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NEW DELHI: Indian batter Rinku Singh shared a deeply emotional tribute to his late father after India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign, revealing the pain of celebrating the biggest moment of his career without the man who inspired his journey.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Taking to Instagram, the left-handed batter posted a heartfelt message remembering his father, Khanchand Singh, who passed away during the tournament after battling stage-four cancer.
“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,” Rinku wrote in Hindi. He added that his father had always taught him that duty comes before everything else.“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,” he continued, expressing how he wished his father had been there to witness India lifting the trophy.Rinku said every moment of happiness would now remind him of the void left behind. “Har chhoti badi khushi mein aapki kami khalegi. Bohot miss karunga aapko Papa… bohot zyada.” His father passed away at a hospital in Greater Noida. The funeral was held in Aligarh, where a large number of people gathered to pay their final respects. A grief-stricken Rinku was seen giving a shoulder to his father’s mortal remains during the funeral procession.Earlier in the tournament, Rinku had rushed back home after his father’s health worsened following India’s first Super 8 match against South Africa. He later rejoined the squad ahead of the clash against Zimbabwe.Though his World Cup numbers were modest — 24 runs in five innings — the tournament became a deeply personal journey for Rinku, who ultimately fulfilled the dream his father had cherished: seeing his son become a world champion.
Once again, a leaked image from the sets of ‘Ramayana’ is rotating on the internet. This time, images that have gone viral are purported to show Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi dressed as Lord Rama and Sita in the upcoming mythological epic. The photos appeared unusually clear and showed the two actors in elaborate royal costumes, seemingly portraying the divine couple in regal attire. But the authenticity of these pictures quickly came under scrutiny. Fans wondered if these pictures are real or AI images? Television actor Ashish Sharma, who once played Lord Rama in the show ‘Siya Ke Ram’, has now confirmed that the images are fake.On Saturday, several social media accounts began sharing the pictures, which show Ranbir wearing a crown and ornate jewellery while gazing forward, as Sai Pallavi, also dressed in a crown and heavy ornaments, looks towards him. One widely shared post claimed, “Leak Pictures of Ranbir and Sai Pallavi from Ramayana.” Others suggested the visuals were from the Ram–Sita wedding sequence in the film.
However, many users online expressed doubts about the legitimacy of the images. The main reason was their unusually high clarity for something described as a “leak.” One user wrote, “Leaked pictures can’t be this clear.” Another questioned the timing: “Ram-Sita wedding must be in Part One, which wrapped filming last year. How are these appearing now?” Some users even asked the AI chatbot Grok to analyse the image, and it appeared to support the suspicion that the photos were fabricated. According to Grok, “It’s a face-swapped edit from the old TV serial Siya Ke Ram, not real leaked set photos from the upcoming film. Actual leaks show Ranbir in simpler dhoti/wig attire.”Amid the speculation, Ashish Sharma stepped in to address the claims. Sharing one of the viral images on his social media, he revealed that it had been digitally altered from a still of his own appearance in Siya Ke Ram. Posting the original frame alongside the edited version, the actor joked, “Here you go. One more “Original” leaked image. AI couldn’t replace my Hair.”The television series Siya Ke Ram, which aired in 2015–16 on Star Plus, retold the epic Ramayana from Sita’s perspective. Alongside Ashish Sharma as Lord Rama, the show featured Madirakshi Mundle as Sita, Karan Suchak as Lakshman, Karthik Jayaram as Ravana, and Danish Akhtar Saifi as Lord Hanuman.The upcoming film adaptation, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is being developed as a two-part cinematic retelling of the epic. The first installment is scheduled to release in theatres this Diwali. Apart from Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi, the film also features Yash as Ravana, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman. Touted as one of the most ambitious and expensive Indian productions ever, Ramayana will feature visual effects created by the Oscar-winning studio Prime Focus.
The dust has finally settled in Ahmedabad, and the cricketing world has a familiar king. India etched their names into the history books on Sunday, becoming the first nation to secure back-to-back titles after a commanding 96-run victory over New Zealand. While the Men in Blue hoisted the trophy, the ICC has now recognized the individual brilliance that defined the month-long spectacle by announcing the official T20 World Cup 2026 Team of the Tournament.
In a surprising yet respected move, the selection panel, featuring legends like Ian Bishop and Eoin Morgan named South Africa’s Aiden Markram as the captain of the star-studded XI. Markram’s tactical brilliance led the Proteas to seven consecutive wins, proving his mettle as a world-class leader even as his side fell in the semi-finals.
