The incredible performance of Jasprit Bumrah in the recent ICC T20 World Cup 2024 has left the cricket world completely stunned. Jasprit Bumrah became the biggest hero of the tournament and played a massive role in India defending the trophy.

The Indian pace spearhead’s deadly bowling, calm mindset, and ability to deliver under pressure made him the most feared bowler of the competition and the biggest factor differentiating the teams.

Jasprit Bumrah rules T20 World Cup 2026

Bumrah finished the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets in eight matches while maintaining an incredible economy rate of just 6.21. His biggest moment came in the final when he destroyed New Zealand with a stunning spell of 4 wickets for just 15 runs.

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That remarkable performance helped India beat New Zealand by 96 runs and seal the title. Bumrah was named the Player of the Match after the Men in Blue’s historic title triumph in Ahmedabad.

The star pacer had already shown his class earlier in the semi-final at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. In a high-scoring match, Bumrah stood out as the most disciplined bowler and kept things under control with a tight spell that pushed England out of the tournament.

Michael Vaughan hails Jasprit Bumrah as the greatest bowler he has ever seen

Now, the former England captain Michael Vaughan made a huge claim that shocked fans. Vaughan openly suggested that if Bumrah had been part of the England National Cricket Team, they could have easily won the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

The commentator further said that Bumrah is so good that any team in the world would become stronger with him, calling him the best bowler he has ever seen. He even placed the Indian fast bowler in the league of iconic footballers Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Michael Vaughan said on the Stick to Cricket Podcast, “I reckon if you put Jasprit Bumrah in England’s team, they win it. I reckon they put him on anybody’s team. Probably Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, these kinds. He is the best bowler I’ve ever seen. I started watching cricket probably in 85 or 86, when I really started to study cricket. And he’s the best I’ve seen. You know, I haven’t seen…”

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Alastair Cook questions Jasprit Bumrah’s match-winning spells in Test cricket

However, the former England captain Alastair Cook praised Bumrah’s incredible impact across all formats of the game, but he was not that impressed by his Test performances, especially in Australia.

Cook said during the same discussion, “Sorry, is he the best in match-winning spells in Test cricket? The only thing I haven’t, like, he’s definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, he’s the best all-format bowler around. And I think you can safely say that. In any form, he’s like the best all-round bowler. Has he, like, in a tes match, bowled some spell? And I’m not quite a connoisseur.”

To which Vaughan said, “I’ve seen him a bit in Australia to produce some spells that have just been different. Flat decks. And he’s a thoroughly nice bloke. He’s lovely.”

England would have won the WC if they had Bumrah .. https://t.co/2rTwWLjIAJ

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 11, 2026

Bumrah will now be seen in action for the Mumbai Indians in the upcoming IPL 2026.

Mumbai: The BMC standing committee on Wednesday referred back the proposal for awarding the contract for construction of the Gargai dam at a cost of Rs 3,276 crore, citing the escalation in estimates from the initial Rs 3,006 crore. Members of the standing committee belonging to the ruling party demanded that the contract be awarded at par. Members also sought a presentation and more clarity on how the project is being executed. While Shiv Sena (UBT) members opposed the project and cited the ecological impact, Congress members led by Ashraf Azmi supported the project and sought details about the project.“What is the basis and reasons for going beyond the estimates prepared by the BMC itself. On one hand the contractor is giving a discount of Rs 57 crore, on the other the BMC is giving them an incentive of Rs 60 crore. Our primary duty is to ensure there is no unnecessary expenditure by the BMC. Therefore, we have referred back the proposal and expect the administration to come back with explanations to the questions raised,” said standing committee chairperson Prabhakar Shinde.BJP corporator Tejinder Singh Tiwana sought for a review of the technical and financial aspects of the tender and also demanded that the contract be awarded at par, while NCP corporator Sayeeda Khan demanded that the administration make a detailed presentation to all the members and said that the administration should explain how many people are project affected and how they are compensating and rehabilitating them. “We need to know the opinion of the people affected by the project. The administration should arrange a site visit,” Khan said. The administration had sought the approval of BMC standing committee for awarding the contract at a cost of Rs 3,276 crore, which is about 9% above the BMC estimates of Rs 3,006 crore. According to civic officials, Soma Enterprises, which had submitted a bid of Rs 3,334 crore for the project, provided a discount of about Rs 57 crore after negotiations with BMC. The firm had cited various reasons including the need to move tunnel boring machines across two rivers that are Gargai and Vaitarna, besides logistic issues for transport of cement and fly ash because of the ‘ghat’ region for increased cost. According to civic officials, a 69 metre tall dam near Ogada village in Wada Taluka along with a 1.6 km long water conveyance tunnel with a 2.2 metre diameter tunnel, will be constructed, which will be linked to the existing Modak Sagar reservoir. The tunnel will be built below the hillock between Gargai and Vaitarna rivers. Once commissioned, Gargai will add 440 million litres per day (MLD) to Mumbai’s water supply.

