbers across formats. Brook’s backing underlines the belief within the English camp that Buttler’s resurgence could be just around the corner — a worrying prospect for their opponents in the knockout rounds.

“He’s played over 500 T20s, he’s played 150-odd for England, and he’s still averaging 35 striking at 145. He’s arguably our best player, and he’s just not hitting them out of the middle at the minute. People have probably got to cut him a little bit of slack,” he added.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Shaheen Afridi reveals reason behind Pakistan’s defeat against England in Super 8 clash

Fans expect more as England eye final berth

With a semi-final berth already secured, expectations from England have soared. Fans believe this side has the firepower and temperament to go all the way and lift another ICC trophy.

However, supporters are also keen to see their star performers, especially Buttler, rediscover their touch before the knockouts. In high-stakes matches, experience often proves decisive, and Buttler’s ability to change games within a few overs remains unmatched.

Also READ: What does Jofra Archer’s ‘C’ celebration mean? England pacer sparks buzz after Saim Ayub’s wicket in T20 World Cup 2026

NEW DELHI: Defence and military experts, on Day 2 of DefSat2026 conference in New Delhi on Wednesday, intensified the strategic dialogue on building India’s persistent and resilient defence space capability, against the backdrop of rapid global transformation in space-based military infrastructure. With 1,602 space-based ISR satellites projected to launch globally between 2025 and 2030, the sector is entering a phase of operational maturity, shifting from sporadic expansion to predictable, proliferated constellations designed for continuous coverage, rapid revisit, and real-time analytics. The discussions at the conference underscored that persistent space capability is no longer aspirational but foundational to national security.Setting the tone for the day of the conference at Manekshaw Centre, Subba Rao Pavuluri, president, SIA-India, said: “India stands at a decisive inflection point. Scale without coordination is aspiration; scale with alignment becomes capability. As we advance toward Aatmanirbharta and aspire to emerge as a Vishwaguru in the space domain, unity of purpose across govt, industry, and the armed forces will determine our strategic success.”Day 2 of the conference also witnessed tangible B2B activity, signalling growing confidence among private players in the defence space ecosystem. There were six MoU exchanges, involving Safran and Geminus Space; TakeMe2Space and Little Place Labs; and RedBalloon Aerospace with EON Space, Sanyark, Raudrane, and Andurax.The purpose of the MoU between Safran and Geminus Space is to solve the challenges associated with large-scale operations of ground systems through integration of Safran Data Systems’ ground equipment systems like antennas, communication modems and signal processing units with Geminus unified ground operations platform.Maj Gen Neeraj Shukla, AVSM, SM, officiating director general (Strategic) Planning, Indian Army, emphasised India’s responsible and civilisational approach to space: “We are a responsible nation. Our approach to space must reflect our civilisational ethos — ‘Doham Karma Sansadhanam Na Kadapi Shoshanam, Lok Hite Bhutanam Sarakshanam Pratham’ — meaning responsible utilisation of resources, never exploitation, for the welfare and protection of all beings. Space is not merely for defence dominance, but for sustaining the very civilisation we are sworn to protect.”He further said that national security can no longer be viewed solely through a military lens but reflects the collective strength of diplomacy, information, military capability, economic resilience, political leadership, and indigenous technology. As AI, quantum technologies, cyber capabilities and

Shivam Dube, left, captain Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya (AP Photo)

Forced into a must-win situation following the big loss to South Africa, India will be looking for a quick reboot in the game against Zimbabwe at the Chepauk on Thursday…CHENNAI: The real World Cup starts now. India’s humbling loss to South Africa has ensured that the cloak of invincibility has been stripped away. The defeat has forced the hosts into ‘knockout’ mode, starting with the Super 8 match against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Thursday. It’s essentially a round-of-16 match followed by a ‘virtual quarterfinal’ against West Indies in Kolkata on March 1. However, there’s a catch — if West Indies beat South Africa on Thursday afternoon and South Africa beat Zimbabwe, then even two wins may not be enough for India to make the semifinals.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!West Indies’ 107-run win against Zimbabwe, coupled with India’s 76-run loss to South Africa, has left a massive gulf in the net run rate (NRR) which even two big wins may not be able to bridge. While West Indies have +5.35, India have -3.8. Even before they take the field against Zimbabwe on Thursday, Suryakumar Yadav will pray that South Africa keep their part of the bargain and beat the Windies in the day game.