The top order of this dream team is dominated by record-breakers. Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan earns his spot after a historic campaign, amassing 383 runs—the highest ever in a single T20 World Cup edition. Farhan’s ability to notch two centuries in one tournament set a new benchmark for openers globally.
Joining him is India’s Sanju Samson, the Player of the Tournament, occupies the wicketkeeping slot. Samson’s redemption was the heartbeat of India’s knockout surge; he averaged a staggering 80.25 and struck at nearly 200. His trio of successive 80-plus scores in the virtual knockout, semi-final, and final proved he is currently the world’s most dangerous middle-order anchor. He is joined by teammate Ishan Kishan, whose 317 runs and aggressive strike rate of 193.29 provided India with the fearless starts that defined their campaign.
The all-rounder slots are occupied by the dynamic Hardik Pandya and England’s Will Jacks. Pandya’s dual-threat capability was on full display as he gathered 217 runs and 9 wickets, while Jacks equaled Shane Watson’s record for the most Player of the Match awards (4) in a single tournament, proving to be England’s most reliable finisher and a handy off-spinner.
Also READ: Complete list of T20 World Cup Player of the Tournament winners ft. Sanju Samson
The bowling unit of the 2026 Team of the Tournament offers a terrifying blend of pace, bounce, and guile. Leading the line is Jasprit Bumrah, the joint-leading wicket-taker with 14 scalps. His Player of the Match performance in the final (4/15) reminded the world why he is considered the gold standard of death bowling, maintaining a tournament economy of just 6.21.
Complementing Bumrah is the towering Jason Holder, who utilized his 6’7″ frame to extract lethal bounce, most notably in a 4/27 demolition of Nepal. South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi and Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani round out the pace attack. Muzarabani was the catalyst for Zimbabwe’s historic run to the Super Eights, highlighted by a 4/17 spell that stunned Australia.
The sole specialist spinner is England’s Adil Rashid, whose 13 wickets were pivotal on the turning tracks of the subcontinent. Interestingly, the 12th man honors went to USA’s Shadley Van Schalkwyk, who dominated the group stages with 13 wickets at an incredible average of 7.76, nearly toppling giants like India and Pakistan single-handedly.
ICC’s Team of the Tournament
Sahibzada Farhan, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Hardik Pandya, Will Jacks, Jason Holder, Jasprit Bumrah, Lungi Ngidi, Adil Rashid, Blessing Muzarabani, Shadley Van Schalkwyk
Also READ: Grand welcome awaits Sanju Samson in Kerala after T20 World Cup heroics
THANE: Police have registered a case against a man for allegedly molesting a 13-year-old mentally challenged girl in the Bhiwandi area of Thane district, officials said on Tuesday.The incident reportedly took place on 12 December last year, but the victim’s mother only approached police with a complaint on 8 March. She did not provide a reason for the delay in reporting, authorities added.According to a Kongaon police official, the girl and her sister had visited a relative’s house, where the accused, who was apparently aware of her intellectual disability, allegedly touched her inappropriately.Following the complaint, police registered a case on Monday against the accused under Sections 74 (assault on a woman with intent to outrage modesty) and 78 (stalking) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, as well as provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.Investigations into the matter are currently ongoing.(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday (local time) warned that the US-Israeli war on Iran has pushed global energy markets into crisis, saying oil flows linked to the Strait of Hormuz could face a complete halt in the coming weeks. He also said Russia remains open to restoring long-term energy cooperation with European nations if they signal interest in rebuilding ties.Speaking during a televised meeting with senior government officials and executives from Russia’s major oil and gas companies, Putin said that the situation in the Middle East had begun disrupting global supplies, sending oil prices sharply higher and threatening wider economic consequences.
