Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Even as questions grow over his form, India continue to view Varun Chakravarthy as their potential match-winner — the “X-factor” who could still turn the T20 World Cup final in their favour.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The mystery spinner endured a difficult outing in India’s dramatic seven-run semifinal win over England at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, conceding 64 runs in four overs. Yet the team management and senior teammates remain firmly behind him ahead of the title clash against New Zealand in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

India vice-captain Axar Patel revealed that the team has had conversations with Chakravarthy about staying mentally strong and sticking to his plans, even when things are not going his way.“We have talked about it,” Axar said after the match. “We have played a lot of knockout games and in these moments mindset becomes very important. Yes, there is skill and all, but when you go for runs, don’t change your plan even if the batter is targeting you.”Axar stressed that confidence remains key for the world’s top-ranked T20 bowler.“You have a plan to put it in the stumps first, and then suddenly you change the line. Yes, there could be mistakes in pressure situations. We keep telling him, ‘You are the X-factor, trust yourself.’ When it comes to the ball, it is all about confidence,” he added.Chakravarthy’s struggles were most visible when England’s Jacob Bethell launched an aggressive assault, smashing three sixes in the spinner’s opening over and taking 42 runs off just 13 balls faced against him during his blistering century.Despite the hammering, Axar pointed out that Chakravarthy still managed a crucial wicket.“If you look at it, even after being hit for a few sixes, he got the wicket of Jos Buttler. He is the number one T20 bowler, he knows what he is doing. It is a matter of mindset,” Axar said.With one match left in the tournament, Axar believes Chakravarthy could yet script a dramatic turnaround.“We have one more match,” he said. “Maybe he will give a match-winning performance in the final.”

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NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday began sit-in protest against alleged voter roll deletions via Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party and Election Commission of hatching a “conspiracy to disenfranchise Bengali voters”. She vowed to present all those voters that have been declared dead by the poll body.“I will expose the BJP-EC conspiracy to disenfranchise Bengali voters,” she said at the start of the protest.

“I will present those voters, who have been declared dead by the Election Commission, at this protest site,” she added.Official figures released on February 28 show that nearly 63.66 lakh names — about 8.3% of the electorate — have been removed since the SIR exercise started in November last year, bringing the total number of voters down from roughly 7.66 crore to a little over 7.04 crore.Additionally, more than 60.06 lakh electors have been classified as “under adjudication”, indicating that their eligibility will be assessed through legal review in the coming weeks, a process that could further alter constituency-level electoral dynamics.The sit-in protest, which began at in central Kolkata on Friday afternoon, had been announced earlier by TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who alleged that the poll panel was conducting a “politically motivated” exercise that could disenfranchise lakhs of genuine voters.BJP’s Amit Malviya slammed the Bengal CM over high unemployment in the state saying that the CM should have been focusing on “delivering what she was elected for, instead of sitting on dharnas”.“There are approximately 85 lakh unemployed people in the 18–40 age group in West Bengal, according to informed sources in the state government. That puts unemployment under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at a staggering 13%, far higher than the national average, which remains in the low single digits. This is entirely to the credit of Mamata Banerjee and the result of the colossal misgovernance that West Bengal has endured over the last 15 years. Had the Chief Minister focused on delivering what she was elected for, instead of sitting on dharnas, things wouldn’t have been this bad. But it is too late now,” he said in a post on X.

PUNE: A total of 111 residents from Pune district, including students stranded in Dubai due to the ongoing US-Israel-Iran military conflict, have safely returned home, the district administration confirmed on Wednesday.Authorities said that 184 residents from Pune were initially stuck in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) city, and efforts are ongoing to bring back the remaining travellers. Among those who returned were 80 students and four faculty members from the Indira School of Business Studies (ISBS).

Across Maharashtra, 164 tourists stranded in the UAE due to the escalating conflict in West Asia have returned in two special flights arranged by Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, a Shiv Sena leader, officials said. The flights, which landed at Mumbai International Airport on Tuesday night, brought back travellers from Pune, Thane, and Ahilyanagar districts.The district collector, Jitendra Dudi, added that flights for 19 Pune residents still stranded in Dubai have been rescheduled, while arrangements for the remaining 54 travellers are underway.Dr Janardhan Pawar, Dean at Indira University, expressed gratitude to the Centre and the Maharashtra government for facilitating the safe return of the ISBS students and faculty.Flight operations to most West Asian airports have been disrupted since Saturday due to the conflict, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. The Centre and Maharashtra government have issued advisories urging Indian citizens abroad to stay safe, remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary movement, and follow instructions from local authorities and Indian embassies.In case of emergencies, citizens are advised to contact the 24×7 helpline numbers of the respective Indian embassies. The Maharashtra government has appealed to its residents abroad to stay patient and rely only on official information.For assistance within Pune district, citizens can contact the District Disaster Management Control Room at 020-26123371 or 26133522, Dudi added.(With agency inputs)

Former India captain MS Dhoni once again proved why his composure is admired by millions, even when he is off the field. During the India vs England semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Dhoni produced a hilarious reaction to his wife Sakshi Dhoni’s premature celebration, and the moment quickly went viral across social media.

