India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has endured a challenging phase in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with his performances drawing intense scrutiny from fans and experts alike. After being one of the most talked-about bowlers heading into the tournament, the spinner has struggled to maintain his control and deception in recent matches. Following India’s high-pressure semi-final clash against England, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin shared his thoughts on what Varun needs to do to regain confidence and rediscover his bowling rhythm.

Varun Chakaravarthy’s dip in form raises concerns

Varun entered the global event as the world’s No.1 ranked T20 bowler, carrying enormous expectations. However, his performances have taken a downturn during the latter half of the competition. His struggles became most evident during the semi-final against England, where he endured a difficult outing.

The spinner conceded 64 runs in his four-over spell, with England batter Jacob Bethell taking him apart in a brutal assault. Bethell smashed 42 runs off just 13 deliveries from Varun, exposing some tactical flaws in the spinner’s approach.

Analysts believe one of the major issues has been the pace at which Varun is delivering the ball. By bowling quicker through the air, he has unintentionally reduced the effectiveness of his variations, allowing batters to pick his deliveries earlier.

Opposition teams, including South Africa, New Zealand and England, have adopted a clear tactic against him. Batters are planting their front foot early and hitting him straight down the ground — a method widely described as the “step-hit.” This aggressive approach has allowed teams to dominate his overs, especially during the Super 8 stage of the tournament.

Rising pressure and a loss of rhythm

Another factor contributing to Varun’s struggles is the psychological pressure of expectations. Being labelled as the tournament’s leading spinner placed him under the spotlight from the very beginning.

Once he started leaking runs, the pressure appeared to affect his bowling rhythm. Instead of sticking to his usual stump-to-stump line, Varun began experimenting with wider deliveries or balls drifting towards the pads. This deviation from his strengths has significantly hurt his effectiveness.

Since the Super 8 stage, his economy rate has climbed sharply to 11.62 — a worrying figure for a bowler known for his control in the shortest format.

Also READ: Brendon McCullum reveals ‘defining factor’ behind England’s narrow defeat to India in T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final

Ravichandran Ashwin’s key advice for the struggling spinner

Former India off-spinner Ashwin believes Varun’s situation is not unusual and can be corrected with awareness and tactical adjustments. According to Ashwin, learning to adapt during tough phases is one of the most important lessons for any spinner.

Ashwin explained that bowlers need to understand when to slow the game down and rethink their approach rather than rushing through overs.

“I used to bowl a lot of deliveries quickly. But if I felt I needed a pause, I would take it. This is about awareness. The toughest thing is adapting and responding to tough situations. Every day will not be good, and bad days will keep coming,” Ashwin said.

He added that Varun is currently experiencing a new challenge in his career and that the conversations around him — from teammates, coaches and support staff — will play a crucial role in helping him recover. Ashwin also emphasised that Varun must now evolve beyond relying solely on his mystery factor.

“Till now, he has relied on people not picking him. From now on, he has to rely on the finer aspects of spin bowling. This is a challenge and a journey,” he added.

Will India replace Varun in the final?

With India preparing for the T20 World Cup 2026 final, discussions have emerged about whether Kuldeep Yadav could replace Varun in the playing XI. However, Ashwin believes such a change is unlikely despite the debate.

“Can Kuldeep come in for Varun? I think they will think about it, but it won’t happen. They might think a lot about this. But I hope it does not happen, and I don’t think so too,” Ashwin concluded.

As India gear up for the tournament’s biggest match, all eyes will be on whether Varun can bounce back and deliver when it matters the most.

Also WATCH: T20 World Cup 2026 – Axar Patel plucks a jaw-dropping catch to dismiss Harry Brook in IND vs ENG semi-final

Topper Anuj Agnihotri cleared UPSC with medical science as optional subject

NEW DELHI: AIIMS Jodhpur MBBS graduate Anuj Agnihotri has topped the Civil Services Examination 2025, the UPSC announced Friday, recommending 958 candidates for appointment to various services. Graduates of medicine, engineering, law and commerce have once again dominated the top ranks of the exam that had nearly 9.3 lakh applicants. Agnihotri cleared the civil services with medical science as the optional subject. He began his schooling at Atomic Energy Central School, completing Class X, and then moved to MB Public Senior Secondary School in Kota for Class XII.

