Dasun Shanaka has made an unprecedented appeal for government intervention to protect Sri Lanka players from “outside negativity” after their T20 World Cup campaign ended in disappointment, saying constant criticism was damaging the mental health of cricketers.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Sri Lanka’s exit was confirmed after heavy defeats to New Zealand and England in the Super Eight stage, prompting the captain to apologise to fans while also voicing frustration over the environment surrounding the team.“As players, it’s very hard for us to control the outside noise. Most of the time, we mainly hear negative stuff, so no matter how positive we are, there is a negative environment created from the outside,” Shanaka said after the loss to New Zealand.

In a rare and striking request, Shanaka urged authorities to step in for the sake of future players. “At least for the players coming up next, if the government could interfere and stop those, I believe that will be a great help for better mental health,” he said.The skipper said the criticism was hurting not just individuals but the sport itself. “That’s a disadvantage for cricket in Sri Lanka. We only have this game. Why is the negativity being spread like this? Okay, we lost a World Cup; we know the reasons.”

Shanaka also issued a heartfelt apology to supporters for the team’s failure to deliver when it mattered most. “We feel very sorry about this. England match was also a match we could have won if we were more sensible. For the spectators, I don’t have anything to tell. We have not given them any win they can be happy about,” he said.He blamed a combination of factors, including unexpected pitch behaviour, injuries and fitness shortcomings. “Before the tournament, I expected good wickets. No one goes out there to fail; everyone goes with the intention of winning. Unfortunately, sometimes we lose from small changes we don’t even think of,” he said.Shanaka admitted fitness remained a major concern. “I don’t think the physical fitness is up to the maximum level. We had about four to five injuries, and other teams are way ahead of us in fitness,” he said, while insisting it was “not an excuse”.With his own captaincy future uncertain, Shanaka remained philosophical. “I have no idea how long I will be the captain. It’s decided by the selectors. I have made good decisions and mistakes, but I’m happy I had this opportunity.”

In a must-win T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, India surged back into semifinal contention with a dominant 72-run victory over Zimbabwe on February 26, 2026. After a stinging defeat to South Africa, India’s batting unit found its rhythm to post a record-shattering 256/4, the highest total in T20 World Cup history. Zimbabwe’s chase, despite a valiant lone-warrior effort from Brian Bennett, never truly threatened the target as India’s bowlers executed their plans with clinical precision.

This victory not only provides a massive boost to India’s confidence but also significantly repairs their Net Run Rate ahead of the ‘quarterfinal’ showdown with the West Indies. The result officially keeps India’s dream of a home-soil title alive while ending Zimbabwe’s spirited run in the tournament.

Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya power India to 256/4 against Zimbabwe

India’s innings was a relentless display of power-hitting that saw them rewrite the record books by posting the second-highest total in all T20 World Cup history. The decision to bring Sanju Samson back into the XI to open paid immediate dividends, as he struck two sixes in the opening over to set a frantic pace before falling for 24. Abhishek Sharma then took center stage, silencing his critics with a blistering 30-ball 55 that featured four massive sixes and laid a solid platform at 80/1 in the Powerplay.

The momentum never dipped, as Ishan Kishan (38) and Suryakumar Yadav (33) manipulated the fields with ease, but the true devastation occurred in the final five overs. Hardik Pandya smashed an unbeaten 50 off just 23 deliveries, reaching his milestone with a final-ball six, while Tilak Varma provided an equally explosive 44* off 16 balls. Together, they plundered 80 runs in the death overs, leaving the Zimbabwean bowlers including Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani looking helpless against the onslaught. This total of 256 effectively batted Zimbabwe out of the game before the second innings began, setting a mountainous required run rate of 12.85.

Also READ: Team India shatter multiple batting records vs Zimbabwe in T20 World Cup 2026 clash

Brian Bennett’s heroic 97 in vain as Arshdeep Singh leads bowling masterclass

Zimbabwe’s pursuit of the mammoth target was defined by the extraordinary solo performance of Bennett, who nearly pulled off a miracle century in a losing cause. Bennett was sensational, smashing 97 off 59 balls and taking a particular liking to Shivam Dube, whom he hit for 26 runs in a single over. However, he found no support from the other end as Arshdeep Singh delivered a masterclass in T20 bowling, finishing with figures of 3/24.

