Ishan Kishan plays a shot during an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and Pakistan, at R Premadasa Stadium, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (PTI Photo)

TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: On a surface where timing was a luxury and survival itself felt like an act of resistance, Ishan Kishan produced one of the most belligerent innings of the ongoing T20 World Cup. Against Pakistan, on a R Premadasa Stadium pitch that gripped, turned and repeatedly forced batters to check their strokes, Kishan played an innings that lifted India to 175 for 7.The left-hander scored a stroke-filled 77 off 40 balls, while the rest of the Indian batters managed only 98 runs off 80 deliveries.From the very start, the signs were unmistakable. When Shaheen Afridi dug one in short, Kishan swivelled and sent it soaring into the stands. It was not reckless bravado. It was intent. With purchase for the spinners, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha opened the bowling himself and got rid of Abhishek Sharma, the batter everyone was talking about before the match.What transpired was a four-ball duck for Abhishek, who is yet to open his account in the T20 World Cup. Salman’s decision to open the bowling turned out to be a masterstroke. After three dot balls, Abhishek decided to go for a hoick, but the delivery was not there to pull and he miscued it to mid-on, where Shaheen completed an easy catch.Kishan understood early that Pakistan wanted the surface to do the damage. His answer was to stay ahead of it.Spin arrived quickly, and with it came the real examination. The off-spin of Salman Ali Agha and Saim Ayub found turn straightaway, with the ball holding up and deviating sharply off a length. Kishan responded not by retreating into defence, but by expanding his options. Sweeps, slog-sweeps, reverse hits and inside-out strokes flowed in succession, forcing Pakistan’s fielders into constant recalibration.The fifty came off just 27 balls, pumped straight back over the bowler’s head, and it told a story larger than numbers. This was Kishan batting with clarity, reading lengths early and trusting his hands even when his feet were not always planted. At one point, a possible cramp on right leg did little to slow him down. If anything, it sharpened his resolve.Against Abrar Ahmed’s googlies, Kishan showed rare adaptability. When the length was full, he went straight. When it was short, he rocked back and pierced the gaps. Even mistimed strokes fell safe, a testament to how deep Pakistan were forced to set their field. The message was clear. Defensive lines would not work.The most brutal phase came against Shadab Khan. A floated delivery on middle disappeared into the crowd via a ferocious slog-sweep. Another drifted down leg and was punished behind square. Pakistan’s plan of strangling India in the middle overs was being dismantled ball by ball.What made the innings stand out was not just the strokeplay, but the context. This was not a flat track designed for excess. The pitch demanded patience, yet Kishan refused to be trapped by it. He understood that in a high-pressure India-Pakistan contest, momentum matters as much as runs. Every boundary dented belief, every six silenced Pakistani fans in the stands.His dismissal, fittingly, came through craft rather than force. Saim Ayub slowed it down, drew Kishan across the crease and let the surface do the rest. The ball gripped, turned and clipped the top of middle and leg. Pakistan celebrated with visible relief.But, by then, the damage was done.Kishan walked back to a standing ovation, his 77 off 40 balls having completely altered the trajectory of the innings. On a pitch where run accumulation felt like wading through sand, he had sprinted. In a match where margins are thin and conditions often dictate terms, this was an innings that stood apart. It was fearless without being reckless, aggressive without being careless. More than anything, it was a reminder that in the biggest games, the bravest batters do not wait for conditions to improve. They bend them to their will.

In a spectacular debut, Shahid Kapoor’s ‘O’ Romeo’ has shattered expectations at the Indian box office, amassing Rs 30.15 crore over its opening weekend. This romantic drama, though met with varied audience feedback on its narrative, has achieved a global total of Rs 40.6 crore. Read on to know more.

Shahid Kapoor‘s ‘O’ Romeo’ has been released in theaters and is receiving a mixed response from the audience. While the audience is praising the performances by lead stars Shahid and Triptii Dimri, the story of the film failed to impress them. As the movie opened to a good number at the box office, let’s take a look at its Day 3 collections and how much it will earn on Day 4.

