India won their Super 8 match against Zimbabwe in Chennai by 72 runs. All-rounder Hardik Pandya said it was ‘it was a good game to continue the rhythm’ as India aim for a semi-final spot.India batted first, and the top-order players gave a strong start.

Hardik Pandya was named Player of the Match for his excellent all-round performance. He scored an unbeaten 50 off 23 balls and then bowled 3 overs for just 21 runs.After taking his award during the post-match presentation, Pandya said, “Pretty happy. It sounds 23-ball-50, but I think I had to reassess the situation as well. I felt I was trying to hit too hard. And just in the game, I realised, I think I can time the ball and hit sixes as well. It was a good game to continue the rhythm because I feel a couple of games I had, I could not do what I wanted to do.”When asked if he was following the earlier game between South Africa and West Indies, Pandya said, “Obviously, we all were keeping an eye. Now it’s all about playing good cricket, backing your skill set, absorbing the pressure, and making sure that you put the best foot forward. So yeah, definitely we were keeping an eye, but at the same point of time, once the game got over, we focused on the fact that this is our game. We need to focus on this.“Chasing a big target of 257 runs, Zimbabwe managed 184/6 in 20 overs. Brian Bennett played brilliantly, scoring an unbeaten 97 off 59 balls.Hardik Pandya didn’t take any wickets but bowled 3 economical overs for just 21 runs.Talking about his bowling, Pandya said, “Pretty good, I think. I like bowling with the new ball. It swings. I mean, God has been kind. I have the skillset of bowling inswing and outswing. So I really enjoy. I think it gives me the opportunity to take wickets as well. It challenges the batter as well. So yeah, pretty satisfied. I still have to bowl my one over, which I’m going to go after this.”Now, India will play their last Super 8 match against the West Indies on Sunday, while Zimbabwe will face South Africa in Delhi, aiming for a consolatory win.Brief Scores: India: 256/4 (Abhishek Sharma 55, Hardik Pandya 50*, Blessing Muzarabani 1/43) beat Zimbabwe: 184/6 in 20 overs (Brian Bennett 97*, Sikandar Raza 31, Arshdeep Singh 3/24).

NEW DELHI: The Times of India’s flagship Uttarakhand Transformation Dialogues 2026 brought together policymakers, academics and industry leaders in Dehradun on Friday, with a sharp focus on the state’s next phase of growth.Among the key sessions was a fireside chat featuring scientist and author Anand Ranganathan, who spoke on the theme “Digital Education, Governance & Public Reason”. The session explored how digital platforms, education and governance shape public discourse and policy outcomes.The larger event, organised by The Times of India, aims to create collaboration between government, industry and civil society.

Public reasoning has increased in the digital era

Opening the discussion, the moderator asked whether the scope of public reasoning in society has grown or shrunk in the digital age.Ranganathan was clear in his response.“It has certainly increased. There is no two ways about it,” he said.Recalling the 1970s and 1980s, he noted that earlier generations had very limited avenues to respond to opinions published in newspapers or aired on radio and television.“If we didn’t like it, the only option was to roll up the newspaper and fling it against the wall. On rare occasions, you would write a letter to the editor. I had one published once,” he said, adding that there was a sense of frustration in not being heard.In contrast, he described today’s environment as a “problem of plenty”, where people have multiple platforms to voice their views. While acknowledging that extremes can be disruptive, he said he would prefer a noisy democracy over enforced silence.

Labels, ideology and the Left–Right debate

The conversation then moved to whether society is becoming overly opinionated, forming views before facts.Ranganathan argued that political labels are often imposed rather than clearly defined. In the Indian context, he said, Western definitions of Left and Right do not neatly apply.“In India, one can perhaps define the Left, but it’s very difficult to define the Right. In fact, in many domains, I consider the BJP a left-wing party, economically, it is certainly left-wing,” he remarked.He added that labels can sometimes simplify arguments by giving people a sense of belonging to an ideological group. “It’s convenient,” he said, noting that he has learnt to accept such labels in “the right spirit”.

Popularity versus truth in public discourse

Asked whether he faces pressure to adopt popular positions rather than factual ones, Ranganathan said he has consistently relied on a scientific approach since he began writing and appearing in public debates in 2008.“I have always looked at everything through the lens of science. If you do that, you can never go wrong,” he said.He admitted that public reactions often fluctuate. “People love what I say when it conforms to their thinking. The next day, they troll me because I’ve said something they disagree with. That happens almost every day.”

