Jasprit Bumrah and Usman Tariq (AP Photos)

NEW DELHI: Pakistan selector Aaqib Javed on Saturday sparked debate after making a surprising comparison between Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah and Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq. His remarks came after India’s strong campaign in the T20 World Cup, where Bumrah played a key role in the team’s success.Bumrah was one of the standout players of the tournament, finishing as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets alongside Varun Chakravarthy.

His best performance came in the final against New Zealand national cricket team in Ahmedabad, where he produced a brilliant spell of 4/15 in four overs. The performance helped India secure a dominant 96-run victory and defend their title, earning Bumrah the Player of the Match award.Explaining his comparison, Javed said Bumrah’s bowling style is rare because of his unusual action and the difficulty batters face in settling against him. “In today’s era, across this entire World Cup, there is only one bowler like that – Bumrah. Because he is different. He is not a normal bowler. Even his action is unusual. When he comes in to bowl, I always say he is like the Usman Tariq of fast bowlers,” he told reporters.He further explained that Bumrah’s pace and unique rhythm make him extremely hard to face. “He bowls so quickly and in such a unique manner that a batter never really finds any flow or rhythm against him. He simply doesn’t allow it,” he added.Javed also argued that bowlers with the aura of past greats are becoming rare in modern cricket. “Other than him, tell me one more bowler in this entire World Cup – from any team – whom you can look at and feel satisfied that he carries the reflection of a Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, or anyone like that. You won’t find one anymore,” he further noted.

File Pic: Harbhajan Singh during the Eden Gardens Test in 2001.

The other day I was having a chat with Matthew Hayden in Goa. I asked him, “Why did you play that shot in the first innings at Eden Gardens?” It was in the second session on Day 1, he was batting on 97, and absolutely dominating us. Haydos said he was feeling confident and wanted to reach his century with a big shot — but as luck would have it, he got caught in the deep by Hemang Badani. That was our first little window of opportunity in that historic Test.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Let’s go back to what happened before that. With Anil Kumble out injured, I was selected for the first Test in Mumbai because I had 28 wickets in the Ranji Trophy that season. At Wankhede, even though we lost pretty badly, I got four wickets. If I hadn’t got those wickets — three in quick succession — I might not have played at the Eden.

Those days, every game was a battle for survival for me and I came to Eden Gardens not very upbeat but focussed. It was a beautiful batting wicket on Day 1 and Australia started from where they had left off in Mumbai — till we got Hayden. Then I had Mark Waugh caught when he tried a cut.What happened post tea changed my life forever. Ricky Ponting, whom I had dismissed in Mumbai too, came in, probably a little short of confidence. I knew I had to attack the stumps. He went back to my delivery that skidded and got trapped in front. Next in was Adam Gilchrist and I wouldn’t give him flight, because he was a good sweeper. This one also skidded in and he was leg-before.And then arrived the magic moment. My aim was to keep it full to Shane Warne so that if he missed, I might get the leg-before. But the delivery was a little too full and he played a full-blooded flick. I will be forever indebted to what Sadagopan Ramesh did at forward short-leg. I always say that my hat-trick belongs as much to me as it does to Ramesh for that catch. He just extended his right hand and plucked it out of thin air.From 252-4, the Aussies were now 252-6 and suddenly, we had hope. But Steve Waugh stood in the way. That Australian team just didn’t give up and Steve scored a brilliant century — his only one in India. He batted superbly with Jason Gillespie to get 445.When we batted, it seemed that it was a different pitch. Wickets kept falling as did the mood in the dressing-room as a series loss loomed. Laxman had scored 59 in the first innings batting at No. 6 and coach John Wright suggested that he should go up in the second.I need not elaborate what happened through Day 4. I can tell you what was happening in the dressing-room. None of us were allowed to change our seats as VVS and Rahul Dravid had that incredible partnership. By the end of day, some of us were joking that it was our will-power and superstition that helped the two champions.The fifth day morning was a little fuzzy, as a junior I was not part of the decision-making process. I could understand that there was a lot of dilemma over declaration. When we took the field before lunch, we knew we had a chance.I got Steve again, caught at legslip by Hemang Badani, which remains my favourite dismissal of the second innings. Sachin Tendulkar got those three wickets with some brilliant bowling, but Jason Gillespie was still standing.Dada had fielders all around the bat and we kept attacking. Jason succumbed and then Glenn McGrath. Many ask me whether McGrath was out? Did it hit him a little too far outside the off-stump?There was no DRS, no Hawk-eye, it was all what seemed with the naked eye. For me that was out the moment it hit his pad as he hadn’t offered a shot, and I am happy that umpire SK Bansal thought on similar lines. Those 13 wickets in that Test match changed my life forever. I still maintain, I was born in Punjab, but made in Kolkata.(Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh spoke to Dwaipayan Datta)