‘O’ Romeo’ box office collection Day 3 (first Sunday)

The Vishal Bhardwaj film raked in Rs 8.5 crore on its debut day at the theaters. The second day—Valentine’s Day—witnessed a jump in its collections, earning Rs 12.65 crore. And now, according to the Sacnilk report, the movie has minted Rs 9 crore on its Day 3 since its release.

‘O’ Romeo’ box office collection Day 4 LIVE (today)

This section will be updated as soon as the numbers are available for the day.

Total and worldwide collection

With that, the total box office collection of the romantic revenge drama in India is Rs 30.15 crore. Meanwhile, as per the same report, the worldwide earnings of the movie stand at Rs 40.6 crore.

Day-wise collection (India)

Day 1 [1st Friday]: Rs 8.5 croreDay 2 [1st Saturday]: Rs 12.65 croreDay 3 [1st Sunday]: Rs 9.00 croreDay 3 [1st Monday]: Rs (will be updated)Total: Rs 30.15 crore (This number will increase as the day progresses)

Occupancy

According to the report, the Vishal Bhardwaj directorial, ‘O’ Romeo’, witnessed an overall 18.96% Hindi occupancy on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

More about ‘O’Romeo’

Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, the film stars Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri in the lead roles as Ustara and Afsha Qureshi, respectively. The film also features Nana Patekar, Avinash Tiwary, Tamannaah Bhatia, Disha Patani, Vikrant Massey, Farida Jalal, and Rahul Deshpande.Apart from directing, Vishal Bhardwaj has also composed the music for the film.The movie is based on Hussain Zaidi’s book, ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’. It was released in theaters on February 16, 2026.

PATHANAMTHITTA: Ten-month-old Aalin Sherin Abraham, the youngest organ donor in the state, was laid to rest with full state honours in the presence of a large gathering at Nedungadappally St Thomas CSI Church on Sunday evening.Declared brain-dead last Friday, Aalin gifted life to four children. Her liver, kidneys, corneas and heart valves were donated, turning a family’s immeasurable loss into hope for others. She suffered critical injuries in a road accident on Feb 5 while travelling in a car with her parents and relatives in Kottayam.Earlier in the morning, a steady stream of people made their way to Valumannil House at Nedungadappally near Mallapally to pay their respects to Aalin and her parents, Arun Abraham and Sherin Ann John, who chose to donate their daughter’s organs in an extraordinary act of generosity.Aalin’s body was brought home around 7.45 am and placed in a tiny coffin on a bed of jasmine. People from all walks of life gathered to offer condolences, as her grief-stricken parents and relatives sat beside her.Ministers Veena George and V N Vasavan, MP Suresh Gopi and several other public representatives visited the house to pay homage. Many travelled from different parts of the state after learning of the couple’s decision, filling both the house and later the church in a collective tribute to a life that, though brief, touched many.The toddler’s body was taken to the church by 3 pm, where a packed gathering assembled to bid her farewell. Aalin’s grandfather, Reji Samuel, addressed the mourners with an emotional message, saying the family found solace in knowing that four other children were given a new lease of life. “When my son told me about the decision to donate my granddaughter’s organs, I agreed. People asked if I felt pain. Yes, the pain is there, but I stood by my children’s decision. We lost our baby, who was with us for 20 months — 10 months in the womb and another 10 months on earth — but we gained four children. Our baby returned after fulfilling the duty entrusted to her even before she was born. God took her back after she fulfilled the purpose of her birth,” he said.Chandran, grandfather of Shreya, who received Aalin’s kidneys, also paid homage at the house. “I met the angel for the last time. She gave a new life to my granddaughter, who is recuperating well after the surgery. I am a grandfather, and I know the excruciating pain Aalin’s family is going through. I came here to share in their grief,” he said.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday cited the global context to argue in favour of modernising India’s defence sector, while calling upon the private sector to step up its act and share the gains with workers and shareholders.“Since Day 1, our govt has been clear we will do whatever it takes to support our defence forces and strengthen them. Yes, this year’s allocation is a record high, but viewing it in isolation only provides a limited perspective…As technology reshapes the world, our armed forces must be equipped with the best of Indian innovation and industry. As a nation that is playing an increasingly important role in the world, we have a duty to modernise our defence sector in line with current realities,” PM Modi told PTI in an interview.The comments come in the backdrop of an increasingly-fragile world, which is undergoing a shift in the power equations with the US and China seeking to stamp their expansionist policies, while conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia have been going on with no immediate resolution in sight. India has to contend with hostilities in the neighbourhood with cyber technology adding to challenges.The PM referred to Operation Sindoor, which showed India’s familiarisation with the tech warfare.

