Gautam Gambhir and Abhishek Sharma (Image credit: X)

NEW DELHI: Gautam Gambhir was seen in an intense conversation with Abhishek Sharma inside the team bus after India landed in Chennai ahead of their crucial Super 8 clash in the T20 World Cup 2026. As players boarded the bus outside the Chennai airport, cameras captured the Indian head coach and the struggling opener seated just behind the driver, engaged in what appeared to be a serious discussion. The video has since gone viral on social media.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Abhishek, one of India’s brightest young prospects, is enduring a difficult run in the tournament. His numbers tell the story — 0, 0, 0 and 15. The left-hander failed to open his account in group matches against USA, Pakistan and the Netherlands.

Despite backing from the team management, he could not capitalise on another opportunity in the Super 8 match against South Africa.Chasing a stiff target, Abhishek began positively with a boundary, briefly raising hopes of a turnaround. However, he was dismissed for 15, and India eventually slumped to a heavy 76-run defeat. The loss not only dented India’s momentum but also raised fresh concerns over the top order’s form.With the stakes rising in the Super 8 stage, India arrived in Chennai on Monday for their second Super 8 fixture against Zimbabwe, scheduled for February 26 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. As the squad made its way to the hotel from the airport, the focus shifted to Gambhir and Abhishek’s animated exchange.WATCH: From their body language, it appeared the coach was offering guidance and perhaps discussing technical or tactical adjustments ahead of the must-win encounter.Abhishek has managed just 15 runs in four matches so far, and his prolonged lean patch has become a matter of concern for the defending champions. India will be hoping the young opener can rediscover his rhythm quickly. With the semifinal race heating up, a strong start at the top could prove vital against Zimbabwe.

Mohammad Amir makes fresh Abhishek Sharma admission

NEW DELHI: India suffered a big setback in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 stage after losing badly to South Africa. Even though India had gone through the group stage without losing, the heavy 76-run defeat has made their path to the semi-finals much tougher. One major concern for the team is the poor form of opener Abhishek Sharma, who scored just 15 runs in the match after getting out for three ducks in a row earlier in the tournament.

Abhishek’s repeated failures at the top have put extra pressure on India’s middle order. Players like Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, and Suryakumar Yadav had handled that pressure in earlier matches, but they struggled against South Africa’s strong bowling attack.Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has now given Abhishek some advice. Amir, who earlier called him a “slogger,” said Abhishek needs to play smarter and not attack blindly. “You must have seen that he scored 14 runs on the same side. All three of the boundaries he hit were off bad balls. He does have potential. He kept the same intent even after three ducks. But, as a senior player, my message to him would be that international cricket will expose your technique. If he brings a little patience and hits the ball where it is, it would be better. He has the skills; how he wants to utilise them is up to him,” Amir said on the show Haarna Mana Hai.Amir also said India are not as strong while chasing targets anymore. “India were exposed as they were chasing for the first time in this T20 World Cup. This isn’t a team that has Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. They handled the match as the situation demanded,” he said.He also criticised India’s team selection and strategy. “The biggest mistake India made was sending three left-handers at the top. Rinku doesn’t even get time to play. You benched Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel against batters who struggle against spinners. No matter how big a team you are, you won’t get results until you play the right combinations,” he asserted.

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KRISHNAGIRI: An assistant labour inspector died in Hosur on Sunday night after a youth allegedly drove a car into him and three members of his family following a dispute over two-wheelers being parked on the road obstructing the way. The deceased has been identified as K Sivamoorthy, 54, of Annai Arvind Nagar in Hosur. He worked in Hosur.According to the Hosur police, the youth driving a car repeatedly honked as the two-wheelers parked in front of Sivamoorthy’s house blocked his way. Sivamoorthy, his son Kirubakaran,35, and Kirubakaran’s wife Amsaveni came out. Amsaveni was holding her six -month-old child.When they tried to remove the two-wheelers, an argument broke out between the youth — identified as Aditya,24, of the Kumbarappettai area of Hosur — and Sivamoorthy’s family. Police said the youth picked up a stick lying on the ground and tried to attack Sivamoorthy and his family, leading to a serious dispute.The youth allegedly drove his car into Sivamoorthy, Kirubakaran, Amsaveni and the six-month-old baby. “Sivamoorthy, Kirubakaran and Amsaveni were badly injured, while the baby suffered minor injuries,” said the officer.Neighbours rescued the injured and sent them to the Hosur Government Hospital. Sivamoorthy died on the way. After an investigation, the Hosur police arrested Aditya. Aditya’s father, Srinivasan, is the DMK’s Krishnagiri west district deputy secretary. Police said Aditya’s friends, S Rithik Kumar, 20 of Thinnur, and S Harish, 19, of Achettipalli had been in the car at the time. They were also arrested.The trio were remanded in judicial custody. A case was registered, and further inquiries were on.