Oil prices climbed past $100 per barrel a day earlier, reaching their highest levels since 2022. The surge follows the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the war involving Iran. The narrow waterway is responsible for transporting roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.Putin said Moscow had long cautioned that instability in the Middle East could trigger serious disruption in global energy markets, warning that such a scenario now appeared to be unfolding.“Oil production dependent on the Strait of Hormuz risks halting completely within the next month. It has already begun to decline, and storage facilities in the region are filling with oil that cannot be transported…is extremely difficult to transport, or is extremely expensive to transport,” Putin said, as cited by Reuters.He further added that Russia, which is the world’s second-largest oil exporter and holds the biggest natural gas reserves, could benefit from the current market conditions. The Russian President further urged Moscow’s energy companies to be prepared to take advantage of the developments. Commenting on oil prices, Putin said that the spike may prove temporary. Oil and gas revenues account for about a quarter of Russia’s federal budget income.Putin also said Russia would be willing to rebuild energy ties with European countries if they signalled interest in restoring long-term cooperation.“We’re ready to work with Europeans too. But we need some signals from them that they’re ready and willing to work with us and will ensure this sustainability and stability,” Putin said.European nations have significantly reduced their dependence on Russian oil and gas since Moscow launched its war in Ukraine. Over the past four years, Western governments, including the European Union and the G7, imposed sanctions and moved to cut reliance on Russian energy supplies.The shift has been costly for Moscow. Europe had previously been one of Russia’s most profitable markets, and the loss of that demand has forced Russian producers to sell oil and gas to Asian buyers at heavy discounts.Last week, Putin instructed the Russian government to examine the possibility of diverting the remaining energy flows away from Europe ahead of the European Union’s plan to completely ban Russian fossil fuel imports.Before the Ukraine war, more than 40% of Europe’s gas imports came from Russia. By 2025, however, Russian pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas together accounted for only 13% of the European Union’s total imports.Meanwhile, the Group of Seven (G7) countries said on Monday that they were prepared to take “necessary measures” to deal with rising global oil prices, although they stopped short of announcing the release of emergency reserves.
NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday announced a cash reward of Rs 131 crore for Team India following their historic victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!India lifted the trophy after a dominant 96-run win over New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, successfully defending their title and becoming the first team in history to retain the T20 World Cup. With this triumph, India also became the first side to win the tournament three times, cementing their status among the most successful teams in the format.
In an official statement, the BCCI congratulated the players, support staff, and selectors for the achievement and wished them continued success. The board described the victory as a “powerful reflection of depth in the country’s cricket and the structures that nurture talent and sustain excellence at the highest level.”BCCI president Mithun Manhas hailed the achievement as a moment of immense pride for the nation. “To defend the title and achieve this feat on home soil makes it even more special,” he said. He lauded captain Suryakumar Yadav, head coach Gautam Gambhir, the squad, and the selectors for outstanding cricket throughout the tournament.ALSO READ: Team India Report Card: Perfect finish to a not-so-perfect T20 World Cup campaignBCCI secretary Devajit Saikia highlighted India’s golden phase in cricket, citing the team’s success at home in both the ICC Women’s World Cup last year and the T20 World Cup. He acknowledged former BCCI secretary Jay Shah for strengthening Indian cricket’s structures and global standing.Vice-president Rajeev Shukla, joint secretary Prabhtej Bhatia, and treasurer A Raghuram Bhat praised the team’s composure, unity, and determination, noting that meticulous planning and strong foundations contributed to the victory.India posted 255 for 5, the highest total in a T20 World Cup final, before bowling out New Zealand for 159 in 19 overs. With this win, India now holds 14 ICC trophies across senior and Under-19 formats, surpassing Australia’s 13, and has established itself as the most successful team in T20 World Cup history.
“We are a gun team.” These were Gautam Gambhir’s first words to a young and inexperienced Test team under greenhorn captain Shubman Gill in England last summer. That one sentence killed doubts in the dressing room as the team went on to tie the five-Test series 2-2.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Barring the high in England, Gambhir’s Test record as head coach has been abysmal. This T20 World Cup win, however, is another reminder that he has owned the T20 format since he took charge in July 2024. His past experience in franchise cricket and his power of conviction keeps him and his team a step ahead of everybody else in this format.
That India are now the undisputed power centre of T20 cricket has much to do with the proliferation of the Indian Premier League. Gambhir the coach too is a product of the IPL. Two strong seasons with Lucknow Super Giants, followed by a title-winning season with Kolkata Knight Riders, sprung him to the Team India post vacated by Rahul Dravid.
Poll
Will Gambhir succeed in transitioning his strategies to ODI and Test formats?
