India’s Hardik Pandya celebrates with the trophy after India won the T20 World Cup (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: “This was about redemption, making my fifth comeback…”All-rounder Hardik Pandya is known for living life king-size which often dominates the limelight. However, this iconic statement following India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph truly defines the core of his character. A man who has faced numerous challenges and overcome them with sheer willpower, pulling off one comeback after another. Even the strongest of souls would have been mentally shattered after being booed and jeered left, right and centre by home fans in packed stadiums across India. Hardik felt the full force of such mind-numbing fury after replacing Rohit Sharma as MI captain in IPL 2024.While many would have lashed out under such negativity, the all-rounder responded with sublime on-field performances, winning over critics. “There was a lot of difficulty, a lot of things had happened,” admitted Hardik while discussing the T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, highlighting the personal toll. However, battling it out and emerging stronger is the only choice for mentality warriors like the Team India all-rounder.

Focus on high-intent, going back to the basicsHardik had developed a reputation of being ‘Mr. Reliable’ under pressure for Team India over the years, finishing off crucial games like the Asia Cup 2022 group stage match against Pakistan. However, not content with resting on his laurels, the 32-year-old all-rounder chose to develop extremely high-impact gameplay which could enable him to smash sixes from the first ball. The first signs of such an aggressive approach were visible nearly a year before the T20 World Cup 2026 in IPL 2025 where he recorded a strike rate of 163.50, as compared to 143.05 and 136.76 in the 2024 and 2023 editions of the tournament, respectively.Following the initial success, Hardik further decided to return back to his roots during a 10-day window before the Asia Cup 2025, indulging in intense sessions with his childhood coach Jitendra Singh in Baroda. Not only this, the all-rounder further put in the hard yards at Bangalore’s Centre of Excellence (CoE), with a strong desire to dominate the opposition across departments.“We worked on some technical aspects, developing a framework for high-impact gameplay which was visible in his performances from that point. Training sessions lasted from 5 PM to 12 AM, with 10 out of 10 intensity and absolutely no compromise. Hardik always had the ability to smash the ball but his role changed during the captaincy stint at GT due to the emphasis on batting with responsibility. The switch back to MI transformed his approach yet again,” said Jitendra during an exclusive interaction with TimesofIndia.com.“When we play the game for a long time, focus sometimes shifts from the basics. We went back to that during this rare window which improved things to a major extent. There was specific focus towards being capable enough to smash the ball right from the first delivery,” he added.Controlling emotions, aggression Hardik’s new approach soon worked wonders during the home T20I series against South Africa, where he finished as the third-highest run-getter with 142 runs in four matches at a strike rate of 186.84. One of his most noteworthy performances came in the series’ final T20I in Ahmedabad where the big-hitter smashed 63(25) at a strike rate of 252.The all-rounder maintained the same intent in a T20I series against New Zealand which followed soon after. However, Hardik’s run tally witnessed a slump, accumulating 69 runs in five matches, resulting in Jitendra encouraging him to control his emotions and aggression while batting.As constant refining in approach wiped away chinks, the Team India cricketer entered T20 World Cup 2026 high on intent and eager to strike big. Hardik smashed 217 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 160.74, recording two quick-fire fifties. The all-rounder’s prowess especially stood out in the must-win match against Zimbabwe, where he smashed an unbeaten 23-ball 50.Hardik further accounted for nine dismissals, stepping up in high-pressure situations. The 32-year-old cricketer shattered the momentum of the English chase in the semifinal, conceding just nine runs in the 19th over with the crucial dismissal of Sam Curran. Jitendra kept chipping in with inputs during the tournament, helping Hardik retain momentum. ‘New Year conversation on winning T20 WC’ “After Barbados, I had said that whichever trophy I play for, I will win. I didn’t say that just to say it, I believe it,” shared the all-rounder following the final in Ahmedabad.Hardik’s mental process behind executing this belief into reality with regard to T20 World Cup 2026, began in Lucknow back in December 2025. “India were set to face South Africa in a T20I on December 17. We had long and detailed discussions at that point about how to excel at cricket as well as other aspects of life. That interaction helped Hardik develop great clarity and enhanced his mindset further,” shared Jitendra.“He agreed to implement a lot of things because of which a new version of Hardik was created. Someone who just wants to win as many ICC trophies as possible. We had extremely close conversations after several years, granting him mental peace and clarity that he is on the right track,” added Hardik’s childhood coach.The 32-year-old cricketer followed up the discussions with phone calls to Jitendra on December 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026. “Hardik said, ‘Coach, I want to win the World Cup’. I responded, ‘Follow the path we discussed and the result will be in your favour’. Hardik was extremely determined,” stated Jitendra.Infused with energy and deep ambition, the all-rounder decided to play two 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) matches despite being rested, to maintain sharpness. One of those fixtures included a game against Vidarbha where he smashed a 92-ball 133, including five sixes in an over. ‘Only winning with Mahieka’ Hardik dedicated the T20 World Cup 2026 triumph to his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma, sharing that winning has been the sole focus following her arrival into his life. Jitendra believes that Hardik’s happiness off-field has played a massive role in his success.“I first met her before the Asia Cup in Baroda. Hardik called me specifically to meet Mahieka and told her, ‘Speak to coach. He knows everything about me’,” shared the all-rounder’s childhood coach. “Then, he asked me, ‘How is she?’. I said, ‘She is very nice, humble, has good knowledge and very stable'” he added.Hardik has expressed a desire to win at least 10 trophies in the next 10 years. The historic T20 World Cup 2026 triumph could well mark the beginning to an incredible run.