NEW DELHI: The joint opposition stepped up its attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as it gathered signatures from MPs to submit a notice this week to the secretariats of both Houses of Parliament to seek a motion for his removal. This is the first time a notice — will be given seeking the removal of the CEC.The notice — piloted by TMC — will be submitted to the Speaker of Lok Sabha and Chairman Rajya Sabha through the secretary generals of the respective Houses. The nearly half a dozen charges in the notice seeking removal of CEC, according to sources, range from partisan conduct of the CEC to mass disenfranchisement of voters. MPs of all INDIA bloc parties and even Aam Aadmi Party which is not part of the bloc have signed the letter, sources said. It is likely to be submitted on Thursday itself in all likelihood but not later than Friday, sources said.Till late on Wednesday evening around 120 MPs had signed the notice to be submitted to the Lok Sabha, and around 60 MPs had signed the notice to be submitted in the Upper House.As per the procedure, at least 100 MPs must sign a notice seeking the removal of the CEC in the Lower House and the required number is 50 for Rajya Sabha.The notice seeking removal of CEC follows growing accusations from the opposition parties against Kumar. TMC has been demanding a notice for removal of CEC Kumar for a few months with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Lok Sabha MP and party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee raising the issue repeatedly while leading protests over the SIR process in the state gearing up for assembly polls. They have accused the CEC of bias and carrying out ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in an arbitrary manner in a bid to aid the BJP. The West Bengal CM had said in February while addressing a press conference asserted that she was all for the removal of the CEC and said she was willing to join hands with the Congress and other opposition parties to rally support on the issue.“We do not have numbers, but there is a provision for removal of CEC. At least our stance will be recorded. If they (Congress) will do something like this then we will also take our party MPs into confidence,” she had said.Though there was no immediate agreement on the demand from other allies, the INDIA block was seen stepping up to act before the budget session resumed on Monday. On Saturday, TMC announced that it will support the motion for removal of Birla in the House, even though it had not signed the opposition notice for removal of Birla when it was submitted in the first half of the budget session citing that it would have wanted the opposition to write to the Speaker first and give him time for corrective action before moving a notice.On Monday, in the INDIA block strategy meeting in the office of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in Parliament, TMC raised the issue to reiterate the demand for submitting a notice for seeking removal of CEC. On Wednesday, even as the opposition’s notice for removal of the Speaker was defeated by voice vote in Lok Sabha, the joint opposition gathered signatures of MPs from both Houses to reinforce the strong alignment of INDIA bloc against the CEC and in the process against the BJP.The process for removing the CEC is similar to that for the removal of a Supreme Court judge and only on “grounds of proven misbehaviour or incapacity”.According to the Judges (Inquiry) Act of 1968, once a motion to remove a judge is admitted in any of the Houses, the Speaker or the Chairman, as the case may be, will constitute a three-member committee to investigate the grounds on which the removal has been sought.As per the rule, once the committee submits its report, it will be tabled in the House, and discussions will start to impeach. The motion to remove a judge, and in this case the CEC, will have to be passed by both Houses. It must be passed by a special majority — a majority of the total membership of the House and a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting.Given that the BJP alliance has the majority in the two Houses makes the opposition’s move a non-starter but allows the opposition to register its joint protest against the CEC.

