Stock market began the week in red with Nifty trading below 24,000 and Sensex tumbling over 2,000 points as the Middle East conflict continues to intensify. As of 9:27 am, NSE Nifty50 was trading 23,703.60, down 746.85 points or 3.05%. BSE Sensex plunged 2,415.69 points or 3.06% to trade at 76,503.21. This follows a weak close on Dalal Street last week, when eight of the ten most valued companies together saw their market capitalisation shrink by Rs 2,81,581.53 crore.Analysts expect geopolitical developments to remain the key factor guiding market direction for this week as investors will be closely watching how the ongoing crisis in the Middle East could influence global crude oil prices. Market participants will also track global cues and the trading behaviour of foreign investors, which are likely to play a crucial role in shaping sentiment on Dalal Street.Oil prices jumped sharply on Monday, climbing above $114 per barrel for the first time since 2022, as the intensifying conflict involving Iran sparked fears of supply disruptions and risks to vital shipping routes in the Middle East. The global benchmark Brent crude rose past $114 a barrel after trading reopened on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, marking a 23% surge from Friday’s close of $92.69.According to Ajit Mishra, SVP, Research at Religare Broking Ltd, external factors will remain critical for market movement in the near term. “This week, movements in global crude oil prices and further geopolitical developments in West Asia will remain critical external variables influencing market direction. The week will also feature key macroeconomic releases that could shape near-term sentiment,” Mishra told PTI.Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, said that investors should prepare for continued volatility as geopolitical tensions continue to dominate market thinking. He further added that trends in foreign institutional investor (FII) flows and currency movements will also be closely watched, as they often reflect broader shifts in global capital allocation and confidence in emerging markets like India.Dalal Street had a difficult run last week, with benchmark indices posting steep losses. The BSE Sensex fell 2,368.29 points, or 2.91%, while the Nifty declined 728.2 points, or 2.89%.Foreign investors also stepped up their selling in Indian equities. Over the past four trading sessions, they withdrew nearly Rs 21,000 crore (around $2.3 billion) from the market as the crisis in the Middle East intensified.Meanwhile stock markets in Asia saw sharp losses, with Hong Kong’s HSI plunging over 700 points or 2.7% to 25,053. Japan’s Nikkei tumbled 3,880 points down to trade at 51,740 at around 9:00 am IST. Kospi also took a major hit, falling 7%. (Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yadav celebrate the wicket of New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips. (ANI Photo)

After breaking a decade-long title drought with the 2024 T20 World Cup win, India went all in with a modern, aggressive T20 identity. After veterans like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja stepped away, the think-tank designed a younger, braver side in which roles rather than reputations held sway. The subsequent two-year stretch was marked by inflection points in leadership, selection and tactics. TOI decodes what went into India’s transition from a powerhouse of individuals to a relentless T20-winning machine…Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!MOVING ON FROM HARDIK PANDYA AS CAPTAINCY OPTIONHardik Pandya was long considered the heir apparent to the T20 throne but the shift away from his leadership was a strategic pivot towards stability. One, his fitness was dodgy. Secondly, freeing him up from captaincy duties allowed him to grow into the role of the side’s primary allrounder. This allowed India’s most valuable allround asset to stay physically and mentally fresh for high pressure situations.

