KOLKATA: The one thing that strikes you about Varun Chakravarthy is his complete lack of facial expressions. Just by looking at him, you wouldn’t know if he has taken a wicket or gone for a six. Rather, his teammates seem to be more excited about his achievements than him. But that takes nothing away from him being an integral part of India’s T20 squad.Varun is now back at the venue where he has thrived in the past. The 34-yearold leg-break googly bowler, an important part of the Kolkata Knight Riders team in the IPL, will consider Eden Gardens his home. Of his 100 IPL wickets, 99 are for KKR, with this iconic venue contributing quite a few of those. This is not lost on the Indian team management and assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate agrees Varun could be one of their potent weapons here.

“Varun obviously had a lot of success here,” ten Doeschate said on Saturday. “I think it’s pretty standard how we’ve utilized Varun so far. He bowls one over in the powerplay. He’s our attacking option as well.”However, is Varun still as effective as he was in his early days? In the last two games against South Africa and Zimbabwe, he conceded 82 runs for his two wickets. Are the batters approaching him in a different way? Ten Doeschate is inclined to agree.

“We’re also aware that teams are now starting to play him a little bit differently. So we have some other strategies to deploy him in different facets of the game. But generally speaking he’s someone we turn to for wickets and he’s been really good at that and expect more of the same on Sunday.”The West Indies won’t take Varun lightly despite his relatively indifferent form. “Last time I checked I think he was the No. 1 bowler in T20 cricket,” West Indies coach Darren Sammy said. “We respect every opposition. We have our plans against each bowlers and vice versa, our bowlers versus their batsman. We got to play a complete game.”

Back in the familiar surroundings of the Eden Gardens, the occasion could just be the perfect setting for Varun to silence doubters. And an early wicket in his powerplay over could well give India the edge.Team firmly behind RinkuTen Doeschate said that the team is standing firmly with batter Rinku Singh, who lost his father to cancer on Friday. “It’s obviously a very sad time and he’ll continue to get the love and support from everyone,” he said.

Indonesia coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama, who works with two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu, had a close call after an explosion occurred near their location at Dubai International Airport as they were travelling to Birmingham for the All England Championships.Sindhu and Irwansyah were stranded at the airport after flight operations were suspended amid rising tensions in the Middle East. The tournament is set to start on Tuesday.

Explosions were reported in parts of the Gulf after Iran launched missiles in response to military action, including in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. This led to the suspension of all flights at Dubai airport.“In Dubai at the moment, flights getting cancelled. There was an explosion in airport, so we are stuck here at the moment,” Irwansyah told news agency PTI.“They have put us in the hotel, we are okay but again there is a little bit of worry at the same time. We want to go to All England. I hope we can fly out today because Sindhu’s match is on Wednesday.”The Badminton World Federation (BWF) said it was monitoring travel issues linked to the situation in the Middle East along with Badminton England.“We remain in regular contact with teams and players whose journeys to Birmingham for the YONEX All England Open 2026 may be affected.The safety and wellbeing of all athletes, officials and support personnel remain our highest priority,” BWF said in a statement.“BWF is working with the tournament organisers and national associations to assess travel conditions, while our operations teams maintain real-time oversight of the situation and stand ready to assist delegations experiencing delays or route changes.“This includes reviewing and preparing potential contingencies within the competition schedule should any players experience delayed arrival.We will continue to share updates as the situation evolves and more information becomes available.”Sindhu shared her experience on social media on Sunday morning.“The ordeal continues to unfold, and the situation is becoming more frightening by the hour. A few hours ago, there was an explosion close to where we were holed up at the airport,” she wrote.“My coach had to quickly run out of the area as he was closest to the smoke and debris. It was an extremely tense and scary moment for all of us.”Most Indian players scheduled to compete in the tournament have already reached Birmingham. Men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, men’s singles player Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, and women’s doubles pair Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly are in the city.Malvika Bansod has also arrived, but Unnati Hooda remains in India after her direct flight from New Delhi to Birmingham was cancelled at short notice.“I was supposed to travel today around 11 but early morning came to know that the flight has been cancelled. Now seats are not available in connected flights. I am in touch with BAI and they are in conversation with BWF to maybe schedule my matches late,” Unnati said.Former India coach Vimal Kumar was also set to leave on Saturday but was informed of his cancellation shortly before boarding in Bengaluru.Doubles coach B Sumeeth Reddy will travel via Singapore along with mixed doubles pair Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani.“There are some players we are trying to send via Singapore, some have reached. Satwik and Chirag have reached, “Badminton Association of India secretary Sanjay Mishra said.The United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran on Saturday. US President Donald Trump called on the Iranian public to remove its leadership.The strikes led to airspace closures across parts of the Gulf, affecting several international carriers including Emirates and Air India.Air India said it has cancelled all flights to and from Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Muscat, Riyadh and Tel Aviv until further notice.Dubai International Airport has suspended operations indefinitely due to airspace restrictions following the missile strikes.

