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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Loan case linked to Ata Pata Lapata

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

The race to acquire a majority stake in Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has officially transformed into a global bidding war, making it the most coveted asset ahead of the IPL 2026 season.

Following their historic IPL 2025 title win, RCB’s market appeal has surged to unprecedented heights, drawing intense interest from international sports moguls and local industrial titans alike. As the March 31, 2026, deadline for the sale approaches, the franchise is no longer just a cricket team, it is a billion-dollar crown jewel that has reset the financial benchmarks of the league.

IPL 2026: The $1.8 Billion valuation and the global bidding war for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

The financial stakes for RCB have reached unprecedented levels, with current reports from Reuters and Bloomberg valuing the franchise at approximately $1.8 billion. This mammoth figure is a direct result of the team’s recent championship success and its unrivaled commercial pull, anchored by the enduring brand power of Virat Kohli.

Diageo, which controls the team through its Indian arm United Spirits, has officially moved the franchise into an ‘active sale’ phase, seeking to divest what it now labels a ‘non-core’ asset. This move has triggered a fierce bidding war, as the IPL’s overall business valuation has reportedly surged to $18.5 billion, placing it among the most lucrative sports leagues in the world.

IPL 2026: US billionaire steps into $1.8 billion RCB ownership race

As per NDTV Sports report, Adding a fresh and formidable dimension to the race, US billionaire David Blitzer has officially entered the fray. Blitzer, the co-founder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and an executive at Blackstone Group, is conducting serious due diligence on RCB as he seeks to diversify his already massive sports portfolio, which includes the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. His entry through his family office, BOLT Ventures, signifies a major shift toward American institutional capital in the IPL. He faces a direct challenge from fellow American Avram Glazer, the Manchester United co-chairman who has reportedly submitted a leading bid through Lancer Capital.

Also READ: IPL 2026: Are KGF and Kantara creators Hombale Films planning to buy RCB? Here’s what we know so far

Old players already in the race: Indian tycoons vs Manchester United & global moguls

While American moguls dominate the international headlines, the quest for RCB remains a matter of pride for India’s top industrialist. Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, has been a vocal frontrunner, publicly declaring his intent to keep the franchise under Indian leadership. He is joined by other local heavyweights like Ranjan Pai of the Manipal Group and interest from the JSW and Adani Groups.

However, the strongest international threat comes from Manchester United co-owner Avram Glazer, who is reportedly willing to pay a premium to expand his sporting empire into the Indian subcontinent. With the mid-March deadline for final bids fast approaching, the battle has become a symbol of the IPL’s global prestige, pitting the “sports empire” builders of the West against the ‘home-grown’ industrial titans of India.

Also READ: IPL 2026: RCB up for sale? Here’s the full list of potential bidders looking to acquire Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Afghanistan’s military authorities have said they have begun carrying out strikes against Pakistan in response to recent Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory.In a statement issued by the media office of a military corps in eastern Afghanistan, officials said “heavy clashes” broke out on Thursday night.

The fighting, they said, was “in response to the recent airstrikes carried out by Pakistani forces in Nangarhar and Paktia” provinces, according to news agency AP.There was no immediate confirmation from Pakistan, and no details were available on casualties at the time of reporting.

Trigger: Cross-border airstrikes

The latest escalation follows Pakistani military strikes along the border with Afghanistan on Sunday. Pakistan’s military said it had killed at least 70 militants in those operations.Kabul rejected that claim, insisting that the air raids had instead killed dozens of civilians, including women and children.Afghanistan’s government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on X: “Last night, they bombed our civilian compatriots in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, martyring and wounding dozens of people, including women and children.”Afghanistan’s defence ministry also said that “dozens of innocent civilians, including women and children, were martyred and wounded” after airstrikes hit a school and residential homes in eastern provinces.Afghan media outlet Tolo News reported that a civilian house in Behsud district of Nangarhar province was targeted, with 23 members of a family reportedly buried under rubble. The broadcaster also said the Pakistani Air Force struck a religious seminary in Bermal district of Paktika province and carried out multiple airstrikes in Khogyani district of Nangarhar.Pakistan confirmed that it had conducted cross-border strikes in Bermal and Argun districts of Paktika, as well as in Khogyani, Bahsod and Ghani Khel districts of Nangarhar since Saturday.

Pakistan cites militant targets

Islamabad said the operations were aimed at militant groups it blames for a series of recent suicide attacks inside Pakistan.Geo News, citing Pakistan’s ministry of information, reported that seven camps and hideouts of Fitna al Khwarij (a term used by Pakistan for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan), its affiliates and Daesh Khorasan Province were hit. The ministry described the action as carried out “with precision and accuracy” in response to suicide attacks in Islamabad, Bajaur and Bannu during Ramadan.Pakistan’s state minister for interior, Talal Chaudhry, said the country had “conclusive evidence” that recent attacks — including a suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad that killed 31 worshippers — were carried out by militants acting on the direction of Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers.The Pakistani government has repeatedly urged Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities to prevent militant groups from using Afghan soil to launch attacks, and has called on the international community to press Kabul to honour commitments under the Doha Agreement.

