Category: Sports

New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was adjudged the ‘Impact Player of the Match’ after a decisive spell helped India maintain the West Indies to a chaseable target before Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 97 helped the defending champions secure a crucial victory in their T20 World Cup clash on Sunday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Bumrah returned figures of 2/36 from his four overs. While the numbers may not fully reflect his influence, the timing of his breakthroughs proved pivotal. In the 12th over of the innings, with the West Indies looking to accelerate, Bumrah struck twice, removing the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer and Roston Chase, to derail the Caribbean side’s momentum and tilt the contest firmly in India’s favour.

His ability to deliver in pressure situations once again underlined why he remains India’s go-to bowler in crunch moments. The twin strikes not only stemmed the flow of runs but also exposed the middle order, allowing India to tighten the screws in the death overs.

Presenting the medal, India’s fielding coach T Dilip lauded the team’s collective intensity while singling out Bumrah for his composure in decisive phases.

“Brilliant stuff, brilliant effort, well done. We’re a gun team and today we showed with our intent what it means to be that. That’s what the play was today. Today’s game reminds me of my favourite quote: “The strength of the team is each individual, and the strength of each individual is the team.” Today we represented that through care and belief everytime we did that. Outstanding efforts. The impact player goes to someone who owns the big moments most of the times with his calm face and deadly execution. He’s none other than Jasprit Bumrah,” he said while presenting the medal to the pacer.

Bumrah, in turn, credited his teammates for holding their nerve during the chase and ensuring India crossed the line without panic, as he said, “Thank you so much. Special mention to Dube as well, the two fours that he hit didn’t let the pressure come into our team. So yeah, special mention to him. Tilak also played a great knock, not taking away anything from him but yes, come the big day we’re off to get together and hopefully do well in Mumbai. Cheers.”

India’s batting unit had its moments of anxiety, but crucial contributions, including late boundaries that eased scoreboard pressure, ensured the target was achieved without major hiccups. Tilak’s composed knock in the middle phase also kept the innings on track after early setbacks.

With this win, India continued their strong run in the tournament, showcasing both bowling discipline and batting depth and secured their place in the semi-final, where they’ll meet England on Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

–IANS

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New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) The knockouts of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 are all set, with the first semi-final taking place at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Wednesday between New Zealand and South Africa.

South Africa will come in with high spirits after beating New Zealand in their group game. The Proteas beat the Kiwis by seven wickets in Ahmedabad on February 14 and will look to replicate that result. A five-wicket win over Zimbabwe in their final Super 8 game meant South Africa finished first in their group with a perfect record of 3 wins from 3 games.

New Zealand will look to take revenge against South Africa and put an end to their unbeaten streak in the tournament after finishing second in Group 1 and will look to return to the T20 World Cup final for the first time since 2021.

In 2021, New Zealand made it to the final but lost by eight wickets to Australia at the Dubai International Stadium on November 14. With a place in the final at stake, two of the tournament’s most consistent sides will battle for supremacy in what promises to be a high-stakes encounter.

The second semi-final will feature England, who topped Group 2 with a perfect record, facing India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, March 5. India secured their spot in the semi-finals after a thrilling win over the West Indies in their final Super 8 match, creating an exciting matchup against the defending champions.

The final is set to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 8.

Venue, time and streaming details-

T20 World Cup 2026 South Africa vs New Zealand semifinal: Venue

Eden Gardens in Kolkata will host the second semi-final clash between South Africa vs New Zealand.

T20 World Cup 2026 South Africa vs New Zealand semifinal: Time

The South Africa vs New Zealand semifinal will begin 7:00 PM (IST) and 1:30 PM (GMT) with the toss taking place 30 minutes before the starting time on Sunday.

T20 World Cup 2026 South Africa vs New Zealand semifinal: Live Telecast

Live television coverage of the South Africa vs New Zealand ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final match will be available on the Star Sports Network.

T20 World Cup 2026 South Africa vs New Zealand semifinal: Live Streaming

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand will be streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website.