Arshdeep’s double-strike in the 17th over to remove Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl effectively ended any mathematical hope Zimbabwe had of a comeback. Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy provided the necessary middle-order squeeze, ensuring the run rate remained out of reach despite Bennett’s aggressive stroke-play.

Jasprit Bumrah also played his part, stifling the openers early on with a series of toe-crushing yorkers that limited Zimbabwe to 44/0 in the Powerplay. Zimbabwe finished their 20 overs at 184/6, a spirited effort but one that fell 72 runs short of India’s record total. The win ensures that India’s final Super 8 match against the West Indies will be a winner-takes-all encounter for a spot in the semifinals.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Great win by Team India, but Zimbabwe will take plenty of positives back home. Brian Bennett being the 2nd highest scorer in the World Cup is the biggest one.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 26, 2026

Normal service, restored. That’s more like it. Good to see all the batters showing form. Set up nicely for the virtual QF vs WI! #INDvZIM #T20WC2026 pic.twitter.com/fP3k0ziQle

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) February 26, 2026

Abhi-shaking things up once again. #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/gwgI8K9KCd

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) February 26, 2026

Tougher bowling line ups await – But the team just needed an outing like this to get that confidence boost. Especially to the top order and Tilak in that new role. The India leg hasn’t been the same fairytale for Zimbabwe with the ball – The pitches and the size of the…

— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) February 26, 2026

A powerful performance by India ‘s batters. Of all the innings, India will derive most comfort from the return to runs for Abhishek and Tilak who showed his versatility in the middle order.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 26, 2026

India are back in the race for the #ICCMensT20WorldCup

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 26, 2026

Sabash #TeamIndia you nailed it guys as expected, all box ticked almost.
Bowling can be more work on.#INDvsZIM #T20WorldCup26 pic.twitter.com/7q3nezY4O0

— Munaf Patel (@munafpa99881129) February 26, 2026

Arshdeep Singh is King

— Prasanna (@prasannalara) February 26, 2026

Zimbabwe are human but Brian Bennett isn’t. What a player they have. We hope he gets an IPL deal. If not, the Íslensk Premier League (ÍPL) awaits in May.

— Iceland Cricket (@icelandcricket) February 26, 2026

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: HARDIK PANDYA 🥇🔥

Pressure situation, perfect response 💪 🇮🇳⚡#T20WorldCup2026 #hardikpandya #india #T20WorldCup #Cricket pic.twitter.com/rqYupuuYGf

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 26, 2026

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Sanju Samson or Ishan Kishan? Suryakumar Yadav reveals India’s wicketkeeper vs Zimbabwe

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate US-based chipmaker Micron Technology’s semiconductor assembly and testing plant at Sanand in Gujarat on Saturday(February 28).The state-of-the-art ATMP (Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging) facility has been set up with an investment of Rs 22,516 crore. Located near Ahmedabad, the Sanand plant marks a major step in India’s semiconductor journey and is being described as the country’s first semiconductor fabrication-linked facility of this scale.

Rs 22,516 crore investment and job creation

Micron Semiconductor Technology India Pvt. Ltd. has invested Rs 22,516 crore in the project, according to news agency ANI. The Gujarat government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Micron in June 2023 to establish a $2.75 billion semiconductor assembly and testing unit at Sanand.At present, around 2,000 people are employed at the plant. This number is expected to rise significantly once the facility becomes fully operational.“Eventually, 5,000 direct employment opportunities will be created. According to the Micron team, Divyang (specially-abled) citizens are serving as operators and technicians, and the facility provides opportunities to skilled people from all sections of society,” the state government release said.The company had earlier stated that the project would also generate nearly 15,000 indirect jobs.Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel has been closely overseeing the project, and officials say the plant is on track to begin operations on schedule.

