Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday heaped praise on Sanju Samson, highlighting the batter’s match-winning impact during India’s triumphant ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.Addressing Keralam karyakartas, Modi pointed to Samson’s performances under pressure as a lesson in focus and temperament. “Today cricket season is going on, and for the people of Kerala, this is also something to learn. Like we often see in the performance of Sanju Samson, we saw Sanju Samson in the World Cup,” Modi said.Emphasising Samson’s rise in high-stakes moments, he added, “As the crunch situation came in the tournament, the knockout stage came, and his performance suddenly reached its peak. From start to finish, his focus, his confidence and his intensity kept increasing. This is the identity of a true player.”Modi further underlined Samson’s ability to deliver when it mattered most. “When the team needed him the most, he showed his best. This is the identity of a true player,” he said.Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament, amassed 321 runs in five innings at a staggering average of 80.25 and a strike rate nearing 200. His tally included 27 fours and 24 sixes, making him the third-highest run-getter of the competition. He also surpassed Virat Kohli’s 319-run mark from the 2014 edition — the highest by an Indian in a single T20 World Cup.After modest starts, Samson turned the tide with an unbeaten 97 against the West Indies in a virtual knockout, followed by back-to-back 89s against England in the semi-final and New Zealand in the final.India’s emphatic 96-run win over New Zealand sealed a historic title defence, making them the first side to win three T20 World Cups and the first to do so on home soil.

India’s Abhishek Sharma (ANI Photo)

Abhishek Sharma entered the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as the No.1-ranked batter, expected to dominate with his aggressive strokeplay after a breakthrough 2025 season. However, the tournament turned into an early struggle for the 25-year-old, who began with three consecutive ducks and added a few more low scores, leading to criticism and questions over his place in the XI. Despite the poor start, Abhishek found his rhythm at a crucial stage. A composed 55 against Zimbabwe in the Super 8s hinted at a turnaround before he delivered when it mattered most. In the final against New Zealand, he smashed a 21-ball 52, putting on a 98-run opening stand with Sanju Samson to set up India’s title-winning victory. Having entered the tournament as the top-ranked batter, it was a campaign that tested both his methods and temperament before ending on a high. In an interaction with TOI, his long-time childhood friend and Punjab teammate Nehal Wadhera opened up on Abhishek’s journey, recalling how his talent was evident from a very young age. “Abhishek and I have been playing together since Under-14. So, yes, Abhishek definitely had those hitting skills from the start,” Wadhera said. He went on to recount a memorable Under-16 game that underlined Abhishek’s ability to perform under pressure. “I still remember when, in the Under-16 state tournament, he was captaining us. Him, me, Shubman, Prabhsimran, Naman Dhir — every one of us was together, and we won the championship that year as well. There was a game against Gujarat where we were chasing 410 on a turning track on the last day. Abhishek and Shubman chased it down. I think one made 150 and the other made 180. We always knew what he was capable of.” Wadhera emphasised that the aggressive batter the world sees today is a result of both natural ability and sustained hard work. “The game that we are watching now, we already knew about it. But he has definitely worked on it. How he has maximised the opportunities in the powerplay is really commendable. All thanks to Yuvraj Singh and his father, who coach and mentor him.” From watching Abhishek’s rise, Wadhera has also built his own path in the IPL, growing steadily as a dependable middle-order batter.

Learning from Ricky Ponting

Wadhera spoke about the impact of head coach Ricky Ponting at Punjab Kings, recalling his first interaction during a camp in Dharamshala. “That was the first time I met him. He’s a very jolly person, always positive and always keeping the environment happy,” Wadhera said. “When I was hitting boundaries and sixes, he was appreciating me. I even asked him about his mindset while playing international cricket and how he handled fast bowlers during his time.” “For a head coach, maintaining a positive environment is the most important thing. I think he’s doing a really good job.”

Playing under Rohit Sharma

Wadhera began his IPL career with Mumbai Indians, making his debut under Rohit Sharma, an experience he still values highly.

Rohit Sharma with Priyansh Arya and Nehal Wadhera (PTI Photo)

“I was fortunate enough to make my debut under Rohit Sharma. He’s someone I idolised growing up. I’ll always be grateful. I really enjoyed my time with MI as well, the two years I was there.”