NEW DELHI: Former National Security Adviser and Intelligence Bureau chief M K Narayanan said on Wednesday “our country has every right to buy oil from wherever it is available” and that no country should impose condition on India, and that Pakistan won’t “dare go for another conflict with India” in the immediate future especially after Operation Sindoor.In an interview to TOI on the sidelines of Synergia Conclave in Delhi, Naryanan, when asked about another conflict with Pakistan, said, “Pakistan has enough problems to handle — with Afghanistan and Balochistan — to dare go for another conflict with India.” He further said, “I don’t think another war with Pakistan is imminent.”On US putting conditions on India over Russian oil imports, Narayanan, who served as IB chief for two terms between 2005 and 2014, said, “We have always borrowed the policy of dynamic neutrality. We have not sided with one country. Russia has been giving us crude oil and we have been accepting it. We will normally buy oil from wherever it is available based on its prices. The US wants us to reduce the quota and quantity of oil that we buy from Russia. Numerically, we need to make some changes. That is fine. But when it becomes a condition that is applied to you, then it affects our sovereignty. We have to balance things (as per our interest).”Slamming the US pressure on India over Russian oil imports, he said, “We don’t want to create problems for ourselves and we don’t want to create problems with other countries. There is a limit beyond which a country can compel us to do the following. The (Indian) govt knows it as the foreign minister has said recently. There are issues coming up and they have to deal with it.”On the US torpedo attack on an Iranian warship in the international waters off the Sri Lanka coast, Narayanan said, “There are international rules (in the maritime world). The attack on the Iranian warship (IRIS Dena by a US submarine) when that ship was on a friendly visit to India as it participated in our exercise was an embarrassment for India”.About a query on relations with the Iranian leadership, the former governor said, “There is nothing unusual. We have always interacted with Iranian leaders and we have played a role in trying to stabilise the situation.”About the India-China face-off along the LAC, the former intel boss said, “India and China are old civilisations. It is important for us to have peace on the border. I have been part of this process for several years. I understand India and China can’t be on the same side, certainly they should not be on the opposite side. We had long periods of peace. If some time things go out of hand, it is important for us to bring it back (to the normal situation). There are the same voices in China also. Today, China doesn’t want a conflict with India on the border as it has its own problem.” On China ties, he further said, “Indian diplomacy can be better handled by our diplomats and strategic thinkers. Please don’t outsource it to the US or the West. We have a better understanding of China”.Narayanan said that India should maintain good relations with the new leadership in Bangladesh. “We are a bigger country. We have a vested interest in Bangladesh. So, we have to ensure good relations. Economically too, it makes sense.”