Sanju Samson being congratulated by head coach Gautam Gambhir. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India head coach Gautam Gambhir has revealed that Sanju Samson’s match-defining 97 against West Indies proved to be the turning point in India’s triumphant campaign at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!India sealed their third title in the tournament after defeating New Zealand in the final in Ahmedabad, completing a memorable campaign on home soil. Reflecting on the journey, Gambhir said Samson’s knock during a tense chase against the West Indies changed the momentum of the entire tournament for India.

“It’s very difficult to say, but I still believe that Sanju’s 97 against West Indies was the turning point of this campaign. It was a virtual quarter-final. Chasing 195 in a World Cup game is never easy, irrespective of the ground,” Gambhir said on JioStar.According to the former opener, Samson’s calm and controlled approach under pressure lifted the dressing-room mood and gave the squad the belief that the campaign was heading in the right direction.Team India Report Card: Perfect finish to a not-so-perfect T20 World Cup campaign“With the ease and calmness with which he batted, it gave us a lot of confidence in the group that now we were probably on the right track. When Sanju got going and the way Ishan Kishan batted at number three, a lot of things actually started taking shape,” he added.Gambhir also described winning a World Cup as India’s head coach as a deeply emotional moment, saying the opportunity to once again contribute to the country in national colours was something he never expected.“I could have never thought about winning a World Cup as a coach. I never thought I would get the opportunity or privilege to be the head coach of the Indian team because it’s an absolute privilege to again wear the India jersey or do something special for the country,” he said.

Suryakumar Yadav lifts the trophy with Gautam Gambhir as the team members celebrate. (PTI Photo)

The 2011 World Cup winner added that representing India carries a responsibility beyond personal milestones.“When your mom wishes you and tells you ‘well done’, that’s what you play for and what you live for as well. What bigger feeling is there than making 140 crore Indians proud,” Gambhir said.Throughout the tournament, Gambhir said he repeatedly reminded the players that a place in the national dressing room is a privilege.“I’ve always believed that, and I’ve always told the boys as well, that being in that dressing room is a privilege, not an entitlement. Thousands of people would want to be in my position as the head coach of the Indian team, and many would want to be in the position the players are in,” he said.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir with captain Suryakumar Yadav. (Pic credit: BCCI)

He credited India’s success to a fearless, high-impact approach in the shortest format.“From day one, I had a very strong belief that the T20 format is about impact. It’s not about milestones or individual performances. It’s about going out there and creating an impact, whether it’s on the field, with the ball or with the bat,” Gambhir explained.The head coach also highlighted the players’ willingness to adapt to different roles during the tournament, pointing out that captain Suryakumar Yadav set the tone by accepting tactical changes for the team’s benefit.“One thing which will stay with me for the rest of my life is how comfortably the boys accepted different batting positions,” Gambhir said.From Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube shifting roles in the batting order to Jasprit Bumrah delivering in every phase of the innings, Gambhir said the team’s adaptability was the defining feature of India’s title-winning run.

AHMEDABAD: There have been subtle changes for the better in Sanju Samson’s game. The T20 World Cup’s player of the tournament now has a remarkable steadiness when he plays his shots or is charging the bowler. The fidgety, twitchy version of Samson we saw earlier is gone.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The changes can be attributed to the lean run prior to the World Cup in the T20I series against New Zealand, which led to his omission from the squad and prompted serious introspection.With opposition teams targeting India with off-spin early in the Powerplay to neutralise left-hander Abhishek Sharma’s power hitting, and with Rinku Singh being under-utilised down the order, India rejigged their lineup and brought in Sanju.