APPOINTING SURYAKUMAR AS T20-ONLY CAPTAINHanding the T20 captaincy to Suryakumar Yadav, a one-format player, was a bold strategic move. It marked a clear shift toward format specialisation, ensuring leadership continuity in the shortest format. Known for his fearless batting and innovative mindset, Surya embodied the modern T20 philosophy India wanted to adopt. His leadership emphasised intent, aggressive Powerplay batting and tactical flexibility with bowling changes. With his appointment, India created a structure where decisions were driven purely by T20 demands.DROPPING SHUBMAN GILL FOR INTENT-BASED SELECTIONShubman Gill’s exclusion was perhaps the loudest statement of the new era. Despite his technical brilliance and ODI dominance, his ‘classical’ approach was deemed too conservative. The management prioritised strike-rates over averages. By moving on from Gill, India sent a clear message that pedigree alone wouldn’t guarantee a spot. This paved the way for a more explosive, though volatile, top order in the form of Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan.BACKING SANJU SAMSON AS ROHIT’S REPLACEMENTReplacing a titan like Rohit Sharma was no small feat but Sanju Samson’s like-for-like elevation worked wonders. While initially facing familiar ‘inconsistency’ labels, the batter delivered just when it mattered most, justifying the management’s decision to stick by him through the lean patches. Reintroducing him as a primary aggressor during the World Cup provided India with a ’keeperbatter who could exploit the Powerplay better than most. His ability to hit good balls for boundaries changed the team’s offensive baseline, turning him from a backup option into the indispensable tactical heartbeat.MAINTAINING LEFT-RIGHT BATTING COMBINATIONSOne of the tactical commitments from India was to maintain the leftright combinations throughout the batting order. Pairings such as Abhishek Sharma with Sanju Samson at the top, followed by Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav ensured bowlers rarely settled into rhythm. Later partnerships involving Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya continued the pattern. The constant change of angles disrupted field placements and bowling plans. By structuring the lineup around alternating batting hands, India added a tactical layer that increased scoring opportunities and forced opponents to continuously adjust match-ups.BACKING SPECIALIST FINISHERSIndia placed greater emphasis on specialist finishers rather than relying solely on top-order dominance. Players like Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh were groomed for clearly defined late overs roles. Their job was not to anchor the innings but to maximise scoring in the final five overs against pace and spin alike. This shift recognised a key modern T20 reality that games are often decided in the final phase.INCLUDING MULTIPLE ALLROUNDERSAllrounders became central to the squad composition, providing flexibility in both batting depth and bowling options. Players like Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar allowed India to extend the batting lineup without compromising bowling resources. This multi-skilled approach made tactical adjustments easier, particularly on different pitches and conditions. It also helped captain Suryakumar to react dynamically to match situations, ensuring that the side maintained balance even while fielding aggressive batting combinations.

NEW DELHI: The Indian embassy in Riyadh on early Monday denied reports of any Indian deaths in an incident where an Iranian “military projectile” hit a residential building in Saudi Arabia’s Al Kharj amid crisis in the Middle East region. However, there was an injury reported to one Indian national.In a post on X, the embassy said the injured person is being treated at a government hospital in Al Kharj and that officials are in touch with Saudi authorities. The embassy wrote, “It is a matter of relief that there has been no Indian fatality in the unfortunate incident at Al Kharj yesterday evening. The Embassy has been in touch with the concerned Saudi authorities regarding this issue. Counsellor (CW) Shri Y. Sabir visited Al Kharj last night and met the injured Indian national involved in this unfortunate incident. He is currently receiving treatment at a government hospital in Al Kharj.”The embassy’s statement came after the General Directorate of Saudi Civil Defence confirmed the projectile fell on a residential area in Al-Kharj Governorate. The Civil Defence said two people were killed and several others injured. The fatalities were Bangladeshi nationals, along with 11 injured Bangladeshis and one injured Indian, according to the agency.The incident comes amid rising tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Earlier, celebrations broke out in Iran after Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was named the new Supreme Leader. Press TV reported that the IRGC and General Staff of the Armed Forces pledged support for Mojtaba Khamenei, and large crowds took to the streets after the Assembly of Experts made the appointment.Meanwhile, amid rising global oil prices due to the conflict, US President Donald Trump said the “short-term” spike is worth it if it eliminates Iran’s nuclear threat. On Truth Social, he wrote, “Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for USA, and World, Safety and Peace. ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY!”

Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles at Israel on Sunday, including at least one carrying a cluster bomb warhead, reported the Times of Israel. The attack marked the sixth salvo of the day targeting Israel.Video posted on social media appeared to show what could be sub‑munitions from the Iranian cluster warhead falling over Israel. In the footage, several glowing objects can be seen descending separately across the sky, spreading out over a wide area.Six people were injured, one of them seriously, at two impact sites in central Israel. Photos and videos from the scenes showed widespread damage, and more than a dozen impact sites were reported across the region. Police officials said the spread of the impacts indicated that the Iranian missile was likely carrying a cluster bomb warhead. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said search and rescue soldiers were dispatched to the scenes.Cluster bombs or cluster munitions are weapons designed to release many smaller explosive devices, known as submunitions or bomblets, from a single missile, rocket, or aircraft bomb. “The warhead of such missiles opens up while descending and scatters around 20 smaller munitions with around 2.5 kg of explosives in a radius of around 8 km,” the IDF said.Unlike conventional missiles that explode in a single blast, these weapons burst open mid‑air, scattering dozens of smaller explosive bomblets across a large zone. Military analysts warn that the introduction of these weapons changes the dynamics of the conflict. Instead of a single explosion at one point, a cluster warhead can scatter many smaller bombs across a wide area, increasing civilian casualties and causing greater infrastructure destruction.Israeli experts have indicated that Iran might have received help from external sources for the deadly missiles, with speculation of possible transfer of military technology from either Russia or China.The 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), which entered into force in 2010, bans the use, development, production, acquisition, and transfer of cluster munitions. So far, 111 countries and 12 other entities have signed the treaty.