Leadership of Shreyas Iyer

Now part of the Punjab Kings setup, Wadhera highlighted what sets captain Shreyas Iyer apart. “He has a different aura. He encourages players to play freely, regardless of results. That gives a lot of confidence.”

Shreyas Iyer and Nehal Wadhera (ANI Photo)

He added that such freedom allows players to express themselves fully and carry their domestic form onto the IPL stage without fear. Wadhera’s own IPL journey reflects steady growth. He made his debut in 2023, scoring two half-centuries in his first season. While opportunities were limited in 2024, he still made an impression with a 49 off 24 in his comeback match. After being released ahead of the 2025 Mega auction, he attracted interest from multiple franchises before Punjab Kings secured him for INR 4.20 crore. He justified that investment by scoring 369 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of over 145, playing a key role in the team’s run to the final.

Nehal Wadhera

Looking ahead, Wadhera remains firmly focused on collective success rather than personal milestones, especially after Punjab Kings fell agonisingly short last season. “There are personal goals, but I’ll speak about them once they are fulfilled. The only goal right now is to win the trophy.” Having missed out on the title by the narrowest of margins — a six-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final — Wadhera is determined to go one better this time. With a settled core, clearly defined roles and strong backing from the management, Punjab Kings head into IPL 2026 with renewed belief as they aim to turn last year’s heartbreak into silverware.

Ricky Ponting (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has praised the India national cricket team after their dominant victory in the T20 World Cup 2026, calling the current Indian side one of the strongest T20 teams ever. India secured their third T20 World Cup title with a convincing 96-run win over the New Zealand national cricket team in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The win also made India the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup.

Ponting praises India’s depth and consistency

Ponting highlighted India’s impressive performances in recent ICC tournaments and their strong record in white-ball cricket. According to him, the team’s combination of talent, experience and depth makes them extremely difficult to beat.“It’s really hard to argue a point against that. If you look at this, not just the T20I team but their white-ball record in ICC events over the last five or six years, it’s quite remarkable,” Ponting said on International Cricket Council’s The ICC Review.“A lot of people probably identified before this tournament started the depth and the strength that this current Indian team had, and also the experience that they have.“This is a very, very strong Indian white-ball team, not just a T20 team. Back-to-back World Cups, hats off to them.”

Experience and IPL influence

The former Australian captain believes the players’ experience from both international cricket and the Indian Premier League has helped them handle pressure situations better.“The one thing that’s probably overlooked with this current team is the amount of experience and the amount of cricket a lot of these guys have played, whether it’s international cricket or even just the IPL,” said Ponting, who is also head coach of Punjab Kings.“The IPL games are every bit as big as international games anyway, so this Indian team came in well primed with great balance and a great squad.”

Learning from a rare defeat

India had suffered a defeat against the South Africa national cricket team during the Super Eight stage, but Ponting felt the loss actually helped the team refocus.“You win 12 matches on the trot, there’s bound to be an off day. And I am glad it’s come early. It might just be the shake-up India needed,” he said. “They would have learned from that experience and won’t take things for granted.”After that loss, India bounced back strongly with powerful batting displays, scoring over 250 runs in three matches, including the semifinal and the final.“Maybe it just allowed them to regroup, get together and talk about the things that are important to them as a team,” Ponting added. “They solidified what they felt was their strongest playing XI and didn’t make many changes at the back end of the tournament.”

Suryakumar Yadav (ANI Photo)

Suryakumar Yadav, who recently led the India national cricket team to a historic triumph in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, has admitted that while he dreams of playing Test cricket, the shortest format remains where he feels most comfortable.Speaking in an interview with PTI, the Indian captain reflected on his journey across formats, his love for red-ball cricket, and why T20 cricket has ultimately become his natural space.

Still dreams of playing Test cricket

“…what is written in your life, you get that only. I started with red-ball cricket itself, played Ranji Trophy for 10-12 years. I played a lot of red-ball cricket in Bombay because if you grow up in Bombay, you start with red ball itself, so everything is around red ball,” he said.

