NEW DELHI: Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu returned to India after being stranded in Dubai since February 28 following the closure of airspace in West Asia due to escalating conflict in the region. As a result, she had to give the All England Badminton, which began on Tuesday in Birmingham, a miss.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!On Tuesday, Sindhu informed that she might also miss the Yonex Swiss Open, a Super 300 event in Basel scheduled from March 10 to 15, due to curtailed flight operations across the Gulf region and the unavailability of tickets on most airlines. The tournament carries a prize purse of $250,000 (approx Rs 2.1 cr).“Swiss Open is definitely a target. But as I speak, all the flights are going full. I have been trying every day to book myself on one of them, but there are no tickets available. Everything is via Dubai and it’s been a challenge. We all know taking the Dubai flight route is risky. Let’s see what happens in the next few days,” Sindhu said in a media interaction facilitated by SAI.“I am searching for options but nothing has been working out so far. I have to also think about my coach (Indonesian Irwansyah Adi Pratama) and his safety.” Sindhu said that the Badminton World Federation has waived a financial penalty of $5,000 for her no-show at the All England, acknowledging the extraordinary situation. However, discussions around a possible loss of her ranking points ahead of a season involving the CWG, Asian Games and World Championships, are ongoing, with Sindhu expecting an amicable solution due to “extraordinary circumstances”.“There are BWF regulations in place for skipping a Super 1000 or Super 750 tournaments by top-ranked players. If the world body doesn’t find the reasons valid, they would fine a player $5,000. I wrote a mail to BWF from Dubai. They understood my situation, as probably it was the first time that such a thing happened and waived off my penalty. That was one relief.“About the ranking points, they told me to send a collaborative mail detailing my circumstances. I’m waiting for their response. They will convey the decision in a day’s time,” said Sindhu, who is also a member of BWF’s Athletes Commission.“I just pray it was the first time and the last time I experience something like this. It’s going to be hard (to forget). You train so hard and then something completely beyond your control prevents you from competing in a big event.”

Actor Esha Gupta has returned safely to India after being stranded in Abu Dhabi during the recent escalation of tensions in the Middle East. The actor, who was in the UAE when missile attacks led to widespread airspace disruptions, took to Instagram to recount her experience and thank those who helped her during the crisis.On March 1, she first reassured her followers through her Instagram Stories, writing, “To everyone checking in and messaging, I’m sorry for not replying. We are ok, we are safe! Times are scary, very tough. God is there to protect us.” After reaching home, Esha shared a detailed and emotional note describing what unfolded at Abu Dhabi airport. “Back home. Thank you all for your prayers and wishes. It was very tough to be in the situation that we all were. Truly god’s blessing to be safe!It started when I was at the airport on the 28th (Sunday). By 1 pm, the airport was closed, chaos all around as none of us knew what happened. Then the news started coming of the missile attack, and no one knew what the next minute held for us. Strangers consoling each other, all calling their families back home. Here, I would like to mention that what I saw was strength of a country which is UAE. We were at the Abu Dhabi airport. The ground staff and airport security immediately lunged to action and stayed calm throughout even though we were all in this situation together. I hadn’t checked in myself by then so I took a turn and left back to my hotel in Abu Dhabi. Following are the stories that we heard first hand from the people we met later in our hotel that night..”She went on to describe how authorities managed the situation on the ground as missiles reportedly lit up the sky. “First, they gave all the passengers possible cash for food at the airport. Of course, everyone had to wait to get their luggage and for the authorities to sort things. But after a few hours, each and every passenger had to be in a queue and they were all given accommodation at all the available hotels in Abu Dhabi. By 9 pm that night, they had buses ready for transfers to different hotels across the city and island. The government before it was out in media had ordered all the hotels to provide for stay and food to the stranded passengers. Again, this did not mean that they had strangers stuck in rooms, but they made sure only families or friends were together. We all were getting notifications alarms on our phones by the MOI of UAE to seek shelter. We also were getting reassurance alerts when situation seemed calm to them. We also were getting reassurance alerts when situation seemed calm to them.” Esha also praised hotel staff and essential service workers who continued working despite the tense circumstances. “The hotels management I saw, in the same clothes as last night, still working still active and taking care of everything, answering to the questions what they were unaware of as well to the best of their ability. The delivery men (Careem) were still out there delivering. There was no shortage of any service anywhere. The lobby was full of people, including us due to the security alert, scared, but no chaos. The hotel security kept reassuring everyone. Not once did we see the people, all scared internally but no one created stress, we all were in this together. Etihad had sent us all mail/messages for rebooking or refunds.”Determined to return home at the earliest opportunity, she added, “We kept calling the airline in the hope to be on the next flight home, did not matter the city till we can land back in our own country. The ground staff on calls of the said airline were the most helpful and again, very calm, we had reached the airport much before so were lucky enough to be on the first commercial flight of Etihad which flew to Delhi yesterday afternoon. The airport was not fully functional, yet, the staff was ready to help in every way, with answers even they did not know yet. All this shows just the backbone of a country and its strength, they took action when needed, no blaming anyone, just strong decisions. Thank you to everyone who helped and are helping people of the world to get back to their home. Your country is truly special.”Concluding her note with gratitude for both nations, she wrote, “Thank you for our government for providing its citizens with reassurance and working towards getting us all back. Thank you to UAE government in working in solidarity with every country for the citizens of the world! Radhe Radhe.”