On corruption and selective narratives

Referring to debates around textbook references to judicial corruption, Ranganathan argued that institutions should not be shielded from scrutiny.“Is there corruption in the judiciary? It’s not me saying it, former Chief Justices have acknowledged it,” he said, adding that if students are being educated about institutions, they should understand the “full picture”.However, he cautioned against selective criticism. “If you talk about corruption, talk about it everywhere. Don’t be selective,” he said, pointing out that corruption is discussed in politics, science, medicine and sports.He also criticised what he described as a tendency in the media to portray current problems as unprecedented.“Science teaches you to ask, has this happened before? Look at the data before drawing conclusions,” he said, urging comparisons across states and over time before assigning blame.

Digital media, misinformation and bias

On the role of digital media in spreading both information and misinformation, Ranganathan said eliminating misinformation entirely is unrealistic.“You can’t eliminate misinformation entirely. It happens naturally,” he said.He argued that exposure to diverse viewpoints is the best corrective. Drawing an example from children of civil servants who move across states and encounter different narratives, he said, such mobility often gives them a more balanced understanding.“The only way to circumvent bias is to know the other opinion. Always read two newspapers,” he advised.He described disagreement as healthy. “You and I have agreed on some issues and disagreed on others. I see that as diversity, not difference. The listener benefits by hearing both sides. That is the democratisation digital media has given us.”

Uttarakhand’s growth and structural challenges

Turning specifically to Uttarakhand, Ranganathan presented a mix of achievements and concerns.He said the state’s GDP per capita is about $1,000 higher than the national average. Welfare schemes, including toilets, bank accounts, tap water connections and Ayushman cards, have reached nearly 100% of the targeted population.However, he stressed that long-term planning is crucial. “This is a golden opportunity to draw a roadmap, not for five years, because governments come and go, but for 15 to 20 years,” he said.Highlighting what he termed a “problem of plenty”, he noted that while Uttarakhand’s population is around one million, tourist arrivals are about 6.5 million.“Everything has a flip side,” he said.He pointed out that 80% of the state still depends on agriculture, yet in the past 15 years, about 28% of cultivable land has been lost, largely due to construction, urbanisation and tourism. Agricultural produce availability has declined by around 15%.“You are facing a situation where one sector is doing extremely well — but structural balance must be maintained,” he cautioned.

Digital governance and the role of critics

On governance, Ranganathan observed that merely providing digital information is not enough.“You can provide all the digital information you want. But digital information is not interactive. You tend to pick solutions from those who praise you. Critics are often pushed aside,” he said, underlining the need for inclusive dialogue.The Uttarakhand Transformation Dialogues also featured sessions with various famous personalities, focusing on culture, gender and heritage as drivers of growth.

Star India batter Virat Kohli paid his condolences to Rinku Singh after his father passed away on Friday morning at the Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida.Rinku Singh’s father breathed his last on Friday morning at the Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida, informed the hospital PRO. He was undergoing treatment at Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida.

Taking to X, Kohli shared a message, standing in solidarity with the India batter and his family during a difficult time. “Deeply saddened by the news of Rinku’s father’s demise. My heartfelt prayers and thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. May you always find strength in his eternal blessings. Om Shanti,” Kohli wrote.Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh also conveyed his condolences through a post on X, “Pained to learn about the demise of Shri Khanchand Singh Ji, father of Rinku Singh. This must be an especially difficult time for Rinku and his family, even as he remains committed to his responsibilities during the T20 World Cup. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with him and his loved ones. May Waheguru grant eternal peace to the departed soul and give strength and courage to the bereaved family.“Former India opener turned commentator Aakash Chopra offered prayers and strength to the grieving family through an X post, “Really sad to hear about the passing of Rinku’s father. May God give you and your family strength to deal with the pain and the loss. Stay strong, brother. Om Shanti,” Chopra wrote.Rinku had to rush back home from the T20 World Cup squad to be with his family after his father’s condition worsened after India’s first Super 8 fixture against South Africa.Rinku was quick to return to Chennai to join the Indian squad ahead of the Zimbabwe clash on Thursday after a quick visit to meet his father.However, Rinku didn’t feature in the playing 11 for the Zimbabwe clash as India opted for Sanju Samson to open alongside Abhishek Sharma, leaving Rinku out of the equation.