NEW DELHI: Cricket has been caught up in rising tensions in the Middle East, leaving players from both England and Pakistan stuck in Dubai.England Lions were in the UAE to play Pakistan Shaheens, but everything changed after Iran carried out missile and drone strikes in the region.

As a result, the UAE closed its airspace, grounding flights and cancelling Sunday’s match. Among those stranded are Jonny Bairstow, former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, and 24 other players and staff members.With flights suspended, the team has been unable to leave Dubai. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) says it is working to make sure everyone stays safe and can return home when possible. An ECB spokesperson said, “The safety and security of our teams and staff is our top priority. We are in contact with security experts and the government in relation to current events in the Middle East, and are following official advice.”“We will continue to monitor and assess the situation and official advice in relation to the future of these trips,” the spokesperson told BBC.Bairstow also shared his frustration publicly. Posting on X, he wrote, “@emirates we haven’t had any communication post flight getting cancelled. Tried the lines of communication but nothing. Could someone please be in contact.”It’s not just the men’s ‘A’ teams affected. England’s women’s side had plans for a training camp in Dubai, which will now not go ahead. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is also staying in touch with the Shaheens and keeping a close watch on developments. For now, there’s no clear timeline on when UAE airspace will reopen, leaving both teams waiting for updates.

TimesofIndia.com in Kolkata: Moments after hitting the winning boundary, Sanju Samson took off his helmet and dropped to his knees to thank the almighty. Relief washed over the face of the right-hander who fired India into the T20 World Cup semifinals with a breathtaking knock. Even before the crowd could capture the winning moments, “Vande Mataram” played at full volume as the Indian dugout rushed out to celebrate what was a top run-chase under pressure. “Lehra Do” was up next and the laser lights joined the act as the announcer egged the crowd on. The party was only getting started in Kolkata after India (199/5) beat West Indies (195/4) with four deliveries to spare. Until a week ago in Ahmedabad, Sanju Samson was nowhere close to the Playing XI as India were happy with the two left-handers Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma as their two openers. However, the consistent off-spin threat, which led to early wickets, forced the think-tank to rework its strategy and bring Samson, a right-hander, back to the top of the order. He had lost his spot to an in-form Kishan but the tactical call forced the left-hander down to No.3 and left-right was restored.

The move worked in the must-win game against Zimbabwe in Chennai earlier this week as it not only gave India a brisk start but also kept spin away. Although spin was introduced early in Kolkata and India lost two early wickets, Samson unlocked his maximum potential when the team had its back to the wall. Chasing a stiff target, the right-hander played an unforgettable knock to help India advance to the semi-final of the multi-nation tournament. He drove well, cut fiercely and exhibited big-match temperament in front of a capacity crowd at the Eden Gardens. Pace or spin, Samson took them down with aplomb and never lost shape in the process. He hit the ball where it was meant to be hit but his ice-cool nerves stood out during his 50-ball 97*, which included 12 boundaries and four sixes.The pitch had a lot of dew and the absence of demons made batting less difficult; however, the scoreboard pressure of the virtual quarter-final made it a daunting task. Wickets falling from the other end didn’t change Samson’s approach; he continued to operate at a healthy strike-rate and kept the asking rate in check. The partnership with Suryakumar Yadav put the chase on track after the early wickets, giving it the much needed push with the breezy 42-run stand, off only 26 balls, with Tilak Varma.

