Ishan Kishan plays a shot during the T20 World Cup match against Pakistan in Colombo. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson delivered a blunt and telling verdict after his side’s crushing 61-run defeat to India in the T20 World Cup in Colombo, admitting that one fearless innings had effectively decided the contest long before the chase fell apart. Hesson said Kishan’s aggressive approach and rare form proved the decisive difference in the marquee clash, acknowledging that the opener’s brilliance had dismantled Pakistan’s plans on a challenging surface.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“I think he’s fearless. He’s able to score on both sides of the ground. So, he’s not just committed to the leg side. We know he’s incredibly strong there, but he can reverse. So, if you’ve got spin, especially in the power play, it can be a challenge,” Hesson said after the match.

Kishan’s breathtaking 77 off 40 balls powered India to 175 for seven, but more importantly, it broke the backbone of Pakistan’s spin-heavy strategy on a slow Premadasa Stadium pitch. He attacked the slower bowlers with authority, scoring 66 runs off 37 deliveries against spin and forcing Pakistan’s bowlers out of their comfort zone.Hesson admitted that pressure created by Kishan forced his bowlers away from their strengths and ultimately changed the course of the match. He noted that apart from Kishan and a brief contribution from Shivam Dube, scoring was difficult, underlining just how exceptional the knock was. “That certainly was a standout amongst the whole match, really. The way Kishan played took the game away from us,” Hesson said.

Pakistan’s problems deepened in the chase as they collapsed for just 114, never recovering after early wickets. The heavy defeat pushed them to third place in Group A, leaving their qualification hopes dependent on beating Namibia in their final league match.Hesson admitted the loss had hit the team hard emotionally, given the magnitude of the fixture. He said the dressing room was deeply disappointed because the players understood how much the match meant. “We know that it’s a huge event — Pakistan against India. We’ve won five games on the bounce, we’re confident, but today we got outplayed,” he said.Despite the setback, Hesson urged his players to stay composed and respond positively. He emphasised that major tournaments often test teams under pressure and that Pakistan’s challenge now was to trust their decision-making and return stronger. He said the key question was how players reacted when put under pressure, whether they stuck to their basics or moved away from them. According to him, improving that response would be crucial in the matches ahead.

NEW DELHI: Bharat Electronics Limited on Monday approved signing a Joint Venture Agreement with Safran Electronics & Defence, France, for the HAMMER weapon system project, formalising a 50:50 equity partnership between the two firms.The approval was granted at BEL’s board meeting, the company said in a stock exchange filing. The operationalisation of the joint venture will be subject to regulatory and administrative approvals in both India and France.Under the agreement, BEL and Safran will incorporate a private limited company under the Companies Act, 2013. The registered office and principal place of business will be located in Pune or any other mutually agreed location.The joint venture will operate a “Center of Excellence” to act as a technology and teaming partner for the manufacturing, supply, maintenance and repair of the Guidance Kit of the HAMMER weapon system. The primary end users will be the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy, while other Indian users may be included based on mutual agreement.The company will be incorporated with an initial authorised share capital of Rs 1,00,000, comprising 1,000 equity shares of Rs 100 each. This may be increased up to Rs 10,00,00,000 or any other amount depending on business requirements.

The board of the joint venture will consist of four directors, with two nominated by BEL and two by Safran. The Chairman will be appointed by the nominees and will not have a casting vote.Also read – ‘Hammer’: Used in Op Sindoor to crush Pakistan; India inks pact with France for homegrown hellfire – why the deal mattersThe move is expected to strengthen domestic technological capabilities in the production and lifecycle support of critical components of the HAMMER system, aligning with India’s push for greater indigenisation in defence manufacturing.

HAMMER Operation Sindoor: Precision strikes with flexibility and control

The Indian Air Force deployed HAMMER precision-guided weapons during Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, as part of calibrated cross-border strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.Operation Sindoor was launched in retaliation for the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22 that killed 26 civilians. Nine sites were struck, including Jaish-e-Mohammed’s base in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba’s hub in Muridke.Weapon selection was central to the operation. The IAF used a layered mix of SCALP cruise missiles, HAMMER precision-guided bombs and loitering munitions. Within this mix, HAMMER was used where flexibility and adaptability were essential.