Scorpions are creatures that can make anyone stand frozen after a single glance. These creatures look intimidating, with their spiked tails and large pincers. However, it is interesting to note that not all scorpions are harmful. The giant forest scorpion is a prime example of a harmless scorpion. These scorpions can grow up to nine inches in length, almost the size of a standard ruler. Experts have noted that the venom of the scorpions is mild and is used to hunt insects, not humans. In fact, people consider them pets too. These scorpions have been around since before the dinosaurs, making them ancient creatures. These ancient creatures have come up with some incredible adaptations to survive in their environments. These scorpions glow under ultraviolet light, have an intricate mating dance, and use their pectines to sense their surroundings. There is more to scorpions than meets the eye, and their behaviour is a testament to their complex life.

World’s largest scorpion from India hunts in the dark and is kept as a pet

Scorpions are creatures that can make people stand frozen by simply looking at them. These creatures are very scary, especially because of the spikes at the end of their tail and the large pincers they have. However, not all scorpions are scary, and the giant forest scorpion is a clear example of this. It has the ability to grow up to nine inches long, almost the size of a standard ruler. It would be expected that such a large creature, especially an arachnid, would be very aggressive, but it seems that these creatures, despite their size, are very docile. It has even been noted by experts that the venom of the giant forest scorpion is very mild and is only used for hunting insects, not for harming humans, and people even keep them as pets. These scorpions are native to India and usually inhabit tropical forests. They do not always stay in their own burrows. Experts say that they often occupy crab holes, termite mounds, and rat burrows. Giant forest scorpions are nocturnal and spend their nights searching for insects and other small prey. These scorpions have been around since before the dinosaurs. Despite this, they have managed to evolve some amazing adaptations. They have the ability to glow in the dark, have an intricate mating dance, and have pectines to sense vibrations and chemical changes in their environment. There is a lot more to these scorpions than what the eye can see, and this is reflected in their behavior.

How the giant forest scorpion senses its surroundings at night

One distinctive feature of the giant forest scorpion is that it has pectines. These comb-like features on the underside of the scorpion’s body may look aesthetically pleasing, but they are vital to its survival. These features help the scorpion detect vibrations, chemicals, and its surroundings. These features help the scorpion make up for its very poor eyesight. The hairs on its body also help the scorpion detect movements and obstacles. Experts have said that this scorpion is very aware of its surroundings because of these features and its hairs.

How the giant forest scorpion balances caution and care in its world

It may sound strange, but the giant forest scorpion is considered one of the most docile scorpion species. It defends itself when threatened, usually using its claws first and only resorting to its stinger if necessary. Its venom is rarely dangerous to humans, which is why some enthusiasts keep it as a pet. Observing its slow and deliberate movements, one can see a calmness and confidence that is unusual for such a large arachnid. Its gentle behaviour makes it fascinating to watch, despite its fearsome appearance.Giant forest scorpions have remarkable mating behaviours. Male scorpions reportedly perform an elaborate dance before copulation. They grip the female’s claws and move together across the ground to decide where to deposit the sperm sac. The female carries her young until they are ready to survive on their own. Observing these behaviours, it becomes clear that even creatures with intimidating looks have a surprisingly complex social life.

The stage is set at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata for a high-stakes showdown. As the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 reaches its climax, South Africa and New Zealand collide in the 1st Semi-Final, with both sides eyeing a spot in the championship decider.

South Africa enters this clash as the team to beat. Riding an unbeaten streak through the tournament, Aiden Markram’s side has looked clinical in every department. Their top-order aggression, paired with a bowling attack that has mastered varying conditions, has made them a formidable force.

New Zealand, meanwhile, has navigated a tougher path to the knockouts. After a mixed Super 8 phase, the Black Caps have shown trademark resilience. Led by Mitchell Santner, their strength lies in their tactical flexibility and ability to perform under extreme pressure—a hallmark of their previous World Cup campaigns.