Why cluster bombs are tricky

Cluster bombs are among the most controversial weapons used in modern warfare because “once the main warhead opens in the air, the bomblets spread across a large area and detonate on impact.”Designed to cover wide zones rather than strike a single target, cluster munitions cannot precisely distinguish between military and civilian targets, drawing strong criticism from humanitarian groups. Key features include hitting multiple targets at once, scattering dozens of bomblets over a large area, and increasing the risk of damage to vehicles, infrastructure, and people. Because the bomblets spread across a broad area, their use poses significant risks to civilians.Israel’s Iron Dome is designed to track a single incoming projectile, such as a Grad or Fajr rocket. If the rocket carries a cluster warhead, it remains a single target for most of its flight. Iron Dome’s Tamir interceptor uses a proximity fuse: when it gets close to the incoming rocket, it explodes, shredding the rocket’s casing with shrapnel. If hit early enough, the cluster submunitions inside can be destroyed or neutralized mid-air before scattering.For long-range ballistic missiles, Israel relies on the Arrow Missile Defense System, which intercepts targets at high altitudes, often outside the atmosphere with Arrow 3.Cluster warheads complicate missile defense because the small bomblets released over a wide area cannot be tracked individually by missile defense radars. Systems like Iron Dome or Arrow must attempt to stop multiple falling submunitions at once, increasing the chance that some may slip through. One of the most serious risks comes from unexploded bomblets, which can remain on the ground like hidden landmines, posing long-term threats to civilians and emergency responders even years after a conflict ends.

Aaron Rodgers, the NFL legend, has kept his wife, Brittani, out of the spotlight for close to a year now.A few days ago, as Aaron Rodgers opened up about his married life, he also called out all his ex girlfriends, including Danica Patrick, for invading his privacy and speaking about him in public. Amid this, it seems she has lost her job at Sky Sports.

Aaron Rodgers’ ex girlfriend, Danica Patrick, undergoes a major change in her life amid his controversial remarks against her

A few hours ago, Sky Sports released its broadcating lineup and fans were shocked to see the former NASCAR driver, Danica Patrick’s name missing from the list.While this has sparked panic among fans, many have also linked it to Aaron Rodgers’ controversial remarks against all his ex girlfriends.For the unversed, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ star player, Aaron Rodgers recently made an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show where he made comments against his ex girlfriends.Aaron Rodgers said, “I dealt with clinically bipolar. I dealt with depressed relevance-seeking…”The 41 year old NFL icon added, “I dealt with people that wanted to search out other possibilities before they could commit to me and then they go on TV talking about how I ruined their lives and all this s***…”The Pittsburgh Steelers’ star player continued, “I just want to say, ‘Move on with your life. Stop lying about me. Just move on with your life and be happy.’”

Danica Patrick has stayed away from responding to Aaron Rodgers’ controversial comments about their relationship

Though Aaron Rodgers did not specifically name Danica Patrick in his controversial comments, fans have now linked her getting fired from Sky Sports to his remarks.For the unversed, three of Aaron Rodgers’ ex girlfriends, actresses Olivia Munn and Shailene Woodley, and the former NASCAR legend Danica Patrick, have gone public with the way the NFL icon allegedly treated them and the pain they have felt.This has happened at different times in the last few years but the NFL legend, Aaron Rodgers, has always maintained his distance from their comments in public.At this point in time, neither of Aaron Rodgers’ ex girlfriends has responded to his controversial comments about their statements.For now, it seems the Pittsburgh Steelers’ star player, Aaron Rodgers, is pretty happy and content in his married life as he continues to seek privacy for his wife, Brittani.

In a moment of pure sporting theater and raw emotion, Australia bid farewell to one of its greatest ever players, Alyssa Healy, who announced her retirement from international cricket following a clinical victory over India in the one-off pink-ball Test at the WACA Ground in Perth. As the final wicket fell, cementing Australia’s dominant position, the scene shifted from a hard-fought contest to a celebration of a career that will be remembered for its brilliance, impact, and unprecedented success.

Alyssa Healy: A career marked by triumph and innovation

Healy’s journey in international cricket has been nothing short of extraordinary. Over the course of her 16-year career, she transformed the art of wicketkeeping, combining impeccable glovework with destructive batting that often took the game away from opponents in the blink of an eye. Her 8 World Cup titles – a record in both men’s and women’s cricket – are a testament to her longevity and unparalleled success in major tournaments. Healy was not just a player; she was an entertainer, a force of nature who thrilled crowds around the world with her innovative strokeplay and unwavering competitive spirit.