“But gradually, when we started playing white ball cricket, the inclination shifted a bit towards that. And after that, I came to this format (T20). I also tried a lot in One-Day cricket to play well in it, but nothing happened there,” he said.“T20 mein jaisa chal raha tha, usme apna haath set ho gaya hai, aisa bol sakte hain” (The way T20 was working out for me, I had become good at it; you can say that),” he said.

ODI cricket never worked for him

While Suryakumar has thrived in T20 cricket, he admitted that the 50-over format never quite suited his game.“I feel that as much as I have experienced ODI cricket closely and I have seen it, it is a format where you have to bat in three different ways. Sometimes if you go in early, if wickets fall quickly, then you have to bat like Test cricket.“Then you have to bat with a good strike rate like a One Day and then later at the end of the innings, you have to bat like (you do in) T20 format. So, that is one format that I never understood. I tried my best to play it. But then it’s a challenging format,” he said.Suryakumar last featured in an ODI during the 2023 Cricket World Cup final against Australia, where he scored 18 runs off 28 balls. India lost the final, and he has not played an ODI since then.

ODI cricket still has its charm

The Indian captain recalled the incredible atmosphere during the 2023 ODI World Cup, saying the tournament showed that the format still holds a unique appeal.Suryakumar also recalled the emotion that the format managed to stir during the 2023 World Cup.“…when I was with the team for the 2023 ODI World Cup and I played, then that vibe, the whole atmosphere of that format, the build-up going into the final. That was completely different than what we played in 2026 and 2024 T20 World Cup.“So, it’s charm is different, ODI cricket also has a different charm, T20 has a different one,” he explained.

India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav, right, and Ishan Kishan. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav has revealed that one of the biggest selection calls of the tournament — choosing Ishan Kishan over Jitesh Sharma — was largely driven by instinct rather than pure numbers. The skipper admitted the decision was tough but insisted his gut feeling told him Kishan could be the “X-factor” India needed on the big stage.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Suryakumar said the call was a delicate balance between data and intuition. “It was completely on gut, little bit on data. It was very harsh on Jitesh Sharma at that time because he was playing with the team for over a year. Had he not been playing, then the story would have been different,” he said in a podcast interview with PTI Videos.

The captain revealed that the turning point came during a direct conversation with Kishan. “I called him and asked, ‘Chhotu, World Cup jitayega?’ He asked, ‘Bharosa karogey?’ I said, ‘Chal kiya.’ And the way he played was amazing,” Suryakumar recalled. “I always knew he could be the X-factor because he has no baggage.”Kishan justified that faith in style during the tournament, scoring 317 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of over 190 while opening the innings and batting at No. 3. His tally was the fourth-highest in the competition as India lifted the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for the second consecutive time, following their triumph under Rohit Sharma in 2024.Suryakumar also highlighted Kishan’s determination to fight his way back into the national setup after a difficult phase. “He was going through a bad patch and had been out of the team for a while. But he travelled across India playing practice matches and smaller games just to stay ready,” he said.Another tactical call that proved decisive was the inclusion of Sanju Samson at the top of the order. According to Suryakumar, Samson’s arrival changed the momentum of India’s campaign. “After Sanju got included, the tide completely changed. It was also tactical because we had too many left-handers at the top and opposition off-spinners were finding it easy.”Samson responded with match-winning performances, including scores of 89 in both the semifinal and final, eventually earning the Player of the Tournament award.Reflecting on his own approach, Suryakumar described T20 batting as largely instinctive. “It’s a reaction-driven sport. Around 70 to 75 per cent of batting is reaction and the rest is instinct. On a given day, you just assess what the situation demands and bat accordingly,” he said.

Ricky Ponting speaks about Team India’s T20 World Cup-winning campaign

NEW DELHI: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has praised India’s decision to back Sanju Samson as an opener during their victorious campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. According to Ponting, the trust shown in Samson by captain Suryakumar Yadav and the coaching staff played a major role in India’s success.Samson’s tournament did not start smoothly. Before the World Cup, he had scored only 46 runs in five T20Is against New Zealand national cricket team. He initially got a chance in the league match against Namibia national cricket team in New Delhi after Abhishek Sharma fell ill. Later, he was brought back for a key Super Eight game against Zimbabwe national cricket team and turned his tournament around with a series of brilliant performances.