Rising tensions on both sides

The cross-border strikes came days after a suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden vehicle into a security post in Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing 11 soldiers and a child. Authorities later said the attacker was an Afghan national.Another suicide bombing in Bannu killed two soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel.Following those incidents, Pakistan’s military warned it would not “exercise any restraint” and would continue operations against those responsible “irrespective of their location”, signalling growing tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.Afghanistan has consistently denied allegations that armed groups are using its territory to carry out attacks against Pakistan.India also reacted to the situation. Ministry of external affairs said it “strongly condemns Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghan territory that have resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children, during the holy month of Ramadan.”Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained strained in recent months, with earlier border clashes resulting in casualties among soldiers, civilians and suspected militants on both sides. The latest exchanges now mark one of the most serious escalations between the two neighbours in recent times.

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Cognizant‘s chief AI officer, Babak Hodjat, has described concerns that artificial intelligence will disrupt IT services companies as “overblown.” This comes after Anthropic’s Claude AI tools wiped out more than a trillion dollars from the stock market. Speaking to Reuters, Hodjat said enterprises still require significant support to deploy, integrate, and manage AI systems, despite advances in automated tools from startups such as Anthropic.Hodjat noted that businesses are still far from relying on a single, all-purpose AI agent, adding, “That mapping is our job; it does not come just automatically out of the box,” he told Reuters. Hodjat, whose earlier work contributed to Apple’s Siri voice assistant, said demand for AI-led transformation continues to support growth for services firms. Cognizant, which has more than 70% of its workforce in India, has predicted annual revenue above Wall Street estimates.Meanwhile, rivals such as TCS and Wipro have also said AI adoption is expected to expand demand for software services rather than reduce it.

How AI has already impacted multiple jobs already

Hodjat’s comments supporting the continued role of services companies come even as AI-related job reductions begin to emerge across the industry. Shipping and logistics software firm WiseTech Global said it plans to lay off nearly one-third of its workforce as it integrates AI into customer software and internal operations. TCS announced 12,000 job cuts last year, though the company later said that the layoffs were not linked to AI.Cognizant, which currently generates around 30% of its code using AI and aims to increase this to 50%, said it does not see automation eliminating entry-level roles. CEO Ravi Kumar S said during the company’s earnings call earlier this month that Cognizant hired 25,000 fresh graduates in 2025 and expects to exceed that number in 2026.Hodjat also told Reuters that almost all of Cognizant’s clients have experimented with AI agents but recognise that they still need support to deploy these systems effectively within their existing infrastructure to generate returns

At the ourth Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) Conclave 2026, industry leaders and policy experts came together to discuss the current regulatory environment in the country and the kind of impact it is having over the media industry and publishers. Speaking on the question of whether the conditions serve as a hurdle or as a mechanism for publishers to survive, Rajnish Gupta, Partner and Leader, Economic Policy, EY India, said “it depends on from the lens you’re looking at it.” He emphasized, it needs to be understood that the outcome of every policy is going to be different from everyone, saying “we’re in an evolving space, it’s not set. For example if you’re a platform you might not like the guidelines that have come about these intermediaries. Whereas you look from the shoes of digital media, in an age of AI, deepfakes, the credibility, research and authenticity of work is in question.” Highlighting his journey through different media platforms Shivnath Thukral, VP Public Policy & Government Affairs, PhonePe (former Public Policy VP at Meta), said after working through different mediums “I can hardly complain that policy hasn’t been an enabler.” He went on to say, “there must be a reason why all the platforms like Facebook, Google, and all have the largest market base in India. There must be a reason why RBI is working towards policy enabling with the Government of India support. India has the largest digital payment ecosystem,” adding, “regulation follows innovation. The regulation in the digital ecosystem including digital media has created a lot of space for innovation.”Asserting the importance of regulation for a good economy Supreme Court lawyer, Vivek Narayan Sharma, said “there is no question of no regulation and operating, for good economy and a stable economy regulations have to be in place. If they are not in place everything will go haywire, everyone will do what they want and there will be no control.”Sharma also spoke about an important question that how much control should be there and to what extent. He said, “control should be exercised with the barometer of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. So regulation with an end so that people can operate their businesses, so these are very very important regulations.”Adding another perspective, Founder & Chairman, International Commission on Cyber Security Law, Pavan Duggal, said “don’t wait for regulations.” He added, “ that current regulations are neither adequate, nor sufficient, nor can be termed as over -regulations.”Duggal talking about the newly introduced rules by the Centre to counter the AI content said, “these are not going to be enough, so if you think it’s the end of rules on the subject it’s surely not…But we need to make sure are we actually complying with the already existing rules.”