When Hardik Pandya joined Samson, the equation was under control: 55 runs were needed off 32 balls. With batting to follow, India controlled the game from that point. Samson and Pandya put India in striking distance of the win, with Samson helping India cross the line with five wickets in hand.Earlier, after electing to field first, India’s fielding was a major disappointment, and the group let the bowlers down in excellent batting conditions. Three misfield boundaries, two dropped catches and one missed run-out opportunity cost India dearly as they were not able to peg the high-flying West Indies batting line-up back with regular breakthroughs. The situation wasn’t alarming by any means at the halfway mark, as the bowlers kept the score down to 82/1. The scoreboard could have been much worse had they taken the catch and capitalised on the run-out opportunity but it was nowhere near panic territory.Both Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy had three overs left, and Suryakumar Yadav’s smart bowling changes gave India a tactical edge going into the second half of the innings. The West Indies signalled intent as they took 17 runs off Chakaravarthy’s second over. Body language dropped ever so briefly because Eden Gardens was about to erupt in the 12th over, bowled by Bumrah.

Two wickets, including that of the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer, got the crowd roaring and ‘Boom Boom Bumrah’ chants reverberated in the stands every time the bowler stood on top of his mark. He had the matchup advantage over the left-hander and dismissed him in just two deliveries, adding another wicket with a slower ball that completely deceived the well-set Roston Chase. From 102/1, the scoreboard became 103/3 in the space of a couple of deliveries and India did what assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate expected: fight fire with fire.When the hosts circled for the final drinks interval of the innings at the end of the 14th over, the scoreboard showed a controlled 119/3, but India still had to get a Hardik Pandya over out of the way. During the break, head coach Gautam Gambhir went straight to the all-rounder and discussed the angle he could explore against Sherfane Rutherford. Pandya executed the plan perfectly, dismissing the left-hander off the first delivery to put India in a commanding position.125/4 with just five to play wasn’t a bad position, especially with four overs from Bumrah and Arshdeep, and one from Chakarvarthy remaining. Heavy dew started to settle in but one would have backed them to do the job in those crunch situations.

What unfolded, however, in the next five overs was a very calculated muscular assault from Rovman Powell and Jason Holder; together, they added 70 runs in the next 30 deliveries, taking down Bumrah, Arshdeep, and Chakarvarthy in the process.Bumrah conceded 26 runs in his last two overs, Chakarvarthy conceded 14, and Arshdeep leaked 30 from his remaining two overs. The 16th over, bowled by Arshdeep, swung momentum West Indies’ way as 24 runs came off it. The left-armer looked out of sorts, conceding two sixes, five wides and two more wides, causing shoulders to drop in the field. Bumrah gave it his all in the two remaining overs and his reaction after Varun let a ball go for a boundary summed up the overall performance in the field. Which was a big let down on their biggest evening of the tournament till date.However, a special Samson plastered all the cracks to book a semi-final date with England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 5.Brief Scores: West Indies 195/4 in 20 overs (Roston Chase 40, Jason Holder 37, Rovman Powell 34; Jasprit Bumrah 2-36)India: 199/5 in 19.2 overs (Sanju Samson 97; Jason Holder 2-38)

As anticipation builds for this winner-take-all clash, Samuel Badree and Matthew Hayden perfectly captured the electric atmosphere surrounding the contest. With a semifinal spot on the line, the tension is unmistakable. The weather is ideal, the stands are buzzing, and the venue looks magnificent under the lights. Everything is set for a blockbuster.