Aussie players give a heartening tribute to Healy

The moment Healy was lifted onto the shoulders of her teammates will be forever etched in the minds of those who witnessed it. Following Australia’s resounding victory, which came in just 34.2 overs on the third day of the Test, the team clustered around their departing captain. In a touching gesture of respect and affection, Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner kneeled down, and Healy, with a wide smile and tears welling in her eyes, clambered onto their shoulders. The entire Australian team, flanked by a guard of honor formed by the Indian players, then began the “chairing” off ceremony, a tradition often reserved for retiring legends.

Here’s the video:

It took a second to get the process right chairing Alyssa Healy over to her sign 😂 pic.twitter.com/J9rSJTW3Ok

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) March 8, 2026

Also READ: Australia hand Alyssa Healy a winning farewell with 10 wickets win over India in the one-off Test

As Healy was carried around the WACA Ground, the crowd, including her family and friends, erupted in a thunderous standing ovation. Spectators waved flags, banners, and personalized signs, all celebrating the contribution she had made to the sport. The Indian players, led by their captain Harmanpreet Kaur, applauded warmly as she passed, in a fitting show of respect for a formidable opponent. Healy, clearly moved by the outpouring of love and admiration, waved to the crowd, blowing kisses and soaking in the atmosphere of her final moments on the international stage.

Also READ: AUS-W vs IND-W: Fans erupt as Annabel Sutherland lights up Perth with record-breaking century on Day 2 of the one-off Test

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

India’s players celebrate after winning the T20 World Cup (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

Virat Kohli hailed India national cricket team after their dominant triumph in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final, praising the side’s fearless cricket and resilience throughout the tournament.Kohli took to social media after the title clash to congratulate the team following their emphatic 96 run victory over New Zealand national cricket team in the summit clash at Narendra Modi Stadium.

Virat Kohli post

“Champions Phenomenal win for Team India in Ahmedabad. Absolutely no match for the explosive cricket played by us throughout the tournament. Brilliant character shown by the boys to keep fighting in tough situations and become world champions once again. Congratulations to all the players and all the members of the management for achieving this feat. Jai Hind,” Kohli wrote.India produced a batting spectacle to overwhelm New Zealand and successfully defend their T20 World Cup crown. The defending champions piled up a massive 255 for five after being invited to bat, the highest total ever recorded in a T20 World Cup final.Sanju Samson led the charge with a blistering 89, while Abhishek Sharma smashed 52 and Ishan Kishan struck a rapid 54 as India’s top order unleashed a relentless six hitting spree. Samson and Abhishek set the tone early with a breathtaking 98 run opening partnership that came in just 7.1 overs.India crossed the 200 run mark in only 15 overs as the Kiwi attack struggled to contain the onslaught. New Zealand briefly pulled things back when James Neesham dismissed Samson, Kishan and captain Suryakumar Yadav in the same over.However, Shivam Dube provided a strong finish with an unbeaten 26, smashing 24 runs in the final over to push India to the record total.Chasing 256, New Zealand faltered under the scoreboard pressure. Their hopes faded quickly after early wickets of Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips.Jasprit Bumrah led India’s bowling effort with a brilliant spell of 4 for 15, while Axar Patel picked up three wickets to dismantle the Kiwi batting line up.Though Tim Seifert fought with a 26 ball 52, New Zealand were eventually bowled out for 159 in 19 overs as India sealed a memorable victory and etched their name in history by becoming the first team to defend the T20 World Cup title.

Abhishek Sharma plays a shot during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final cricket match between India and New Zealand, at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. (PTI Photo)

Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson gave India an explosive start in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.The two openers added 98 runs for the first wicket, creating the first 50-plus opening partnership in a men’s T20 World Cup final. The previous highest opening stand in a final was 48, scored by Kamran Akmal and Shahzaib Hasan for Pakistan against Sri Lanka at Lord’s Cricket Ground in 2009.