‘Transition’ was the buzzword when he took over. For Gambhir, though, it was never about forming a concrete template. He didn’t mind making wholesome changes to the T20 team which had just lifted a trophy in Barbados. His approach may seem regimented at the outset but he always leaves enough room for taking calls on the fly.ALSO READ: High risk, high reward: How ‘Total T20’ fuelled India’s march to World Cup gloryGambhir, unfailingly, invokes the “playing-for-140 crore-Indians” rhetoric in his media briefings. Form over reputation has been the underlining principle. Captain Suryakumar Yadav has been the sole exemption because Gambhir believes in having a person leading the team on the field who aligns with his thought process.Gambhir’s calls have often bordered on the whimsical. He wears his non-populist decisions like a crest. But then, that’s what the fickle nature of T20 demands. In hindsight, one may argue he is too consumed by this process. It works spectacularly well in T20s but may prevent him from maintaining the continuity demanded by the longer formats. Whether India need to split the thinktank across formats is still a debate but Gambhir has made his displeasure known about the suggestion. He is a proud nonconformist. He got the selectors to align with his ideas. Ignoring the likes of Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, the biggest young brands of Indian cricket, have been coldblooded calls. Gambhir has always maintained that T20 cricket is a different sport, demanding unique skills.Indian cricket didn’t seem to be ready for such a cultural shift at the start of his regime. Now, it has embraced the change. Sources close to the team management say Sanju Samson was given a strong message about the bad habits that had crept into his game just before the T20 World Cup. As Ishan Kishan bloomed at the top of the order, Gambhir worked overtime with Samson to eliminate the exaggerated shuffle deep in the crease and stabilise the batter’s stance.The lone blunder came when he sacrificed vice-captain Axar Patel for an undercooked Washington Sundar during the Super-8 defeat to South Africa.Now that he has delivered in his strongest format as a tactician, it will be interesting to see how he reboots when the focus shifts to the ODI World Cup in 2027 and World Test Championship. Will he be flexible enough to plan for the longer formats?
Gold price prediction today: Gold prices are competing with the strength in dollar amidst the Middle East crisis, says Praveen Singh, Senior Fundamental Research Analyst- Currencies and Commodities at Mirae Asset Sharekhan:Gold Performance:
Geopolitics watch:
Data roundup:
US Dollar Index and yields:
Rate moves:
Gold ETFs:
Gold CFTC data:
Gold Price Outlook:
(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 reigning T20 World Champions are officially shifting back into high gear. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced a formidable squad for the upcoming five-match T20I home series against South Africa, headlined by the high-profile return of Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, and Lea Tahuhu.
This series marks a critical juncture for the White Ferns as they continue their journey under the permanent captaincy of Amelia Kerr. With the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup looming on the horizon in June, the return of these ‘Big Three’ veterans provides a blend of tactical depth and cultural leadership that head coach Ben Sawyer believes is indispensable for the team’s evolution.
The availability of New Zealand’s most experienced players provides a massive boost following a mixed series against Zimbabwe. Devine, who is currently operating on a casual contract with NZC, returns to the fold after skipping the previous assignment. Joining her is the legendary Bates, who has successfully recovered from a quadricep injury that sidelined her recently.
The bowling department also sees the return of speedster Tahuhu. Following her retirement from the ODI format, Tahuhu’s absence from the Zimbabwe series was a strategic move by management to focus on physical preparation planning. However, fans will have to wait slightly longer to see her in action; she is scheduled to join the squad for the final three T20Is only.
In a similar logistical arrangement, left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Flora Devonshire returns from a broken finger but will also only be available for the latter half of the series. To cover the early stages, left-arm seamer Bree Illing and wicketkeeper-batter Polly Inglis have been named for the first two matches before making way for the returning senior stars.
Also READ: New Zealand pacer Lea Tahuhu retires from ODI cricket with record-breaking legacy
Beyond the veterans, the return of young opener Georgia Plimmer is perhaps the most significant tactical update. Plimmer, who missed the majority of the Zimbabwe tour due to a shoulder injury, is expected to resume her crucial opening partnership with Bates. Coach Ben Sawyer emphasized that her role at the top of the order remains “a key one” as the team refines its aggressive Powerplay strategy.
The squad also features Brooke Halliday, fresh off her maiden international century, and the spin-bowling talents of Nensi Patel and Jess Kerr. This series serves as the ultimate litmus test for the ‘Kerr Era,’ as Amelia looks to integrate the legends of the game with the rising stars who proved their mettle in the recent world championship run.
The five-match series kicks off on March 15 at Bay Oval in Tauranga. In a move designed to maximize engagement for women’s cricket, the matches will be played as double-headers alongside the men’s T20I fixtures, ensuring a high-octane atmosphere for the world-champion White Ferns.
New Zealand Women’s T20I squad against South Africa:
Amelia Kerr (c), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Flora Devonshire, Isabella Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing†, Polly Inglis†, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Sharp, Lea Tahuhu
Also READ: Kayla Reyneke earns maiden ODI call-up as South Africa announce squad for New Zealand tour
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