They highlighted that this is traditionally a high-scoring ground, one that rewards bold stroke play. From the clubhouse end, the straight boundary measures 73 metres, while the square boundaries are almost equal on both sides, offering balance for both right- and left-handed batters.

The dimensions encourage big hitting, and plenty of sixes have already been struck here during the tournament. However, it’s not just about clearing the ropes. The outfield is among the fastest in world cricket, meaning well-timed shots along the ground can race away just as quickly. Placement and timing will be as valuable as raw power.

Turning to the pitch, both commentators were impressed with its quality. There is healthy, living grass on the surface, but it is not overly dry. One end appears slightly drier with marginally less grass coverage, which could offer subtle variations for bowlers willing to adapt. Overall, though, the surface looks excellent for batting.

Badree and Hayden described it as a “six-hitting paradise,” a strip designed for aggressive cricket. Both teams have already shown their ability to dominate in the powerplay and middle overs, particularly the West Indies, who have made strong use of fresh surfaces earlier in the tournament.

With perfect weather, true bounce, and lightning pace off the bat, all signs point toward a high-octane showdown. If the pitch plays as expected, fans could be treated to a run-fest where fearless stroke play takes center stage.

TimesofIndia.com in New Delhi: South Africa are on an unbeaten run in the T20 World Cup. Except for the double Super Over against Afghanistan, they’ve steamrolled top teams, including India, whom they beat by 76 runs. On a seven-match winning streak, South Africa hopes to shed their ‘chokers’ tag.The legacy of that tag has followed the Proteas for the past two decades. It started with the 1999 World Cup loss to Australia and persisted until the 2024 T20 World Cup, losing the final to India in the Caribbean.

Now, the reigning World Test Championship winners are the team to beat in the T20 World Cup being played in India and Sri Lanka. Their winning run continued with a 5-wicket win over Zimbabwe on Sunday. Coach Shukri Conrad was asked if this brings pressure and the much-dreaded reminder of being chokers?“There’s always pressure. I think it’s what you do with that pressure and how you shift the pressure. As for the C-word [chokers], I think there’s another one for that – ‘cupcakes.’ I’m sure we kind of enjoyed that,” said Conrad.The cupcake reference relates to a TV advert in the lead-up to the India vs South Africa Super Eight match where an Indian fan jokingly told a South Africa supporter about “repeating history” from the 2024 T20 World Cup while teasing them over a cupcake. But after South Africa’s resounding win against India in Ahmedabad, that dig flipped on its head.“No, there’s always pressure and it’s really about embracing that pressure. And we don’t do things any differently. We’re going to prepare exactly the same way for New Zealand. Whether we start as favourites? Probably because we’re the only unbeaten side in the competition. But I don’t know if that adds to the pressure,” continued Conrad.“I think the semi-final is pressure enough. Playing a tough side in New Zealand is pressure enough. So there’s no added pressure.“I’m glad that we’re favourites because I always felt that as a South African team you want to be able to play as a favourite because it’s easy being an underdog. The expectation isn’t that much. But if we can continue doing what we’re doing then we need a little bit of luck along the way as well.“Hopefully that will give us the result on Wednesday and then on to our ‘home ground’ in Ahmedabad,” he finished cheekily.

Alyssa Healy ended her ODI career with a century as Australia completed a 3-0 sweep over India, defeating the world champions by 185 runs in the third and final match on Sunday.Asked to bat, Australia posted 409 for seven, built around Healy’s 158 and an unbeaten 106 from Beth Mooney. India, chasing 410, were bowled out for 224 in 45.1 overs.