Abhishek had not scored many runs earlier in the tournament but delivered in the final, while Samson continued his run of form. Both openers scored 92 runs in the powerplay, the highest powerplay score in any T20 World Cup match.Also See: India vs New Zealand Live Score T20 World Cup Final 2026

Abhishek brought up his fifty in the final off just 18 balls and was eventually dismissed on 52. Highest PP scores in T20 WCs92/0 – IND vs NZ, Ahmedabad, 2026 Final92/1 – WI vs AFG, Bridgetown, 202491/1 – NED vs IRE, Sylhet, 201489/3 – ENG vs SA, Mumbai WS, 201686/1 – IND vs NAM, Delhi, 2026FOLLOW LIVEEarlier, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and chose to field.Before the match, MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma brought the T20 World Cup trophy onto the field, drawing a loud response from the crowd.Dhoni led India to the first T20 World Cup title in 2007, while Rohit captained the side to their second title in the 2024 edition.New Zealand reached the final after defeating South Africa in the semifinal. India secured a seven-run win over England in Mumbai to reach the final.In T20 World Cup meetings between the two sides, New Zealand have the edge with wins in 2007, 2016 and 2021.India are chasing several milestones in the final. The side is aiming to become the first host nation to win the T20 World Cup, the first team to defend the title and the first team to win the tournament three times.For New Zealand, one challenge is to contain India’s batting order and handle the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah.“Happy to bat first since we have been doing that pretty well. Always good to have runs on the board in the semifinal or a final. It’s history now, new World Cup, and we are excited for it. It looks full already, and it’s only toss time, and hopefully we will give them a good show. Same team for us,” India captain Suryakumar Yadav said.“We are going to bowl first. Looks pretty good. We will see if it does anything and try to restrict them to a chasable score. Boys are good. This is why we are playing. It did. Great occasion, the semifinal and the guys will take confidence from that. This is the biggest stage, and everyone is ready. No, McConchie, Duffy is playing,” Santner said.India are playing their fourth T20 World Cup final, the most by any team. Out of the nine previous finals, six were won by the side chasing. Of the remaining three, India won two — in 2007 and 2024 — both in matches decided in the final over.TeamsIndia (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah.New Zealand (Playing XI): Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy.

Jefferies has a buy on Shriram Finance with the target price at Rs 1,220. Analysts said interaction with the management suggests commercial vehicle (CV) demand (including the used ones) stays healthy. The company reiterated 18-20% assets under management (AUM) growth guidance for FY27-28. Cos of finance can fall 80 basis points (bps) and lift spreads by about 20-25bps by FY28. So far, collections have been good. Analysts expect AUM growth to improve to 18% in FY27 as new CV disbursements pick up. Net interest margins should expand and may surprise positively.Macquarie has an underperform rating on Nykaa with the target price at Rs 210. Analysts said Nykaa’s beauty performance upside has been led by stronger growth in beauty brands, particularly the Dot & Key skincare portfolio. They think it will be difficult to drive Nykaa.com third-party brand sales and mirror Dot & Key’s growth playbook with its other owned brands.JP Morgan has a neutral rating on Interglobe Aviation (Indigo) with the target price at Rs 4,630. Analysts remain cautious as they believe the company should continue to face headwinds from fuel and non-fuel costs. There is limited scope to raise yields as domestic air traffic remains tepid and international is also moderating. They also said jet fuel prices had begun to rise in Feb-2026 even before the latest US-Iran conflict started, and non-fuel costs should remain elevated due to continued weakness of the rupee. Domestic air traffic industry growth slowed from 4.4% on the year (YoY) in Jan-26 to nil in Feb-26, while international traffic growth was 6.5%/2% YoY in Jan/Feb 2026. They cut FY26/27 earnings per share (EPS) by 13%/14% to account for higher fuel costs. They expect oil prices to moderate in FY28 leading to a modest EPS cut of 4%.UBS initiated its coverage of Pine Labs with the target price at Rs 250. Analysts said the company is a leading B2B payment platform across large enterprises. It has an enterprise-led annuity base with scalable monetization, and affordability underpins incremental growth and margin expansion. Pine Labs trades at a ~45% discount to Paytm on FY28 (expected) economic value/earnings before interest and taxes (EV/EBIT), which we believe is unjustified given its superior profitability and the challenges of scaling a B2B payments franchise vs B2C mode.Citigroup has initiated a buy rating on Orkla India with the target price at Rs 750. Analysts said the company is a key food & beverages (F&B) player operating across pure and blended spices, convenience packaged food, ready to eat etc. categories under MTR and Eastern brands. It is market leader in spices in Karnataka and Kerala, and has strong presence in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana driven by hyper-local brand building, deep distribution and culturally resonant products. The company’s constructive view is underpinned by strong category tailwinds, market leadership in South India, and effective execution of portfolio expansion and channel diversification. Moreover, analysts expect margin expansion to be driven by favorable product mix and operational efficiencies. Key risks include commodity price volatility, concentration in South India, and competition from regional players.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)