Focus on AI-driven memory demand

The Sanand facility will manufacture solid state drives (SSDs) as well as RAM-type DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and NAND products, which are widely used in computing, smartphones, servers, data centres and portable electronic devices.The inauguration comes at a time when artificial intelligence (AI) has become a key global focus area. AI systems depend heavily on high-performance memory and storage solutions.Micron Chairman, president and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said memory and storage are central to modern technology, especially in the AI space.He noted that AI systems require strong memory and storage support to function efficiently. As AI applications increasingly deliver faster and real-time responses, the demand for advanced memory solutions is steadily rising, he said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

How the ATMP plant works

The functionng of an ATMP plant begins after semiconductor wafers are manufactured.The chip-making process starts with sand, from which pure silicon is extracted. The silicon is melted and shaped into a cylindrical form called an ingot. This ingot is sliced into thin discs known as wafers.At fabrication plants, electronic patterns are printed onto these wafers. Through a process known as photolithography, multiple layers are added to create transistors and memory circuits. The wafers are then cut into small square pieces, called chips.These chips are sent to the ATMP facility. At Sanand, the chips will first be assembled, then tested for speed, memory capacity and overall performance. After testing, they will be marked with necessary details and finally packaged for the market.The plant will receive advanced DRAM and NAND wafers from Micron’s global facilities and convert them into finished memory products for both domestic and global markets, reported ANI.With this launch, India takes a significant step towards strengthening its semiconductor ecosystem and meeting the growing global demand for memory and storage solutions, particularly in the fast-expanding AI sector.

US stocks drifted lower on Thursday as a selloff in Nvidia weighed on the broader market, even as most shares posted gains.The S&P 500 fell 0.6 per cent, extending the week’s volatility driven by optimism and unease surrounding the artificial intelligence boom. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 77 points, or 0.2 per cent, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.3 per cent as of 11:15 a.m. Eastern time.Nvidia slid 4.1 per cent despite reporting another quarter of profit growth that surpassed Wall Street expectations. The chipmaker also issued a revenue forecast above analysts’ estimates.However, Nvidia’s results failed to impress investors accustomed to its repeated outperformance. Concerns are growing that customers may eventually curb spending on AI infrastructure amid doubts about the pace of returns from those investments.“Our customers are racing to invest in AI compute — the factories powering the AI industrial revolution and their future growth,” said Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.Given Nvidia’s position as the largest company in the US market by value, its decline exerted an outsized impact on the S&P 500. The stock alone accounted for more than half the index’s losses, despite the majority of constituent shares trading higher.Salesforce was among the notable gainers, rising 3.6 per cent after reporting better-than-expected quarterly profit. The stock rebounded following months of pressure linked to fears that AI-powered competitors could disrupt its business. Salesforce shares remain down roughly 25 per cent for the year.The company also announced plans to return up to $50 billion to shareholders through stock buybacks and increased its dividend.“Agentic AI is a tailwind for our business,” said CEO Marc Benioff.Investor concerns about AI disruption have triggered sharp swings across sectors this year, particularly in software stocks. A widely tracked ETF focused on the sector rose 2.1 per cent on Thursday but remains down 21.9 per cent year-to-date.Shares of Warner Bros. Discovery edged down 0.1 per cent after the company reported a fourth-quarter loss. Market attention remains focused on potential acquisition developments involving Netflix and Paramount Skydance.Oil prices fluctuated as the United States and Iran continued indirect negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Benchmark US crude briefly fell before reversing course to trade at $66.38 per barrel, up 1.5 per cent, while Brent crude rose 2.2 per cent to $72.24 per barrel.European markets posted modest gains following a mixed session in Asia. South Korea’s Kospi jumped 3.7 per cent to a record high, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 1.4 per cent.In the bond market, US Treasury yields edged lower. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.02 per cent. Fresh data showed a slight increase in weekly US jobless claims, though filings remain relatively low by historical standards.

Hubballi: Jammu and Kashmir’s Auqib Nabi (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)

