NEW DELHI: After India won the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 title, broadcasters went around collecting reactions from the players following the historic triumph. Among them was India pacer Mohammed Siraj, who is well known for his witty and humorous responses, and he delivered another memorable moment when asked about his emotions after the victory.India lifted their third T20 World Cup title — having previously won the tournament in 2007 under Mahendra Singh Dhoni, in 2024 under Rohit Sharma, and now in 2026 under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav.

During the interaction, the presenter asked Siraj, “What will be the World Cup’s line, I only believe in…?”To which Siraj replied, “Whole team. It was God’s script as I was not in the team initially and then I got a surprise call and then we became the champions.”

The presenter then asked: “Thoda sa frustrating ho sakta hai playing eleven se bahar rehna, lekin role kitna bada hai aap dono ka.” (It can be frustrating sometimes not being part of the playing XI, however, how big is your role?)Siraj responded with a humorous answer.“Haa bahut hi bada role hai hum dono ka, bahar baithke pani pilana back to back, bat uthana.” (Yes, we played a major role. Sitting outside and providing water to the players and holding their bats.)Standing beside him, Kuldeep Yadav burst into laughter.Siraj featured in just one match during the tournament, against the United States national cricket team, where he picked up three wickets for 29 runs. However, he did not play another game in the competition.Kuldeep also played only one match in the tournament — against Pakistan national cricket team — and took one wicket.“Net mein bowling. Fir humlog positive environment rakhte hai. Hamesha players ko aisa rehta hai ki khele, but team ka jo combination k liye humlog bahar baithe hai toh team is important. No person is important, but team is important. Toh humlog ka aisa tha ki team jo sochti hai wahi behtar hoga.” (Bowling in the nets. Then we keep a positive environment. Players always feel like they should play, but for the team combination if we are sitting outside, then the team is important. No person is important, but the team is important. So our thinking was that whatever the team thinks will be better), Siraj said.

The schedule for the much-anticipated 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to be unveiled soon, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirming that the first phase of fixtures will be announced by March 12. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia revealed that only the initial 20 days of the tournament schedule will be released first, while the remaining fixtures will be confirmed later due to logistical considerations related to upcoming state assembly elections.

Initial IPL 2026 fixtures to be revealed first

Speaking about the tournament’s planning, Saikia stated that the board intends to share the schedule for the opening phase of the competition within the next couple of days. The IPL’s 19th edition is now scheduled to run from March 28 to May 31, a slight shift from the originally proposed window of March 26 to May 30.

According to Saikia, announcing the first part of the schedule will allow the tournament preparations to move forward while giving the board flexibility to finalize the rest of the fixtures later.

“We plan to announce the IPL 2026 schedule by March 12. For now, we are going to release the schedule for the first 20 days,” Saikia said while addressing the update.

The decision to stagger the announcement is primarily linked to the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu. Since election-related security arrangements could impact venue availability and travel logistics, the BCCI wants to ensure there are no scheduling conflicts before finalizing the remainder of the tournament calendar.

Also READ: Gujarat Titans appoint new batting coach ahead of IPL 2026

Franchises in full preparation mode

Even as the official schedule awaits confirmation, IPL franchises have already begun their pre-season training and preparations. Teams are keen to ensure their squads are match-ready ahead of what promises to be another intense edition of the league.

Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings were among the earliest to begin preparations. The franchise started training on March 1 at their High-Performance Centre in Navalur. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and legendary wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni were both present during the early training sessions, drawing excitement from fans.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru also conducted a short preparation camp earlier in February at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Meanwhile, the Gujarat Titans, who lifted the IPL title in 2022, held multiple practice sessions at the Miraj International Cricket Stadium in Nathdwara as they began fine-tuning their squad combinations.

Also READ: Yellove reloaded: CSK unveil striking new jersey for IPL 2026 in grand style

You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indigo-ceo-pieter-elbers-quits-a-lookback-at-the-crisis-that-hit-airline-11195952” on this server.

Reference #18.cdf5d217.1773152125.ae6fa19a

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.cdf5d217.1773152125.ae6fa19a

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Monday stayed a trial court order directing departmental action against the CBI officer who investigated the Delhi excise policy case. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, hearing the CBI’s appeal against the discharge of former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, former deputy CM Manish Sisodia, and 20 others, also asked the trial court to defer proceedings in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case until the high court decides the appeal. The matter has been listed for further hearing on March 16.