Trade deals part of global integration: PMThe entire nation is proud of the courage shown by our armed forces during Operation Sindoor. During the operation, one could see the benefits of the reforms we have undertaken in the last decade. Therefore, defence budgets, modernisation, etc, all these are parts of our continuous effort and need not be linked to any particular issue. Yes, the reality is that our nation has to be strong and be prepared at all times, and that is what we are doing,” PM Modi said.Asked about the recent trade agreements, the PM said that they have been part of India’s global integration with the world, which has picked pace in recent times. Asserting that the recent deals — from the UK to the EU — have been in the pipeline for years and will help Indian producers diversify their markets besides opening opportunities for service professionals.“These trade agreements are significant not merely because of tariff reductions but because of supply-chain integration and market access in advanced economies. They gradually liberalise manufacturing tariffs, deepen services integration and create new avenues for labour-intensive exports such as textiles, footwear, electronics and engineering goods. In that sense, they support structural transformation rather than simply boosting headline trade numbers. These FTAs also anchor domestic reform to external commitments. They widen export opportunities, reduce tariff disadvantages relative to competitors, and integrate Indian firms more deeply into global value chains,” the PM said. PM Modi also called on the private sector for a “decisive response” to the govt’s reforms, for which he redoubled his vow.

“Indian firms must invest more aggressively in research and development, adopt frontier technologies, deepen supply-chain capabilities and compete on quality and productivity rather than on protected margins. Incentives and tariff preferences can catalyse growth, but durable competitiveness must rest on innovation, efficiency and scale. Equally, as productivity rises, the gains must be shared fairly between workers, shareholders and owner-managers. Sustainable growth requires social legitimacy. Rising real wages, skill upgrading, and stable employment reinforce domestic demand and social cohesion, which, in turn, support long-term investment,” he said.Asked about the Budget’s emphasis on women, PM said welfare of women guided every govt decision. “…it is a matter of national pride that our finance minister, Nirmala Ji has presented the Budget nine consecutive times, which is a record and a matter of pride in itself. Several women across India feel inspired by this,” he said.While listing out several initiatives in the Budget, the PM made special reference to the announcement related to hostels. “Many girls drop out not because of a lack of talent, but because commuting long distances to labs and late study hours are difficult. This intervention directly addresses that constraint.”Further, PM Modi said the steps related to training of Allied Health Professionals, which will benefit women. “Women have always been at the centre of caregiving, but this is largely in the informal sector. By training 1.5 lakh caregivers next year and expanding institutions for Allied Health Professionals, with a target of 1 lakh trained over 5 years, we are embarking on a large-scale effort to formalise care work. This does two things: it creates dignified, certified employment for women and simultaneously strengthens India’s healthcare capacity.”

