England’s Jos Buttler (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil)

Former England fast bowler Steve Harmison has questioned whether Jos Buttler still has the motivation to continue in international cricket after a disappointing campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.England’s run in the tournament came to an end on Thursday when the England cricket team lost a tense semi-final to the India national cricket team by seven runs at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. Led by Harry Brook, England fought hard in the chase but ultimately fell short.

Buttler endured a particularly difficult tournament. Across eight matches, the right-handed opener managed just 87 runs and struggled to find rhythm at the crease. In the semi-final, he attempted to attack his way out of the slump but was eventually dismissed by Varun Chakaravarthy. The England star finished the competition without a single half-century and failed to provide strong starts at the top of the order.Following England’s elimination, Harmison said Buttler now needs to reflect on his future with the national side.“He needs to look at himself in the mirror and say, ‘Do I really want to carry on playing international cricket? If he says, ‘I do’, then he keeps on playing for me. It’s just whether the ups and downs have taken that effect. I think Jos deserves the right to think, ‘Have I got one more cycle in me to get through to another tournament?,” Harmison said on TalkSport.“Only Jos can answer that, and he should be allowed to do that. But I just look at Jos, and I’m not sure he’s enjoying playing cricket for England at the moment,” he added.Harmison also suggested that if the passion for the game is fading, Buttler may need to consider stepping aside and allowing the next generation to take over.“If the candle is just flickering, and it’s not quite there, which doesn’t seem to have been an enjoyment factor for the last year or so, then maybe it is time for Jos to say, ‘I’ve given my time, given everything for England, I’ve been England’s best white-ball player, and it’s now time for someone else to take over,” said Harmison.Despite the recent struggles, Buttler remains one of England’s most decorated white-ball players. He played a crucial role in England’s triumphs at the 2019 Cricket World Cup and the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.The wicketkeeper-batter is also England’s most capped player across formats with 411 international appearances and is the nation’s highest run-scorer in T20 internationals with 4,037 runs. It remains to be seen whether he chooses to continue his career with an eye on the 2027 Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

India secured a thrilling victory over England on Thursday in the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, sealing their place in the final against New Zealand national cricket team this Sunday. The high-stakes match took place at Wankhede Stadium and drew a crowd of more than 30,000 spectators, including several Bollywood celebrities.Among those present was Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s girlfriend, actor Mahieka Sharma, who attended the game with his young son Agastya Pandya. However, what ended up going viral online wasn’t just their presence in the stands, but Agastya’s animated reaction after his father was dismissed during India’s innings.

Batting first after England skipper Harry Brook chose to field, India got off to a strong start thanks to an impressive 89-run knock by Sanju Samson. Pandya walked in later and initially took time to settle at the crease, but eventually found his rhythm, smashing two sixes to push India’s score beyond 250.His innings, however, ended dramatically in the final over when he attempted to steal an additional run and was caught outside the crease, resulting in a run-out. Commentators questioned his shot selection, and it seemed his son Agastya felt the same way.As Pandya headed back to the pavilion, Agastya called out to him several times before Mahieka managed to draw his attention. The youngster then appeared to scold his father for attempting a flick shot, gesturing animatedly and questioning his choice of stroke. Standing beside him, Mahieka looked visibly puzzled by the outburst. The moment was captured during the live broadcast and soon spread across social media platforms. “When Hardik Pandya got out his son was angry on him,” one person quipped on Twitter.Pandya later made amends during England’s chase. In a crucial 19th over, he delivered a tight spell and dismissed Sam Curran, helping India clinch a memorable win.Agastya is the son of Hardik Pandya and his former wife, actor Natasa Stankovic. The couple married in 2020 but separated in 2024, with their divorce finalised later that year. Despite the split, they continue to co-parent their son.Pandya began dating Mahieka, a 25-year-old model and actor, in 2025. Earlier this year, he made their relationship public with a heartfelt birthday post for her on Instagram. Mahieka has frequently been spotted cheering him on during matches throughout the ongoing World Cup.India will now face New Zealand in the tournament’s final at Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

The stage is set for a thrilling finale in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 as India and New Zealand prepare to battle for the coveted title on March 8 at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Both teams have fought hard throughout the tournament and now stand just one step away from lifting the trophy.

India booked their place in the summit clash after edging past England in a nail-biting semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The high-scoring encounter saw the hosts hold their nerve in the closing stages to secure a narrow victory and keep their title hopes alive in front of a passionate home crowd.

New Zealand, meanwhile, have showcased their trademark discipline and composure to reach the final. The Black Caps once again demonstrated why they are regarded as one of the most consistent teams in global tournaments, producing a string of spirited performances against South Africa in the first semi-final to earn a spot in the championship match.

With the final set to be played in front of a packed crowd in Ahmedabad, fans can expect an electrifying contest between two well-balanced sides determined to etch their name in T20 World Cup history.

Brad Haddin picks the winner of T20 World Cup 2026 final

Former Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin believes New Zealand have the ability to upset India in the final despite the hosts enjoying home advantage. Speaking on the Willow Talk Cricket Podcast, Haddin pointed out that the Black Caps possess the mindset and fearless approach required to handle the pressure of a big occasion in India.

Haddin highlighted the threat posed by New Zealand opener Finn Allen, who has the ability to single-handedly change the course of a match with his aggressive batting at the top of the order.

“If he (Finn Allen) gets going in the final, he is one player who can ruin India’s party on their home soil. If I was India coming into the tournament, the one team I wouldn’t have wanted to play in the final is New Zealand,” Haddin said.