Abhishek Sharma (Pic credit: BCCI)

Back at the Wankhede, Team India opener will hope to rediscover fearless touch at the venue where he smashed 135 vs England last yearMUMBAI: Given the way Abhishek Sharma punished everything bowled at him in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, he was tipped to light up the tournament. It also meant opposition teams went the extra mile to probe for chinks in his armour.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Barring the Zimbabwe game — where the left-hander struck a half-century — rivals have largely succeeded in keeping him quiet. His scores read 0, 0, 0, 15, 55 and 10. Yet the team management have shown faith in the 25-year-old, backing him despite his visible dip in confidence. With the semifinal against England on Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium, changes in the starting XI look unlikely.

India trained in full strength on Tuesday, with players spending considerable time across the four nets at the venue. Abhishek was the last among the playing XI batters to pad up, facing mostly net bowlers, with Arshdeep Singh and Tilak Varma the only regulars to bowl at him. He faced a leg-spinner, two off-spinners — operating from both sides of the crease and bowling back of a length — and a couple of right-arm pacers.The Sunrisers Hyderabad opener focused on playing as straight as possible, a routine he has adopted after his early struggles in the tournament. His six dismissals so far show a clear pattern. Teams have tried to block his scoring zones, cramp him for room and take pace off the ball.Against Pakistan, Netherlands and West Indies, he fell to spinners firing in back-of-a-length darts into middle and leg, keeping the ball out of his arc as he attempted to pull or hoick towards the leg side. Against South Africa and Zimbabwe, slower deliveries from pacers deceived him, resulting in miscued shots.A high-risk approach carries its own perils and altering it overnight is never easy. However, there were signs of adjustment during his 30-ball 55 against Zimbabwe — the second slowest fifty of his T20I career — where he showed greater intent to play with a straight bat.Off-spinners Salman Agha and Aryan Dutt have troubled him, so it will be interesting to see if England use Will Jacks early, even though India have tried to balance their left-heavy top order with the inclusion of Sanju Samson.For Abhishek, the immediate challenge will be to shelve the pull shot against spinners in the early stages and devise a plan for back-of-length deliveries. He could, for instance, take a leaf out of Samson’s playbook against West Indies — creating room to cut square of the wicket or stepping inside the line to access the leg side. Experts believe he should trust his natural instincts but give himself time at the crease before shifting gears.Just over a year ago, Abhishek hammered a 54-ball 135 — his highest T20I score and second century — against England at the Wankhede, facing an attack that included Jofra Archer, Jamie Overton and Adil Rashid. The Indian think tank will hope he can draw inspiration from that innings and rediscover the fearless strokeplay that once made him the toast of Indian cricket.

NEW DELHI: Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir delivered a stirring endorsement of Sanju Samson after the batter’s unbeaten 97 powered India into the T20 World Cup semifinals, calling the knock a glimpse of the “true potential” the team always believed in.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Samson’s majestic 97* at the iconic Eden Gardens guided India to a five-wicket win over West Indies in a high-pressure Super Eight clash, keeping alive their dream of retaining the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title at home.“Sanju is a world-class player, we all know how good a player he is. And it was all about backing him. And then when the team needed him the most, obviously today was a day where he probably showed his true potential, and hopefully, this is a time for him to kick off and probably two more games to go,” Gambhir told reporters after the match.

