File Pic: VVS Laxman (TOI Photo)

I was making a comeback after nearly two years and everything around the team had changed: the fitness levels, the attitude and the mindset.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!I still remember the evening after Australia enforced the follow-on. National selector Madan Lal asked us to keep fighting. Laxman then said something that surprised me. He said, “We might win this.” At that stage it felt hard to imagine, but he had the belief.Rahul Dravid came in at No. 6, while Laxman moved up the order. The decision came after discussions between coach John Wright and captain Sourav Ganguly. It turned out to be a smart move.

Laxman and Dravid had known each other for years, from their South Zone and U-19 days. Once they settled in, the way they batted for an entire day and completely changed the game.Inside the dressing room there was tension. One wicket and the tail would be exposed. But the way they batted kept us alive. Australia, meanwhile, were so used to winning that they weren’t really playing for a draw. That made things difficult for them.That series belonged largely to Harbhajan Singh. But Sachin Tendulkar’s spell on Day 5 was crucial. He had the experience of bowling under pressure — like the famous last over in the Hero Cup in 1993 — and he delivered again when the team needed it.ALSO READ: ‘Playing for India, mind becomes stronger than the body’: VVS Laxman recounts his epic Eden knockLaxman’s innings was extraordinary. He was coming down the track to Shane Warne and hitting him even against the spin. That confidence came from years of playing domestic cricket on turning tracks in Hyderabad.For me, the Kolkata Test was special because it turned out to be my last game. Getting the wicket of Mark Waugh made it even more memorable. It was the perfect farewell.More importantly, that Test transformed Indian cricket. It gave the team belief that we could fight back from any situation and win. There’s another small personal memory: the bat Laxman used to score that famous 281 was actually mine. So, in a small way, that was my contribution to that historic knock.(The former India left-arm spinner spoke to Vishal Menon)

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations said Tehran does not plan to close the Strait of Hormuz, appearing to strike a more measured tone after remarks by the country’s newly appointed supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei suggesting the strategic waterway could be used as leverage.Speaking to reporters at the UN on Thursday, Amir Saeid Iravani said Iran would not block the vital shipping route but stressed that the country had the right to ensure its security, according to Reuters.

“We are not going to close the Strait of Hormuz,” Iravani said. “But it is our inherent right to preserve the peace and security in this waterway.”His comments came after Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said earlier on Thursday that the “lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must continue to be used.”In a prepared statement read to reporters before taking questions, Iravani said Iran remained committed to international maritime law.“Iran fully respects and remains committed to the principle of freedom of navigation under the law of the sea,” he said.However, he blamed rising tensions in the region on US actions.“However, the current situation in the region, including in the Strait of Hormuz, is not the result of Iran’s lawful exercise of its right of self-defense. Rather, it is the direct consequence of the destabilizing actions of the United States in launching aggression against Iran and undermining regional security,” Iravani said.The comments come amid heightened tensions in the region following ongoing hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States.Asked about remarks by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who told Sky News that the US Navy, possibly alongside an international coalition, could escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz when militarily feasible, Iravani said he had no response, Reuters reported.Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway cone

Stock market today (AI image)

Stock market today: Continuing the down trend, Nifty50 and BSE Sensex opened in red on Friday as oil prices climbed and the Strait of Hormuz closure halted important global trade. While Nifty50 went below 23,500, BSE Sensex was down over 580 points. At 9:17 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 23,461.40, down 178 points or 0.75%. BSE Sensex was at 75,446.08, down 588 points or 0.77%.Market experts say that the indices continue to show a weak underlying trend, amid ongoing US-Iran war and its impact on oil prices.Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “With the heightened uncertainty surrounding the West Asian conflict continuing, globally markets are weak and in unchartered territory. Weakness in the US markets indicates that rebound in the market is some time away. With Brent crude around $100, bulls are on the defensive. With the FIIs persisting with their sustained selling strategy, even largecap bluechips are under pressure. One segment that is weathering the storm is pharmaceuticals. This sector is not impacted by external headwinds. In fact rupee depreciation is a positive for the sector, which is a major exporter. It appears that portfolio churns are happening in favour of pharmaceuticals. There is nothing much investors can do in these challenging times other than remaining calm and continuing with systematic investment.”Asian equities tracked overnight losses on Wall Street during early trade on Friday as oil prices remained under close watch. Concerns are rising that the ongoing conflict involving Iran could tighten global energy supplies and push inflation higher.US markets declined on Thursday after Iranian attacks on two oil tankers drove crude prices closer to the $100 per barrel mark. The sharp jump in oil prices added to worries about inflation and triggered selling in equities as investors turned cautious.However, oil prices edged lower on Friday morning after the United States granted a 30-day licence allowing countries to purchase Russian crude and petroleum products that are currently stranded at sea. The move helped ease immediate supply concerns.Foreign institutional investors continued to pare their exposure to Indian equities, selling shares worth Rs 7,050 crore on Thursday. Domestic institutional investors, on the other hand, provided support to the market as they bought equities worth Rs 7,449 crore on a net basis.(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)