Squads:

South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Jason Smith, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton

New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Cole McConchie

–IANS

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New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) South Africa and New Zealand head into the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 following impressive yet contrasting campaigns and gear up to face each other on Wednesday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

South Africa are heading into the semifinals on the back of a flawless campaign, having remained unbeaten through the group stage and Super Eights. The Proteas topped their Super Eight group with commanding performances that underlined both their batting depth and bowling discipline.

A comfortable chase against Zimbabwe capped their second-round run, while a commanding victory over India underlined their title credentials. Having finished as runners-up in the previous edition, the Proteas appear determined to go one step further this time.

New Zealand, meanwhile, began strongly with convincing wins over the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan and Canada. A key Super Eight triumph over Sri Lanka strengthened their semi-final push, although a narrow defeat to England in their final Super Eights match meant qualification depended on net run rate. Despite that setback, the BlackCaps advanced and now bring a well-balanced unit into a high-stakes clash for a place in the final.

This will be the first time South Africa and New Zealand meet in a T20 World Cup semi-final. They have competed four times in the group stage of the tournament, but never in the knockout rounds, making this upcoming match a historic first. The two heavyweights first met in a T20 World Cup match in 2007, with the Proteas emerging victorious. They faced each other three more times in subsequent tournaments, in 2009, 2014 and the current edition, with South Africa winning on all occasions.

The venue, however, might prove challenging for both teams and could give the Kiwis an upper hand, given their prior experience at Eden Gardens. New Zealand have played two T20Is at the venue previously. While they beat Bangladesh in the 2016 edition of the marquee event, the BlackCaps suffered a 73-run defeat at the hands of India during a T20I series in November 2021.

South Africa, meanwhile, do not hold any experience of playing a 20-over game at the venue, with their only game against India in October 2015 being washed out. However, players of both sides have extensive experience of playing the Indian Premier League matches at the venue, making the upcoming World Cup contest even more interesting.

South Africa vs New Zealand Head-to-Head Record in T20 World Cups:

Played: 4

South Africa won: 4

New Zealand won: 0

–IANS

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New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Pakistan cricket authorities are expected to impose a heavy fine of five million rupees (approximately 17900 USD) on underperforming male cricketers after the team’s exit in the Super Eight round in Sri Lanka, according to a news report on Monday.

“Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has conveyed to the players that they get good amounts in central contracts and endorsement money so on poor performances they will get fines and that will be to the tune of five million Pakistan rupees,” sources told Telecom Asia Sport.

Sources reported that PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi was upset after the poor performance and some questionable decisions in the February 15 match against India, and he had decided to punish the players.

“Naqvi was in the stadium and noticed how Pakistan team wilted under pressure and made a wrong decision to bowl first at a venue where bat first was the winning formula and then captain made a lot of mistakes while players failed to handle the pressure of an India game.

“This will be an unprecedented action but Naqvi has had enough as he also saw Pakistan team crashing out from the first round of 2024 World Cup and Champions Trophy last year, so he has to punish the players. Some sources said that each player has already been fined 5 million rupees but it could not be confirmed,” sources stated further.

After their failure in the Champions Trophy last year, Pakistan cricketers were also demoted, as the PCB did not assign any players to the A category.

A-category players earn a monthly salary of 4.5 million rupees plus 2.07 million rupees from ICC revenue. B-category players receive 3 million rupees per month and 1.5525 million rupees from ICC share. C-category players are paid 1 million rupees monthly and 1.035 million rupees from ICC share. D-category players earn 750,000 rupees each month along with 517,500 rupees from ICC share.

–IANS

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New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) The Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI) National Convention 2026 will be held in New Delhi from March 13 to 16, marking the return of the prestigious annual gathering to the national capital after 23 years.

The National Convention, organised by the Delhi Sports Journalist Association (DSJA) will also celebrate the Golden Jubilee of SJFI, making it one of the most significant editions in its history.

SJFI is recognised and affiliated with the world body of sports journalists, the International Sports Press Association (AIPS).

The National Convention will bring together sports journalists from the North, East, West and South Zones, along with leading figures from Indian sport, administration and broadcasting. With the support of major industry stakeholders and prominent brands, the 2026 edition is set to be the largest and most impactful in the federation’s history.