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has delivered a scathing response to Mohammad Amir’s controversial ‘slogger’ tag for Abhishek Sharma, launching an impassioned defence of the young opener following his match-winning fifty against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 clash in Chennai.

Speaking on his popular YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’, Ashwin dismissed the former Pakistan pacer’s assessment and made the stunning claim that Abhishek possesses a better bat swing than his legendary mentor Yuvraj Singh.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s fiery response to Mohammad Amir

The controversy began during the tournament’s group stage when Abhishek registered three consecutive ducks against the USA, Pakistan, and the Netherlands. Amid the lean patch, Amir labelled the left-handed opener a “slogger” and questioned his defensive technique, stating that quality bowling attacks would expose his limitations at the international level .

However, after Abhishek silenced his critics with a blazing 55 off just 30 balls against Zimbabwe – featuring four boundaries and four sixes—Ashwin took to his YouTube channel to set the record straight .

“There is a video of Mohammad Amir doing the rounds, where he called Abhishek Sharma a slogger. I just want to make one thing clear: you can say anything about his game, but he is not a slogger. He has one of the most enviable bat swings in the game today,” Ashwin declared.

The former India spinner, who retired from international cricket in December 2024, went a step further by comparing Abhishek’s technique to his illustrious mentor.

“We all know Yuvraj Singh is his mentor. He has probably got a better bat swing than him as well. You cannot get a better bat swing than that. Whenever Abhishek strikes the ball, it goes very far. So people can mistake him for being a slogger. The one thing Abhishek has been guilty of is showing intent on every ball,” Ashwin added.

Abhishek endured a nightmare start to his T20 World Cup campaign, registering ducks against the USA, Pakistan and the Netherlands – a run compounded by a stomach infection that required hospitalisation and caused significant weight loss. He missed the Namibia match entirely before managing just 15 off 12 balls in India’s heavy defeat to South Africa.

However, against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on February 26, Abhishek finally delivered the knock India had been waiting for. Opening alongside Sanju Samson, he reached his fifty in just 26 balls, setting the platform for India’s mammoth 256/4. His innings, combined with a late blitz from Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya, proved decisive as India secured a crucial 72-run victory to keep their semifinal hopes alive.

Amir’s clarification regarding his slogger remark for Abhishek

Following the backlash, Amir had eralier clarified his remarks, explaining that his comments were technical observations rather than personal criticism. Speaking after India’s defeat to South Africa, the left-arm pacer emphasised that he rates Abhishek as one of the finest young talents in the game.

“I was talking about him from the point of view of a bowler. I was talking about his technique. People felt bad because I used the word slogger,” Amir told a Pakistani TV channel. “By that, I meant his technique is such that a good team, a bunch of good bowlers, can trap him. Look at the 14 runs he scored, he scored all of them on one side. The balls he hit were bad balls. But, when Rabada started bowling well, he was not able to figure it out.”

Amir also sent a public message to the young Indian batter, advising him to incorporate patience into his naturally aggressive game. “As a senior player, if my message goes to him, I will tell him: Your technique gets exposed in international cricket. If you can show some patience and play the ball on its merit, then it will be better. He has the skills, but it depends on him how well he will utilise them.” 

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Ashwin’s technical advice to Abhishek

Beyond defending Abhishek, Ashwin offered constructive technical advice, urging the young batter to prioritise timing over brute force. “Abhishek doesn’t have to give power on his shots. If anyone is talking to him, just tell him about the importance of timing the ball properly,” the veteran spinner advised.

This emphasis on timing aligns with Ashwin’s broader assessment that Abhishek’s natural gifts – particularly his bat swing – are world-class. The former off-spinner has previously identified Abhishek as one of two “puzzles” opposition teams must solve to beat India in the T20 World Cup, alongside mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy.