Its modular design and multiple guidance options enabled tailored strikes based on target characteristics and real-time assessments. The system allowed stand-off engagement without requiring aircraft to fly directly over heavily defended areas. Its off-axis launch capability reduced exposure to air defence networks, particularly near populated and sensitive military zones.By pairing HAMMER with SCALP, the IAF demonstrated a layered strike doctrine, with SCALP targeting deep and hardened objectives and HAMMER engaging medium-range sites requiring precision and manoeuvrability.

What exactly is HAMMER and how it works in combat

HAMMER, short for Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range, officially designated AASM from the French Armement Air-Sol Modulaire, is a precision-guided air-to-ground stand-off weapon designed to bridge the gap between conventional bombs and cruise missiles.Despite often being described as a missile, HAMMER is fundamentally a guided bomb system. It consists of a standard unguided bomb fitted with modular guidance and propulsion kits, converting it into a high-precision strike weapon.The system has two core components. The first is a nose-mounted guidance section that determines navigation and targeting. Depending on mission needs, it can combine inertial navigation and GPS for all-weather strikes, infrared imaging for fixed targets, or laser guidance for engaging moving targets.

The second is a tail-mounted range extension kit with a solid-fuel rocket booster and manoeuvrable winglets. After release, the booster increases stand-off range while the winglets allow sharp turns and off-axis attacks. This enables aircraft to strike accurately while remaining outside heavily defended airspace.HAMMER kits can be attached to bombs weighing 125 kg, 250 kg, 500 kg and 1,000 kg, including Mark 80 series bombs. This scalability allows use against a spectrum of targets, from lightly protected structures to hardened bunkers.In operational settings, HAMMER offers modularity, manoeuvrability and precision, making it suited to modern air operations where flexibility and controlled escalation are key.

NEW DELHI: A 9-judge bench of Supreme Court will hear the pleas relating to discrimination against women at religious places, including Kerala‘s Sabarimala Temple.The hearing is set to begin April 7 and proposed to be concluded on April 22. The composition of the 9-judge bench will be notified by the Chief Justice of India separately through an administrative order.A bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi passed the orders on Monday for the listing of the reference before the 9-judge bench.“A nine judge bench shall commence hearing in these matters on April 7, 2026 (Tuesday) at 10:30 AM. The review petitioners or the parties supporting them shall be heard from April 7-9, April 2026. The original writ petitioners opposing the review petitioners shall be heard on April 14-16, 2026. The rejoinder submissions if any will be heard on April 21, 2026 followed by the final and concluding submissions by the learned amicus which is expected to be over by April 22. The parties shall adhere to the above time schedule,” the top court noted.“The nodal counsels in consultation with arguing counsel of the parties shall prepare the internal arrangement so that oral submissions from both sides can be heard within stipulated timeline” it added.Listed along with these were petitions relating to the issues of Muslim women’s entry in Dargah/mosques, entry of Parsi women in Fire Temples if they have married a non-Parsi, validity of the practices of excommunication and Female Genital Mutilation among Dawoodi Bohra community.In 2018, a Constitution Bench of the apex court, permitted the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, striking down the centuries-old practice that barred women between the ages of 10 and 50.Subsequently, a nine-judge Constitution Bench on February 10, 2020 upheld the decision of the Sabarimala Review Bench to refer to a larger Bench broad questions concerning the interplay between essential religious practices, equality, and constitutional morality across faiths.Centre along with other parties are supporting the review petitions, effectively challenging the 2018 ruling that allowed entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple.The original writ petitioners now respondents in the review proceedings, are opposing the review pleas and seeking to uphold the 2018 judgment.

In a high-octane clash that lived up to its billing, India extended their psychological edge over arch-rivals Pakistan with a commanding 61-run victory at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. This Match 27 of Group A, held on February 15, 2026, was more than just a win; it was a statement of intent as the Men in Blue officially secured their spot in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026. However, despite the celebratory atmosphere in the stands, the final moments on the field were marked by uncharacteristic tension between some of India’s senior players.

Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav rebuke Kuldeep Yadav

While the scorecard reflected a clinical performance, an unexpected visual emerged after Hardik Pandya scalped the final wicket to bowl out Pakistan for 114. As the Indian contingent gathered to celebrate their entry into the next round, the cameras caught Hardik looking visibly miffed. Instead of a standard high-five, he was seen reprimanding spinner Kuldeep Yadav. The intensity didn’t stop there; captain Suryakumar Yadav also approached Kuldeep, seemingly expressing his displeasure in a stern manner.

The friction reportedly stemmed from a lapse in the 18th over. Shaheen Afridi had launched a short delivery from Hardik toward the long-on boundary. Kuldeep, stationed right at the edge, appeared to have settled under the ball, but the catch fumbled through his fingers and over the ropes for a six.

The frustration shown by the leadership group highlights the high standards set for this World Cup campaign. Even as Rinku Singh stepped in to play the peacemaker and Tilak Varma looked on with concern, the message was clear: in a tournament of this magnitude, even a harmless dropped catch can be the difference between a trophy and a heartbreak.

Here’s the video:

Here is video of Hardik Pandya & Surya Kumar Yadav angry on Kuldeep Yadav #INDvsPAK #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/BsGCCprKNc

— cricketkayudh (@cricketkayudh) February 15, 2026

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Fans celebrate Ishan Kishan’s heroics as India hammer Pakistan to secure Super 8 spot

India’s dominant win against Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026

Despite the post-match drama, India’s performance was nothing short of a masterclass. After being put in to bat on a sluggish Colombo track, India lost Abhishek Sharma early for a duck. However, Ishan Kishan turned the tide with a blistering 77 off just 40 balls, dismantling the Pakistani pace attack and setting the foundation for a total of 175/7. Contributions from Suryakumar (32) and Shivam Dube (27) ensured India stayed well above the par score.

Pakistan’s chase never found its rhythm. Pandya set the tone by taking a wicket in his very first over, removing Sahibzada Farhan. The Indian bowling unit operated like a well-oiled machine. Pakistan was eventually bundled out for 114 in 18 overs, marking India’s 8th win in 9 T20 World Cup meetings against their neighbors. With three wins in three games, India moves to the top of Group A, while Pakistan now face a must-win scenario against Namibia to keep their tournament hopes alive.

Also WATCH: Hardik Pandya’s early blow rocks Pakistan as Sahibzada Farhan falls for duck during IND vs PAK T20 World Cup 2026 clash

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court rapped the divisional joint registrar, cooperative societies (Mumbai), for setting aside an order granting a man membership in a Peddar Road housing society.Justice Amit Borkar on Feb 9 said the authority under the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act is concerned with the membership regulation, and that it is not a civil court deciding succession disputes. “Therefore, the revisional authority exceeded its jurisdiction in setting aside the order of conferment of membership on grounds which fall outside the limited scope of such proceedings,” he added. In 1974, Pravinkumar Dave’s father nominated him, then a minor, for the flat and a garage in Alpana CHSL that was let out to a company. Dave’s father died a year later. In 2002, Dave wrote to the society to make him a member. But as the society did not accept his request, he approached the deputy registrar (D ward), who in Feb 2006 directed the society to confer membership on him. The society and a person claiming tenancy rights challenged the order in revision before the divisional joint registrar, who set it aside on the ground that the nomination form contained “overwriting” and held that in the “absence of an unimpeachable and undisputed” nomination document, Dave could not be granted membership. Dave’s advocate, Satyavan Vaishnav, said that out of ten legal heirs, six issued no-objection supporting Dave. One had predeceased, two did not object. Only one objected to Dave’s claim. Justice Borkar said the legal position of a nominee was settled. In 2016, the Supreme Court made it clear that nomination does not create ownership in favour of the nominee. It enables the society or authority to deal with one identified person after the member’s death.Justice Borkar noted that Dave’s father left no will. “In such a situation, succession opens in favour of all ten legal representatives in accordance with the personal law applicable to them,” he explained. The record showed “the majority of the heirs” supported Dave.The order granting membership was not challenged by the objecting heir, but by the society and a person claiming to be a tenant.” “A tenant has no locus (standi) to question the internal arrangement among legal heirs regarding membership of the society,” said Justice Borkar. The society also did not dispute Dave’s eligibility under the Act or byelaws. “In such circumstances, the revisional authority ought not to have interfered with the order granting membership, particularly when the dispute, if any, was essentially inter se between legal heirs,” said Justice Borkar. He quashed and set aside the order.