The public database used to track companies hiring workers on the H-1B visa programme has gone offline, reports Dallas Express. According to the publication, key search tools of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) H-1B Employer Data hub have been disabled. These tools enabled users to search and analyse visa sponsorship data. Additionally, recent datasets from the hub have also gone missing. The agency has apologised adding that it is actively working to resolve the issue. Launched in 2019, the H-1B Employer Data Hub is a public database designed to help users review information about employers participating in the H-1B visa programme – often used by tech companies to hire non-immigrant employees to work in the US. However, the report said the site’s search function and interactive map are no longer available, making it difficult to check which companies are hiring H-1B workers.

USCIS says sorry on missing H-1B visa data

According to The Dallas Express, the issue was first noticed late last week. A spokesman for the agency told the publication in an email, “We are aware that our various USCIS Employer Data Hubs are currently experiencing technical difficulties. Our team is actively working to resolve the issue. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience while we work to restore normal service.”

Key tools on H-1B data hub stop working

In its 2019 announcement on H-1B Employer Data Hub, USCIS said that the hub will allow users to search for H-1B petitioners by: Fiscal year; NAICS code; or The employer’s name, city, state, or ZIP code. “This gives you the ability to calculate approval and denial rates, and to review which employers are using the H-1B program,” the agency then wrote in a social media post.According to the Dallas Express report, the map feature that displayed the geographic distribution of H-1B employers across the United States has also been removed. In addition, the downloadable datasets section of the site does not currently include files for fiscal years 2024, 2025 or 2026. The agency had earlier said the data would be updated regularly.The affected pages are now labelled as “Archived Content,” though they also show a note saying they were “Last Reviewed/Updated: 07/01/2025.” It is not clear when the datasets were moved to archived status or whether the change is related to technical issues on the site.

Ongoing crisis in the Middle East is beginning to ripple through financial markets, with the impact now visible in the US bond market. The average rate on a long-term mortgage in the United States moved higher this week as bond market volatility persisted. According to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac, the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.11% this week from 6% a week earlier. A year ago, the average rate stood at 6.65%. The latest increase places the average rate roughly where it was five weeks ago. Just two weeks ago, the rate had fallen to its lowest point in three and a half years. Throughout the year it has largely hovered around the 6% mark, providing a relatively supportive backdrop for prospective buyers who can afford homes as the spring homebuying season begins. Borrowing costs also climbed for shorter-term loans. The average rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage, commonly used by homeowners refinancing their loans, increased to 5.5% from 5.43% last week. At the same time last year, the average rate was 5.8%, according to Freddie Mac. Mortgage rates are shaped by several factors, including interest-rate decisions by the Federal Reserve as well as bond investors’ expectations about the economy and inflation. In general, they tend to follow movements in the 10-year US Treasury yield, which lenders use as a key benchmark when pricing home loans. By midday Thursday, the 10-year Treasury yield was at 4.25%, compared with about 4.13% a week earlier. Treasury yields have risen recently as higher oil prices have fuelled concerns about inflation. Those worries have outweighed the impact of last month’s weaker-than-expected hiring data from US employers and a relatively steady reading on consumer inflation that was recorded before the outbreak of the Iran war. “Under normal circumstances, these soft economic readings would put downward pressure on mortgage rates, however, the news out of the Middle East is overriding those signals,” Hannah Jones, senior economist research analyst at Realtor.com said in an email. Rising oil prices can push inflation higher, which in turn may discourage the Federal Reserve from lowering interest rates. While the central bank does not directly set mortgage rates, its decisions on short-term borrowing costs are closely watched by bond investors and can influence the yield on 10-year Treasury notes that help determine mortgage rates. The US housing market continues to face a slowdown that dates back to 2022, when mortgage rates began climbing from the lows seen during the pandemic. Sales of previously owned homes in the United States have hovered near an annual pace of around 4 million since 2023, significantly below the roughly 5.2 million annual pace that has historically been typical. Transactions fell to a 30-year low last year and have remained subdued so far this year, trailing the pace recorded a year earlier in both January and February despite mortgage rates being lower than they were at that time.

Following a clinical demolition of Pakistan in the series opener, Bangladesh enters the 2nd ODI on March 13 with the momentum of an 8-wicket victory and the chance to seal the series at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

The first ODI was a statement of intent from Mehidy Hasan Miraz‘s Bangladesh. The “Tigers” pace sensation Nahid Rana dismantled a new-look Pakistan batting lineup with a ferocious 5-wicket haul, while Tanzid Hasan’s aggressive 67* ensured the chase was a mere formality. Bangladesh looks balanced, confident, and perfectly attuned to their home conditions.

