In their virtual quarter-final Super Eights match at Eden Gardens on Sunday, India defeated the West Indies by an exciting five wickets, and Sanju Samson gave his best performance under duress to secure a semi-final berth. At this location, the chase currently holds the record for most successful chases in T20Is.

Samson’s undefeated 97 stabilized India’s chase and made sure they reached the finish line with four balls remaining, securing a semi-final matchup with England as they chased a difficult 196 in a high-stakes match.

Following openers Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan’s falls inside the powerplay, India’s chase got off to a tense start. Both batters failed to convert their starts despite early boundaries, and after six overs, India was at 53/2.

In a match that was a must-win, wicketkeeper-batter Samson took charge of the chase as the pressure mounted. Before changing gears, he gradually evaluated the situation, penalizing anything slack and controlling the necessary rate.

Suryakumar Yadav provided Samson with support, and the two of them aggressively and strategically rebuilt the innings. Samson combined grace and power to score a vital half-century off just 27 balls, keeping India firmly in the running.

Samson remained unmoved even after Suryakumar left for 18. With Tilak Varma, who scored a quick 27 off 15 balls to keep India ahead of the needed rate, he formed another crucial alliance.

The two successfully counterattacked the West Indies’ spinners, taking advantage of the dew and sluggish conditions to maintain India’s advantage.

To keep the match going into the final overs, the West Indies retaliated with Jason Holder and Shamar Joseph, removing Tilak and then Hardik Pandya.

While Shivam Dube gave invaluable support with vital boundaries, Samson maintained composure and skillfully managed the chase with 17 needed off the final two overs.

Samson made sure there would not be any last-minute drama even though the equation got down to seven off the last over. Before concluding the match with a lofted boundary over mid-on, he initially flipped Romario Shepherd for a majestic six to tie the score.

Samson acknowledged the moment and the significance of his game-winning performance by falling to his knees in an emotional celebration as the winning runs were scored.

Samson surpassed earlier records set by Virat Kohli with an undefeated 97 off 50 balls, the best individual score by an Indian in a successful run chase in T20 World Cup history. His innings served as a master class in awareness, pace, and poise under extreme duress.

Despite frequent wickets at the other end, India never lost control thanks to his ability to accelerate at crucial times, withstand pressure, and lead the lower order.

After defeating a formidable opponent in a knockout match, India moves on to the semi-finals with newfound assurance. In addition to ensuring victory, Samson’s knock demonstrated India’s batting depth and ability to bounce back under duress.

India will be encouraged by this hard-fought victory, knowing they have match-winners who can perform on the greatest stage, especially with England waiting in the semi-finals.

For me, it truly meant the world. I believe that this is the day I have been waiting for from the day I began playing and began to dream of playing for my nation. And I am incredibly appreciative. And even though I have always had a unique road with many ups and downs, I have never stopped questioning myself and wondering if I will succeed. However, I persisted in my faith, and I am grateful to the Lord Almighty for today’s true blessing. After winning Player of the Match, Sanju Samson declared, “I am extremely thrilled,” during the post-match ceremony.

“Obviously, it is a tremendous feeling, and the way the players shown character and the way we played, I believe it was a do-or-die game, similar to a quarter-final, as everyone stated. As I always say, wonderful things come to good people who are patient and wait. When I first met him, I also said that. However, it is all his effort, the work he is been doing behind the scenes when he was not performing, and the results are at the ideal moment. After the game, Suryakumar remarked, “And the manner he batted, led the side entirely to the victory.”

“The boys did a fantastic job managing the semi-final spot that was on the line! We had the advantage since we managed the last overs in both innings. It was lovely to observe Sanju Samson’s composed demeanor at the crease. A side is lifted by such kind of presence. Outstanding work from all of you. On X, Tendulkar wrote, “On to the semi-finals.”

In his post, “@IamSanjuSamson stepped up when it counted most,” former opener Shikhar Dhawan also emphasized Samson’s pivotal role during the chase. Highest total by an Indian in a T20 World Cup run chase; outstanding batting effort, bolstered by a cameo from @IamShivamDube, and early hard work from the bowlers, led by @Jaspritbumrah93. The semi-finals are approaching.