The 35-year-old Healy, playing her 126th ODI, hit 27 fours and two sixes in her 98-ball knock. It was her eighth ODI hundred. She will retire from international cricket after the one-off pink-ball Test against India in Perth from March 6. Across 126 ODIs, she has scored 3,777 runs with eight centuries and 19 fifties.Australia lost Phoebe Litchfield (14) early, but Healy and Georgia Voll (62 off 52) added 134 for the second wicket. Healy then shared a 145-run stand with Mooney for the third wicket to set up the total. Voll struck seven fours and a six, while Mooney’s innings included 10 boundaries and one six. Annabel Sutherland (23) and Nicola Carey (34 off 15) added runs in the closing overs.For India, Sneh Rana (2/66) and Shree Charani (2/106) took two wickets each. Charani became only the third bowler to concede more than 100 runs in an ODI.India’s chase never gathered pace. Smriti Mandhana fell in the second over. Pratika Rawal (27 off 21) and Jemimah Rodrigues (42 off 29) added 54 for the second wicket before Rawal was dismissed in the eighth over, given out in front to Annabel Sutherland.Rodrigues, who hit nine boundaries, was caught at short fine-leg by Hamilton off Ashleigh Gardner while attempting a sweep. Harleen Deol (14) also fell without a major score. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur made 25 off 33 balls before being trapped LBW by Alana King. Richa Ghosh (18) and Kashvee Gautam were dismissed as the required rate climbed.Deepti Sharma (29 off 47) and Rana added 63 for the eighth wicket, but the effort came too late. Deepti was dismissed LBW by King in the 40th over. Rana, who had earlier returned figures of 2/66, scored 44 off 74 balls.India had lost the first two ODIs by six and five wickets. They had won the preceding three-match T20 series 2-1.Australia now lead the multi-format series 8-4 on points. Each T20 and ODI win carries two points, while a Test victory is worth four.

TimesofIndia.com in New Delhi: “Even though there are bruises, we will look to win and earn respect,” said Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza before facing India in the T20 World Cup Super Eight. But then they were hammered for 256 runs, just days after being wacked around for 254 runs by West Indies. Despite going for 510 runs in two matches, on the eve of the contest against South Africa, Zimbabwe bowling consultant Courtney Walsh reiterated that their achievements – beating Sri Lanka and Australia in the group stage – cannot be ignored. “We wanted to make a statement here and I think the performance showed itself,” he said.A day later, Zimbabwe restored their pride and respect by pushing the Proteas at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi which witnessed nearly 20,000 spectators on a hot Sunday afternoon. Following their 5-wicket win, South Africa have maintained their unbeaten run in the tournament. They will now approach the semi-final against New Zealand, to be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 4, with seven consecutive wins.

Raza, rather fittingly, led Zimbabwe’s effort in creating yet another upset in the competition. He scored 73 from 43 balls, laden with eight fours and four sixes, taking the side to 153/7, before chipping in with 3/29 from his four overs, including a first-over strike to dismiss Quinton de Kock and adding to South Africa’s troubles with wickets of Aiden Markram and Dewald Brevis.Even though South Africa lost four wickets in the first 10 overs, they remained ahead of the scoring curve, producing 93 runs at the halfway mark. With Brevis falling not long after, Zimbabwe possibly had reason to believe. Was another upset in the offing? Were Zimbabwe on the cusp of beating their ‘big brother’?Those faint hopes were dashed by Tristan Stubbs (unbeaten 21 off 24) and George Linde (unbeaten 30 from 21 balls), stitching an unbroken stand of 53 runs from 43 balls.Earlier, Raza’s sublime ball-striking stood out in an otherwise ordinary batting display by Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe captain Raza hammered 73 off 43 balls while the other batters struggled to find the same flow against high quality pace.The batters, barring Raza, tried to attack the likes of Kwena Maphaka, Anrich Nortje and the in-form Lungi Ngidi but were unsuccessful.Brief Scores:Zimbabwe: 153/7 in 20 overs (Sikandar Raza 73; Kwena Maphaka 2/21).South Africa: 154/5 in 17.5 overs (Ryan Rickelton 31, Dewald Brevis 42, George Linde ; Sikandar Raza 3/29)

As India brace for a knockout Super 8 showdown against the West Indies in Kolkata, former batting coach Sanjay Bangar has underlined the need for discipline with the ball against a Caribbean side known for fearless strokeplay.The contest revives memories of their 2016 T20 World Cup semi-final meeting in Mumbai and carries similar high stakes. Analysing the challenge on JioHotstar, Bangar pointed to the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket and the attacking mindset of West Indies batters.