Suddenly, the pieces seemed to fit and India had the perfect batting order for the occasion. Samson smashed three crucial, consecutive half-centuries, was India’s leading scorer with 321 runs from five innings and has probably hit upon the kind of consistency which eluded him for long periods of his career.Now, Samson is also the leading Indian run-scorer in a single edition of the T20 World Cup.ALSO READ: Team India Report Card: Perfect finish to a not-so-perfect T20 World Cup campaign“As soon as we brought him (back), the game changed completely (for us),” captain Suryakumar Yadav said.“He started batting differently. That was a positive call for him. I saw him working very hard. When someone doesn’t play, what he does (outside the playing field) is more important. He did everything he could for the team when he was not playing. The last three to four innings he has batted for the team, it is a result of all the hard work he has put in,” said Surya, highlighting the hard yards in the nets by the opener.One of Samson’s earliest coaches, Biju George, told TOI, “Every batsman over a long tournament brings in minute adjustments. He just kept faith in his ability and backed himself. He kept hitting straight and strong.”Sanju’s batting now has the distinct clarity it lacked earlier. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said Samson had changed his approach from the bilateral series earlier.“Unfortunate for us, he was saving his runs for the World Cup. In a few of those games, he looked like he was trying to hit from ball one. Now, he gave himself a chance, gave himself a few balls. On these wickets, when you’re in, you can really cash in,” Santner said.

File Pic: Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni

NEW DELHI: India’s historic T20 World Cup triumph not only thrilled fans worldwide but also triggered a rare social media moment involving two of the country’s most iconic cricket figures — MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Shortly after India sealed a dominant 96-run victory over New Zealand in the final, Dhoni returned to Instagram after nearly two years to congratulate the team and support staff. The former India captain, who attended the final in Ahmedabad, couldn’t resist making a playful remark about Gambhir’s famously intense personality.

“History gets created at Ahmedabad, big congratulations to the team and support staff and to all the fans of the Indian Cricket Team worldwide. Such a pleasure to see all of you play,” Dhoni wrote.But it was his cheeky comment on Gambhir that quickly went viral.“Coach Sahab smile looks great on you, intensity with smile is a killer combo, very well done. Enjoy guys… Bumrah ke baare mein kuch na likhoon toh hi achha hai. Champion bowler,” Dhoni added, praising India’s pace spearhead while referencing Gambhir’s typically serious demeanour. Gambhir, who served as head coach during India’s successful title run, responded warmly to Dhoni’s message.“And what a reason to smile, great seeing you,” Gambhir wrote in reply, acknowledging the former captain’s presence at the stadium.

The exchange captured the attention of fans, given the pair’s long history in Indian cricket. Gambhir was a crucial member of Dhoni’s World Cup-winning sides, playing match-defining knocks in both the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup finals.Sunday’s final produced another memorable chapter in India’s white-ball legacy. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India piled up a formidable 255/5 after explosive contributions from Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma.The bowlers then sealed the emphatic victory, with Jasprit Bumrah producing a sensational spell of 4 for 15.

Suryakumar Yadav responded to comments made by Mitchell Santner about silencing the home crowd in the final

NEW DELHI: India captain Suryakumar Yadav on Saturday responded to comments made by Mitchell Santner about silencing the home crowd in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Ahmedabad, saying such remarks have become common before major matches.India will face New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.Earlier in the day, New Zealand captain Santner had said his team would look to quieten the home crowd during the final. His statement was similar to one made by Pat Cummins before the final of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 at the same venue, when Australia defeated India.“The goal is to silence the crowd. There are a lot of variables in T20 cricket, and it is fickle at times,” the 34-year-old said. “If we go out about our business the same way we can upset another big team. There’s obviously a lot of pressure on in there (on India) to win this World Cup at home.”

Responding to the remark, Suryakumar said such statements are now repeated often before major games.“Sab he same line chipka rahe hai. Kuch to naya bolo (Everyone is now saying the same thing. Come up with something new),” Suryakumar Yadav told reporters in the pre-match press conference.The 35-year-old India captain, who is the second-highest run-scorer for the team in the 2026 T20 World Cup, said leading the side in a World Cup final comes with pressure but he wants to enjoy the occasion.He added that the atmosphere in the Indian dressing room remains positive as the team prepares for the final.“It’s a special feeling and everyone is very excited. We have a very good environment in the group. We are looking forward to the big final,” he said.“As a leader, there would be pressure; I cannot deny that. Definitely, there would be added pressure, the excitement is there of playing a World Cup final, that too in India,” Suryakumar added.India became the first defending champions to reach the final of the T20 World Cup. They will look to win the title and also become the first host nation to lift the trophy when they face New Zealand on Sunday.