The case relates to a February 27 ruling by a special CBI court, which discharged the AAP leaders and other accused, noting there was “no overarching conspiracy or criminal intent” in the formulation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. The policy, which came into force in November 2021 and was later scrapped in July 2022, had come under scrutiny after a report by then Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar alleged procedural lapses and financial losses to the exchequer, including “arbitrary and unilateral decisions” taken by Sisodia in his capacity as Excise Minister.In its appeal, the CBI has argued that the trial court’s discharge order is “patently illegal”, accusing it of selectively reading the prosecution’s case and ignoring material showing the culpability of the accused. The agency claimed the court conducted a “mini-trial” at the charge-framing stage, interpreting witness statements and documents while discarding approver testimony on “untenable grounds.” According to the CBI, the alleged conspiracy can only be understood cumulatively, pointing to a continuing criminal scheme from policy formulation to the alleged misuse of funds for election purposes.The trial court had, however, held that the prosecution failed to produce legally admissible material connecting Kejriwal, Sisodia, or other accused to the alleged offences. The court described the case as a “speculative construct resting on conjecture and surmise”, highlighting internal contradictions in the prosecution’s chargesheet and excessive reliance on approver statements without independent corroboration. It also criticised the CBI for attempting to bypass evidentiary standards, observing that the investigation stitched together fragments to create an impression of a complex conspiracy.The high court will now examine the CBI’s challenge to the discharge order and the stay on departmental action against its investigating officer, while also deciding on the deferment of the ED case.

Donald Trump indicated that Washington might consider lifting ‘certain oil-related sanctions’ in order to help bring down prices. (AI image)

Even as the world economy reels under the global oil supply shock, the Donald Trump administration has reportedly made it clear to European countries that any easing on Russian crude oil sanctions would be related to supplies to India. On Monday, President Donald Trump indicated that Washington might consider lifting ‘certain oil-related sanctions’ in order to help bring down prices. However, he did not elaborate on the proposal, apart from noting that the matter had come up during a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier that day. According to a Bloomberg report, the United States has informed its European partners that any additional easing of sanctions on Russian crude would largely be confined to shipments destined for India. Oil prices have been climbing since the start of the US-Israel-Iran war. The message comes at a time when India has stepped up its purchases of Russian crude oil as supplies from the Middle East are stuck due to the Strait of Hormuz closure.

India’s Russian Crude Oil Buys

The US claims it has provided a waiver to India to get Russian oil cargoes that were already in transit. India on its part has said that it never stopped buying Russian crude oil and doesn’t need ‘permission’ from anyone to take decisions related to its energy security.India has continued purchasing crude oil from Russia and has not halted such imports, despite US President Donald Trump linking the removal of a proposed 25 per cent penalty tariff under a potential trade agreement to New Delhi allegedly committing to stop buying Russian crude.Officials told TOI that India has never required approval from any country to procure oil from Russia, noting that Moscow remained the country’s largest supplier of crude in February. They emphasised that India’s decisions regarding energy procurement are guided by the principle of “national interest.” “We source crude from wherever supplies are available, competitively priced and deliverable, and we will continue to do so,” a government source said according to a TOI report.Sources also said that the announcement by senior US officials of a “30-day waiver” allowing India to import Russian oil was primarily intended for their domestic audience.During a conference call held Monday among finance ministers of the Group of Seven nations, the United States underscored that the decision concerning India was strictly limited in both duration and scope, said European Union Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis.“They do not expect substantial impact of this on Russian oil revenues,” Dombrovskis said at a press conference later that evening after participating in the G-7 discussion.People familiar with the deliberations added that US officials stressed any further sanction relief would likely follow the same narrow and carefully defined approach. They also noted that the final decision ultimately rests with Trump.Meanwhile, oil output reductions across the Middle East are intensifying as activity in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz has slowed almost to a halt. The disruption pushed crude prices close to $120 per barrel on Monday.Trump said the same day that the United States and Israel were making meaningful progress in their military campaign against Iran and that the conflict could conclude “very soon,” a development that helped temper the earlier surge in oil prices.Nevertheless, as hostilities continue, the G-7 countries said on Monday they remain prepared to release oil from their strategic reserves if required. Some member states, however, believe the situation has not yet reached the threshold necessary for such a step, according to people familiar with the matter.

The roar of over 100,000 fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad marked a historic moment for Indian cricket on Sunday, March 8, 2026. India etched their name in the record books by defeating New Zealand by 96 runs to retain the T20 World Cup trophy. Amidst the jubilant celebrations and the raining confetti, one figure stood slightly apart, clutching the silverware with a mix of pride and profound sorrow. For Rinku Singh, the explosive middle-order batter, this world championship was the realization of a lifelong dream, one he had shared intimately with his father, Khanchand Singh.