Hubballi: A surface that had appeared lifeless for most of the first two days sprang to life on Thursday, not because of any change in conditions, but due to the quality of bowling. Unlike Karnataka’s attack, which needed 173.1 overs to dismiss Jammu and Kashmir for an imposing 584 in the first innings, the visitors required just 48.2 overs and 235 minutes to remove half of the home side’s batting line-up. At stumps on Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy final at the KSCA Rajnagar Stadium here, Karnataka were 220/5 in 69 overs, thanks largely to an unbeaten 130 from opener Mayank Agarwal. The eight-time champions, trailing by 364 runs, now require a monumental batting effort from the remaining line-up to stay in contention. The J&K bowlers, on their part, made the red cherry swing, bowled on the stumps and off the seam. They ticked boxes which the more experienced Karnataka line-up failed even to see. Leading the charge was strike bowler Auqib Nabi (3/32), who combined accuracy with intensity. When the battle lines for the title tilt were drawn, much of the discussion had centred on Nabi’s duel with a Karnataka top order that has four Test batters in the mix, and the seamer lived up to expectations. In a decisive passage of play spanning four overs on either side of lunch, Nabi removed KL Rahul, Karun Nair and the season’s highest run-getter R Smaran, each dismissal coming off deliveries that extracted life from an otherwise docile surface. Opening the bowling, Nabi immediately put Rahul under pressure with probing full-length deliveries, occasionally mixing in the short ball. Rahul needed 15 deliveries to get off the mark before briefly finding rhythm with two boundaries off Sunil Kumar. Nabi eventually had the last word, producing a delivery that moved late to take a faint edge through to wicketkeeper Kanhaiya Wadhawan. Sunil struck soon after, dismissing Karnataka skipper Devdutt Padikkal. Rooted to the crease, Padikkal poked tentatively outside off stump, and Abdul Samad completed the catch in the slips. Karun Nair followed almost immediately, falling to a peach of a delivery. Nabi angled one in sharply and Karun misjudged the line, the ball crashing into his off stump. Nabi then completed a devastating spell by removing Smaran, whose uncertain push at a back-of-a-length delivery resulted in an outside edge that Wadhawan safely pouched. Reduced to 57/4, Karnataka were firmly on the back foot, and the packed stadium went silent, barring the celebrations and chirping from the J&K side. Amid the collapse, Mayank stood tall. The opener remained composed despite the carnage around him and focused on the long task ahead. More assured than his teammates, he countered the swing by getting well forward and worked the ball into gaps to ease the pressure on the scoreboard. Shreyas Gopal (27) provided support in a steady partnership before being trapped leg before wicket by Yudhvir Singh. Wicketkeeper Kruthik Krishna (27 batting) then joined Mayank, and the pair ensured Karnataka reached stumps without further damage. With a massive first-innings deficit still looming, the home team’s hopes hinge on whether Mayank and the lower order can pull off a heist. Earlier, J&K, who started the day at 527/6, added 57 runs to their tally before being dismissed for 584. Pacer Prasidh Krishna finished with a five-wicket haul (5/98).

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government is ramping up the city’s power capabilities for the next 50 years, chief minister Rekha Gupta said on Wednesday after inaugurating a project to shift overhead electricity wires underground in Chandni Chowk.Addressing the gathering, Gupta said that 28 roads and streets in Old Delhi, including Kucha Mahajani, Bhagirath Palace, Jama Masjid Road, and Nai Sadak, will be freed from hanging electricity cables. The project will cost Rs 160 crore.The work will be carried out in phases during night hours to minimise disruption to daily life and traffic movement, a statement issued by the chief minister’s office (CMO) said.Around 10,000 consumers will directly benefit from the project, which will reduce fire hazards and weather-related power disruptions, improve supply reliability and significantly beautify the historic precinct, the statement said.According to Gupta, the government is pushing electric vehicle adoption in a big way, which will have a direct bearing on the need for more power.The chief minister said the government will also revive the historic Town Hall building as a monument.A total of 52.5 km of overhead wiring in Chandni Chowk will be shifted underground to enhance safety and reliability while preserving the area’s heritage character, officials said.The chief minister also laid the foundation for BYPL’s 66/11 KV, 63 MVA gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) indoor grid at Mandoli, and four standalone utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) across south and west Delhi.The officials said a digital twin-enabled system will introduce real-time intelligence and predictive monitoring to Old Delhi’s modernised power network.The Mandoli GIS indoor grid to be constructed for Rs 55.5 crore will strengthen the power backbone of north-east Delhi and benefit nearly 1.5 lakh consumers, the statement said.It is targeted to be complete within 18 months, it added.The residents of Mandoli, Harsh Vihar, Bank Colony and adjoining areas will receive a more stable and reliable electricity supply, it said.The Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital, Mandoli Jail and a DTC EV bus depot will also receive assured power, the statement added.The BESS project by BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) will have a total capacity of 55.5 MW, and will benefit around 50,000 consumers in the Shivalik, 1,28,000 in Dwarka (G-5), 16,000 in Dwarka (G-7), and 28,000 consumers in Goyla Khurd with seamless supply, according to the statement.All projects are targeted for commissioning before March 2027.The statement said the battery systems will help reduce peak-hour load shedding, improve voltage stability and strengthen the grid, adding that the technology is environmentally sustainable and supports clean energy transition.