However, those are factors India cannot control. What India can do, however, is beat Zimbabwe handsomely to boost their morale, which has taken a sound beating. Nothing worked for them against South Africa, but then that was not an aberration. Abhishek Sharma is carrying the burden of four failures, Tilak Varma has looked a shadow of the batter who won India the Asia Cup final in September last year and Surya hasn’t fired on all cylinders since the USA game. When three of the top four are struggling for form, it’s a losing battle at this level.The problem with this Indian team is that the quality of the backups isn’t great either. Sanju Samson, if pushed in ahead of Tilak and Ishan is asked to bat at No. 3, will be a forced selection. Sanju has done nothing extraordinary with the bat in the chances that he has got so far, including the one in the World Cup. His inclusion will just be a desperate ploy to plug a hole.While that’s one part of the story, the obvious course correction that India will do at Chepauk is to bring back Axar Patel in place of Washington Sundar. Making Axar sit out against SA didn’t make tactical sense and backfired badly.

The one relief for India going into Thursday’s game will be the situation Zimbabwe are in. They made the Super 8s at the expense of Australia and on the back of some extremely spunky performances in Sri Lanka. But the conditions in Sri Lanka, which favour their kind of slower bowlers who love taking pace off the ball, are significantly different from conditions in India.Zimbabwe found this out the hard way against the West Indies at the Wankhede and the conditions at the Chepauk are likely to be similar. If two of India’s big hitters click on the unusually batting-friendly pitch here, the game should be over as Zimbabwe don’t seem to have the firepower to chase, say, a 200-plus total.Zimbabwe coach Justin Sammons explained how the inexperience of playing in India can be a major impediment for his team. “There’s probably only three in our starting XI that have played in India before. So, for eight players it’s the first time. These are completely different conditions (to Lanka), grounds are smaller, so there’s massive learning that the group will take. We’ll park the disappointment and move on (from the West Indies game),” Sammons said.The coach knows how hungry India will be to turn things around after what happened in Ahmedabad. Their approach will be pretty much similar to West Indies’, whereby Abhishek & Co. will look to demolish Zimbabwe by the sheer weight of runs. What gives Samons a little hope is the fact that the Chepauk playing area is slightly bigger than the Wankhede, which should give their bowlers some sort of respite.“India are not going to hold back. So we have to stay calm and think on our feet and try to change things up a little to disrupt the rhythm of their batters. Chennai will be a bit bigger and it probably will make things a little easier,” Samons said.For Zimbabwe to make a match of it, a lot of things have to fall in place, with the form of mystery spinner Sikandar Raza and paceman Blessing Muzarabani being on top of the list. The duo leaked 94 off seven overs in Mumbai and it’s on Indian power hitters to make it a repeat show and keep the hopes alive.

Heartwarming Video of Sheikh Hamdan and His Son Is Breaking the Internet

Dubai’s Crown Prince, Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, widely known as Fazza, recently celebrated a deeply personal milestone that captured hearts across the UAE and beyond: the third birthday of his son, Mohammed. Rather than a simple photo or brief family moment, Sheikh Hamdan chose to share a touching video montage that chronicled his son’s journey from infancy to toddlerhood, blending private joy with a public tribute that quickly resonated with millions online.Shared on his Instagram account, which boasts over 17 million followers, the montage uses soft light, intimate clips and family memories to create a narrative unlike typical social-media birthday posts. It begins with the early fragility of newborn life, transitions into lively toddler moments and ends with tender interactions between Mohammed and his extended royal family, including a touching clip of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, embracing his grandson.

From tiny feet to toddler wonder: Sheikh Hamdan’s montage that stirred the Internet

What makes this birthday video stand out is not just that it documents a child growing up but how it tells the story. Through carefully selected moments of tiny hands grasping, first footsteps, soft smiles and family embraces, the montage becomes a powerful reminder of time’s passage and the universal experience of watching a child grow. While many celebrities post birthday photos, Sheikh Hamdan’s choice of a “journey through time” video signalled a deeper emotional thread that has captivated followers well beyond the UAE.This is not the Crown Prince’s first heartfelt family post on social media. In past years, he has shared affectionate birthday tributes for his twins, Sheikha and Rashid, marking their birthdays with adorable videos and photos that drew applause from followers but this latest tribute took that personal storytelling to a new level by blending royal family life with artistic expression in a way that felt deeply human. For many viewers, it was a rare glimpse into the intimate life of one of the Middle East’s most public figures.Sheikh Hamdan is a celebrated poet, adventurer and social-media personality who consistently uses his platform to highlight both personal life and societal initiatives and this birthday post fits perfectly with that pattern. The video allowed many followers to see him not only as a business leader and government figure but as a father and a family man, sharing the same pride and wonder any parent feels watching their child grow up. That universal theme helped make the video go viral, sparking comments, likes, and shares from Dubai residents, UAE nationals and international audiences alike.