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US stocks fell sharply on Friday as renewed fears around artificial intelligence-driven disruption, a stronger-than-expected inflation reading and rising geopolitical tensions weighed on investor sentiment.The S&P 500 declined 0.8%, heading toward what could be only its second losing month in the past 10. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 569 points, or 1.2%, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.2% in early trade, AP reported.Markets were unsettled by a report showing US wholesale inflation at 2.9% last month, significantly above economists’ expectations of 1.6%. The stronger reading raised concerns that the Federal Reserve may delay interest rate cuts. Lower rates typically support economic growth and asset prices but can also risk stoking inflation.The data added to a broader selloff in companies perceived to be vulnerable to AI disruption. Investors have increasingly targeted software firms and other businesses seen as potential losers in the AI revolution.Block, the company behind Cash App and Square, provided a stark example. CEO Jack Dorsey announced plans to cut nearly half its workforce — more than 4,000 jobs from a staff of over 10,000 — despite rising profits and increased share buybacks.“Intelligence tools have changed what it means to build and run a company,” Dorsey said in a letter to shareholders. “We’re already seeing it internally. A significantly smaller team, using the tools we’re building, can do more and do it better.”He added, “I don’t think we’re early to this realization. I think most companies are late. Within the next year, I believe the majority of companies will reach the same conclusion and make similar structural changes.”Block’s shares surged nearly 20% following the announcement.Even AI beneficiaries faced pressure. Nvidia fell 2.6%, extending losses from the previous session despite reporting better-than-expected profit and projecting higher revenue for the current quarter. Broadcom also dropped 2.6%, while other chipmakers declined similarly.Investors are questioning whether major AI spenders such as Amazon and Alphabet can generate sufficient returns to justify their multi-billion-dollar investments.Salesforce fell 4.4%, surrendering gains from the previous day despite posting stronger-than-expected profit.Among gainers, Netflix rose 8.6% after withdrawing from its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming business, clearing the way for Skydance-owned Paramount to pursue a takeover. Paramount Skydance shares climbed 2.2%, while Warner Bros. Discovery slipped 1.9%.In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury stood at 3.97%, rising after the inflation report but still below Thursday’s 4.02%.Energy markets saw sharp moves amid geopolitical tensions. US benchmark crude oil rose 3.2% to $67.27 per barrel, while Brent crude gained 3.1% to $73.04. Concerns over escalating tensions between the United States and Iran have heightened fears that any conflict could disrupt global oil supplies.Markets in Europe and Asia were mixed. South Korea’s Kospi fell 1% from a recent record high, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng advanced 0.9%.

Iran has stored some of its most highly enriched uranium in an underground tunnel complex at its key Isfahan nuclear facility, the International Atomic Energy Agency disclosed in a confidential report, according to Reuters. The disclosure marks the first time the UN nuclear watchdog has publicly pinpointed the location of Iran’s near-bomb-grade stockpile.The tunnel complex’s entrance was targeted in US and Israeli strikes in June, but the facility appears largely undamaged, according to diplomats.As per the report, the Isfahan site, a cornerstone of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, houses uranium enriched to 60% purity, perilously close to the 90% threshold for nuclear weapons. According to experts, it could be rapidly converted into weapons-grade material sufficient for multiple bombsIAEA has also confirmed “technical discussions” in Vienna next week, beginning Monday, between Iran and the United States to hammer out safeguards implementation.The report said, “Technical discussions will take place in Vienna in the week beginning 2 March 2026.” It further added, “a successful outcome of Iran-US negotiations would have a positive impact on the effective implementation of safeguards in Iran,” news agency AFP reported.The disclosure comes at a time of heightened friction between Washington and Tehran. The two nations recently held talks in Geneva, mediated by Oman, which was also described as “most intense” by Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, as he added that the negotiators made very good progressThe United States has stepped up its military presence across the Middle East, while President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Iran of “serious consequences” if diplomatic efforts collapse.Tehran continues to insist that its nuclear programme is strictly for civilian purposes. However, US officials remain wary, suspecting that Iran could be positioning itself to restore or expand elements of its nuclear capabilities if negotiations falter.Diplomatic failure could further destabilise an already volatile region.

