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.

Abhishek Sharma (ICC Photo)

NEW DELHI: India’s star opener Abhishek Sharma found himself at the centre of heavy criticism during the T20 World Cup 2026. The left-hander endured a disastrous start to the tournament, failing to open his account in the first three matches as he registered three consecutive ducks.In the lead-up to the final, Abhishek managed just 89 runs in seven matches, including those three ducks in the group stage. He briefly returned among the runs but scored only 15 against South Africa in the fourth match. He then rediscovered his touch with a quickfire 55 against Zimbabwe in the fifth game. However, his form dipped again as he could only manage 10 against West Indies and nine in the semifinal against England.

Despite the inconsistent run, the team management continued to back him, with coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav showing full faith in the young opener.In the final, Abhishek turned the heat on the New Zealand bowlers, smashing an 18-ball fifty as India piled up a massive 255/5. India then restricted New Zealand to 159 to successfully defend their T20 World Cup title.Former Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was full of praise for Abhishek, playfully calling him a “rascal”.“I’m a huge fan of Abhishek, and there was a lot of talk about his position throughout the tournament. Got a few ducks in a row in the pool games, and all of a sudden, you think he is under pressure, but there are the guys you want in the big moments, because they are rascals and they walk into the fire. That is what Abhishek does, he puts pressure on the opposition, and the way that he went out in that final set up the game,” the former wicketkeeper said on the Willow Talk Cricket Podcast.Haddin also praised New Zealand for reaching yet another final but pointed out their repeated struggles at the last hurdle.“New Zealand have done a good job again to get to a final. I thought New Zealand were really red hot for the final. The way Finn Allen and Tim Seifert were batting. I thought they were in one of those tournament modes where everything is going their way. But the last hurdle [they failed to cross]. The classier team won, didn’t it?” he added.Abhishek finished the tournament with 141 runs at a strike rate of 158.42.

New Zealand’s Matt Henry , second from left, celebrates with teammates (AP/PTI)

Former South Africa national cricket team pace legend Dale Steyn has made a bold remark ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final, stating that New Zealand national cricket team could inherit the long-standing “chokers” label if they fail to overcome hosts India national cricket team in Sunday’s title clash in Ahmedabad.New Zealand secured their place in the final after defeating Steyn’s former side, the South Africa national cricket team, in the first semi-final at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The victory helped the Black Caps reach the T20 World Cup final for the second time in their history.

India, meanwhile, advanced to the summit clash by edging past the England cricket team by seven runs in a thrilling high-scoring semi-final played in Mumbai on Thursday.Speaking on a YouTube discussion with former teammate AB de Villiers, Steyn suggested that New Zealand have reached several ICC finals in recent years and should be the ones facing scrutiny if they fall short again.“Let’s be honest here. Everyone likes to call South Africa chokers, but I am going to say it. New Zealand haven’t won many World Cups themselves, and they have been in more finals than we have. So, no offence, New Zealand, but please go on to win this,” said Steyn in a chat with AB de Villiers on the latter’s YouTube channel.“Otherwise, I am formally handing over that card to you; it’s yours. I love New Zealand, but they won’t beat India.”Steyn also highlighted the Black Caps’ repeated appearances in global finals in recent years. New Zealand reached the title match of the 2019 Cricket World Cup, the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, but ended up finishing runners-up on each occasion.The former fast bowler, who took more than 400 wickets in Test cricket, believes India hold the advantage heading into the final. According to Steyn, the hosts would need to suffer a dramatic collapse for New Zealand to emerge victorious.“It would require a monumental choke from India. I am calling it; it’s possible. I really want them (New Zealand) to win, but do I think they’ll beat India? No,” Steyn said.Overall, New Zealand have reached eight ICC tournament finals since winning the ICC KnockOut Trophy 2000, but have lifted just one trophy in that period — the 2021 ICC World Test Championship Final, where they defeated India.

NEW DELHI: When Sanju Samson stood tall after his match-winning 97 against the West Indies, it was more than just a comeback knock — it was the fulfilment of a promise made at the very start of the T20 World Cup.Despite being India’s first-choice T20I opener for over a year, Samson found himself out of the playing XI for the tournament opener against the United States of America (USA) at the Wankhede Stadium. Ishan Kishan’s strong form meant Samson had to wait.