Rajeshwari Suve M from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, secured Rank 2. An engineering graduate from Anna University, she had cleared the state civil services examination and is currently serving as a deputy collector.Delhi grads dominate UPSC top 5; law, commerce, economics shineEkansh Dhull from Haryana secured rank three. A commerce graduate from Shri Ram College of Commerce at the University of Delhi, he had earlier cleared the UPSC exam in 2024 with rank 342 before moving into the top three this year. Raghav Jhunjhunwala, who holds a BA (Hons) degree in Economics from University of Delhi, secured the fourth rank, while Ishan Bhatnagar, a BA LLB (Hons) graduate from National Law University Delhi, secured the fifth position with sociology as his optional subject.Of the 9,37,876 candidates who applied, 5,76,793 appeared for the preliminary examination conducted on May 25, 2025. A total of 14,161 candidates qualified for the written mains examination held in Aug 2025, and 2,736 candidates progressed to the personality test stage conducted between Dec 2025 and Feb 2026.Following the completion of all stages, the commission has recommended 958 candidates for appointment to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and other central services under Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’.The government has reported 1,087 vacancies across these services. These include 180 posts in the IAS, 55 in the IFS and 150 in the IPS, while Central Services Group ‘A’ account for 507 vacancies and Group ‘B’ services for 195 posts.Among the recommended candidates, 317 belong to the general category, 104 to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), 306 to the Other Backward Classes (OBC), 158 to the Scheduled Castes (SC) and 73 to the Scheduled Tribes (ST). The list also includes 42 persons with benchmark disabilities across four categories.The commission has also maintained a consolidated reserve list of 258 candidates in accordance with the Civil Services Examination Rules 2025.Final appointments will be made depending on the number of vacancies available in each service and after verification of candidates’ reservation claims by the authorities concerned.

Mumbai: India’s Shivam Dube (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil)

New Delhi: Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir had once famously shared his strong belief that batting orders are very overrated in white-ball cricket, drawing scrutiny. While the mentality has resulted in mixed results on other occasions, it certainly paid off handsomely in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against England. The visitors were caught by surprise after Shivam Dube walked in at number four following Ishan Kishan‘s dismissal instead of Suryakumar Yadav or Tilak Varma. Spinner Adil Rashid was one of the top wicket-takers (11 dismissals) going into the knockout match and had tasted blood after sending Kishan back to the pavilion.

The Indian innings was dominating proceedings at 117/2 in 9.3 overs, enjoying the pace on offer with small boundary dimensions. However, Rashid’s slow and wide deliveries, aimed at making the batters reach out, would have proved quite challenging in these conditions, holding the key to an English comeback. However, in stepped Dube when the team needed a hero, masterfully negotiating the English spinner, combining intent with risk-free gameplay. The good balls were tucked away for singles, while the deliveries bowled right in the arc found their way into the stands. ‘Shivam Dube 2.0 makes presence felt’ “Rohit Sharma gave Shivam a lot of inputs regarding the manner in which he should approach his innings. Earlier, he used to come in and simply slog. However, this is Shivam 2.0, who plays according to the situation. The maturity he obtained from the chat changed everything. Shivam now focuses on singles off good deliveries rather than simply hitting sixes, which helps him convert a quick-fire 25 into crucial 40s or 50s,” said Mumbai batter Siddhesh Lad during an exclusive interaction with TimesofIndia.com. “There was a focus on taking singles while facing Rashid rather than simply attempting to slog every delivery. That is an indication of the newfound maturity Shivam enjoys, which proved crucial against England,” he added. Dube smashed Rashid for two sixes in his third over, reducing the pressure on Sanju Samson and giving the former no scope to settle and pull off a comeback. India were well placed on a dominant scoreline of 190/4 in 16 overs at the end of the English spinner’s spell (2/41), providing the perfect platform to finish strongly in a game decided by fine margins. Captain Harry Brook was left with no choice but to bring Jofra Archer and Sam Curran into the action, playing into Team India’s hands. ‘Dube’s intent puts spinners under pressure’ “It was tougher to play strokes when the ball was coming on slowly to the bat, which is where Dube proved to be a game-changer. When Shivam comes to bat, there is pressure on the spinners because of the intent with which he takes them on,” shared Dube’s childhood coach Satish Samant. Shivam was eventually dismissed due to a miscommunication with Hardik Pandya, leaving a lasting impact with his 25-ball 43 that helped India post a mammoth total of 253. The all-rounder has been a game-changer under pressure, scoring crucial boundaries against the West Indies, and will certainly have a vital role to play in the final.