Sheikh Hamdan’s digital storytelling as cultural expression

Social media has become a space where leaders shape narratives about identity, values and society. Sheikh Hamdan’s birthday post was not just a series of cute clips, it was a crafted story that conveyed something universal: the beauty of life’s fleeting moments. In a world saturated with snapshots, full montage videos like this stand out for their emotional depth and cinematic quality.The way the video was constructed with light, pacing and thematic continuity made it feel almost like a personal documentary, something that resonates deeply in today’s digital culture of storytelling and shared experiences. In the Gulf and across the Middle East, leaders are increasingly using digital platforms to connect with the public on a personal level by sharing moments that humanise their profiles and forge deeper bonds with communities. Sheikh Hamdan’s Instagram account, for instance, regularly features snapshots from his hobbies (such as equestrian pursuits, adventure sports and poetry), public service engagements and personal milestones.This blend of lifestyle, personal narrative and official messaging reflects a modern form of leadership communication that resonates strongly with younger demographics, especially those who engage heavily on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. The Mohammed birthday video, with its emotional narrative arc and artistic style, fits exactly into this new era of relatable leadership storytelling.

Who is Mohammed and what’s next for the young prince?

Baby Mohammed was born on February 25, 2023 and his birth was announced by Sheikh Hamdan through a heartfelt Instagram Story that featured a touching image of tiny feet cradled in loving hands. The post instantly drew congratulations and warm wishes from followers. He is the third child of Sheikh Hamdan and his wife, Sheikha Shaikha bint Saeed Al Maktoum, the younger sibling to twins Rashid and Sheikha, born in May 2021 and the older sibling to a younger sister, Sheikha Hind, born in March 2025.Growing up in one of the UAE’s most prominent families, Mohammed will undoubtedly attract public interest as he ages but this early birthday tribute underscores not only his cherished place in the family but also the affection and cultural pride his father places on family life, heritage and continuity.While his birthday video celebrates a specific milestone, it also offers a larger commentary on the nature of time, family and memory. In digital storytelling, we are often reminded of how quickly children grow and how fleeting early years can be. It is a message that many parents, regardless of background or culture, deeply connect with. By framing his son’s third birthday as a “journey through time,” Sheikh Hamdan elevated a personal moment into a shared reflection on love, family bonds and life’s rhythm, inviting audiences around the world to pause, remember and appreciate what truly matters.Sheikh Hamdan marked his son Mohammed’s third birthday with a heartfelt Instagram video montage that went viral online. The video captured Mohammed’s growth from newborn to lively toddler, with touching family moments including his grandfather, the UAE Ruler. The emotional storytelling instantly went viral as it resonated globally by blending personal family joy with digital culture and relatability and reflects a modern trend of leaders engaging audiences through personal narrative and digital multimedia.

Joe Burrow’s rumored girlfriend Olivia Ponton hits a “reset” in her life as he spends a whopping $1 million ahead of the new season.(Image via Getty Images)

Joe Burrow, the Cincinnati Bengals’ star player, went through a pretty tough time with his health and performance on the field in the last season.But many remain curious about his personal life which he has always tried to keep out of the spotlight. Though he is rumored to be in a high profile relationship with model, Olivia Ponton, he has always stayed away from commenting on it. Amid a tough recovery for Joe Burrow, Olivia Ponton has shared an update about her life.

Olivia Ponton takes a break as Joe Burrow spends on noble causes

A few hours ago, the popular social media influencer and model, Olivia Ponton, took to her social media to share a few glimpses from her luxurious vacation to Switzerland.The 23 year old popular model looked stunning in a orange colored jacket which she paired with black pants.Olivia Ponton kept her makeup minimal and opted to let her hair open as she enjoyed the snow. The caption of the post reads as, “This is my version of a reset”, as she also posted a YouTube video where she vlogged her entire trip.Olivia Ponton’s “reset” comes at a time when Joe Burrow has tried his best to stay out of the spotlight.A few weeks ago, the Cincinnati Bengals’ popular quarterback, Joe Burrow, was spotted at a Super Bowl party which Olivia Ponton also attended. But the two were not photographed together as Joe Burrow maintained a low profile.Amid this, Joe Burrow’s foundation, The Burrow Foundation, recently announced how it has spent a whopping $1 million on noble causes in the last one year.Joe Burrow’s foundation has awarded over $1 million to organisations which are involved in helping food crises and mental health issues.

Is Joe Burrow staying with the Cincinnati Bengals?

While Joe Burrow continues to be engaged in noble activities, his career in the Cincinnati Bengals turned doubtful a few months ago when he made a few controversial remarks.At a press conference in December, Joe Burrow expressed his frustration with the team and hinted at seeking a trade.Joe Burrow said, “If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it…“You know, I’ve been through a lot and if it’s not fun then what am I doing it for. That’s the mindset I’m trying to bring to the table.”However, just a few weeks ago, Joe Burrow clarified that he will be staying in the team and it was just a misunderstanding.