The stage is set for a high-stakes encounter as England and Pakistan prepare to face off in the 45th Match of T20 World Cup Super Eights (Group 2). Scheduled for Tuesday (February 24, 2026), at the iconic Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, this fixture carries immense weight for both sides. While England enters the match with momentum, Pakistan find themselves in a must-win mindset, fuelled by a viral moment of confidence from one of their veteran stars.

Shadab Khan sends powerful message to supporters before ENG vs PAK Super 8 clash

In the lead-up to Tuesday’s showdown, a candid interaction between Shadab Khan and a supporter has set social media ablaze, perfectly capturing the defiant spirit of the Men in Green. As the team arrived for training in Kandy, a fan posed a question regarding the team’s travel plans, asking, “So, you are here till the semi-finals?”—a query likely referencing the team’s scheduled stay for the Sri Lankan leg of the tournament.

Without a second of hesitation, Shadab Khan delivered a powerful rebuttal that has since become a rallying cry for the Pakistani faithful. “Till the final. Final, Insha’Allah,” the all-rounder replied firmly.

This viral clip has injected a fresh wave of optimism into a campaign that has seen its fair share of hurdles. For Shadab, who has often been the heartbeat of Pakistan’s white-ball transition, the statement isn’t just bravado; it’s a reflection of the team’s internal belief that they can navigate the treacherous Super Eight waters. Facing an uphill battle in the points table, Shadab’s “final or bust” mentality has effectively raised the stakes for the clash in Pallekele.

Here’s the video:

Shadab Khan said, “We will play the final.” pic.twitter.com/ycnA5kK7iE

— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_) February 17, 2026

Also WATCH: Pakistan TV channel dubs Mohammad Amir an ‘astrologer,’ credits him for India’s defeat to South Africa

Pakistan to collide against in-form England in spin-friendly Pallekele

While Shadab’s words have provided the emotional spark, the tactical battle on the pitch will be decided by discipline and adaptation. The Pallekele surface is notorious for assisting slow bowlers, a factor that makes the selection of both units critical.

England arrive as the form team, having dismantled Sri Lanka by 51 runs in their Super Eight opener. Their spinners, complemented by the sheer pace of Jofra Archer, successfully defended a modest total, showcasing a defensive bowling masterclass that moved them to the top of Group 2. With a healthy net run rate, the defending champions look poised and professional.

Pakistan, conversely, is desperate for points. Their opening Super Eight fixture against New Zealand was a victim of the weather, leaving them with a solitary point from a washout. To stay in contention, they will unleash a diverse spin arsenal. The world will be watching Usman Tariq’s mystery spin, alongside the experienced trio of Shadab, Abrar Ahmed, and Mohammad Nawaz.

The true test, however, lies in Pakistan’s batting. While Sahibzada Farhan has been a revelation, leading the tournament charts with 220 runs, the middle order remains a puzzle. Captain Salman Agha and the explosive Saim Ayub need to find their rhythm to counter England’s tactical precision. If Pakistan’s batters can provide a platform, Shadab’s prediction of a final appearance might just move one step closer to reality.

Also READ: Ex-BCB official unveils how Bangladesh cricket chief fell into Mohsin Naqvi’s trap over T20 World Cup withdrawal

The labour ministry has initiated a process to return unclaimed funds lying in inoperative Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) accounts to subscribers, a move expected to benefit over 3.1 million account holders, labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya said.A pilot phase covering about 0.7 million subscribers will be rolled out shortly after the decision was taken during a weekly review meeting chaired by the minister, according to an ET report.EPFO currently has around 31.86 lakh inoperative accounts holding deposits worth Rs 10,903 crore. Nearly 7.11 lakh of these accounts contain unclaimed balances of up to Rs 1,000, totalling Rs 30.52 crore.The ministry said several accounts are as old as 20 years and have recorded no transactions for the past three years, leading to their classification as inoperative.Accounts selected for the pilot phase already have Aadhaar-linked bank details available with EPFO, enabling the retirement fund body to directly credit the pending amounts to subscribers.Under provisions of the EPF & MP Act, beneficiaries must file claims to withdraw their provident fund savings. However, authorities observed that in many cases the balance amount is too small compared with the documentation required, resulting in a buildup of unclaimed deposits over time.