Over four days, the event will combine meaningful professional dialogue with competitive sporting action and extensive networking opportunities. The programme includes a Grand Sports Conclave featuring top administrators and Olympic icons, the JK Bose Inter-Zonal T20 Cricket Tournament, the AC Bali Table Tennis Tournament, multi-dimensional family and youth engagement activities like the Modern Pythian Games, and a grand Finals and Closing Ceremony attended by distinguished dignitaries.

Abhishek Tripathi, president, DSJA, said, “The Delhi Sports Journalist Association is fully prepared for this event. When the SJFI entrusted us with hosting this National Convention, we decided to make it a landmark event. Our preparations are nearly complete. Renowned sports figures from across the country will participate in this four-day event. Sports journalists from across the country will be in Delhi from the 13th to the 16th to attend the SJFI National Convention. I thank the Sports Ministry and sports-related companies for standing shoulder to shoulder with this event. I would especially like to thank Virendra Sachdeva, Secretary of the Archery Association of India and Delhi BJP President, for his immense support in organizing this event.”

The Grand Sports Conclave will see participation from some of the most influential names in Indian sports and administration.

Saraju Chakraborty, SJFI president, said, “The Golden Jubilee National Convention in New Delhi marks a defining moment in the journey of the Sports Journalists Federation of India. For five decades, SJFI has stood for credibility, professionalism and unity in sports journalism. As we return to Delhi after 23 years, this convention will not only celebrate our legacy but also chart the roadmap for the future of our profession in a rapidly evolving media landscape. We are grateful to the Delhi Sports Journalist Association for hosting this landmark edition and look forward to meaningful discussions and collective growth.”

The event will also see participation from senior government representatives, Olympic icons, and leading stakeholders from across the Indian sports ecosystem.

Meanwhile, the Golden Jubilee edition will celebrate 50 years of SJFI’s contribution to Indian sports journalism — recognising the evolution of the profession from print to digital, broadcast and multi-platform storytelling. With participation from major brands and strong institutional backing, the SJFI National Convention 2026 is expected to be one of the most impactful editions in the federation’s history.

–IANS

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Kolkata, March 2 (IANS) India captain Suryakumar Yadav paid a heartfelt tribute to Sanju Samson after the wicketkeeper-batter’s match-winning 97 not out steered India into the T20 World Cup semi-finals, adding that the knock was a deserved reward for a cricketer who has endured more than his fair share of hardships.

Samson’s unbeaten knock laced with 12 fours and four sixes guided India to a five-wicket victory over the West Indies at Eden Gardens on Sunday in a must-win Super Eights clash. Such was the impact of Samson’s knock that Suryakumar doffed his cap when the wicketkeeper-batter was coming back to the dressing room after the chase was over.

“I always say good things happen to good people and at the right time. No better time, no better stage for someone like him to step up and give the team what the team required.

“The moment he came into the side, I think the first thing which he said amongst the group when we sat together was, ‘let’s do something which the team wants, not what you want,” Suryakumar said in the video posted by the BCCI on their social media accounts on Monday.

He also reflected on a turbulent year for Samson, who was in and out of the team in last 12 months and even had to bat out of his opening position. “I always say good things happen to good people and at the right time. No better time, no better stage for someone like him to step up and give the team what the team required.

“That comes with experience and also over his life, he’s seen so many ups and downs. I don’t want to take you back to what happened in the whole year – losing his position, batting out of position, and then coming back batting at the same position.

“It’s not easy to win the World Cup. The World Cups, the ICC tournaments, the games which you play in ICC tournaments are won by courageous people, and this was a courageous knock. He can already get carried away by a good start, but then the way he was batting, he held one side together, took the team through.

“He deserves all the credit. I’m very happy for him, his wife, his family back home, and all the people who love him, support him. We’re just one more step closer. Hopefully, this may continue. I have a lot of things to say, but then, I’m very happy. He deserves everything,” he elaborated.