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has urged the team management to consider a bold change ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 final, suggesting that out-of-form opener Abhishek Sharma should be rested for the title clash against New Zealand national cricket team. India will face the Kiwis in the summit clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.Kaif believes the Indian think tank, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, should not hesitate to make a change for such a crucial game. Abhishek has endured a difficult campaign in the tenth edition of the tournament, crossing the 50-run mark only once and repeatedly struggling against spin bowling.

Opposition teams have targeted this weakness by introducing spinners during the powerplay. On four occasions in the tournament, Abhishek has fallen to spin, often while trying to attack from the outset. The aggressive approach that usually defines his batting has not paid off this time, and he has struggled to adapt by rotating the strike or taking time to settle at the crease.The situation has also been complicated by a health issue before the tournament began. Abhishek suffered a stomach infection and had to be hospitalised shortly before the competition started. The illness resulted in noticeable weight loss, and the lack of physical strength appears to have affected his bat swing and overall confidence. His struggles have also extended to the field, with the left-hander dropping two catches during India’s Super 8s encounter against the West Indies cricket team.Considering these factors, Kaif believes the team could benefit from bringing in Rinku Singh for the final.“India can give Abhishek Sharma a break. He has played many matches now. There is no harm in making changes. You can make changes in the shortest format. Roston Chase opened against India as Brandon King was out of form. They backed him for five or six matches, but they gave him a break for a big match. I believe that, like you brought in Sanju, and he did a great job, so that change worked in your favour,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.“India have proven players. Rinku Singh scores runs everywhere, be it Tests, Ranji Trophy, or the IPL. Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj also take wickets everywhere. When you look in the dugout to see who can replace Abhishek Sharma, you see Rinku Singh sitting there. So, bring him in. A guy is struggling, and another guy is sitting outside despite doing well,” he added.Abhishek’s lack of runs at the top also prompted the team management to reintroduce Sanju Samson into the playing XI. The wicketkeeper-batter responded impressively, producing match-winning knocks against the West Indies and the England cricket team and earning Player of the Match awards in both games.Kaif also pointed out that Samson’s experience in high-pressure tournaments sets him apart from Abhishek, who is still relatively new to global events.“The biggest difference between Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson is that Abhishek Sharma is still quite new to ICC events. He has a fantastic record, if you leave ICC events aside. There is a big difference when playing in an ICC event like the World Cup,” said Kaif.“Sanju has scored over 8000 runs in T20S. Be it the runs or six-hitting ability, his name comes in the top 10 in the IPL. He is already an established player. Abhishek Sharma is still young and has to work on his game. He is not a finished product. Don’t compare him with Sanju. Sanju is already a finished product. He made his India debut 11 years ago,” he concluded.

Team India players at Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple. (Video grab)

Hours before stepping into a high-pressure T20 World Cup semifinal against England, members of the Indian team sought divine intervention at Mumbai’s iconic Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple on Wednesday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!In a video that quickly went viral on social media, Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma were seen offering prayers and taking darshan at the revered temple, a day before India’s knockout clash at the Wankhede Stadium.WATCH:The spiritual visit comes at a crucial juncture for India, who have not exactly cruised into the semifinals. Overwhelming favourites at the start of the tournament, they have struggled to piece together a flawless performance against stronger opponents. However, the side showed resilience after a heavy defeat to South Africa in their Super 8 opener.The reintroduction of Sanju Samson proved a masterstroke. More than a decade after his India debut, the 31-year-old delivered a career-defining unbeaten 97 in a virtual quarterfinal against West Indies, reigniting India’s campaign. His confidence will be key, especially for opening partner Abhishek Sharma, who is still searching for his explosive best despite a Super 8 fifty against Zimbabwe.

England, riding on five straight wins, will pose a stern test. Jofra Archer’s pace, Will Jacks’ off-spin in the powerplay and Adil Rashid’s middle-overs craft could challenge India’s top order. Harry Brook and Sam Curran have been pivotal for England, while questions remain over Jos Buttler’s form heading into the big clash.India’s core group, including Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma, put in extended hours at training earlier this week. With spin twins Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy expected to play a major role on a potentially tricky surface, execution will be crucial.