J&K’s Auqib Nabi (PTI Photo/Manvender Vashist Lav)

Hubballi: Auqib Nabi — a name that has echoed across the Indian domestic circuit over the past couple of seasons — is one the Karnataka camp will want to forget in a hurry.The 29-year-old seamer from Baramulla ripped through Karnataka’s formidable batting line-up on Thursday, pushing Jammu & Kashmir to the brink of a historic maiden Ranji Trophy title. Nabi, however, played down his heroics, insisting that his approach was based on keeping things simple, even if his bowling proved anything but.

With pronounced swing, late movement and the ability to hit the seam consistently with a strong wrist position, Nabi kept Karnataka’s leading run-getters under relentless pressure on Day 3 of the final.Coming into the title contest with 55 wickets this season — including 21 across the quarterfinal and semifinal — Nabi is two wicket short to surpass Uttarakhand spinner Mayank Mishra (59 wickets) to become the leading wicket taker of the competition.Outlining his approach, Nabi said the J&K attack operated with a collective plan.“In our team, all of us follow the same plan, sticking to a particular line and length. Even if the batters try to go after us, we continue to bowl in the same channel,” he explained.Much of the build-up to the final centred on Nabi’s anticipated contest with KL Rahul, and the seamer acknowledged the attention surrounding the duel.“I was confident because I have been taking wickets. I went in with a positive frame of mind and just wanted to keep it simple. Before the match, I got a lot of messages about getting Rahul out, but I just wanted to bowl in a good channel and not focus on the batter,” he said.Nabi emphasised the importance of wrist position in generating movement, a technical aspect that has become central to his success.“Wrist position is very important. If you have a straight wrist, everything else becomes easier. The ball moves with the wrist, so a straight wrist is very important for a fast bowler,” he said.With the visitors now within touching distance of their first Ranji Trophy triumph, anticipation is building. Prominent personalities from J&K are expected to arrive in Hubballi on Friday on what could be the eve of a historic moment.For Nabi, the possibility of lifting the trophy represents the fulfilment of a long-held ambition.“When I represented J&K for the first time, it was my dream to win a trophy, especially in red-ball cricket. Growing up, I always knew we hadn’t won a trophy, so this means a lot,” he said.

Mumbai: The first meeting of the newly constituted BEST committee turned into an attack on the administration after Shiv Sena (UBT) members flagged discrepancies in compensation figures proposed for accident victims, including what they alleged was an inflated payout in a case that went before the National Lok Adalat in December.Opposition members pointed to one instance where the claim amount was shown as Rs 3 lakh but the finalised disbursement figure in BEST’s proposal was Rs 4 lakh. Calling the mismatch “strange”, Sena (UBT) corporators demanded that the administration submit complete documentation for each case, including Aadhaar details of beneficiaries, FIR copies, accident particulars, and supporting papers to ensure compensation is released to the rightful recipients. The overall compensation to be paid in various mishaps totals nearly Rs 2 crore.Committee chairperson Trushna Vishwasrao acknowledged discrepancies but said the proposal needed in-principle clearance as compensation had been pending for nearly two months and must be processed within 45 days. While clearing the proposal, she directed the administration to submit FIR copies, stamp duty receipts and detailed explanations for each case within 15 days, with opposition members warning they would escalate the matter to the mayor, municipal commissioner and chief minister if irregularities persist.Said Sena (UBT) member Nitin Nandgaonkar: “It is confusing. You bring in a single-page document with just the name of the victim/family member, the FIR number (and not details), the claim amount, and the amount finalised for disbursal, amount given so far and balance left. Apart from these columns with figures, there is no information to apprise us about the particular accident.” He argued that the committee cannot clear large payouts without basic verification.Sunil Ahir of Sena (UBT) asked why a lower amount was reflected as the claim and a higher amount as the disbursement, and demanded an inquiry to determine whether it was an error or a deliberate manipulation by officials handling legal matters and payments.A BEST official maintained that the Rs 3 lakh figure pertained to the stamp duty stage, and that when the matter came up for hearing, an order was passed for a higher amount of Rs 4 lakh. “We will provide all documents to the panel members as requested,” he added. Separately, corporator Amey Ghole wrote to Vishwasrao seeking adequate compensation for those injured in the Bhandup bus crash near the railway station last year and jobs in BEST for the next of kin of those who died. BEST Kamgar Sena also petitioned mayor Ritu Tawde and municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, demanding the civic budget grant to BEST for 2026-27 be raised from Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 3,000 crore.