For Pakistan, this is a must-win game to keep the series alive. The decision to rest senior pillars like Babar Azam has left a significant void in the middle order, which struggled to cope with Rana’s pace and Miraz’s spin. Shaheen Afridi faces a massive leadership test; he needs his young top order—Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat—to provide a more substantial foundation if they are to challenge the hosts.

BAN vs PAK, 2nd ODI: Match Details

• Date and Time: March 13; 01:45 pm IST/ 08:15 am GMT/ 02:15 pm Local
• Venue: Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka

BAN vs PAK, Head-to-Head Record

Matches Played: 40 | BAN won: 6 | PAK Won: 14 | No results: 0

Shere Bangla National Stadium Pitch Report

The Mirpur surface is legendary for being a slow burner and the second ODI is expected to follow that script. Traditionally spin-friendly. The pitch offers significant grip and turn as the match progresses. Pacers like Rana and Taskin Ahmed proved there is “zip” and bounce available with the new ball, making the first 10 overs critical for batters.

Squads

Bangladesh: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Afif Hossain, Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana.

Pakistan: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abdul ​Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, ⁠Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad ⁠Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Saad Masood, ‌Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shamyl Hussain

Also READ: BAN vs PAK 2026: Broadcast and Live Streaming Details – When and where to watch in India, USA, Pakistan & other countries

BAN vs PAK, 2nd ODI: Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

• Bangladesh wins the toss and bowl first
• Pakistan powerplay score: 40-50
• Pakistan total score: 250-260

Case 2:

• Pakistan wins the toss and bowl first
• Bangladesh powerplay score: 30-40
• Bangladesh total score: 230-240

Match result: Team bowling first will win the game.

Also READ: Nahid Rana, Tanzid Hasan Tamim shine as Bangladesh crush Pakistan in the first ODI

Top stocks to buy today (AI image)

Stock market recommendations: NCC, and HFCL are the top stocks that Bajaj Broking Research recommends buying on March 13, 2026. Here is a detailed outlook on NCC, and HFCL along with a view on Nifty and Bank Nifty.Index View: NIFTYIndian benchmark indices extended their losses during the current week, largely tracking weak global market cues amid escalating geopolitical tensions surrounding the US–Israel conflict with Iran. The rising uncertainty over the conflict’s potential impact on global inflation and economic growth has kept investors cautious, leading to continued selling pressure in equities. The tensions have also pushed Brent crude oil prices sharply higher, with prices currently hovering around $100 per barrel, raising concerns for oil-importing economies like India. Adding to the negative sentiment, the Indian rupee slipped to a fresh low against the US dollar, further weighing on investor confidence due to fears of higher import costs and rising inflationary pressures.Elevated crude oil prices pose a major macroeconomic challenge for India due to its strong reliance on energy imports. A prolonged rise in oil prices can increase inflationary pressures, expand the current account deficit, and put further pressure on the domestic currency. Moreover, higher input costs can compress corporate profit margins, especially in sectors such as aviation, logistics, paints, and oil marketing companies, which may negatively impact overall equity market sentiment.The Nifty index breached its August 2025 low of 24,337 earlier in the week and slipped further to mark a fresh 10-month low of 23,556 during Thursday’s session, indicating the continuation of the ongoing corrective phase. Market volatility is expected to remain elevated in the near term amid uncertain global cues, rising crude oil prices, and escalating geopolitical tensions. Nifty is currently testing the 61.8% retracement of the previous major rally 21744-26373, index holding above the support area of 23,500-23,400 will lead to consolidation in the range of 23,400-24,300 in the coming session.On the upside, immediate resistance is placed around 24,000 and 24,300, which also coincides with the recent breakdown zone, and only a sustained move above 24,300 could indicate a pause in the prevailing downtrend. However, a decisive break below the 23,400–23,500 support area may lead to additional selling pressure, potentially dragging the index towards the 23,000 level in the coming sessions.Bank NiftyBank Nifty extended its decline for the third consecutive week, slipping lower and testing the 55,000 level during Thursday’s session. The continued weakness reflects sustained selling pressure in the banking space amid cautious investor sentiment and volatile broader market conditions.Technically, the short-term bias remains negative as long as the index trades below the 56,500 mark. Failure to reclaim this level could lead to further downside in the coming sessions, with the index potentially drifting towards the 100-week EMA, which is placed around the 54,000 level.Market volatility is also expected to remain elevated due to uncertain global cues, rising crude oil prices, and escalating geopolitical tensions, which may continue to weigh on the banking sector and the broader equity market.