“In T20 cricket, you have to be open to getting hit because batters will come hard at you. There are times when they may get off to a rollicking start and could be 60 without loss. But with that aggressive style and focus on boundaries, they can quickly slip to 84 for 4 as well, within the space of 20-odd runs.”India will look towards experienced campaigners such as Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy to curb the power-hitting threat and seize momentum through timely breakthroughs. Bangar emphasised that clarity in execution would be decisive.“That’s why I believe the Indian team should stick to their bowling plans and make smart use of their wicket-taking options. The use of Varun Chakaravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah against them is going to be extremely critical,” Bangar added.He also offered technical advice for Chakaravarthy, who has seen a slight dip in returns during the Super 8 phase, particularly after his spell against Zimbabwe.“I thought he was slightly short against the Zimbabwe batters. The majority of his deliveries were back of a length, and many of the boundaries scored came from that area. So, I think it would be better for him to push the ball slightly fuller and try to hit the stumps. That has been one of Varun Chakaravarthy’s strengths; if the batsman misses, he is either trapped leg before wicket or bowled.”Bangar further broke down how Chakaravarthy could counter the in-form Shimron Hetmyer.“Hetmyer looks to target long-on or the mid-wicket region, with a large share of his runs coming in that region. So, bowling those googlies from off-stump to the fourth-stump line, slightly wider outside off, would mean that if he tries to go across the line, there is always a wicket-taking opportunity for Varun Chakaravarthy,” Bangar added.Hetmyer has been West Indies’ standout performer, amassing 221 runs in six innings at an average of 44.20 and a strike rate of 182.64, including two half-centuries. Meanwhile, Chakaravarthy remains India’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 11 scalps at an average of just over 13, despite a quieter Super 8 stretch.With a semi-final place at stake, India’s ability to blend patience with precision in their bowling plans could define the outcome of this high-pressure encounter.

Football authorities have extended support to Iran’s women’s team competing in Australia at the Women’s Asian Cup after military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran.Iran’s 26-member squad reached the Gold Coast days before the attacks on Saturday, which killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Washington and Tel Aviv seek to topple the Islamic Republic. The team is scheduled to begin its campaign against South Korea on Monday.The Asian Football Confederation said it is monitoring developments.The AFC said in a statement it “continues to closely monitor the recent developments in the Middle East during this challenging period”.“The AFC’s foremost priority remains the welfare, safety and security of all players, coaches, officials and fans,” it added.“In this regard, we are in close and regular contact with the Iran women’s national team and officials on the Gold Coast and are offering our full support and assistance.”Head coach Marziyeh Jafari addressed the media on Sunday ahead of the opener but focused on football. She said the tournament gives her players an opportunity to highlight their ability.“After the league season in Iran, we came together for three training camps, before coming to Australia where we have had a few fruitful sessions, so I hope tomorrow we can show you a good match,” she said.The 12-team competition begins Sunday and will be among the biggest stages for several players in the Iranian squad.Iran made its first appearance at the previous Asian Cup in India in 2022. The team lost to China and Taiwan but received recognition at home in a country where women’s rights are restricted.“In India in 2022, the group was a little easier. Now in 2026 we enter with more experience but the group is more tough,” Jafari said, referring to a pool that also features hosts Australia and the Philippines.“But we (still) want to show in these games the potential of Iranian women.”Iran qualified for the tournament after progressing through the qualifiers, sealing back-to-back appearances with a win over Jordan.Captain Zahra Ghanbari said the team has clear targets.“I believe this tournament is great with great teams, but we really want to qualify for the World Cup,” said the 33-year-old.“We know these will be tough games, but we have a tough mentality and we want to do our best.”The top six teams in the tournament will secure places at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.