In between, Samson made a hilarious reply to the endless praise Suryakumar made for him. “Rulayega kya pagle? (Will you make me cry?),” said Samson to Suryakumar, as the duo broke into laughter.

India will now face England in the semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, with Suryakumar& Co now one step away from a place in the final of a tournament they are bidding to retain on home soil.

–IANS

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New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) The knockout lineup for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is now complete, with four top contenders gearing up for the semi-finals. India secured their spot in the last four following a nail-biting victory over the West Indies in their final Super 8 clash.

Sanju Samson struck an unbeaten 97 to guide India to the semis with a five-wicket victory over the West Indies at Eden Gardens. England finished first in the Super 8 Group 2 standings after winning all three of their matches. This confirmed their semifinal match against defending champions and co-hosts India, who are placed second in Super 8s Group 1.

In their recent meetings, India has had the upper hand. They won nine of the last 12 T20 matches against England, including five of the most recent six.

India and England have faced each other in the 2022 and 2024 T20 World Cups. In 2024, India made up for their earlier loss with a strong 68-run victory against the team led by Jos Buttler in the semi-final. However, in the 2022 tournament, England took control and handed Rohit Sharma’s team a heavy 10-wicket defeat in the semi-final.

The first semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2026 will be played between South Africa and New Zealand at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday.

Venue and Streaming details-

T20 World Cup 2026 India vs England semifinal: Venue

Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai will host the second semi-final clash between India and England.

T20 World Cup 2026 India vs England semifinal: Live Telecast

Live television coverage of the India vs England ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final match will be available on the Star Sports Network.

T20 World Cup 2026 India vs England semifinal: Live Streaming

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final between India and England will be streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website.

Squads

India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan, Rinku Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Abhishek Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Tilak Varma.

England: Harry Brook (C), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood.

–IANS

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New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) A familiar rivalry will once again take centre stage as India and England lock horns in the second semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. This is the third consecutive edition in which the two heavyweights will meet in the last four, having faced each other in the semi-final of the tournament’s previous two editions in 2022 and 2024.

The upcoming clash in Mumbai continues a compelling semi-final sequence. In 2022, England halted India’s campaign at the penultimate stage before going on to beat Pakistan to lift the trophy. Two years later, the script flipped. Led by Rohit Sharma, India defeated England in the 2024 semi-final and carried that momentum into the final, where they overcame South Africa in Barbados to claim the title.

Notably, in both recent editions, the winner of the India-England semi-final has gone on to become world champion, a statistical trend that adds further weight to Thursday’s contest.

England have played six T20Is at the Wankhede Stadium so far, winning three and losing as many. India, meanwhile, have played seven T20Is at the iconic venue, having won five of them. However, the Men in Blue haven’t lost a T20I at the venue since December 2017.

Their two losses in Mumbai came against the West Indies in 2016 and vs England in 2012. India and England have met twice in the shortest format at the Wankhede, with each side winning one game.

India and England have met five times in the T20 World Cup. The head-to-head ledger marginally favours India, who have won three of those encounters, while England have claimed two victories. The numbers reflect a closely fought rivalry, with little separating the sides on the global stage.

The rivalry’s most iconic chapter dates back to the inaugural edition in 2007. It was during that group-stage meeting that Yuvraj Singh etched his name into cricketing folklore. Following an on-field exchange with Andrew Flintoff, Yuvraj launched Stuart Broad for six sixes in a single over, the first such feat in T20 internationals. That over remains one of the defining moments in the tournament’s history and set the tone for a rivalry built on drama and high stakes.

When it comes specifically to the T20 World Cup semifinals, the record stands evenly poised. Each side has won once in their two previous last-four meetings. Crucially, both victories led to eventual tournament triumphs.

India vs England Head-to-Head Record in T20 World Cup

Played: 5

India won: 3

England won: 2

India vs England Head-to-Head Record in T20 World Cup Semi-Finals

Played: 2

India won: 1

England won: 1

–IANS

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New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Former India captain Rohit Sharma reflected on the important moments that have shaped the exciting rivalry between India and Pakistan since the ICC T20 World Cup began in 2007, describing the inaugural final as his favourite T20 World Cup fixture against the Asian rivals.