Union Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has invited startups and innovators to collaborate with the government through ‘Rail Tech Portal’ to solve difficult problems with technology within the Indian Railways. Speaking at the DNPA Conclave on Thursday, the Minister described the portal as the primary “digital way of accepting solutions.” He encouraged anyone with an interest in problem-solving to contribute to the platform.

NEW DELHI: Union minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has invited startups and innovators to collaborate with the government through ‘Rail Tech Portal’ to solve difficult problems with technology within the Indian Railways. Speaking at the DNPA Conclave on Thursday, the minister described the portal as the primary “digital way of accepting solutions.” He encouraged anyone with an interest in problem-solving to contribute to the platform.The minister invited the startup and innovators’ community to engage with the portal’s digital framework.“I would like to request the startups, innovators across the country and all the people who are interested in solving difficult problems with technology to get associated with the Rail Tech Portal. Rail Tech Portal is the digital way of accepting solutions. Any problem that you think is worth your attention. We will be very happy to consider it as a part of the Rail Tech Portal.”The minister also explained that the initiative is built upon a specific vision of inclusive innovation to drive national achievement.“The vision of the Prime Minister at the beginning of this Rail Tech Portal is when science meets scale, when innovation becomes inclusive, when technology drives transformation, the foundation of great achievement. So, with this vision, this Rail Tech Portal will move forward”In the same event, Vaishnaw also spoke on the responsibilities of tech platforms with regard to the internet and the rights of the content creators.The minister stated that platforms must wake up to their role in protecting society.“I will request that platforms must wake up, must understand the importance of reinforcing trust in the institutions which human society has created over thousands of years. Platforms must take the responsibility for the content that is hosted by them,” he said.“The online safety of children, the online safety of all citizens, is the responsibility of the platforms. Non-adherence to these principles will definitely make them responsible because the nature ofthe Internet has changed now,” he added.Talking about the fair revenue system for the content creators, Vaishnaw said, “I will request all the platforms to rethink their revenue-sharing policies because that is also one of the major concerns that the entire society today is raising. If this is not done voluntarily, then there are so many countries which have shown the path to get it done in a legal way.”

Axar Patel celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Zimbabwe’s Tadiwanashe Marumani during ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and Zimbabwe, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai. (PTI Photo)

TimesofIndia.com in Chennai: It took them five matches but India’s batting finally clicked and registered the second-highest total in T20 World Cup history. The Men in Blue fired on all cylinders to end their innings at 256/4 and later completed the formalities by restricting Zimbabwe to 184/6 in their must-win Super Eight clash of the multi-nation tournament in Chennai. From the strong powerplay to intent in the middle overs and a blockbuster finish—back-to-back sixes by Hardik Pandya—India checked the boxes they were yearning to in the fixtures preceding Thursday’s clash. Restoring the right-left combination at the top of the order worked wonders for the defending champions.