SA vs NZ, T20 World Cup 2026: Match details

• Date and Time: March 04; 7:00 pm IST / 1:30 pm GMT
• Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

SA vs NZ, Head-to-Head Record in T20Is

Matches played: 19 | South Africa won: 12 | New Zealand won: 7 | No result: 0

Eden Gardens Pitch Report

The iconic Eden Gardens is primed for a classic T20 contest. Expect a surface that favors the batters, with true bounce and a lightning-fast outfield that will make every misfield costly. The pitch is expected to be dry and hard, offering the ball to come onto the bat nicely. It is historically a high-scoring ground, and recent matches in this World Cup suggest that anything below 190 could be vulnerable. Fast bowlers might extract some early swing, but as the shine fades, the surface becomes a batting paradise. Spinners will need to rely on variation and tight lines rather than big turn, as the ball will likely sit up for the hitters. While chasing has often been the preferred option in modern T20s due to potential evening dew, the high-pressure nature of a semi-final might see captains opting to bat first and put runs on the board.

Squads

South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, George Linde, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka, Jason Smith

New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (c), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, James Neesham, Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson, Devon Conway

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026 Semifinals: Date, Match Time, Venue, Broadcast and Live Streaming details

SA vz NZ, T20 World Cup 2026: Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

• South Africa wins the toss and bats first
• South Africa’ powerplay score: 50-60
• South Africa’ total score: 180-190

Case 2:

• New Zealand wins the toss and bats first
• New Zealand’s powerplay score: 40-50
• New Zealand’s total score: 170-180

Match result: Team batting first to win the contest.

Also READ: ICC unveils match officials for T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals

File photo of Jasprit Bumrah. (AP Photo)

TimesofIndia.com in Mumbai: It was a pleasant October afternoon in Delhi and Jasprit Bumrah was continuously coughing while fielding at deep fine-leg for Gujarat. The opponents were Railways and the venue hosting that Ranji Trophy clash was the Karnail Singh Stadium. Only a handful of people watched that First Class fixture and appreciated the red-ball masterclass from the “mystery” bowler, despite being under the weather. He told this reporter about his ill health, which was surprising as without the respiratory ailment, it would have been impossible to tell he wasn’t 100%. Across the two innings, he bowled 30.4 overs, took seven wickets, and demonstrated the ability to stand out in a line-up which also featured current selector RP Singh, who was playing as a guest player. Bumrah‘s name wasn’t unknown in that 2015-16 season as he had already landed an IPL contract with the Mumbai Indians in 2013 and made 17 appearances for the mighty franchise before playing for Gujarat in the domestic circuit. He featured in eight games in 2015, returning with 21 wickets after bowling 200.2 overs for the Parthiv Patel-led unit. His domestic performance set him up nicely to become a regular in the Mumbai Indians XI, and he slowly became the franchise’s banker in the cash-rich league.

However, it was the 2012-13 season that put Bumrah on the map and on everyone’s radar. John Wright became Mumbai Indians’ head coach in 2013 and served them for two seasons but it was his role as a scout which unearthed the gem, a diamond, for the franchise and Indian cricket. During one of his many field trips, the former India coach watched a 2012-13 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy fixture where a young bowler with a different action and an insane ability to drill yorkers caught his attention.“I saw Bumrah when I went to to Ahmedabad and I was watching Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. And just by chance, I watched the last few overs of a game between Gujarat and Mumbai. Bumrah bowled two overs and he tried to bowl a yorker every ball. He had pace and that was unusual and he had an interesting, different action. I asked Parthiv Patel because he was captain of Gujarat and he gave him a glowing endorsement.

Jasprit Bumrah of Mumbai Indians delivers a ball during the 2025 IPL match against Delhi Capitals. (Getty Images)

“So it’s a bit of luck. It’s a bit of coincidence. Bumrah was interesting because he was different. He had a different action and he was quick. And I’d never seen anyone try and bowl 12 yorkers in a row anywhere,” recalled Wright in a chat with TimesofIndia.com.It was love at first sight and Wright instantly called Rahul Sanghvi, who has been with the franchise since 2008 donning many hats. Things progressed, and the Mumbai Indians got him on board. “It happened really quickly. I called Rahul Sanghvi and we’d sign him the next morning,” said Wright.Wright knew he had picked someone really special, and different, but he received real assurance after the great Sachin Tendulkar faced Bumrah during one of the side’s net sessions and found him “really difficult to pick.”