Tamil Nadu is drawing tourists in droves, and welcoming private players to scale up the sector. The state is now experimenting with the public-private partnership (PPP) model in tourism big time. In line with this, the state govt recently signed 127 MoUs worth more than `22,700 crore with private players. The investments are spread across amusement parks, adventure tourism, sports and recreation, ropeway circuits, luxury hotels and resorts. The potential has piqued global interest with Vietnam-based conglomerate Vingroup, which manufactures VinFast EVs at Tuticorin, exploring multiple locations in TN to set up amusement parks and resorts.The development comes amid industries and the finance dept coordinating with the tourism dept to promote the sector. While SIPCOT, under the industries department, is identifying locations to be developed into well-equipped tourist destinations that can be allotted to investors in hospitality, the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board (TNIDB), part of the finance dept, is exploring projects with tourism potential.

The govt is structuring PPP projects to engage the private sector proactively and has started off with Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC), says Pooja Kulkarni, CEO, TNIDB. Glow Garden in Mamallapuram, inaugurated a week ago and a floating restaurant at Muttukadu on ECR are among the successful examples in this regard. The modeling of a PPP project involves risk-sharing between two partners in a way that balances delivery of facilities or services and risk management between the govt, authority, and PPP partner. “There are several projection mappings across India executed under the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) combined with operations & maintenance (O&M) model, wherein a private sector partner merely delivers some output. But, PPP models we are executing comprises an investment component from the private partner. It gives the partner a right into the project revenues. So, the partner has the opportunity to see upsides. At the same time, the govt has an upside since much of the initial risk is being taken by the govt that includes initial investments. Continued engagement drives the private sector partner,” she says. Noting that bids have been launched for four camping sites that include Yelagiri, Jawadhu, and Kolli hills, she says, “We welcome the private sector to participate and develop them.” Steps are being taken to identify five or six heritage buildings under maintenance of Public Works Department and explore the possibility of converting them into heritage hotels involving private hospitality players. “We have started identifying the structures,” she adds.According to Kulkarni, Guidance Tamil Nadu, the govt’s nodal agency for investment promotion, is getting into tourism promotion, which now has a tourism desk. “Tourism itself has been classified as an industry,” she says.The govt’s focus is private participation in our tourism initiatives and that’s the reason for signing 127 MoUs, says Commissioner of tourism, and TTDC MD Innocent Divya. “We are looking at promoting cultural and heritage circuits and adventure tourism. Tamil Nadu Maritime Board is coming up with cruise tourism initiatives. Tourists visiting heritage sites will also explore adventure tourism. The idea is to increase number of days that a tourist visits the state. For the first time, we are engaging private sector in a big way to leverage their expertise.” Pointing out that the efforts are part of Tamil Nadu Tourism Policy 2023 that offers incentives for investors in projects that are categorised as A, B and C, she said, the profit sharing ratio will be decided on these projects.South India hotels and restaurants association (SIHRA) honorary secretary T Nataraajan said, hotels are witnessing a rise in occupancy and the number of keys should be increased to cater to this demand. “The TN govt should offer land for tourism projects on a long-term lease for 99 years at concessional rates,” he adds. Tourist arrivals to TN stood at 28.7 crore during calendar year 2023, which includes both domestic and international travellers. In 2024, this increased to 30.8 crore, wherein TN ranked second, in domestic tourist arrivals.Vikram Cotah, CEO, GRT hotels & resorts observed that PPP models must be viewed from the perspective of destination-making models. “We should make destinations involving the govt, private players and the local communities. One in every 10 people globally works in tourism, hospitality or related sectors. When you put up a hotel, it creates five other ancillary streams such as arts and crafts, street food, entertainment and guides, and these offer indirect jobs. PPP in sustainable eco tourism projects can also be explored,” he says.P Asoka, president of approved tour guides association, Chennai says, Rajasthan and Goa have successfully rolled out their PPP models in hospitality and chartered flights respectively. “A foreign tourist visiting TN as part of a group stays for an average of nine days and spends $200-$250 every day that includes hotels, travel and shopping, while an overseas backpacker explores the state for one month, spending an average of $50 a day. Tourism is dominated by the private sector with nearly 90% share. Exploring PPP in a big way now will generate huge revenue and employment opportunities,” he adds.