Scholarship scheme to be strengthened

Alongside the payout initiative, the labour ministry said its education assistance programme for children of unorganised workers will now include a merit-based scholarship of up to Rs 25,000 in addition to the existing welfare-based support.“In order to enhance equity, remove unintended exclusions and ensure policy clarity, the ministry is amending the scheme guidelines to allow a student who is availing the ministry’s welfare-based scholarship to also receive a merit-based scholarship from any central or state government agency, wherever eligible,” the labour ministry said in a statement.The ministry said about 0.16 million students have so far received welfare-based financial assistance amounting to Rs 77.9 crore this year, compared with 92,118 beneficiaries who received Rs 31.65 crore in 2024-25.According to the ministry, the initiative aligns with the Code on Social Security, 2020, which seeks to expand social security and welfare measures, including education support, for unorganised workers and their families.

Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi (File photo)

NEW DELHI: A group of first-time Congress MLAs from Karnataka has written to senior party leaders — including Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi — seeking representation in the state Cabinet during the proposed reshuffle.In a joint representation addressed to the Congress high command and the state leadership — including chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister and state unit president DK Shivakumar — the legislators urged that at least five first-time MLAs be inducted as ministers.“We request you to ensure that at least five first-time MLAs are accommodated as ministers during the reshuffle,” the letter said.The legislators noted that 38 of the 135 Congress MLAs elected to the 224-member House in the 2023 assembly polls being first-time members was a “clear message” from the people, as they want to see “new young faces.”“As you are aware, the people have elected 38 Congress members to the assembly for the first time and thereby sent out a clear message that they want to see new young faces in the legislature,” the MLAs wrote.They further pointed out that when the 34-member ministry was constituted under Siddaramaiah, no debutant legislator was inducted into the Cabinet.“That being the case, it is justified that the first-timers are also accommodated. It is the need of the hour that young, dynamic, and proactive debutant MLAs are provided an opportunity to serve as ministers,” the letter stated.The signatories argued that appointing newcomers to ministerial positions would not be “unprecedented,” noting that in several states first-time MLAs had gone on to become chief ministers or ministers. A blend of youth and experience, they argued, would strike the “right balance” in governance and strengthen the party’s prospects in 2028.The letter comes amid an ongoing leadership tussle within the state Congress, with Shivakumar reiterating his claim to the top post, reportedly based on an understanding with the party high command after the 2023 victory. At the time, veteran leader Siddaramaiah was chosen to lead the government for his second term, while Shivakumar was made his deputy and reportedly assured the chief minister’s post for the latter half of the five-year tenure.The Karnataka Congress government completed its first two-and-a-half years in November 2025.(With PTI inputs)

Donald Trump (File photo)

US President Donald Trump launched a fresh attack on the Supreme Court of the United States, calling it “incompetent” and “ridiculous” after it struck down most of his earlier tariffs, while arguing the ruling had inadvertently handed him broader powers, including the ability to use licensing tools in trade policy.In a fresh reaction to the decision on Monday, one of several critical statements in recent days, Trump wrote on Truth Social that the court had “accidentally and unwittingly” granted him “far more powers and strength” than he previously possessed.“The supreme court … gave me, as President of the United States, far more powers and strength than I had prior to their ridiculous, dumb, and very internationally divisive ruling,” Trump wrote.Emphasising what he portrayed as alternative mechanisms, Trump said the decision allowed him to lean on licensing authorities. “For one thing, I can use Licenses to do absolutely ‘terrible’ things to foreign countries,” he said, but clarified that the ruling doesn’t allow him to do so. “According to the ruling, can’t charge them a License fee — BUT ALL LICENSES CHARGE FEES,” Trump added.

Trump also argued the judgement left intact other tariff pathways, saying they could now be deployed “in a much more powerful and obnoxious way, with legal certainty.”“Our incompetent supreme court did a great job for the wrong people,” Trump wrote, while praising what he called the “Great Three,” an apparent reference to dissenting justices.The president extended his criticism beyond trade policy, warning that the court could next revisit birthright citizenship. “The next thing you know they will rule in favor of China and others, who are making an absolute fortune on Birthright Citizenship, by saying the 14th Amendment was NOT written to take care of the “babies of slaves,” which it was as proven by the EXACT TIMING of its construction, filing, and ratification, which perfectly coincided with the END OF THE CIVIL WAR,” said Trump.Further defending his stance against the top court’s ruling the US President said, “How much better can you do than that? But this supreme court will find a way to come to the wrong conclusion, one that again will make China, and various other Nations, happy and rich. Let our supreme court keep making decisions that are so bad and deleterious to the future of our Nation – I have a job to do. “The Supreme Court’s ruling invalidated most of the Trump administration tariffs imposed under emergency powers, finding that the statute cited by the administration did not authorise sweeping trade levies.