“Sachin was batting first in the nets and I made Jasprit bowl. I said, ‘Jasprit, I want you to bowl to Sachin’. We had three or four bowlers in the fast bowlers nets. And I’ll never forget, after Sachin had his net, he came to me. And he said, ‘John, who is that guy over there?’ And I said, ‘it’s Bumrah and we have just signed him.’ And he said, ‘John, he’s really hard to pick.’ I nearly jumped for joy then because when he said that, I thought, that’s great. He’s got a difficult action to pick up and Sachin spotted it immediately,” said Wright.This was enough for the New Zealander to fast-track Bumrah into the Playing XI setup. While he didn’t play all games in the first three seasons, his development occurred at a rapid pace, and the Mumbai Indians were patient enough to see his evolution.“Jasprit only played two games that year and not all games next two seasons… It took a while for him. But, you know, people forget that he’s only 18 or 19. And the road to being, you know, a performer, a consistent performer, is going to take a little bit of time,” added Wright.

Jasprit Bumrah of Mumbai Indians warms up prior to the 2025 IPL match against the Chennai Super Kings. (Getty Images)

Mumbai Indians won titles in 2013 and 2015 but it was in 2016 that Bumrah hit his stride and never looked back. For every season since that year, he remained among the wicket-takers, and his season economy never touched the 8-run mark. Three more titles came in 2017, 2019 and 2020 with Bumrah playing the leading role. During those golden years for the IPL franchise, Bumrah became too valuable a property for national selectors to ignore. He was drafted into the white-ball setup and made his T20I and ODI debuts in Australia during the 2016 season. And then came the unexpected Test call when then head coach Ravi Shastri and captain Virat Kohli unleashed him with the red cherry against South Africa in South Africa in 2018. The transition to red ball cricket stood out for Wright and he still remembers the “fantastic spell” he bowled against England at Trent Bridge.“I remember watching India play when Bumrah first toured England with the Test team. I was watching it on television. I wasn’t at the match. But he would bowl a fantastic spell at Trent Bridge. And I thought, ‘Wow, that’s great.’ Because he’s made that transition from limited over cricket to Test cricket. I was in Derbyshire. I was doing some of the coaching work there. He had a great tour. Then he’d taken his game not only to the limited over level, but to the Test level. And that’s great. Because, you know, whoever was working with him and however he was thinking, I mean, he’s a very intelligent kid. And modest. And, you just feel happy for the guy that they’re doing well,” said Wright.

Jasprit Bumrah bowls on Day 2 of the third Test between England and India at Lord’s. (Getty Images)

In between those appearances across formats, and in the IPL, Bumrah battled back issues and he ultimately underwent surgery in March 2023. The critics, always skeptical of his ‘different’ bowling option and the load it puts on his back, had their swords out and wrote off a comeback. They said it was impossible, but Bumrah was not going to give up. He missed a lot of cricket after surgery but returned to have a brilliant 2023 ODi World Cup campaign, followed by the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. The back issue resurfaced in the final Test in Sydney, forcing him to miss the Champions Trophy, but he returned again. The 2024 T20 World Cup win in the Caribbean followed. While others kept questioning and wondering, Bumrah slowly beefed up his trophy cabinet which now includes five IPL titles and one T20 World Cup. In his 234 appearances for the country across formats, the bowler with the “different action” has consistently made the difference. He had read and seen many opinions around him and his longevity but remained mum for most of the period. In the last few years, that has changed.

File photo of Jasprit Bumrah getting attention from a physio.

During a press-conference after he picked up a five-wicket haul against England in Leeds last year, Bumrah hit back at critics who gave him only six, or at max eight months.“They said I’d last only six months, then eight months. But playing and playing, I’m now close to completing ten years in international cricket. It’s been twelve or thirteen years that I’ve played in the IPL. Even now, people say the same things — ‘Now he’ll go, now he’ll retire.’ Let them keep waiting. I’m not thinking about all that. I’ll keep doing my work. Every three or four months, people say, ‘Now he’ll go, now he’ll go.’ Let’s see,” Bumrah had said.“I’ll keep playing for as long as God has written it for me. I prepare my best, and after that, I leave it up to God. With all the blessings He has given me, I try to carry them forward. I try to take Indian cricket forward too,” he added.

Jasprit Bumrah celebrates the wicket of Roston Chase during the T20 World Cup cricket match between India and West Indies in Kolkata. (AP)

In the ongoing T20 World Cup, he has been the team’s real impact bowler; Suryakumar Yadav has used him in different phases because he can ace any role to perfection. There are occasions when the scoreboard readings wouldn’t attract the praise and laurels but Bumrah operates on impact, and nobody does it better than him. More than ten years after that pleasant afternoon in Delhi, Bumrah has elevated his skill-set to dangerous levels. He remains a prized possession and a polished diamond that isn’t losing its shine. If you ask a precious stone nerd, he would immediately label Bumrah as a diamond of D colour and IF clarity. And this one isn’t lab-grown, it’s meticulously polished after years of grind.