Nicolas Keenan (left) with Rob Jetten and (pic right) the Argentine midfielder during the Paris Olympics. (Credit: Instagram)

Nicolas Keenan, Argentina hockey star and partner of Dutch PM-elect, Rob Jetten, reflects on navigating LGBTQ+ identity in the world of international sportROURKELA: In the keenly-viewed, often-forbidding, rough and tumble world of international sports, it takes courage coming out. Argentina midfielder Nicolas Keenan is among the few openly gay players in men’s hockey. The two-time Olympian came out publicly about his sexuality sometime around 2023, when his relationship with Dutch politician Rob Jetten became public.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Leader of the centrist liberal party Democrats 66, Jetten is set to become the youngest prime minister of the Netherlands when his government will be sworn in later this month.Keenan, a regular face on the international hockey turfs of India — the 2016 junior World Cup his first stint here, currently playing the ongoing FIH Pro League — opened up to TOI on what it means to be a professional player from the LGBTQ+ community, FIH’s lack of recognition and how he sees himself as someone who can bring about change in society. Excerpts from an exclusive interview:How does it feel to be part of the LGBTQ+ community as a hockey player, especially since not many players are open about it?Before saying it out loud, it felt a little bit lonely because as you said, not many players were there that I could look up to. But when I started to explain my story, I began getting lots of messages from people in similar situations in hockey, other sports and different walks of life. So, it felt that the community was really supportive and that I was not alone on my journey.Several players, including Nike Lorenz, Mats Grambusch and Kaitlin Nobbs, have worn rainbow bands during matches. How important are symbols like these?I think symbols are important. I wish when I was growing up as a young hockey player, I had more of these around. But even now, as an experienced player, I feel there is a lot of work to be done. It’s nice to see and visualise these symbols, but at the same time, they can feel quite superficial in some ways.How can international sports federations, and the FIH in particular, do more to support the community?If you talk about FIH (International Hockey Federation), I really don’t know who FIH is. I wish I would have heard from them the moment my story came out, but I’ve never been reached. But other federations have reached out to me and I think it’s really important that federations in general try to create safe environments where people feel safe enough to be their true selves.What kind of response did you get from the Argentine and Dutch federations where you play club hockey for HC Klein Zwitserland?The president of the Argentinian federation was the minister that passed the law of equal marriage in Argentina. So, he was one of the first to text me. The Dutch federation has a special group that works on these kinds of issues. They always ask me how they can do better. But I tell them, don’t put all the weight on your shoulders, because it’s not just about the federation or the sport. There need to be changes in society. It’s something deeper.How does it feel to be in a position to inspire others?At the beginning, I was shy. But after I started receiving messages from people saying, ‘You made my day’ or ‘I can finally look up to someone’, I spoke with my partner. It was tricky at first because it made me sad to see so many people going through difficult situations. But after that conversation, I realised that if I can change someone’s day, it also makes mine. It’s not about becoming a figure or trying to reach a certain status. It’s about that young kid who might not even notice it now, but in 10 or 15 years might think, ‘Oh, Nico was there’.Could you tells us a bit about Rob Jetten, your partner, who is going to be the youngest PM in the Netherlands?As a young kid his passion was politics and to help people. So, it’s inspiring to see how he made his way being himself till he reached the top. Even if we come from two completely separate worlds, sports and politics, we have some similarities. Being with him inspired me to be myself and knowing that no matter who I am, who I love, I can still reach the top and be the best version of myself.And what it was like being in Buenos Aires in your youth and how did sport play a role in your growing up?We have a big club culture in Argentina. So, I played for the club Ciudad de Buenos Aires where my parents and grandparents played. It was a safe environment where my parents would just drop me off and I would be there the whole weekend playing different sports, mainly hockey. It’s where I made friends. So, sports for me feels like home. It feels like a safe space I can be in.