The victory was bittersweet for the Aligarh-born cricketer. Just days before the grand finale, Rinku’s father passed away following a gruelling battle with fourth-stage liver cancer. Having left the camp briefly in late February to perform the last rites, Rinku returned to the squad driven by a singular sense of purpose. On Sunday night, he took to Instagram to share a heart-wrenching tribute that resonated with millions. “You taught me that duty comes before everything else,” Rinku wrote in Hindi. “Now that your dream has been realized… I just wish that you were here with me.”

Rinku Singh pens emotional tribute to late father after India’s T20 World Cup 2026 victory

Rinku’s journey from a humble background, where his father worked delivering LPG cylinders, to becoming a global cricket icon is the stuff of legends. Throughout his career, Khanchand was Rinku’s silent anchor. Even as his father’s health deteriorated due to metastatic liver cancer, Rinku remained committed to his national duties, embodying the “duty first” mantra his father instilled in him.

The emotional void left by his father’s demise was evident in Rinku’s post-match reflections. He confessed that life ahead seemed daunting without the constant guidance of his “Papa.” While the rest of the nation celebrated India becoming the first team to win three T20 World Cup titles and the first to win on home soil, Rinku’s mind was in Aligarh. He noted that every joy, big or small, would now feel incomplete. His story serves as a poignant reminder of the personal sacrifices athletes often make behind the scenes of global glory.

Rinku took to Instagram and wrote: “Aapse baat kiye bina itne din kabhi nahi nikale. Mujhe nahi pata aage ki zindagi aapke bina kaise chalegi… par mujhe har kadam par aapki zaroorat padegi. Aapne sikhaya tha ki farz sabse aage hai.. toh field par bas aapka sapna poora karne ki koshish kar raha tha. Ab aapka sapna pura ho gaya hai…. toh bas yahi lagta hai ki kash aap mere paas hote. Har chhoti badi khushi mein aapki kami khalegi. Bohot miss karunga aapko Papa… bohot zyada.”

Also WATCH: Sanju Samson receives grand welcome at Thiruvananthapuram airport after stellar T20 World Cup 2026 show

Rinku’s immaculate fielding and India’s dominant 2026 campaign

While Rinku’s opportunities with the bat were limited during the 2026 T20 World Cup scoring 24 runs across five innings as his contribution on the field remained immaculate. Known for his lightning-quick reflexes and safe hands, Rinku’s presence at the boundary was a tactical masterstroke by captain Suryakumar Yadav. In the high-stakes final against the Black Caps, India posted a mammoth 255/5, the highest-ever total in a T20 World Cup final, powered by Sanju Samson’s 89 and Abhishek Sharma’s record-breaking 18-ball fifty.

Defending such a total required precision, and Rinku delivered in the deep. His ability to cut off certain boundaries and his composure under high-pressure catches ensured that New Zealand never found momentum, eventually folding for 159. Alongside Jasprit Bumrah’s lethal 4/15 and Axar Patel’s spin masterclass, Rinku’s athletic fielding played a vital role in India’s undefeated streak at the tournament. As the team looks ahead, Rinku remains a symbol of resilience, proving that even in the face of immense personal tragedy, a world champion is defined as much by his character as by his trophies.

Also READ: Abhishek Sharma shares the story behind using Shivam Dube’s bat in the T20 World Cup 2026 Final

Cabinet on Tuesday approved two railway multitracking projects worth Rs 4,474 crore in West Bengal and Jharkhand, aimed at easing congestion and strengthening freight and passenger movement across key routes in eastern India.The projects, Sainthia–Pakur 4th line and Santragachi–Kharagpur 4th line, were cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Together, they will expand the Indian Railways network by about 192 km and are scheduled for completion by 2030-31, according to an official statement.The projects will cover five districts across the two states and are expected to improve rail connectivity for around 5,652 villages with a population of about 1.47 crore.Officials said the additional lines will significantly enhance line capacity, improving operational efficiency and service reliability while reducing congestion on these busy routes.Planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the projects aim to strengthen multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency by integrating infrastructure planning across sectors.The expanded capacity will also support movement of key commodities such as coal, stone, dolomite, cement, slag, gypsum, iron and steel, foodgrains, petroleum products and containers, with the upgrades expected to handle additional freight traffic of about 31 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).The improved rail connectivity will also benefit tourism to destinations such as Bolpur-Shantiniketan, Nandikeshwari Temple, Tarapith, Patachitra Gram, Dhadika Forest, Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary and Rameshwar Kund.According to the government, the projects are expected to reduce logistics costs, cut oil imports by around 6 crore litres, and lower carbon dioxide emissions by about 28 crore kg, equivalent to planting around one crore trees.