The T20 World Cup 2026 has entered its most volatile phase, where the line between glory and a flight home is paper-thin. Following a sobering defeat to South Africa, India found their rhythm at Chepauk, dismantling Zimbabwe by 72 runs to keep their title defense alive.

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who derailed Zimbabwe’s chase with a clinical 3/24, emerged not just as the wrecker-in-chief, but as the team’s most candid voice. In a revealing post-match exchange with media after Zimbabwe game, Arshdeep shifted the focus from the immediate victory to a grander prophecy. His words didn’t just target the upcoming virtual knockout against the West Indies; they looked straight toward a rematch with the Proteas in the final.

Arshdeep Singh reveals the team India will face in the T20 World Cup 2026 final

After the dust settled in Chennai, Arshdeep’s confidence was palpable as he discussed the tournament’s trajectory and India’s likely destination. While the world was focused on the ‘win-or-go-home’ clash against the West Indies at Eden Gardens, Arshdeep was already plotting a revenge mission against South Africa.

He acknowledged the favour the Proteas did for India by defeating the Windies earlier that day, a result that returned control of the semi-final race back to the Indian camp. “They played very good cricket, and thanks to them for giving us the chance to decide our own result in the next match. It was fun watching their match, and we’ll try to beat them in the final,” Arshdeep boldly stated, signaling that the Indian dressing room views a final showdown with South Africa as an inevitability. His assertion showcased a team that has moved past the trauma of their earlier loss, now viewing the Proteas not as an obstacle, but as the final boss they are destined to overcome on the grandest stage of them all.

Also READ: Virat Kohli’s dream list: Qualities he wishes to inherit from SRK, Dhoni, Ronaldo, Messi, Tendulkar, Taylor Swift and The Rock

Arshdeep unveils Papa’s curses and the Road to Kolkata for Super 8 game vs West Indies

The tension of the tournament isn’t confined to the pitch, as Arshdeep shared a hilarious anecdote about watching the South Africa-West Indies game from his hotel room. With families in tow, the atmosphere became an animated affair as his father, Darshan Singh, took the West Indies’ power-hitting quite personally.

“My family was in the room and when the West Indies batters were hitting, papa gaali dete the ki kya kar raha hai (father was cursing what are they doing). So I was like, it’s okay, don’t be angry and just enjoy the match and hope South Africa win!” Arshdeep recounted with a grin, highlighting the intense emotional investment of the families.

This domestic drama served as a backdrop to the analytical preparations for the March 1 clash at Eden Gardens. Regarding the explosive West Indies lineup, Arshdeep noted, “It’s not like they have only one gear. Today, if you look, they played really nicely in the middle as well. They took the game deep and made around 180 runs. So I guess they can also adapt according to the situation. We’ll see how the wicket plays and what the conditions are like, but the focus right now is on recovery.”

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: India vs West Indies Super 8 Ticket Prices, Booking Details

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal (PTI photo)

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday moved the Delhi high court against a lower court’s order discharging Arvind Kejriwal and others in the alleged liquor scam case, reported news agency PTI citing officials.The central agency’s move comes hours after a Special Court in Delhi discharged all 23 accused in the Delhi excise policy case, including former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia.The order was delivered by Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) Jitender Singh at the Rouse Avenue Court. The judge held that the prosecution failed to establish any overarching conspiracy or criminal intent behind the formulation of the excise policy. According to the court, the material placed on record did not survive judicial scrutiny.The court observed that the CBI attempted to “weave a conspiracy narrative but relied largely on conjecture rather than solid evidence”. It ruled that no prima facie case was made out against any of the accused and ordered their discharge.In strong remarks against the investigative process, the court criticised the agency’s reliance on approver statements. It noted that granting pardon to an accused, converting him into an approver, and then using his testimony to plug investigative gaps or implicate others was improper. The judge cautioned that allowing such a course would amount to a serious breach of constitutional principles.The court also indicated it would recommend a departmental inquiry against CBI officials for naming public servant Kuldeep Singh as accused number one in the chargesheet.The case originated from allegations surrounding the now-withdrawn Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 introduced by the Aam Aadmi Party government. The CBI had alleged that the policy framework was tailored to benefit certain private players through reduced licence fees and predetermined profit margins, resulting in kickbacks and financial losses to the Delhi government.The agency registered an FIR in August 2022 after a complaint by Delhi lieutenant governor VK Saxena. Investigators claimed that a criminal conspiracy had been hatched during the policy’s formulation stage, with deliberate loopholes built in to favour specific liquor licensees even after the tender process.With Friday’s ruling, the trial court has effectively halted the CBI’s case at the charge-framing stage, concluding that the allegations did not meet the legal threshold required to proceed to trial.