MUMBAI: Six more accused have been arrested in connection with the firing incident outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s house on Monday.The individuals were apprehended from Rajasthan and are being brought to Mumbai, the Mumbai Crime Branch said, according to news agency ANI.“A total of 11 people have been arrested so far,” officials added.

Earlier, the five accused were produced before a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court on Wednesday.The Mumbai Police have invoked sections of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), suspecting an organised crime network is behind the attack. The court remanded all five accused to police custody until February 17.Following the invocation of MCOCA, defence advocate Ajinkya Mirgal said, “MCOCA has been added today…They( police) said in the court that the weapon recovered from accused number one, Sakat, was given to him by Praveen Lonkar, who is involved in the Baba Siddique murder case and has been in jail for one and a half years. We stated that he has been in jail for a year and a half. When and how did he get the weapon? This possibility seems a little doubtful to us.”The arrests follow the February 1 incident when Mumbai Police apprehended four individuals shortly after assailants fired four rounds outside Shetty’s residence. They were sent to police custody. The fifth accused was arrested on February 5 and produced before the court along with the others.After the hearing, the judge remanded them to police custody until February 11, 2026, citing the seriousness of the offence and the criminal conspiracy. The court also noted the need for a detailed investigation and joint interrogation and ordered custody of the five accused. During the hearing, police informed the court that a social media post had claimed responsibility for the incident.Police said the accused communicated via the Signal app to maintain secrecy and are seeking additional deleted chats with Shubham Lonkar. They requested maximum custody for the four individuals previously arrested and a 10-day custody for the fifth accused, Asaram Fasle alias Babu.The Mumbai Crime Branch’s investigation revealed that the accused weapon supplier, Asaram Fasle, had been working as a garage mechanic for the Bishnoi gang for the past four years. He joined the gang under the influence of Shubham Lonkar, alleged to be the mastermind behind both the Baba Siddique murder case and the Rohit Shetty firing incident, police said.The Crime Branch claims that Fasle, on Lonkar’s instructions, handed over weapons to Swapnil Sakat, which were later used by the unidentified shooter in the firing.For the first accused, his lawyer argued that he was not present at the scene during the incident and was arrested on circumstantial evidence. He also stated that there is no established link between the accused and Shubham Lonkar.

India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav, right, and Ishan Kishan celebrate against Pakistan (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

NEW DELHI: India crushed Pakistan by 61 runs to secure a place in the Super 8s stage of the T20 World Cup on Sunday. Ishan Kishan starred with a brilliant 77, helping India reach 175/7, before the bowlers dismissed Pakistan for just 114 in 18 overs.After qualifying, India captain Suryakumar Yadav praised his team and said, “I think this is for India,” adding, “Batting first was (the) better option on this wicket.”

He also praised Kishan’s knock, saying, “Ishan thought outside the box. After we were 0-1, someone had to take responsibility and the way he took it was amazing.”With the win, India have qualified for the Super 8s. Their schedule in the next round includes matches against South Africa, one of Zimbabwe or Australia, and West Indies, as they continue their title defence.India’s matches in Super 8s of T20 World Cup 2026

However, before beginning their journey in the Super 8s, Team India will play against Netherlands on Wednesday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad On Sunday, Pakistan’s chase fell apart quickly. They lost three wickets in the first two overs, including captain Salman Agha and opener Sahibzada Farhan. When Babar Azam was bowled for five, Pakistan were in deep trouble. Usman Khan tried to fight back with 44, but once he was stumped, the rest of the batting collapsed.Earlier in the match, the two captains again avoided shaking hands at the toss, continuing a pattern seen in the Asia Cup last year. The match itself was confirmed only days earlier after political uncertainty about Pakistan’s participation.Kishan played fearlessly, scoring his fifty in just 27 balls and attacking the bowlers all around the ground. His innings gave India a strong base, and the bowlers made sure Pakistan never came close in the chase.