The former Australian cricketer also stressed that New Zealand’s previous success in India could give them the confidence to challenge the hosts in the final.

“New Zealand don’t fear India in home conditions. They’ve beaten them in a Test series here. So if they can go in with that mindset and Finn Allen can play with that freedom as he has, they can put some real pressure on India. I am going with New Zealand,” he added.

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

Star-studded sides ready to light up Ahmedabad

Both India and New Zealand boast squads packed with match-winners, setting the stage for a fascinating battle in Ahmedabad.

India will rely on the explosive batting of Sanju Samson, captain Suryakumar Yadav, and Ishan Kishan to provide a strong foundation at the top of the order. The middle order also carries significant firepower with Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube capable of accelerating the scoring in the death overs.

Young talents like Tilak Varma and all-rounder Axar Patel further strengthen India’s lineup, while pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah remains a key figure with the ball, particularly in pressure situations.

New Zealand, on the other hand, have their own set of game-changers. Allen’s attacking approach in the powerplay can put bowlers under immediate pressure, while Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell provide stability and versatility in the batting unit.

The Black Caps also possess dynamic finishers like Glenn Phillips and experienced campaigners such as Mitchell Santner, who bring balance with both bat and ball.

Also WATCH: T20 World Cup 2026 – MS Dhoni’s priceless reaction to wife Sakshi’s early celebration during IND vs ENG semi-final goes viral

The United States has said its decision to grant India a temporary waiver to purchase certain Russian oil supplies is a short-term move aimed at stabilising global crude prices amid supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East.US energy secretary Chris Wright said the measure is intended to quickly bring oil stored in floating reserves into the global market and ease immediate supply constraints.Speaking to ABC News Live, Wright said large volumes of Russian crude are currently stored in tankers around southern Asia and that Washington had encouraged India to buy these cargoes.“We need to get oil on the market in the short term. In the long term, supplies are abundant. There’s no worry there,” Wright said, adding that the temporary step was necessary as oil prices were rising due to constraints in shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz.“As oil gets bid up a little bit because of those constraints coming out of the Straits of Hormuz, we’re taking a short-term action to say all this floating Russian oil storage that’s around southern Asia,” he said.Wright said the US had asked India to absorb those cargoes. “We’ve reached out to our friends in India and said, ‘Buy that oil. Bring it into your refineries.’ That pulls stored oil immediately into Indian refineries and releases the pressure on other refineries around the world,” he added.He stressed that the waiver does not represent a shift in Washington’s stance toward Moscow. “This is no change in policy towards Russia. This is a very brief change in policy just to keep oil prices down a little bit better than we could otherwise,” Wright said.Earlier in the day, US treasury secretary Scott Bessent announced a 30-day waiver allowing Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil cargoes stranded at sea.“To enable oil to keep flowing into the global market, the treasury department is issuing a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil,” Bessent said in a post on X.

Indian refiners step up purchases

Following the waiver, Indian refiners have begun purchasing large volumes of Russian oil floating in Asian waters, reported news agency PTI, citing sources.The companies have snapped up around 20 million barrels of crude, mostly from non-sanctioned entities, though they are seeking legal clarity on whether the exemption also allows purchases from sanctioned firms.The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a licence permitting the delivery and offloading of Russian crude loaded on vessels before March 5, 2026, with transactions allowed until April 4, 2026.The move comes as the widening West Asia conflict disrupts energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 40–50 per cent of India’s crude imports typically pass.India, which holds reserves covering roughly 25 days of crude demand, has turned to Russian cargoes at sea to ensure domestic fuel supplies remain stable. Indian refiners had already been importing about one million barrels of Russian oil per day in recent months.Industry estimates cited by PTI suggest around 15 million barrels of Russian crude are currently floating in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, while additional cargoes are waiting near Singapore and other routes that could reach Indian ports within weeks.Analysts say the waiver provides short-term relief for India’s energy security, though competition from other buyers, particularly China, may limit the volume of additional Russian oil available.

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“We will continue our efforts to give more speed to the possibilities here and to give them wings. We have started this. We will work to move this forward”, Dhami said.

TEHRI GARHWAL (UTTARAKHAND): Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday attended the Tehri Lake Festival Himalayan-O2 2026, highlighting the objective to make it a major hub for sports. Adressing the event, he said, “Our government’s goal is to make Tehri an important place for water and adventure sports. A place where national and international athletes come for water sports and adventure sports,” he said, adding that sports such as kayaking, canoeing, jet skiing, and scuba diving are being encouraged.“We will continue our efforts to give more speed to the possibilities here and to give them wings. We have started this. We will work to move this forward”, he added. Highlighting that the development of the Tehri Lake is being carried out as part of the Pratam Gram of Timan village, he said, “Rs 1.3 billion has been invested in the development of the Tehri Lake and the construction of the Ring Road.”Encouraging the players to pursue their sports, he assured them of support from the government. “I would like to tell all our players that they should dedicate themselves to the sport, and they should carry this feeling with them in their lives. I would like to tell all the young players that they should move forward with full dedication, enthusiasm and self-confidence to realize their dreams,” said Dhami.“I am sure that in the future, you will definitely make India and our state proud on national and international stages,” he added. Tehri Lake is steadily emerging as a major attraction for tourists from across India and abroad. Under the leadership of chief minister Dhami, tourism in Uttarakhand is gaining a new identity. The CM also emphasized that through tourism, new employment opportunities are being created for local youth.

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