Irfan Pathan, a former all-rounder, wrote, “The best innings of his career considering the match situation.” Throughout, he shown remarkable maturity. Sanju Samson delivered a superb, game-winning knock.

The veteran bowler Harbhajan Singh went on to say, “We are all proud of @IamSanjuSamson today. Team India also benefited from important discoveries made by @Jaspritbumrah93. Congratulations on your fantastic victory, #MenInBlue.

Michael Vaughan, the former captain of England, wrote, “India v England semi final in #Mumbai.. Does not get any better.. #ICCMensT20WorldCup.. India very impressive with the Bat against the West Indies.. they are still the team to beat in this tournament..” as he anticipated the thrilling semifinal.

Brief Scores:
West Indies 195/4 in 20 overs (Roston Chase 40, Jason Holder 37*, Rovman Powell 34*; Jasprit Bumrah 2-36)
India 199/5 in 19.2 overs (Sanju Samson 97, Tilak Varma 27; Jason Holder 2-38, Shamar Joseph 2-42)

Nurjahan Noorali Jamani, an athlete funded by Adani Sportsline Garv Hai, won the Women’s Class 7 title at the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Para Senior Table Tennis National Championship 2025–2026. The victory promotes her to India No. 1 in the category.

Nurjahan advanced from Class 6, where she was ranked World No. 12, to Class 7 after an international medical reclassification. The change put her in a more competitive field and reset her global ranking to World No. 28. She defeated Dhwani Shah 3-1 in the final after moving smoothly through the knockout stages.

Nurjahan, who is now ranked eighth in Asia, wants to get in the top six in order to qualify for the Asian Para Games later this year. To improve her rating, she will participate in the next international competitions in Italy, Spain, and other circuits.

“After the reclassification, I needed this win to rebuild momentum,” Nurjahan remarked. At a critical point, it boosts my confidence. I now have a definite goal in mind: to qualify and place in the top six in Asia.

The 39-year-old, who has been polio-free since age 5, resumed playing table tennis in 2022 after a protracted hiatus and has since risen through the ranks. S

The balances professional obligations with high-performance training while working as a Junior Officer at Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) in Ahmedabad, in addition to participating in elite sports.

“Managing training and work shifts is difficult, but Garv Hai’s assistance has been essential to my ability to compete globally,” she continued.

The Adani Group’s sports division, Adani Sportsline, promotes athletic achievement through high-performance athlete support and grassroots development. Through funding, foreign exposure, and structured mentorship, its Garv Hai initiative supports up-and-coming Indian athletes so they can compete worldwide.

This support will be essential to Nurjahan’s Asian Para Games qualifying campaign as she embarks on a pivotal four-month overseas phase.

Zeenat Aman, a seasoned Bollywood actor, has voiced her opinions on the growing controversy surrounding beauty standards and cosmetic operations in the glamour industry.

Using her most eloquent words, the actress stated that there is nothing wrong with an actress getting plastic surgery or surgery to make herself look more attractive.

“Let me tell you one thing, film, which is in visual media, the public likes to see a beautiful face,” she said while discussing actors’ usage of cosmetic treatments at an event. They want to see beauty and glitz on film. Therefore, what is wrong with an actress or someone else wanting to look beautiful through cosmetic procedures or surgery? I believe it is alright.

Zeenat said, “This is the pressure of the digital era, the pressure of social media, because there is so much conversation, opinion, etc. that these ladies have to face daily, which was not the case in our days,” in response to a question concerning the demand on actresses today to look attractive. Thus, I suppose there is undoubtedly digital pressure.

Speaking of which, Zeenat Aman, who debuted in Hindi cinema with Hulchul in 1971, became well-known for roles in movies like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, and Don.

In the Bollywood era of the 1970s, the 74-year-old actress was considered one of the most glamorous and forward-thinking celebrities of her era.

Zeenat Aman’s striking on-screen persona and contemporary style, coupled with her strong and elegant role choices, have redefined the stereotype of the Hindi film heroine.