Stock Recommendations:

NCCBuy in the range of ₹ 147.00-150.00

Buying demand is seen emerging from the lower band of the last 3 months range signaling accumulation at lower levels.The weekly 14 periods RSI has moved above its nine periods average and is seen sustaining above its nine periods average thus validates positive bias.We expect stock to head higher towards 165 levels in the coming month, being the previous high of January 2026.HFCLBuy in the range of 72.50-74.50

The stock has generated a breakout above the falling trendline joining highs of June and November 2025 signaling resumption of up move and offers fresh entry opportunity.The recent price move is supported by rising volume signaling larger participation at lower levels.We expect stock to head towards 82 levels in the coming months being the confluence of the key retracement of the previous up move and measuring implication of the range breakout. (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)

TOISA 2025 Team of the Year nominees

The eighth edition of the Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) is set to take place on March 21, 2026, in Lucknow, celebrating the accomplishments and inspiring stories of India’s leading athletes from a wide range of sports. The TOISA 2025 awards will recognise performances recorded between January 1 and December 31, 2025, highlighting remarkable achievements at global championships and major international competitions. More than 45 award categories will honour both established sporting legends and rising stars who have made the nation proud.The winners will be selected by an esteemed jury of sporting greats, including Abhinav Bindra, PR Sreejesh, Mithali Raj, Devendra Jhajharia, Sharath Kamal, and Leander Paes, ensuring that the awards reflect credible and expert recognition of excellence in Indian sport.Team of the YearIndia Women’s Cricket TeamMajor Achievement in 2025ICC Women’s World Cup ChampionsThe “Women in Blue” etched their names in history by capturing their maiden ICC World Cup trophy. Defined by fearless batting and a clinical bowling unit, the team’s unbeaten run silenced critics and sparked a nationwide revolution in women’s sports, proving that the new era of global cricket belongs to India.India Men’s Cricket TeamMajor Achievements in 2025Won ICC Champions TrophyBecame Asia Cup (T20) ChampionsIn a display of absolute white-ball mastery, the men’s team secured a rare “Double Crown” in 2025. By conquering the Champions Trophy and reclaiming the Asia Cup, the squad demonstrated unparalleled strategic depth, producing match-winners in every high-pressure situation to reinforce India’s status as the world’s cricketing superpower.India Men’s Hockey TeamMajor Achievements in 2025Asian Cup ChampionsThe “Men in Blue” reclaimed their throne as the kings of the continent by winning the 2025 Asia Cup in Rajgir. Dominating the final with a 4-1 victory over South Korea, the team secured direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Under Harmanpreet Singh’s leadership, the squad blended Olympic-medal experience with explosive new talent to re-establish Asian supremacy.India Men’s & Women’s Kabaddi TeamsMajor Achievements in 2025World Cup Champions (Double Gold)India asserted absolute global dominance at the 2025 Kabaddi World Cup in Wolverhampton. The men’s team edged out a gritty England side in a 44-41 thriller, while the women’s team delivered a tactical masterclass to overwhelm the hosts 57-34. The “Double Gold” campaign proved that despite the sport’s global expansion, the heart of Kabaddi remains firmly in India.India National Shooting TeamMajor Achievements in 202513 Medals at the ISSF World ChampionshipsThe Indian marksmen and women delivered a precision-perfect performance in Cairo, finishing in the top three of the global medal tally. Led by breakout stars like Suruchi Singh, who set a new Junior World Record, and Samrat Rana, the contingent’s haul of 3 Golds and 10 other medals signalled India’s intent to dominate the range heading into the next Olympic cycle.India Women’s Cricket Team for the BlindMajor Achievements in 2025Inaugural Blind Women’s T20 World Cup ChampionsIn a landmark moment for inclusivity, India’s blind cricketers became the first-ever T20 World Champions. Their journey was a masterclass in resilience and sensory precision, sweeping through the tournament undefeated. This victory transcended the sport, transforming the athletes into national icons and setting a global benchmark for disability sports.India Squash TeamMajor Achievements in 2025Squash World Cup ChampionsReaching an unprecedented peak in racquet sports, the Indian squad clinched their first-ever Squash World Cup title. Combining veteran composure with youthful speed, the team navigated a grueling draw to lift the trophy in Chennai, marking 2025 as the year India officially became a top-tier powerhouse on the glass court.India Women’s Ice Hockey TeamMajor Achievements in 2025Bronze at the IIHF Women’s Asia CupDefying the odds and geographical limitations, the “Ice Tigresses” secured a historic maiden bronze at the IIHF Asia Cup. Competing against elite winter-sport nations, their podium finish is a testament to sheer grit and rapid technical evolution, marking the most significant milestone for winter sports in Indian history.

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