What followed is now going viral.Ahead of that opening game, Rohit Sharma walked up to Samson, put an arm around him, and offered words that would define the rest of his tournament.“Kaisa hai? Dukhi mat ho bhai. It is a long tournament, kabhi bhi mauka aa sakta hai (“How are you? Don’t be disheartened. It is a long tournament. The opportunity can come at any moment),” Rohit had said to Samson, as revealed in a video posted by the official Instagram account of the International Cricket Council (ICC).At that moment, Samson was on the sidelines. But Rohit’s reassurance proved prophetic.After India’s defeat to South Africa opened the door for changes, Samson returned. He first made an impact with a fiery cameo against Zimbabwe before scripting something far bigger — an unbeaten 97 under pressure to anchor a daunting 196-run chase against the West Indies, sealing India’s highest-successful run chase in T20 World Cup history.His journey to that moment had been anything but smooth.Earlier in the season, being pushed down the order during the Asia Cup disrupted his rhythm. Then came a difficult New Zealand series where scores of 10, 6, 0, 24 and 6 led to criticism and doubts.But Samson never stopped observing, learning and believing.After his masterclass against the West Indies, he acknowledged the influence of Rohit and Virat Kohli.“Playing IPL for around 10 to 12 years and being with the Indian team for the last 10 years… I have not always been playing, but I was looking from the dugout, learning from greats like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. It was very important to observe, learn, and see what they were doing,” Samson said.From being dropped to delivering one of the most memorable knocks in India’s T20 World Cup campaign, Samson’s resurgence now carries the imprint of Rohit’s hug and those four simple words — “Dukhi mat ho bhai.”With a five-wicket win over the West Indies, India marched into the semifinals and will now face England at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday — the same ground where Samson had once watched from the sidelines, waiting for his moment.

South Africa’s Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock in action during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on Saturday February 14, 2026.
| Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI

Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett plays a shot during the ICC T20 World Cup match against Australia in Colombo on February 13, 2026.
| Photo Credit: AP

Team Australia (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 continues to gather momentum, with three intriguing group-stage clashes scheduled for Friday, February 13, as teams look to strengthen their positions in a fiercely competitive tournament.The day begins with Australia vs Zimbabwe in Colombo at the R Premadasa Stadium.

Australia, who have started their campaign on a strong note, will aim to maintain their momentum and consolidate their position in Group B. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, have impressed with an early win and will be eager to challenge the five-time world champions, making this a potentially high-octane encounter between two attacking sides.The second match of the day will see Canada take on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Both associate nations are still searching for their first win in Group D, and this fixture could prove crucial for their World Cup aspirations. With both teams keen to break their winless run, the match promises a tight contest, with pride and points on the line.The final match on February 13 will feature the United States of America vs the Netherlands at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium. The Netherlands have been competitive in Group A, while the USA will be desperate to bounce back after early losses. The Chepauk surface, known for assisting spinners, could play a key role in shaping the outcome of the contest.With the group stage heating up and teams battling for qualification spots, February 13 promises a packed day of action across three venues, featuring a mix of heavyweight clashes and crucial associate battles. As the race for the Super 8 stage intensifies, every match, point and net run rate could prove decisive in the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Hardik Pandya (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India put up another commanding all-round performance, thrashing Namibia by 93 runs in their T20 World Cup encounter on Thursday to register their second consecutive victory of the tournament. Powered by aggressive half-centuries from Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya, the defending champions piled up a daunting 209/9 before bowling Namibia out for 116 in 18.2 overs.After the match, Pandya reflected on his form and preparation, saying, “Yeah, definitely, just enjoying the sport. Had a good couple of months to prepare and, you know, get the rhythm and, you know, get the body right. Thus far everything is going well.” Highlighting how much his batting means to him, he added, “Yes, I’ve always taken pride in my batting as an all-rounder. So whenever I get an opportunity, I make sure that both the skills are managed rightly… batting is always close to my heart. And when that comes, it’s a, you know, if you add the more sugar to the cake.”

Pandya also elaborated on the effort that goes into staying in peak physical condition. “Body has been fantastic. I’ve always mentioned it takes a lot of hard work, which I cherish. But, you know, playing for the country has always been a pride, always been my number priority,” he said. “A lot of work goes behind the scene where I’m kind of out and kind of go into army, army sort of a camp where I do morning, evening sessions… make sure I eat well, make sure I sleep well, make sure my habits are good.”Put in to bat, India began in explosive fashion, with Kishan in particularly commanding form. The left-hander went on the attack from the outset, hammering 61 off just 24 balls and reaching his half-century in only 20 deliveries as India surged past 100 within the first seven overs.Pandya then anchored the middle phase with authority, striking a polished 52 off 28 balls and adding a vital 81-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Shivam Dube (23 off 16), allowing India to keep the scoreboard ticking despite periodic setbacks.Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus stood out with the ball, employing smart variations to return career-best figures of 4/20. His spell helped stem the flow late in the innings as India lost five wickets for just four runs, but the target remained well beyond Namibia’s reach.Chasing 210, Namibia failed to match the required tempo, even though a few batters showed promise at the start. Varun Chakravarthy was exceptional with the ball, finishing with impressive figures of 3/7 from two overs.India had opened their campaign with a win over the USA, followed it up with this emphatic victory against Namibia, and will now turn their attention to a high-voltage clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday in Colombo.