lyssa Healy of Australia bats during game two of the Women’s One Day International series between Australia and India at Bellerive Oval on February 27, 2026 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo/Getty Images)

Georgia Voll scored 101 and Phoebe Litchfield made 80 as Australia Women defeated India Women by five wickets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series on Friday.After India posted 251/9, Australia chased down the target with 13.5 overs remaining. With one ODI and a one-off Test left, Australia now lead the all-format series 6-4.India’s total was built around half-centuries from Pratika Rawal (52) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (54). Rawal faced 81 balls and hit six fours, adding 78 runs for the opening wicket with Smriti Mandhana (31). Mandhana was bowled by Ashleigh Gardner (2/39) after missing a paddle sweep. She had earlier survived two chances.Jemimah Rodrigues (11) was caught behind off Annabel Sutherland (2/37), while Deepti Sharma (1) was caught at deep mid-wicket off Alana King (2/41). King also dismissed Richa Ghosh leg-before for 22.Harmanpreet anchored the innings with a 70-ball 54. She added 55 runs for the seventh wicket with Kashvee Gautam (25), taking India past 200. India finished on 251/9.In reply, Australia lost Alyssa Healy (6) early, bowled by an inswinger from Gautam. Voll and Litchfield then added 119 runs for the second wicket to set up the chase.Voll was given three chances. On 19, she was dropped by Kranti Gaud at long-on off Deepti Sharma. Later, Smriti Mandhana dropped her at deep mid-wicket off Gautam. She reached her hundred after Richa Ghosh missed a catch down the leg side, allowing a single. Voll scored 101 off 82 balls, with 13 fours and a six.Litchfield struck 11 fours and a six in her 62-ball 80. She was bowled by Gaud while attempting a ramp shot, with the ball hitting the top of middle stump.India picked up two late wickets but Australia completed the chase comfortably. The third ODI will be played on Sunday at the same venue.

R Ashwin shushes Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir

NEW DELHI: Ravichandran Ashwin has defended young India batter Abhishek Sharma after former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir labelled him “just a slogger” during the T20 World Cup. Amir’s remark came after Abhishek was dismissed for three consecutive ducks in the group stage, questioning his technique and suggesting he lacked a defensive game.

However, Abhishek answered critics in style during India’s Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, smashing 55 runs off just 30 balls as India piled up 256/4. His aggressive knock helped shift the narrative around his tournament.Responding to Amir’s comments on his YouTube channel, Ashwin strongly disagreed. “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. We all know Yuvraj Singh is his mentor,” said Ashwin on his YouTube channel.“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.”After the knock on Thursday, Abhishek also admitted he had been waiting for such a performance. “It’s always great when you contribute to the team, and I was waiting for this moment for quite a long time now, so finally it’s happening. I’m really happy… I just wanted to spend some time at the pitch,” he said.He also praised the team’s support. “You have done this before as well, and your time is not so far. You just keep believing,” he revealed teammates had told him.

NEW DELHI: The Kerala High Court on Friday stayed for two weeks its single judge order that had put the release of the film ‘The Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond’ on hold.The division bench stayed the single judge’s interim order which had put the film’s release on hold for 15 days.The development comes amid a legal battle over the film’s screening in the state, with the producer challenging the earlier interim relief granted against its release.