While the game itself turned out to be a nail-biting contest, Dhoni’s humorous gesture in the stands became one of the most talked-about highlights of the night.

Sakshi Dhoni celebrates too early in the stands

The incident took place during England’s tense run chase after India had posted a massive 253/7 in their 20 overs. In the 18th over, a dramatic moment unfolded when Jasprit Bumrah appeared to take a catch off his own bowling.

From the stands, Sakshi thought England batter Sam Curran had been dismissed. Convinced the wicket had fallen, she immediately began celebrating enthusiastically along with fans nearby.

However, replays quickly showed that the ball had bounced before reaching Bumrah, meaning Curran was not out and the game continued. Sakshi’s early celebration instantly caught the attention of people seated around her, including her husband Dhoni.

MS Dhoni’s hilarious response goes viral

Known for his cool-headed nature on the cricket field throughout his career, Dhoni displayed the same calm demeanor in the stands.

As Sakshi continued celebrating, Dhoni gently gestured toward her with a playful expression, indicating that the catch had not been taken cleanly and the batter was still safe. His subtle but humorous reaction had spectators smiling and soon became a trending moment online.

Fans quickly shared clips of the interaction across social media platforms, praising Dhoni’s trademark composure and lighthearted response.

Here’s the video:

Bumrah took the catch off a bump ball. Sakshi thought the ball was out and started jumping.

Dhoni told her to calm down. What a fun moment, brother 😂❤️#T20WC2026 #INDvsENG #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/BMRIBUnQAT

— Sunil Singh (@SunilSingh_0007) March 6, 2026

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

India beat England to secure final berth

India booked their place in the T20 World Cup 2026 final after defeating England by seven runs in a thrilling semi-final at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Batting first, India posted a formidable 253/7 in 20 overs, powered by a brilliant 89 off 42 balls from Sanju Samson and a quickfire 43 from 25 deliveries by Shivam Dube, which put England under immediate pressure.

In response, England mounted a strong fightback through Jacob Bethell, who smashed an impressive 105 off 48 balls, keeping the chase alive deep into the innings. However, India’s bowlers held their nerve in the final overs to restrict England to 246/7, sealing a narrow victory and securing a spot in the final against New Zealand, scheduled for March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Also READ: Harry Brook reveals key reason behind England’s defeat in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against India

Jasprit Bumrah celebrates the run out of Jacob Bethell of England. (Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis heaped glowing praise on India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah after the fast bowler’s decisive spell helped India edge past England by seven runs in the semifinal of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Calling Bumrah a match-winner across formats, du Plessis said having him in the team was “like having a genie”.India had earlier piled up a massive 253/7 riding on a stunning 42-ball 89 from Sanju Samson. But England threatened to chase it down thanks to a sensational hundred from Jacob Bethell.

With England needing 45 runs from the last three overs and momentum on their side, the match swung dramatically when captain Suryakumar Yadav handed the ball to Bumrah for the crucial 18th over.In a game where bowlers had been hammered all around the park, Bumrah conceded just six runs, effectively turning the tide. England eventually finished at 246/7, falling agonisingly short despite Bethell’s 105.Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show, du Plessis said India might not fully realise how fortunate they are to have a bowler like Bumrah.

“Team India don’t understand how lucky they are to have him in their ranks,” du Plessis said. “It is just proven time and time and time again, regardless of the format — you just give him the ball and he wins you games.”“It’s a superpower that any captain will dream of. It’s like having a genie — you just rub the lamp and out comes Bumrah,” he added.Du Plessis highlighted how even Bumrah’s occasional errors become difficult for batters to capitalise on because of his unique action and late release.“They know it’s going to be full — yorker or slower ball. He bowled two low full tosses in that over and both times Sam Curran was late on the ball. Any other bowler missing length like that goes for six,” he explained.“He’s got such a unique action that it’s hard to pick how quickly the ball comes out of his wrist. That mystery makes it very hard to line him up.”Bumrah finished with figures of 1/33 from four overs in a match that produced a staggering 499 runs. As India prepare for the final against New Zealand, the hopes of a billion fans will once again rest on their “genie with the ball.”