‘Nothing can beat that’: Rohit picks 2007 final vs Pakistan as his favourite T20 WC match

New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Former India captain Rohit Sharma reflected on the important moments that have shaped the exciting rivalry between India and Pakistan since the tournament began, describing the 2007 final as his favourite T20 World Cup fixture against the Asian rivals.

Until the recent 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup fixtures, Rohit Sharma, the ambassador for this edition, participated in every India–Pakistan match at the T20 World Cup. From his debut as a young player in 2007 to leading India to memorable wins over their rivals in 2022 and 2024, Sharma’s journey in this historic rivalry has been remarkable.

“My favourite T20 World Cup match against Pakistan was definitely the final we played, nothing can beat that. We went on to win the World Cup.” Rohit was quoted as saying by the ICC.

India and Pakistan met twice in the first T20 World Cup in 2007. Before the final, a league match ended in a tie and was settled by the tournament’s first bowl-out.

“In that same year (2007), we also played a league game against Pakistan, which was the only match in the tournament decided by a bowl-out, and we came out on top there as well. So in 2007, both World Cup games were special,” Rohit recalled.

Another memorable India–Pakistan match took place during the 2022 T20 World Cup at the MCG. After being dismissed early, Rohit watched anxiously from the sidelines as his team staged an inspiring comeback to clinch a historic win.

“Yeah, I was in the dressing room. Then I came out, but I got nervous and went back inside. When games are this tight, especially when you’re off the field and know you can’t do anything, it just takes that sense of control away from you, and I felt helpless. You actually do feel helpless watching the game unfold when you can’t do anything about it,” said Rohit.

Chasing 160, India faced a difficult situation at 31/4, but an extraordinary innings by Virat Kohli led them to a memorable win.

“Kohli played a blinder there. That was again very, very special to watch because we were in no position to win that game, especially after how we started.

“But the way we finished was magnificent. It has to be one of the greatest cricket games we’ve ever played — because of the occasion. It was a World Cup game, an important one for us to win, and to come back from that situation made it even more special,” the 2024 T20 World Cup-winning skipper said.

Rohit, who called time on his T20I career after 160 appearances in the format, said he still feels nervous before every game, and this ongoing nervousness keeps fueling his enthusiasm for cricket.

“I’ve played 160 T20 Internationals for India. I don’t remember a single game where I wasn’t nervous. I was nervous for each and every game. That feeling gives me nervousness, and I don’t think that as long as I’m holding this bat, going out there and taking the field, that feeling will ever go away. It stays with me. And that feeling means you still want to go out there, play the game, and give your best,” Rohit concluded.

–IANS

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New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes Sanju Samson’s match-winning knock against the West Indies in the last ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Super Eights contest at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday could mark a turning point in the opener’s career and lauded the fact that he did not lose his cool when ‘wickets kept falling around him.’

Samson struck an unbeaten 97, laced with 12 fours and four sixes, steering India into the semi-finals and earning the Player of the Match award for his commanding display under pressure.

Speaking on The ICC Review, Shastri praised the 29-year-old’s temperament in a high-stakes contest, saying, “It is Sanju’s special Samson today, and that innings was special, because just his calmness, his composure, and just the sublime touch right through that innings.”

“You had everything. You had timing, you had placement, you had explosive power, you had class and what I liked best was even with wickets falling around him, he never lost his cool. He was calm and composed in front of a big crowd.

“This was not a league game. This was a knockout contest. People, their expectations of Samson have been huge right through his career. No one has questioned his talent, but they have been disappointed with his consistency. He brought everything to the fore today and made millions around the globe happy,” he added.

Chasing a challenging target, India found themselves in a tricky position when skipper Suryakumar Yadav departed for 18 in the 11th over. Samson then stitched crucial partnerships with Tilak Varma (27) and Hardik Pandya (17) to keep the chase on track. Though the winning runs came in the final over, Samson’s control over proceedings rarely appeared in doubt.

India will now face England in the semi-final at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, with Samson’s return to form providing a timely boost ahead of the knockout clash.

–IANS

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