Ishan Kishan, on Sunday (February 15), played a stunning knock with the bat to put India in the driver’s seat against Pakistan in the 27th match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

While batsmen from both the teams struggled to play their shots on a sluggish and slow pitch at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Ishan Kishan played a blinder. Even though Abhishek Sharma was out for a duck, the wicketkeeper-batsman played his usual aggressive game and smashed a whirlwind fifty to put India on the front foot.

Also Read: Shivam Dube furious at Rinku Singh after being Run Out against Pakistan

Your daily dose of cricket!

Ishan Kishan smashed blazing fifty:

Ishan Kishan got going with a stunning six off Shaheen Afridi in the second over of the innings and did not look back after that. He played the big shots right from the start on a tough pitch and went on to hit a record 27-ball fifty. His 27-ball fifty is now also the fastest fifty in a India vs Pakistan match in the T20 World Cup.

He eventually scored 77 runs off just 40 balls. His impressive knock was studded with 10 fours and 3 sixes. No other Indian batter could score more than 32 runs in the innings. Thanks to Kishan’s knock, India posted a challenging total of 175/7 in the allotted 20 overs.

Mohammed Siraj’s heartwarming gesture for Ishan Kishan:

A heartwarming incident was witnessed when Kishan was receiving treatment on the field during his knock. In the 8th over of the innings, he played a reverse sweep against Shadab Khan and seemingly hurt his knee as he fell awkwardly.

While he was lying on the ground and getting treated, a beautiful moment of sportsmanship stood out thanks to Mohammed Siraj. The Indian pacer was not a part of the playing eleven for the match and walked out with the drinks while Kishan was down.

India outplay Pakistan:

Talking about the match, India completely outplayed Pakistan to extend their winning run and seal a place in the next round. The reigning champions thrashed Pakistan by 61 runs to register their third win in a row. Chasing 176 runs, Pakistan never looked in contention and were eventually all out for just 114 runs.

Hardik Pandya gave India a strong start by dismissing Sahibzada Farhan in the very first over before Jasprit Bumrah sent back Saim Ayub and Salman Agha in the second over. Pakistan just could not recover from those early setbacks and kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Usman Tariq of Pakistan (Getty Images)

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez believes the buzz surrounding spinner Usman Tariq could give his team a mental edge over India ahead of their T20 World Cup clash in Colombo on Sunday. Tariq’s unconventional bowling has sparked widespread debate, with some fans even questioning the legality of his action. Hafeez, however, framed this attention as a strategic benefit, claiming it has unsettled the Indian side. “From a cricketing perspective, the hype around Usman Tariq is already a psychological victory for us. Right now, no one is talking about Babar Azam or anyone else. The focus is entirely on Tariq. He’s played just one or two matches for Pakistan, yet imagine the panic he’s causing in the Indian camp. They are specifically practicing against him in their sessions,” Hafeez told Tapmad.

He added, “How often do you see this much discussion about a single player? The media, fans, and the world are thinking not just about the match result, but about what Usman Tariq might do tomorrow.” Hafeez praised Tariq’s temperament, insisting the 28-year-old has the ability to turn games on his own. He advised Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha to deploy Tariq aggressively, warning that defensive use would limit his impact. “I want to see how positively Salman Agha makes decisions and how he uses Usman Tariq. If he’s used defensively, nothing will work. You need an attacking mindset. Even the sixth over can be crucial, usually bowled by your most impactful player,” Hafeez explained. “Planning around Tariq is key. If he’s used in an attacking zone, he can be very effective. I’m not saying Abrar, Nawaz, or Shadab won’t matter, but right now, all eyes are on Usman Tariq,” he concluded.