NEW DELHI: Aiming to reach women in distress, the National Commission for Women in coordination with state women’s commissions will hold marathon ‘Mahila Jan Sunwais’ (public hearings) across the country starting from Monday to cover 500 districts spread out in 25 states and Union Territories till March 14.Through this nationwide effort, the commission aims to address and resolve nearly 15,000 complaints registered from those areas with the NCW and the state commissions, including both walk-in grievances and registered cases, thereby providing women with timely support and strengthening institutional response mechanisms.This campaign is an extension of the National Commission’s flagship outreach programme – “NCW Aapke Dwar” wherein a 100 public hearings were held across states last year to ensure speedy resolution of complaints registered with the NCW from those areas and also took-up fresh cases on the spot.Making the announcement ahead of International Women’s Day, observed every year on March 8, NCW chief Vijaya Rahatkar said that she will will lead the ‘jansunwais’ in five states that are currently without a state commission chairperson. These include Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Telangana.Rahatkar will set off the campaign by steering a hearing in Jaipur on March 9. She will next visit Vadodara on March 10 followed by Bhopal on March 11, Medchal-Malkajgiri on March 12, Deoghar on March 13 and Dumka on March 14.Rahatkar said that in Delhi too the post of chairperson and members are vacant but the districts from here have not been included in the 500 districts to be covered in this week long drive as NCW is headquartered in the capital itself and a week long public hearing was held last year in Delhi dealing with around 2,000 complaints.Meanwhile, Rahatkar said that she has already written to the chief secretaries of all five states to constitute the state commissions at the earliest.The NCW chief highlighted that based on the experience gathered over the 100 public hearings held over last year it has come through that a significantly large number of cases are family disputes including domestic violence.That many women continue to suffer in the confines of their homes is well known and revealed in data trends over the years. Of all the complaints received by the commission’s complaint cell last year domestic violence and dowry harassment alone accounted for over 39% (10,846) of the 27,000 plus complaints registered under various categories of crime against women from across the country till Dec 31.Rahatkar shared that the 500 districts have been selected based on factors such as the number of complaints received and the need to reach remote and hilly areas.From jan sunwais in 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh to Manipur taking the initiative to hold five public hearings reflecting strong engagement by the State Women Commission despite challenging circumstances in the state – the next week will see NCW take the redressal system to the grassroots across regions covering states like Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Tripura and Nagaland.

Sanju Samson‘s dream run in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 continues to grab headlines, not just for his explosive batting but also for his refreshing honesty off the field. After delivering two sensational knocks that powered India into the final, the wicketkeeper-batter produced a humorous yet thoughtful response during the post-match press conference when a reporter asked him about narrowly missing out on two centuries in the tournament.

Sanju Samson’s dazzling knock in the Super 8 clash against West Indies

Samson first lit up the tournament during India’s high-pressure Super 8 encounter against West Indies on March 1 at Eden Gardens. The match was virtually a knockout fixture for both sides, with India chasing a daunting target of 196.

In what many fans have already called one of the finest innings of his career, Samson remained unbeaten on 97 off just 50 balls. His innings was a perfect blend of aggression and control, featuring 12 boundaries and four towering sixes.

The knock not only guided India to a memorable victory but also etched Samson’s name into the record books. His 97 became the highest individual score by an Indian batter in a successful T20 World Cup run chase, surpassing Virat Kohli’s previous record.

While the century remained elusive, the impact of the innings was undeniable as Samson carried India home with calm authority under pressure.

Samson’s match-winning fireworks in the semi-final against England

Just four days later, Samson once again proved why he is enjoying the form of his life. In the semi-final against England on March 5 at the Wankhede Stadium, the right-hander delivered another blistering performance.

Samson smashed 89 off only 42 deliveries, maintaining a staggering strike rate of 211.90. His innings included eight fours and seven sixes as he dominated England’s bowling attack from the outset.

The knock helped India post a massive total of 253/7, the highest score in a T20 World Cup knockout match. England fought valiantly in the chase but eventually fell short as India secured a thrilling seven-run victory to book their place in the final.

Samson’s 89 also equalled Kohli’s record for the highest score by an Indian batter in a T20 World Cup knockout match, previously set against West Indies in the 2016 semi-final. During the innings, Samson also broke Rohit Sharma’s record for the most sixes by an Indian in a single T20 World Cup edition. With 16 sixes in just four innings, he has been one of the most destructive batters of the tournament. For his stunning performance, Samson received his second consecutive Player of the Match award.