Sanju Samson’s return to the Playing XI forced the opposition to keep the off-spin—their nemesis in the last few games—away. When it was finally introduced, runs were already on the board and Abhishek Sharma was back to six-hitting ways.Chepauk was in for a treat as the Indian batters feasted on one of the tournament’s most batting-friendly surface, aided by some ordinary captaincy and bowling. The dot-ball percentage – just 26 — was significantly down in comparison to previous games and all of them operated at a strike-rate of over 150 with three of them hovering in the 200s. There were plenty of sixes, but what was heartening to see was the intent to sustain momentum throughout the innings.Samson was out after a breezy cameo but Ishan Kishan didn’t allow the innings to drop a gear. Suryakumar Yadav toyed with the bowlers and field positions. Hardik Pandya took his initial time but hit top gear when it mattered and the biggest positive was Tilak Varma’s return to fluent form. Batting at No.6, the left-hander, who had been facing criticism for lacking intent in the middle-overs came like a breath of fresh air by taking off from the word go. The left-hander perfected the finishing act, smashing a 16-ball 44 that included 3 boundaries and 4 sixes.India benefitted from their brightest opening stand in the tournament but unlike their best powerplay outing (86/1 vs Namibia), there was no middle-overs choke. Even when off-spinners Sikandar Raza and Brian Bennett bowled in tandem after the field restrictions were lifted, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma kept the scoring rate healthy and showed no desperation to slog their way out of trouble. The shot selection was good, the scoring areas were intelligent, and India negated the off-spin threat quite convincingly. Raza did pick the wicket of Kishan to break an ominous-looking 72-run stand, but five collective overs of off-spin went for 45, allowing the defending champions to seize control of the middle-overs.Abhishek is always the crucial piece in India’s batting puzzle and the Super 8 clash was another reminder of why life is comfortable when he gets going. It took the youngster a while to score his maiden T20I World Cup fifty but India wouldn’t be complaining as his return to form augurs well for the side in the business, and must-win end of the tournament. There is no room for another slip-up if they are to become the only side to first defend the title, and then win an edition at home. The afternoon assist from South Africa has put the Men in Blue nicely in a good scoring position and the finishing act is now upto them. The batters roared and the bowling unit’s collective might was again on exhibition in front of a capacity crowd. Arshdeep Singh and Hardik kept it tight with the new ball and when Jasprit Bumrah was introduced in the fifth over of the chase, Zimbabwe looked edgy about making a move. With little assistance for the bowlers, India bowled in tight channels. Vice-captain Axar Patel, returning to the XI after two games, drew first blood in his first over by dismissing Tadiwanashe Marumani. However, Zimbabwe threw some punches during a period of play with Brian Bennett.The right-handed opener enjoyed attacking the bowlers on and used the slog-sweep effectively to clear the ropes multiple times. Shivam Dube leaked runs – going for 46 runs in two overs – but the mountain was too high to climb, even after the giant strides in the middle-overs. India still had two overs from Arshdeep, one from Bumrah, and two from Hardik to seal the deal, and the experienced trio followed the expected script.The unchaseable 113 runs were needed off the last 24 deliveries and Arshdeep’s double-wicket over brought the hosts closer to sealing the formalities. Bennett put on a real show with the bat to test the bowlers but even his blinder could only push the total to 184/6. With this emphatic win, India not only kept their campaign alive but also regained their mojo before another must-win clash against the West Indies at Eden Gardens.Brief scores:India 256/4 in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 55, Hardik Pandya 50 not out; Sikandar Raza 1-29, Tinotenda Maposa 1-40)Zimbabwe 164/6 in 20 overs (Brian Bennett 99; Arshdeep Singh 3-24)

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Around 40 students from a gurukul school in Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur district have expressed disappointment after comedian-actor Rajpal Yadav did not meet or respond to them — despite their earlier gesture of sending him money collected from their pocket savings while he was in jail.According to authorities of Gurukul Seva Trust, the students had filled a piggy bank with money saved from their daily pocket expenses and sent it by post to Yadav’s ancestral village address in Kundra on February 21 as a token of support. Along with the savings, the children had enclosed an emotional letter expressing their wish to meet him after his release.

In a 29-second video that has now gone viral, the children can be heard saying, “Namaste Rajpal bhaiya, we have learnt that you have returned home after being released from jail. Congratulations to you. We all want to meet you and know whether you received the help we sent. If you did, why did you not respond to our letter? We are upset with you.”They further added that even if he could not meet them in person, he could have at least spoken to them to reassure them.Also See: After his bail in Rs 9 crore cheque bounce case, Rajpal Yadav calls himself ‘chalti phir cheque book’: ‘I earn money’

“I will definitely meet them, hug them and take photographs”

Responding to the video while speaking to PTI over the phone, Rajpal Yadav said he had only recently returned home and had not yet had the opportunity to properly spend time with his family.“As far as meeting the children is concerned, I was told they were from an orphanage. In my view, if children have an ashram, they are not orphans,” he said.When informed that the children were from a gurukul school, the actor clarified, “I am a person who believes in the guru tradition, and all those children are my own. I will definitely meet them, hug them and take photographs with them.”He also mentioned that he was in the process of gathering details about those who had extended help to him during his legal troubles.

Loan case linked to Ata Pata Lapata

Yadav, who hails from Shahjahanpur and is known for his comic roles in Hindi cinema, had taken a loan of Rs 5 crore in 2010 from Murli Projects Private Limited for his film Ata Pata Lapata. He was later sent to jail after failing to repay the loan.It was during that period that the students decided to send their small savings as a gesture of emotional support, school chairman Kumar Sagar told PTI, adding that some additional amount was also contributed before dispatching the piggy bank. Now, with the video circulating widely, the children await what they hope will be a warm meeting with the actor they supported during a difficult chapter of his life.