On Thursday, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas had stayed the film’s release for 15 days. The court had observed that there was a prima facie “manifest non-application of mind to the requirement of law” by the censor board, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).The judge had also said that “the possibility of communal disharmony or denigration of a community also being prima facie involved in the movie”, and that releasing it without scrutiny by higher authorities would be legally improper.Referring to the teaser, the court had further noted that it had “a prima facie potential to distort public perception and disturb communal harmony”.Following the single judge’s order, the film’s producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah approached a division bench of the high court late on Thursday night.The appeal was heard by a bench comprising Justices Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and P V Balakrishnan, which passed the interim stay order on Friday after having reserved its verdict on Thursday night. The detailed order is awaited.In his appeal, Shah contended that the film does not harm or denigrate the state of Kerala or any religious community and argued that “the film only portrays a social evil”, according to news agency PTI.He also told the court that halting the release would “financially finish” the producers, as the movie was scheduled to be screened in around 1,500 theatres across India and over 300 theatres abroad on February 27.With Friday’s decision, the operation of the earlier order has now been kept in abeyance for two weeks.

Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty fell more than 1 per cent on Friday as fresh foreign fund outflows and weak global cues weighed on investor sentiment amid rising geopolitical tensions.The 30-share BSE Sensex plunged 961.42 points, or 1.17 per cent, to close at 81,287.19. During the session, the index dropped as much as 1,089.46 points, or 1.32 per cent, to an intraday low of 81,159.15.The 50-share NSE Nifty declined 317.90 points, or 1.25 per cent, to settle at 25,178.65.

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Market participants turned cautious as uncertainty around global developments intensified, particularly due to stalled US–Iran nuclear negotiations, experts said.Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 3,465.99 crore on Thursday, according to exchange data, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) bought shares worth Rs 5,031.57 crore.“Indian markets continued to consolidate amid weak global cues and rising geopolitical risks, with investor sentiment turning increasingly cautious. The lack of progress in US–Iran nuclear talks has intensified concerns of further escalation of Middle East tensions, while persistent AI-related uncertainty is also supporting safe-haven flows. Domestically, a risk-off tone prevails as the earnings season winds down and global macro factors take precedence,” Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said, PTI quoted.Asian markets delivered mixed performances, with South Korea’s Kospi falling about 1 per cent, while Japan’s Nikkei 225, Shanghai’s SSE Composite index and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index ended higher.European markets were trading on a mixed note in mid-session deals, while US markets had closed mostly lower on Thursday.“Weak global cues and rising geopolitical uncertainty following inconclusive US–Iran talks weighed on investor confidence, triggering broad-based profit-booking across auto, FMCG and pharma stocks after recent advances. The absence of fresh domestic triggers further accelerated the downside momentum, especially during the final hour of trade,” Hariprasad K, Research Analyst and Founder, Livelong Wealth, said.

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Music composer Ismail Darbar is not one to shy away from speaking his mind or even letting fans in on his personal life. The composer, who made waves about marrying the second time, hit the headlines again, this time over his candid discussion about his interfaith marriage and how he raised his son to respect all religions.

Ismail Darbar on giving son Hindu and Muslim name

In a conversation on a YouTube channel hosted by Subhojit Ghosh, Darbar spoke about his youngest son, Imaan Ismail Darbar. Revealing that director Sanjay Leela Bhansali had named him, he went on to state that his son has grown up, learning to participate in both Hindu and Muslim rituals. He shared that his son’s Muslim name is, Imaan while his Hindu name is Maan. He revealed, “When he goes to his maternal grandparents’ home, he’s called Maan there. He also stands in the pooja, puts tilak on his forehead.”

Ismail Darbar on raising son to respect religions

The composer went on to add that he has raised his son to respect all religions, saying, “I have taught him to respect the religion in which he is born, but also respect all the other religions.”