Also WATCH: T20 World Cup 2026 – Axar Patel plucks a jaw-dropping catch to dismiss Harry Brook in IND vs ENG semi-final

Samson’s humorous take on the ‘missed centuries’ debate

Despite his heroic performances, fans and analysts pointed out that Samson had narrowly missed two centuries in the tournament. A reporter echoed the same sentiment during the post-match press conference following the win over England. Samson, however, handled the question with a mix of humour and perspective.

“Bhai, I did not miss two centuries. I have made 97 and 89 – it is a very big thing,” Samson said with a smile.

Reflecting on his journey, he also acknowledged how fortune sometimes plays a role in a cricketer’s career.

“I have been unlucky in the past at times, but sometimes luck also works in your favour once in a while. I was very fortunate that I got this opportunity, so let me grasp it now,” he added.

With India now just one step away from the title, Samson’s fearless batting and grounded mindset have made him one of the biggest stories of the T20 World Cup 2026.

Also READ: Fans go wild as Sanju Samson’s blazing knock powers India into T20 World Cup 2026 final after thrilling win over England

Vinnie Hinostroza Trade: Florida Panthers reunite with forward ahead of NHL trade deadline (Image Via Twitter)

The Vinnie Hinostroza trade turned into one of the most captivating events that occurred during the NHL Trade Deadline period. The Florida Panthers executed a roster move that created a spectacle that both fans and analysts found exciting because teams were finalizing their rosters. The trade brings two benefits to the team because it expands their player options while reintroducing a former player who has already played for the team. The Panthers will receive an important advantage through this reunion, which occurs at a time when their team faces its most difficult challenges.

Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito reunites with Vinnie Hinostroza after Minnesota Wild trade deal

The Florida Panthers completed their acquisition of Vinnie Hinostroza from the Minnesota Wild, which Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin confirmed. The trade took place just hours before the NHL Trade Deadline when the teams exchanged players for future considerations. Hinostroza played 48 games with Minnesota during this season, which resulted in him scoring three goals and seven assists to achieve a total of 10 points. He registered 46 shots on goal and delivered 30 hits while maintaining consistent playing time throughout the game. The European hockey player recorded two power-play assists and all his other points during even-strength situations.Hinostroza has maintained his relationship with the Panthers organization for multiple years. Bill Zito, the Panthers’ general manager, signed him as one of his first free-agent additions after joining the organization in 2020. The team used him as a healthy scratch during his time with the Florida Panthers, which included nine appearances and another nine games under their previous coach, Joel Quenneville.

Vinnie Hinostroza returns to Florida Panthers roster during injury-heavy season

The current situation shows how much things have changed since Hinostroza first came back to Florida. The Panthers need to build their roster through the acquisition of a flexible forward because they face multiple player injuries during this season.31-year-old host currently playing on an expiring deal rolling at a $775,000 annual value. The Florida team can use his NHL experience, which he gained from playing with the Chicago Blackhawks, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Nashville Predators, and Minnesota Wild, to provide them with a flexible player who can fill multiple positions.The Vinnie Hinostroza trade stands as a less important NHL Trade Deadline news story, but it serves as an essential strategic decision for the Florida Panthers. Bill Zito strengthens the team through his decision to re-sign a known player who brings both experience and depth to the roster during this critical period. The Florida Panthers will benefit from Hinostroza’s return as the team enters its final stretch of the season.

Mumbai: Following directions from Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, Shiv Sena minister Uday Samant on Friday announced in the Legislative Assembly that all hawkers eligible in the 2014 hawkers survey will be allotted temporary hawking pitches. Samant said 32,415 hawkers were deemed eligible as per the 2014 survey, and the state govt will give directions to the BMC to allot them temporary pitches till a formal Town Vending Committee (TVC) mechanism is set up following High Court decision. Samant said the issue is currently under litigation and the temporary pitches will be allotted as an interim measure. Samant was replying to a calling attention motion moved by MLA Rais Shaikh.