Navi Mumbai: Belapur MLA Manda Mhatre of the BJP has publicly criticised her party colleague, forest minister and Airoli MLA Ganesh Naik, for undermining the proposal for a super-specialty hospital and medical college on a 31,000-sq m plot in Sector 15A, Belapur. Part of the site falls under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and has been used as a cricket ground by locals for long.Mhatre championed the plan for a modern facility to be developed by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC). The NMMC purchased the land from CIDCO for Rs 60 crore a few years ago, and the project was estimated to cost Rs 800 crore. Although tenders were issued, a public interest litigation (PIL) was pending in the high court due to the CRZ-related issue.Mhatre claimed Naik had opposed the project since its inception because it lay in her constituency rather than his Airoli constituency. After the NMMC general body voted by a majority in the civic house to preserve the Sector 15A ground for the more than 40 cricket players who have used it for years and recommended moving the project to another site, she accused Naik of indulging in petty politics.The cricket enthusiasts also staged a protest in front of NMMC headquarters early this week while the house proceedings were underway.Mayor Sujata Patil said the proposal be examined by the municipal health committee and then returned to the general body for final clearance. Independent corporator Bharat Bhoir introduced the motion seeking relocation or cancellation of the Belapur hospital plan, and proposed Nevle in the newly added 14-village area as a more centrally located alternative.Several corporators said they supported the concept of a super-specialty hospital but opposed building it on an established playground. Other locations, including Kille Gaothan, were suggested. Members also urged the administration to fully operationalise existing municipal hospitals in Vashi, Nerul, Belapur and Airoli before launching an expensive new project.BJP corporator Nishant Bhagat criticised CIDCO for selling land that villagers developed into playgrounds and alleged the 2017 draft development plan failed to reserve space for key civic amenities. MNS corporator Abhijit Desai argued that expanding current hospitals would be preferable to spending crores on new infrastructure.BJP members Ganesh Sakpal and Saluja Sutar pointed to gaps in infrastructure and staffing, and called for more doctors, nurses and support staff. Other corporators raised wider civic issues, including the absence of a playground in Seawoods, the need for night OPD services, and delays in approving and inaugurating health centres in Airoli and Koparkhairane.The house also decided to formally ask Manda Mhatre to help enable the project’s relocation. Deputy mayor Dashrath Bhagat said any final decision should follow a detailed assessment of costs, budget allocation, staffing and operational requirements.Shiv Sena opposition leader Vijay Chougule questioned why BJP leaders reconsidered relocation after the project was finalised. Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Vishal Sasane again highlighted Seawoods’ lack of a playground and recommended starting night OPD services at civic health centres.BJP member Suraj Patil backed Mhatre, cited her earlier letter to CIDCO requesting that the Belapur ground be kept solely for sports, and said the house would send her a formal request to assist in shifting the hospital project.

OpenAI has secured a massive $110 billion funding round, valuing the ChatGPT maker at $730 billion, as the artificial intelligence company accelerates investments to meet rapidly expanding global demand for AI services.The investment — among the largest fundraising rounds in Silicon Valley history – includes $30 billion each from Japanese conglomerate SoftBank and chipmaker Nvidia, along with $50 billion from Amazon. Additional investors are expected to join as the round progresses, according to a report by AFP.Alongside the funding, OpenAI also unveiled strategic partnerships with Amazon through its cloud arm AWS and with Nvidia, whose advanced chips remain central to large-scale AI training and deployment.“SoftBank, NVIDIA, and Amazon are long-term partners who share our ambition to turn real scientific progress into systems that deliver meaningful benefits for people at global scale,” OpenAI said in a statement.The Amazon investment will begin with an initial $15 billion infusion, followed by another $35 billion in the coming months subject to certain conditions, the companies said.The scale of the funding highlights the enormous capital requirements of building and operating advanced artificial intelligence systems, particularly the rising costs associated with computing infrastructure. At the same time, investors continue to debate whether AI companies can generate sufficient long-term revenue to offset these spending demands.OpenAI pointed to strong user growth metrics to demonstrate accelerating adoption. ChatGPT now has more than 900 million weekly active users and over 50 million paying consumer subscribers, with January and February on track to become the platform’s biggest months for new subscriptions.The company added that more than nine million businesses currently pay to use ChatGPT for workplace applications, while weekly users of its Codex software development tool have more than tripled since the start of the year to 1.6 million.The disclosure of usage figures appears aimed at reassuring investors amid scrutiny over the economics of large-scale AI development.The funding announcement comes as competition intensifies in the AI sector, with rival Anthropic — founded by former OpenAI employees –gaining attention for its Claude models, while Google’s Gemini has also emerged as a strong challenger in the rapidly evolving market.