Under scrutiny following a lean run and a difficult series against New Zealand before the tournament, Samson responded in the most emphatic fashion. Chasing 196, India were wobbling early before the right-hander anchored the innings with calm authority, carrying his bat through the chase.Gambhir was particularly impressed by the manner of the innings.“Look, I actually thought that he never accelerated the innings. It was just a very, very normal cricketing shot, and I never saw any muscling the ball as well, and that is the kind of talent he has. When you know that you’re in control of the game and you know that you’re feeling good, he’s hitting the ball really well in the nets and it’s about going in the middle and showcasing that skill that you had,” he said.Highlighting Samson’s composure on a good batting surface with a quick outfield, Gambhir reiterated his long-standing faith. “I have always said that he is a world-class player, he is a great talent and hopefully he can kick off now and hopefully we can see a lot more innings like this from Sanju.”He also brushed aside criticism centred on past scores. “People will keep looking at his scores and stuff, but then coming back into the team and then playing that kind of innings… it must have given him a lot of confidence. Because obviously, the guy had a tough series against New Zealand. But we always knew the kind of potential he had.”

Abhishek Sharma during a warm-up session. (ANI Photo)

CHENNAI: There was a lot happening in the India nets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday, from Rinku Singh’s absence — he has returned home to be with his ailing father — to Suryakumar Yadav’s two-hour, range-hitting session.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!That wasn’t all, however. As Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan went in to bat at two adjacent nets, Abhishek Sharma — India’s shining light of the top-order — chose to bowl left-arm spin.Batters came and went but Abhishek stood there beside the nets, talking to the spinners, trying to understand the turn that could be on offer from the black-soil pitch that will be used for the match against Zimbabwe on Thursday.

Finally, after almost 100 minutes of practice was over, Abhishek took up the bat. He didn’t play any of the Team India spinners or pacers, it was only the practice bowlers.Abhishek has been in wretched batting form after getting three ducks to start off. In the 12-ball 15 that he scored in Ahmedabad, there were seven false shots.Given the situation the team is in at the moment, it is highly unlikely that he will be dropped. Probably what the team management was trying to do was to allow him to play some not-so-good bowling, so that Abhishek could connect his shots and get some form and confidence back. As the nets were folding up, Abhishek batted for half-an-hour and did connect, coming up with the kind of the crisp shots he is known for.A few landed in the Chepauk stands as well as he tried to work on his game against off-spin, something that has been bothering him of late.

Rinku unlikely, maybe it’s Sanju time? Sundar likely to sit outAs Rinku’s absence was noticed and news filtered in that he had headed back home to be with his father, who is battling cancer, the left-hander’s possible alternatives came into focus.Axar Patel should walk into the squad given his versatility with bat and ball. In that case, if Sanju has to play, the only player that can miss out is Washington Sundar. Washington was picked for the South Africa game but didn’t exactly shine with the ball or bat. Sanju’s inclusion could also mean that Ishan Kishan comes in at No. 3, a position which isn’t exactly unfamiliar to him. That could force the likes of Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav to come down by a slot.Surya works on his range-hittingSurya’s strike-rate hasn’t exactly been spectacular. Against South Africa he scored a 22-ball 18 that pushed India back. Tuesday’s session suggested that he was trying to get his hitting range right. He was dismissed quite a few times by India’s front-line spinners at the nets, but that was not stopping him from going for his shots. ‘SKY’, quite clearly, is trying to come out of his shell and the Zimbabwe bowling on a batting friendly pitch may provide him with the opportunity.

Princy Parikh with South African batter David Miller (Screengrabs)

NEW DELHI: After India’s heavy loss to South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2026, a video posted by social media influencer RJ Princy Parikh with South African batter David Miller went viral. In the clip, Parikh was seen circling Miller, with the caption “David Miller! What a player” and the on-screen line “I thought we were friends, David.”

Soon after, Parikh claimed she started receiving serious online abuse, including rape threats and body-shaming comments. Because of this, she deleted the video from Facebook but kept it on Instagram, and said she plans to file a police complaint over the threats.

South Africa crushed India by 76 runs in their first Super Eight match of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, leaving India in a must-win situation for their remaining two games to reach the semifinals. Chasing 188, India were bowled out for just 111 in 18.5 overs, ending their 12-match T20 World Cup winning streak.India’s chase collapsed early, with Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma falling cheaply. Suryakumar Yadav and Abhishek Sharma tried to rebuild, but Sharma was dismissed in the fifth over. Washington Sundar and Yadav also failed to build partnerships, and although Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube added 35 runs, regular wickets kept India under pressure. Dube’s dismissal for 42 sealed India’s fate.South Africa’s bowlers dominated, with Marco Jansen taking 4/22, Keshav Maharaj 3/24, and Lungi Ngidi conceding just 15 runs in four overs. Earlier, David Miller anchored South Africa’s innings with a match-winning 63 off 35 balls after they were 20/3, sharing a 97-run stand with Dewald Brevis (45 off 29). Tristan Stubbs added a quick 44* to help South Africa post 187/7. Jasprit Bumrah took 3/15.