During the survey of hawkers in 2014, 1,28,443 applications were distributed, and 99,435 applications were submitted to the BMC, said Samant. “Of them, 22,055 applicants and 10,360 licensees — a total of 32,415 — were eligible as voters. As per the provisions of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihoods and Regulation of Street Vendors) Rules, 2016, and the prescribed guidelines, BMC completed the election process in Aug 2024, for the election of TVCs. However, a petition was filed before the SC by Janwadi Hawkers Sabha Association and others regarding the eligibility criteria for hawkers. Due to the order given by SC in August 2024, the counting of votes could not be done even after completion of the election process. Alternatively, TVCs could not be formed. The petition was later transferred by the SC to the HC. The hearings were completed and the final hearing was held on Feb 11, 2026. The decision of the HC is pending,” Samant said in his reply.Shaikh, however said that the law mandates formation of TVCs, after which a survey must be conducted and pitches allotted to eligible hawkers. “All the rules are already in place. Those who were included in the survey should get justice. I am talking about regulated hawking, not unregulated hawking. Govt must complete the process within a month, create hawking zones and allot pitches to eligible vendors identified in the survey,” he added. Congress MLA Amin Patel said keeping hawkers deemed eligible in 2014, waiting for over 10 years was sheer injustice and the state govt was responsible for the loss of their livelihoods. BJP MLA Ameet Satam said that in case any temporary pitches are allotted, they must not be in residential areas and demanded that local elected representatives and citizen groups or residents associations must be consulted before any allotment is done.

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s old political order collapsed on Friday as a Balen Shah-led wave powered Rastriya Swatantra Party to either win or establish substantial leads in at least 115 of 165 first-past-the-post (FPTP) seats, turning the parliamentary election after the Sept 2025 Gen Z uprising into a rout of the establishment.Former PMs KP Sharma Oli and Madhav Kumar Nepal were staring at major upsets as results trickled in. Gagan Thapa of the Nepali Congress was trailing despite emerging as the party’s new face after ousting five-time PM Sher Bahadur Deuba to lead the organisation. Only Pushpa Kamal Dahal, or Prachanda, looked set to survive from the old guard. Even there, the verdict carried a sting: his daughter, Renu Dahal, was trailing in Chitwan.With counting still under way in most FPTP seats and the 110 proportional representation seats yet to be tallied, a party or alliance needs 138 seats in the 275-member House to secure a majority. Final tallies were expected only by Saturday afternoon, but the direction of the result had already become unmistakable.The sweep in the Kathmandu Valley was just as striking. In the capital and the adjoining suburbs of Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, RSP was leading in 14 of 15 seats, underlining how decisively the urban electorate had swung behind the new force.If the trend holds, Balen, 35, is set to take over as PM, capping one of the sharpest generational shifts in Nepal’s recent political history. A former rapper and structural engineer who first built his public image through music and later as Kathmandu mayor, Balen became the face of the anti-establishment anger that exploded onto Nepal’s streets last Sept.However, neither Balen nor party leader Rabi Lamichhane issued any statement, made any announcement, or posted on social media on Friday as the scale of RSP’s sweep became clear. Balen’s last public remark came after polling on Thursday, when he praised interim PM Sushila Karki and wrote: “Under your leadership, democracy has triumphed today.”The rejection of those that the Gen Z protests targeted was stark. In Jhapa-5, Oli was trailing so badly that Balen had at least four times the former’s vote tally. Madhav Kumar Nepal, another veteran of Nepal’s coalition era, was also swept aside. Prachanda appeared to have held his ground. But even that survival came wrapped in decline. Contesting yet again from a new constituency after shifting seats across elections, he looked less like a revived force than the last veteran left standing. His daughter’s struggle in Chitwan sharpened the message emerging elsewhere: old networks, family legacies and inherited political capital no longer guaranteed safety.Baburam Bhattarai, the former PM who withdrew from Gorkha-2 at the last moment, had sensed early where the mood was heading. Explaining his exit in Jan, he said he would play “an advisory role beyond party politics” and continue supporting progressive and emerging forces from outside Parliament. He also said Nepal’s democracy would remain incomplete unless it created “dignified, productive jobs at home” and moved faster on economic change. Seen against Friday’s result, his withdrawal looked like an early recognition that the ground had shifted.For many voters, Balen’s rise captured a double break — from the traditional parties and their political style. Born in Kathmandu, he grew up in a lower middle-class household; his father, Ram Narayan Shah, was a govt ayurveda practitioner and his mother, Dhruvadevi Shah, a homemaker. He studied civil engineering at Himalayan WhiteHouse International College in Putalisadak, Kathmandu, and later received an MTech in structural engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University in Karnataka, India. Balen first entered national consciousness as a rapper whose songs took aim at corruption, political stagnation and inherited power. By this election he had acquired a rockstar-like popularity whose voice drowned everything and everyone else.