In an era when feminism and women’s rights were essentially foreign ideas, Zeenat Aman, who is still regarded as a fashion star today, wore elegant and rebellious clothing that expressed her progressive, independent, and modern mindset.

The CEO of Amazon, Andy Jassy, says worries that artificial intelligence might lead to a large loss of jobs may be exaggerated.

In a media interview, Jassy stated that rather than totally eliminating job prospects, AI is more likely to change the nature of labor.

According to Jassy, many jobs that have depended significantly on human labor over the previous two to three decades would need fewer workers in the future. He emphasized, though, that this does not imply that jobs will completely vanish.

Rather, as has happened with every significant technical change in history, new kinds of roles will develop.

“I do think that you will not need as many people doing the same jobs that we have thrown at people over the past 20 or 30 years. However, I also believe that new jobs will be generated. And with every change in technology, that has always occurred,” he stated.

However, a number of stories also indicated that rather than replacing employment, AI would change them.

According to a recent research by Morgan Stanley, the long-term effects might not be as bad as many anticipate.

“Most workers are unlikely to be permanently left behind, even though some professions will be mechanized. Rather, many are anticipated to transition into new job categories, including positions that do not yet exist, according to the report.

Morgan Stanley cited significant technological developments during the last 150 years, such as electricity, automated farming, computers, and the internet, to bolster its claim.

Although these breakthroughs changed employment needs and revolutionized industries, they did not completely replace human labor.

The popularity of spreadsheets in the 1980s was used as a helpful example in the Morgan Stanley report.

Spreadsheets allowed financial experts to concentrate on more intricate and valuable work, even though they also eliminated the necessity for some clerical duties. Instead of destroying the finance industry, this change eventually helped to create new jobs in the field.

The majority of workers are unlikely to be permanently replaced, even though certain jobs will be mechanized, the survey claims. It is anticipated that many would instead transition into new job categories, such as positions that do not yet exist. According to the bank, rather than completely replacing jobs, artificial intelligence will alter its essence.

According to Morgan Stanley, artificial intelligence will change job types, occupations, and necessary abilities in a similar way. Companies are anticipated to establish new leadership positions, such as chief AI officers, to supervise the technology’s integration into corporate operations as its use grows.

Additionally, there will probably be a greater need for experts in AI governance, particularly in highly regulated industries like healthcare.

To guarantee the ethical use of AI systems, fields like data regulation, cybersecurity, and policy supervision are anticipated to need qualified experts.

Hybrid positions that mix engineering and product management are probably going to proliferate in the technology industry.

Product managers can take on additional technical duties by creating and testing early prototypes with the use of natural-language coding tools before transferring projects to engineering teams.

Additionally, highly specialized jobs across industries are anticipated to be created by artificial intelligence. Businesses that interact with customers may employ AI supply-chain analysts and personalization strategists who integrate data knowledge with customer experience insights.

Industrial companies could depend increasingly on specialists in intelligent energy systems and predictive maintenance.

Computational genetics and supervision of AI-powered diagnostic tools could be the focus of new positions in the healthcare industry.

In the Group 2 Super 8s match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, England defeated New Zealand by four wickets on Friday at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo thanks to a late cameo of an undefeated 19 off 7 deliveries and a steady 32 off 18 deliveries from Will Jacks.

Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson bowled excellently to start the chase of 160, taking wickets for New Zealand in the first eight deliveries. Jos Buttler and Phil Salt were dismissed early, leaving England with just two runs.

During the first six overs, New Zealand had a fantastic opportunity to seize control. But Harry Brook, the captain, kept the hunt going. At the conclusion of the required powerplay, he and Jacob Bethell formed an undefeated 45-run partnership for the third wicket.

With his first ball of the game, Glenn Phillips made an early impression by dismissing Brook for 26, giving New Zealand a crucial third wicket.

Then, Phillips made a spectacular catch to throw out Bethell (21) as he lunged forward. As the pressure mounted, England lost two wickets in two overs and found themselves in deep difficulty.