Samson played some crucial knocks as India advanced in the competition. He scored an unbeaten 97 against West Indies national cricket team in Kolkata, followed by 89 in the semifinal against England national cricket team in Mumbai and another 89 in the final against New Zealand national cricket team in Ahmedabad. His total of 321 runs in five innings became the most by an Indian batter in a single T20 World Cup edition and earned him the Player of the Tournament award.“For India to stick with him at the top there, that was a big call to make. A big decision, but one that worked out really well in the end. If you get the backing of the coaching staff and the captain, then that’s all you need,” Ponting said on The ICC Review show.“Just a pat on the back or an arm around the shoulder to say, ‘we’re sticking with you, we believe in you.’ When you’ve got the quality that Sanju’s got, and the confidence of the captain and coach behind you, that’s when great things can happen.”Ponting also praised Suryakumar’s leadership and how he managed his players during the tournament. “It would have been really interesting to see how Surya has interacted with Abhishek (Sharam) and Sanju (Samson) over the last few weeks. That’s where the real stories will come out on true leadership.”Despite not scoring heavily himself apart from an unbeaten 84 against the United States national cricket team, Suryakumar guided India to the title. Ponting concluded, “It’s about a lot more than what they do off the field, the things that people don’t see and how they interact with their players. He didn’t have a great time himself as a player, but still, he’s standing at the end holding up a World Cup trophy.”

Suryakumar Yadav (AFP Photo)

NEW DELHI: India’s T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav marked a special milestone as he completed five years in international cricket. His journey with the national team began on March 14, 2022, when he made his debut against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Coincidentally, it was the same venue where he recently led India to their historic third ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title after defeating New Zealand earlier this week.“5 years ago, a dream turned into reality. Wearing the India jersey is a feeling I can still never fully put into words. Here’s to many more memories that we’re going to create, for team India,” he wrote on X.

Suryakumar’s path to the international stage was far from straightforward. Unlike many cricketers who break through at a young age, he spent several years proving his credentials in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League before finally earning a call-up to the national side. Once he got the opportunity, he made sure to make an immediate and lasting impact.One of the standout moments of his career came during the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the United States and the West Indies. As an important member of the squad, he played a key role in helping India end their long wait for a global ICC title.Since his debut, the Mumbai-born batter has emerged as one of the most destructive players in the shortest format. In 113 T20 Internationals, he has amassed 3,272 runs at an average of 36.35 while striking at an impressive rate of 162.94, numbers that reflect the flair and unpredictability he brings whenever he walks out to bat.His tally includes four centuries and 25 half-centuries. Among them, his explosive 117 against England in Nottingham on July 10, 2022, remains one of the most memorable innings of his career, reinforcing his reputation as an innovative and fearless T20 batter.Apart from his batting exploits, Suryakumar has also developed into a dependable leader for India in the format. In 52 T20 Internationals as captain, he has led the team to 40 wins while suffering only eight defeats, underlining the confident and attacking approach he brings to the role.

NEW DELHI: India all-rounder Shivam Dube went viral on social media after sharing an emotional moment with his father following India’s victory at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Dube shared pictures and a video of himself placing his winner’s medal around his father’s neck. His father, wearing an India jersey, appeared visibly proud as he held the medal. Dube captioned the post, “The real hero of my life,” which quickly resonated with fans online.

Dube played an important role in India’s title-winning campaign, especially in the final against the New Zealand national cricket team, where he smashed 26 runs off just eight balls. Throughout the tournament, he contributed with both bat and ball as India secured their third T20 World Cup title.After the celebrations, Dube had an unusual journey home. Unlike most international cricketers who travel by chartered or business-class flights, he had to take a 3rd AC train from Ahmedabad to Mumbai because all flights were fully booked. Speaking about the experience, he explained that he had tried to arrange flights for himself and his family but couldn’t find any seats.“There were no flights available, so I decided to take an early morning train from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. We could have gone by road, but the train was quicker,” Dube told The Indian Express.To avoid attention at the station, he disguised himself with a cap, mask and full-sleeved T-shirt. He also planned his timing carefully to avoid crowds. “I told my wife I would wait in the car until five minutes before the train’s departure, then rush to board,” Dube added.Soon after reaching Mumbai, he celebrated the historic win with his family, sharing the special moment with the man he calls his biggest inspiration.