Image Used For Representational Purpose Only (PTI Photo)

BENGALURU: Even before the peak summer months set in, parts of south India are witnessing an unusual rise in ultraviolet (UV) radiation levels. In Bengaluru, a relatively moderate maximum temperature of 32°C recorded on Tuesday was accompanied by a sharp spike in UV radiation. The city’s afternoon UV Index climbed to 13 — classified as “extreme” under World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Weather officials said the sudden surge in UV levels, rather than the temperature itself, was the more worrying development. The rapid jump in UV levels — from 10 to 13 in under two days — has raised concern among experts.UV intensity is influenced largely by the thickness of the ozone layer, which acts as a protective shield by absorbing much of the Sun’s harmful radiation.

Authorities in Kerala have also flagged similar concerns. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) issued an ultraviolet radiation alert after several districts recorded high UV Index values. Konni, Chengannur and Munnar recorded a high UVI of 8, while Kottarakkara, Changanassery, Ollur, Thrithala and Mananthavady recorded UVI levels of 7. Earlier, the authority noted that districts including Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kozhikode and Palakkad had recorded a UV index of seven, while Idukki touched eight. KSDMA warned that continuous exposure to UV radiation for long periods can lead to sunburn, skin diseases, eye problems and other health issues. The highest UV radiation levels are typically recorded between 10am and 3pm.

Precautions to take during high UV radiation:

Risks of high UV radiation exposure:

The government has also directed producers to supply LPG, propane and butane to state-run refiners. (AI image)

Middle East crisis impact: The government has activated emergency provisions to ensure there is no shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in wake of the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war that has hit India’s imports of the energy source. India, which was the world’s second-largest LPG importer last year, consumed 33.15 million metric tonnes of the fuel. LPG is a blend primarily composed of propane and butane.Around two-thirds of India’s LPG demand is met through imports, with the Middle East accounting for roughly 85 to 90 per cent of those supplies. According to a Reuters report, emergency powers have been invoked and domestic refiners have been instructed to increase the production of LPG in order to avert a potential shortage.

India Moves To Step Up LPG Output

Under the directive issued late on Thursday, all oil refiners have been told to maximise LPG output by ensuring that the propane and butane available with them are fully utilised for cooking gas production, the report said.Also Read | Israel-Iran war: What US 30-day waiver on Russian oil means for India – explainedThe government has also directed producers to supply LPG, propane and butane to state-run refiners Indian Oil Corp, Hindustan Petroleum Corp and Bharat Petroleum Corp so that these companies can maintain uninterrupted distribution to households.Government data shows that India currently has around 332 million active LPG consumers.The compulsory diversion of propane and butane toward LPG production is expected to reduce the output of alkylates, a component used in blending gasoline, particularly affecting production by Reliance Industries Ltd, the Reuters report said.

According to data from LSEG, Reliance exported roughly four alkylate cargoes every month last year.The government has also instructed refiners not to use propane and butane for petrochemical manufacturing.A trade source was quoted as saying that redirecting propane and butane for LPG production would squeeze margins for petrochemical companies that produce items such as polypropylene and alkylates, as these products typically command higher prices than LPG.According to Global Trade Research Initiative, India imported $13.9bn worth of LPG from West Asia in 2025, which is 46.9 per cent of its LPG imports. LPG remains the primary cooking fuel for millions of households.

India Eyes Alternative LPG & LNG Sources

According to a PTI report, India has approached the United States to arrange maritime insurance protection for vessels transporting oil from the Middle East, as the country seeks to maintain stable energy supplies beyond its existing reserves.The official said the ministry is currently holding discussions with leading producers and trading firms to secure supplies of crude oil, LPG and liquefied natural gas (LNG).“We are in touch with US authorities for getting a cover from the International Development Finance Corporation for vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.US President Donald Trump has directed the multilateral financial institution to extend political risk insurance and financial guarantees to support maritime trade in the region.However, the official noted that before the IDFC can offer such coverage, a fund worth several hundred million dollars must first be created to support the insurance mechanism. He added that the insurance premium would be borne by the parties involved in the cargo contracts.The government is also negotiating with suppliers such as Sonatrach and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, along with global trading houses including TotalEnergies, Vitol and Trafigura, to secure additional oil and gas shipments.In addition, the official said India has increased its imports of crude oil and LPG from the United States.