Sports

New Delhi: Ahead of the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan showdown on February 15 in the T20 World Cup 2026, panic and concern appear to be growing across the border, with Pakistan’s former cricketers and experts openly acknowledging the threat posed by Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Pandya’s sensational performance against Namibia has not only boosted India’s confidence but has also triggered intense discussions in Pakistan, where many analysts are calling him the most complete all-rounder in world cricket today. In the match against Namibia on February 12, Hardik displayed both skill and composure on a challenging surface. The pitch slowed down after the powerplay, offering assistance to spinners, but Pandya adapted brilliantly, playing a match-defining knock and delivering a...

New Delhi: The United Arab Emirates registered their first victory in the T20 World Cup 2026, defeating Canada in a thrilling encounter, thanks to a match-winning knock from Bihar-born Sohaib Khan, who played a destructive cameo under pressure to seal the game. Chasing a target of 151 runs, UAE found themselves in trouble after 16 overs, managing only 95 runs and appearing far from the finish line. However, the match took a dramatic turn when Sohaib Khan and Aryansh Sharma launched a stunning counter-attack from the 17th over onwards. With fearless hitting and calculated aggression, the duo ensured UAE crossed the finish line with just two balls to spare, delivering a memorable win for their side. Sohaib Credits MS Dhoni’s Calm Approach Speaking after the match, Sohaib revealed...

Chennai: The United States finally opened its account in the T20 World Cup 2026 with a commanding performance, defeating the Netherlands by a massive 93-run margin at the MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) on Friday. After suffering defeats against India and Pakistan earlier in the tournament, the USA bounced back strongly to register their first victory of the campaign. Batting first, the USA posted an imposing total of 196/6 in 20 overs. In reply, the Netherlands collapsed under pressure and were bowled out for just 103 runs in the 16th over, failing to put up any significant resistance. This win was also historic for the United States as it marked their first-ever T20 International victory over the Netherlands, having lost all three previous encounters between the two sides. Mukk...

New Delhi: Zimbabwe produced one of the biggest upsets of the T20 World Cup 2026 by defeating Australia by 23 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. The surprising victory has now fueled fresh hopes in the Pakistan camp ahead of the much-awaited India vs Pakistan clash scheduled for February 15 at the same venue. Zimbabwe’s remarkable performance against a youthful Australian side has become a major talking point across the cricketing world. Soon after the match, former Pakistan batter Mohammad Yousuf took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and hinted that Pakistan could also pull off a similar upset against India. Yousuf wrote that Zimbabwe’s win proves that even the biggest teams can be defeated if the opponents play with confidence and execute their plans well. He a...

Canberra: In a shocking incident highlighting administrative lapses, the Pakistan national hockey team was left stranded on the streets of Canberra, Australia, after hotel payments were not made, forcing players and officials to wait for hours without accommodation. The team had traveled to participate in the FIH Pro League second phase matches. What Happened According to sources, a lack of coordination between the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), coupled with insufficient funds, put the players in this humiliating situation. Rooms had been booked at a four-star hotel, and the team was assured that all payments had been handled. However, upon arrival, there were no reservations in their names, leaving the players and officials without a place to r...

New Delhi: Zimbabwe has suffered a major setback ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Veteran batsman Brendan Taylor has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury, dealing a significant blow to the team’s prospects. Taylor’s Contribution and Career Taylor, 40, has been a cornerstone of Zimbabwean cricket, having represented the team in 36 Tests, 207 ODIs, and 59 T20 Internationals. He has scored 2,403 Test runs with 6 centuries and 12 fifties, 6,704 ODI runs with 11 centuries and 39 fifties, and 1,216 T20I runs including 1 century and 6 fifties. In the 2007 T20 World Cup, Taylor played a pivotal role in Zimbabwe’s historic win against Australia, scoring an unbeaten 60 off 45 balls and earning the Player of the Match award. He also scored 31 not out in Zimbabwe’s opening match...

New Delhi: India’s explosive wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan is in red-hot form, continuing his sensational performance in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. In India’s dominant win over Namibia, Kishan not only played a whirlwind innings but also equaled a record previously held by Rohit Sharma. Blistering Knock Against Namibia Opening the innings, Ishan Kishan scored 61 runs off just 24 balls, striking at an incredible 254.17, including 6 fours and 5 sixes. His innings gave India a flying start, setting the stage for a massive total of 209. 28 Runs in a Single Over The highlight of Kishan’s innings came in the final over of the powerplay bowled by Namibia’s JJ Smith. After a dot ball on the first delivery, Kishan hit four consecutive sixes and finished the over with a boundary on ...

New Delhi: The Karnataka government has given conditional approval for cricket matches to be held at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, paving the way for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to play their home games in IPL 2026 at the iconic venue. The stadium had been banned from hosting matches following the tragic stampede on 4 June 2025, during celebrations of RCB’s maiden IPL title, which claimed 11 lives. Since then, the future of IPL matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium had remained uncertain. Conditional Approval with Safety Measures Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar told reporters at Vidhana Soudha, “In the interest of youth and cricket, the government has decided to allow matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium under strict conditions.” These conditions include: Ticket sales limited ...

New Delhi: India continued their dominant run in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 by defeating Namibia by 93 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday. With this victory, India not only maintained their unbeaten streak in the tournament but also recorded their largest winning margin by runs in T20 World Cup history. Here’s a look at India’s top 5 biggest wins by runs in T20 World Cups: 1. Namibia – 93 Runs (2026, Delhi) In their second group-stage match of the current T20 World Cup, India posted a competitive total and bowled out Namibia for 116 runs, securing a massive 93-run victory, the biggest in India’s T20 World Cup history. 2. England – 90 Runs (2012, Colombo) India defeated England by 90 runs in the 2012 T20 World Cup at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, marking their seco...

New Delhi: Under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, India continued their dominant run in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 by defeating Namibia by 93 runs in their second group-stage match. This historic win also made India the first team in T20 World Cup history to win 10 consecutive matches, a record previously shared by South Africa and Australia with eight straight victories. Record-Breaking Streak With victories over the United States (by 32 runs) and Namibia, India has now gone unbeaten in the tournament from 2024 to 2026. The team’s consistency underscores their dominance in the shortest format of the game, setting them apart as a formidable contender ahead of their high-voltage clash against Pakistan on 15 February at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. Batting Masterclass After...