COLOMBO: It was barely five minutes after the match was over at the Premadasa Stadium on Sunday when Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube were back in the middle, bowling on the practice pitches. No over-the-top celebrations, no outpouring of emotions, just a sense of another routine victory against a Pakistan team that India don’t think are their match at the moment.The 61-run win, the fourth on the bounce after their hat-trick of victories against their once arch-rivals in the Asia Cup, have now ensured a Super-8 spot for India. A lot had happened in the build-up to this game and even on Sunday, the much-anticipated handshakes between the captains didn’t happen.While the unease off the pitch persisted, India were just too much when the ball rolled. Even a few months ago, Ishan Kishan (77 off 40 balls) wasn’t even close to a spot in the Indian T20 team. But now that he is there, the 27-year old is proving that he can give his teammate Abhishek Sharma a run for his money as the best T20 opener in the world.Abhishek’s early dismissal on a slow Premadasa track could have been a big blow, but not when Ishan was in the form that he is in. The Pakistan bowlers were dealt with disdain and the cuts and sweeps that the Jharkhand boy unleashed took India to 52 runs in the first six overs, which was at least 20 over par on this track.“The pitch was not that easy. Sometimes, you just have to believe and focus on your strengths. I was just watching the ball, sticking to my strengths and making them run as much as possible,” Man of the Match Kishan said at the end of the match.After his exit, India showed smartness to reach a total of 175 against some quality spin, pushing Pakistan into taking tremendous risks right at the beginning of their chase.They were not up for it with Jasprit Bumrah (2-17) and Hardik Pandya (2-16) doing the early damage. The spinners, who bowled 18 of Pakistan’s 20 overs, came into play for India only after the pacemen had all but sealed the deal.“This is for India. We played the brand of cricket we wanted to play. We thought 175 was 15-20 runs over par — 155 would have made it a very tight game,” captain Surya Kumar Yadav said, as the thousands of touring Indian fans went home a happy lot.This story continues on page 17 in the newspaper. For your reading convenience we have added it below.Jaishankar on Russia ties: Firmly wedded to strategic autonomyNew Delhi: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said India remains firmly committed to strategic autonomy, even as the global energy markets evolve and partnerships shift. He was responding to a question at the Munich Security Conference whether a recent trade agreement with the US would affect New Delhi’s energy ties with Russia and if India was finding it difficult to exercise its strategic autonomy in the current circumstances.India maintains its energy policy is driven by national interests and the actual crude sourcing is done by oil companies taking into account pricing, reliability and other market conditions.“We are very much wedded to strategic autonomy because it’s a part of our history and our evolution. It’s something which is very deep, and something which cuts across the political spectrum as well,” he said.Addressing concerns over energy sourcing, the EAM described the global oil market as complex and dynamic, stressing that commercial considerations guide procurement decisions.“As for energy issues, this is a complex market today. Oil companies in India, as in Europe, as probably in other parts of the world, look at availability, look at costs, look at risks and take the decisions that they feel are in their best interest,” he noted.Jaishankar said that in a rapidly changing global environment, countries continuously reassess their calculations and partnerships.“So many things are changing, and so many of us are doing our calculations and recalculations,” he said, adding while India may not agree with all partners on every issue, dialogue and a willingness to find common ground remain important.“We would not necessarily agree on everything but I do believe that by doing that, and if there is an inclination to find common ground and overlaps, that would happen,” he said.Noting India’s independent decision-making, he said, “If the bottom line of your question is would I remain independent-minded and make my decisions? And would I make choices which sometimes may not agree with your thinking or somebody else’s thinking, yes, it can happen.”He met with G7 foreign ministers and their global counterparts at the Munich Security Conference 2026, reiterating India’s support for the UN80 agenda and underscoring New Delhi’s role in safeguarding global security.Jaishankar also stressed on India’s role in safeguarding sea lines of communication, acting as a first responder in crises, strengthening port security and contributing to resilient submarine cable infrastructure.