Ismail Darbar on his marriage to Ayesha

During the chat, he also reflected on his second marriage to Ayesha, who reportedly converted to Islam after their wedding. Insisting that he never forced her to change her faith, he gave her due credit for supporting him through an especially difficult period in his career. He shared, “20 years of my life have been very tough. But I salute Ayesha for bearing it with me.”Darbar added that filmmaker Bhansali, with whom he collaborated on films such as ‘Devdas’ and ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’, once even told him, “I am saved just because of my wife, and if it was not for her, I would have been finished.”

As India fight to keep their T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal hopes alive, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is winning hearts both on and off the field. While his blazing fifties and crucial wickets have propelled India through critical matches, his blossoming romance with girlfriend Mahieka Sharma has emerged as the tournament’s most charming subplot – capturing millions of hearts across social media platforms.

Hardik Pandya’s ‘flying kiss’ heats up Chepauk after his match-winning fifty

The most viral moment of India’s campaign came during the must-win Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on February 26. After smashing a breathtaking 23-ball fifty – his second half-century of the edition – Pandya celebrated his milestone in style by blowing flying kisses to the stands, directed squarely at Mahieka Sharma, who was present cheering for him.

The moment, captured live by broadcast cameras, quickly spread across social media platforms.

Here’s the video:

The way Hardik Pandya gave a flying kiss to his girlfriend Mahika Sharma after smashing 50 (23) vs Zim in the T20 World Cup 2026. 🔥

Giving Neymar vibes — Hardik is truly the Neymar of cricket. 💀 pic.twitter.com/Kmmke4TENU

— Sonu (@Cricket_live247) February 27, 2026

Pandya finished the innings in spectacular fashion, hitting two consecutive sixes off the last two balls to reach his fifty and propel India to a mammoth 256/4. Tilak Varma, standing at the non-striker’s end, reminded Pandya of his milestone, prompting the all-rounder to raise his bat before delivering the romantic gesture .

During India’s final group-stage match against the Netherlands on February 18, he was also spotted blowing a kiss to Mahieka after playing a crucial 30-run knock at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Mahieka Sharma’s charming presence: From hotel lobby to T20 World Cup stands

Pandya and Mahieka’s relationship was officially confirmed in late 2025, more than a year after his divorce from Natasa Stankovic . Since then, the model has been a constant presence at India’s World Cup matches, travelling to every venue where the team plays.

Mahieka Sharma on Hardik Pandya six#INDvsZIM #T20WorldCup #T20WC2026 #T20WorldCup26 pic.twitter.com/YMgj6P3IiL

— Achyut Kumar Dwivedi (@dwivediachyut41) February 26, 2026

Even before the tournament began, the couple made headlines when they were spotted walking hand-in-hand through the team hotel lobby – with Pandya famously wearing a bathrobe at the time. The moment, captured on video, amused fans and demonstrated the couple’s comfort with public displays of affection.

Mahieka, a 25-year-old model and fitness enthusiast from Gujarat, has built a substantial social media following. Beyond her glamorous profession, she holds a degree in economics and finance and has worked with prestigious brands including Tanishq, Vivo and Uniqlo.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026 – India vs West Indies Super 8 Ticket Prices, Booking Details

How Mahieka transformed Hardik’s cricket?

Beyond the viral moments and romantic gestures, Mahieka’s influence on Pandya’s professional life has been equally significant. In candid interviews during the World Cup, Pandya credited his girlfriend with helping him rediscover his passion for cricket.

“A lot of credit goes to the loved ones which I had. Special mention to my partner as well. She’s been nothing but the best to me since she has entered my life and a lot of great things have happened since she has arrived,” Pandya told the media.

He revealed that conversations with Mahieka about the sport brought back what he called his “childhood enthusiasm.” This renewed mindset has translated into performances – Pandya has scored 155 runs in six innings at a strike rate exceeding 150, while also claiming five crucial wickets. His recent Player of the Match performance against Zimbabwe exemplified this resurgence.

Also READ: Virat Kohli’s dream list – Qualities he wishes to inherit from SRK, Dhoni, Ronaldo, Messi, Tendulkar, Taylor Swift and The Rock