Tanvi Sharma and Lakshya Sen

The Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) is back for its eighth edition. It will honor the inspiring stories and achievements of India’s top athletes from many different sports. The TOISA 2025 ceremony will take place on March 21, 2026, in Lucknow. The event will bring together well-known sports stars and new talents who made India proud in the past year.This edition, TOISA will recognize athletes in more than 45 sports categories. The awards will cover performances from January 1 to December 31, 2025. Indian sports had a fantastic year with many memorable wins and record-breaking moments at world championships and major international tournaments.In 2025, India’s badminton players performed impressively, and 10 among them have been nominated, including Lakshya Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, and Chirag Shetty. They competed across men’s and women’s singles and doubles, highlighting India’s rising talent in the sport.The jury for TOISA 2025 includes some of India’s biggest sports names: Leander Paes (tennis), Mithali Raj (cricket), Abhinav Bindra (shooting), Devendra Jhajharia (para athletics), Sharath Kamal (table tennis), and PR Sreejesh (hockey). These experienced athletes will help choose the winners for this year’s awards.Here are the badminton players nominated for TOISA 2025 (Men and Women):BADMINTON – MALELakshya SenDate of Birth: August 16, 2001Place of Birth: Almora, UttarakhandSport: Badminton, Men’s SinglesMajor Achievements in 2025:Australian Open: GoldHong Kong Open Super 500: SilverIn 2025, Lakshya Sen showed that he remains one of India’s top badminton players. He won the Australian Open Super 500 men’s singles title in Sydney, becoming only the second Indian male player to win the tournament. The victory ended his wait for a title and was his first World Tour win of the season. He also finished runner-up at the Hong Kong Open and reached several semifinals, showing steady form throughout the year. His semifinal run at the Paris Olympics in 2024 proved that he can compete with the best players in the world.Ayush ShettyDate of birth: May 3, 2005Place of birth: Karkala, Udupi (Karnataka)Sport: Badminton Men’s SinglesMajor Achievements in 2025:US Open Super 300: GoldAyush Shetty is one of India’s rising badminton players. He won the silver medal at the 2023 BWF World Junior Championships, showing his talent at the junior level. After that, he moved to senior tournaments and performed very well in 2025, winning his first BWF World Tour title and defeating several top players. His steady improvement and strong performances show that he has a bright future and can become one of India’s top men’s singles players.Chirag ShettyDate of birth: July 4, 1997Place of birth: Malad, MumbaiSport: Badminton, Men’s DoublesMajor achievements in 2025:BWF World Championships: BronzeHong Kong Open: SilverChina Masters: SilverChirag Shetty is an Indian badminton player who specialises in men’s doubles. His regular partner is Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, and together they are among the top men’s doubles pairs in the world. Chirag is known for his speed, agility, and strong teamwork. The duo has won several international titles and medals at major tournaments like the World Championships and Asian Games, making them one of India’s most successful and celebrated men’s doubles pair.Satwiksairaj Rankireddy Date of birth: August 13, 2000Place of birth: Amalapuram, Andhra PradeshSport: Badminton, Men’s DoublesSatwiksairaj Rankireddy is an Indian badminton player who plays men’s doubles with his partner Chirag Shetty. Together, they are one of the top men’s doubles pairs in the world. Satwik is known for his powerful smashes, speed, and strong teamwork. The pair has won multiple international titles and medals at major events like the World Championships and Asian Games, making Satwik a key figure in Indian badminton and a major contributor to India’s success in men’s doubles.Kiran GeorgeDate of birth: February 11, 2000Place of birth: Kochi, KeralaSport: Badminton Men’s SinglesMajor Achievements in 2025:Odisha Masters Super 100: GoldKiran George is an Indian badminton player who has shown strong performances in international tournaments. He won the Odisha Masters title twice, in 2022 and again in 2025, which shows his consistency and improvement. Kiran has represented India in many BWF events and continues to work hard to improve his ranking. With his attacking style and confidence on court, he is seen as one of India’s promising men’s singles players for the future.BADMINTON – FEMALETanvi SharmaDate of Birth: December 22, 2008Place of Birth: Hoshiarpur, PunjabSport: Badminton, Women’s SinglesMajor Achievements in 2025:US Open Super 300: SilverWorld Junior Championship: SilverAsia Junior Championship: BronzeTanvi Sharma is a rising Indian badminton player who made 2025 a remarkable year. She won the silver medal at the BWF World Junior Championships, becoming the first Indian girl in 17 years to achieve this. She also reached the final of the US Open Super 300 and earned a bronze at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships. Tanvi is known for her speed, skill, and determination on the court. Her strong performances show that she has a bright future and could become one of India’s top women’s singles players.Unnati HoodaDate of Birth: September 20, 2007Place of Birth: Rohtak, HaryanaSport: Badminton, Women’s SinglesMajor Achievements in 2025:Odisha Master Super 100: GoldUnnati Hooda is a rising Indian badminton player who had a great year in 2025. She won the Odisha Masters, her second title at this event, and reached the quarterfinals of the China Open, where she defeated Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, a major highlight of her year. She also made it to the semifinals of the Taipei Open. Alongside her sports achievements, she scored an impressive 93% in her CBSE Class 12 exams. Known for her speed, skill, and determination, Unnati is one of India’s most promising young women’s singles players.Tressa JollyDate of Birth: May 27, 2003Place of Birth: Cherupuzha, KeralaSport: Badminton, Women’s DoublesMajor Achievements in 2025:Syed Modi International Super 300: GoldTurkey International Challenge: GoldTreesa Jolly is an Indian badminton player who plays women’s doubles with her partner Gayatri Gopichand. In 2025, she won the Syed Modi International Super 300 title and reached several other finals in international tournaments. Treesa also won the mixed doubles title at the Türkiye International Challenge with Hariharan Amsakarunan. She and Gayatri were part of the Indian team that won the historic gold at the Badminton Asia Team Championships. They reached a career-best world ranking of No. 9, making them one of India’s top women’s doubles pairs. Treesa is known for her speed, teamwork, and skill on court.Gayatri GopichandDate of Birth: March 4, 2003Place of Birth: Hyderabad, TelanganaSport: Badminton, Women’s DoublesMajor Achievements in 2025:Syed Modi International Super 300: GoldGayatri Gopichand is an Indian badminton player who partners with Treesa Jolly in women’s doubles. In 2025, she won the Syed Modi International Super 300 and reached several deep rounds in other BWF tournaments. Gayatri and Treesa were also part of the Indian squad that won the historic gold medal at the Badminton Asia Team Championships. They reached a career-high world ranking of No. 9, becoming one of India’s top doubles pairs. Gayatri is known for her agility, smart play, and teamwork, making her a key figure in Indian badminton.