Earlier, New Zealand had a solid start to their innings after choosing to bat first. Jofra Archer gave a good opening over but quickly lost his composure. Tim Seifert and Finn Allen both took their time and countered some excellent bowling from Liam Dawson and Sam Curran.

After the first over produced no runs, they applied pressure to the English bowlers. New Zealand finished the required batting powerplay with 54 runs in the following five overs. The English bowlers did not take a wicket during this time for the first time in seven games.

With a daring, playful delivery that pulled Tim Seifert (35) out of his crease, Adil Rashid ended the opening partnership of 64 runs. With 41 wickets in T20 World Cups, Rashid surpassed Wanindu Hasaranga on the all-time list and got closer to breaking Shakib Al Hasan’s record for most wickets. Right now, the only people ahead of him are Adam Zampa (44) and Rashid Khan (43).

Finn Allen (29) holed out in the deep and found Jacob Bethell to end Will Jacks’ stay in his opening over. Due to Allen’s poor decision, New Zealand’s explosive start was halted as both set batters were quickly returned to the hut.

All-rounder Glenn Philips was the only hitter to demonstrate any resistance against England’s excellent spin after the openers left. He and Rachin Ravindra (11), who mistimed a pull shot to mid-wicket off Rehan Ahmed, stitched a partnership of 31 runs. Then, Mark Chapman (15) joined Philips for 26 runs, but he left as soon as the Kiwis kept losing wickets.

Will Jacks took his second wicket of the evening to cap off an incredible England performance. As England continued to exert pressure towards the conclusion of the innings, he removed Phillips, who had scored a respectable 39 off 28 balls. New Zealand’s inning began to collapse after they lost their sixth wicket.

Rashid, Jacks, and Ahmed each took two wickets to reduce New Zealand to 159/7, and the Kiwis lost the final four wickets for just 36 runs, never recovering their innings.

After demonstrating resilience with the bat, all-rounders Sam Curran and Tom Banton stitched a partnership of 42 off 35 deliveries. To help New Zealand gain more control, Ravindra claimed his second wicket of the game, the crucial wicket of Sam Curran (24), in his 50th T20I outing. Curran was enticed to hit the ball in the air by Ravindra, who bowled from slightly back of a length. Ravindra was brilliant under the lights against England after a fantastic effort against Sri Lanka.

Phillips demonstrated that he was the X-factor as New Zealand got closer to victory with two deft catches, a wicket of his own, and the highest score for the Black Caps.

With 43 needed off 18, Philips had the belt treatment, going for 22 runs after being hammered for two maximums and as many boundaries. Santner was delivering the penultimate over when he was hit for a maximum for 16 runs on the final delivery and a boundary on the first delivery by Rehan Ahmed.

As England overcame the Kiwis by four wickets with three balls left, Henry, bowling the final over, was unable to defend much.

Brief scores:

New Zealand 159/7 in 20 overs (Glenn Philips 39, Tim Seifert 35; Will Jacks 2-23, Adil Rashid 2-28)
England 161/6 in 19.3 overs (Tom Banton 33, Harry Brook 26; Rachin Ravindra 3-19, Lockie Ferguson 1-14)

According to an official release, the Indian economy is expected to experience robust and long-term growth, with real GDP growth of 7.6% predicted for FY 2025–2026.

This strong performance supports India’s growth momentum and advances the country’s goal of realizing the “Viksit Bharat” vision, which is characterized by increased productivity, resilience, and inclusive development.

In light of this, moving the GDP base year to 2022–2023 is a big step toward bringing India’s national accounts into line with the realities of a constantly changing economy.

“The new series provides a more accurate, consistent, and comprehensive measure of economic activity by integrating improved data sources, strengthening methodological frameworks, expanding coverage of emerging sectors, and enhancing transparency through the SUT framework,” the statement reads.

The Indian statistics system is striving for more worldwide coherence, comparability, and precision. When taken as a whole, these initiatives bolster official statistics’ legitimacy and support their function as a solid basis for well-informed policymaking and sustainable economic planning.

The statement went on to say that India bases its GDP estimates on the internationally recognized statistical framework known as the 2008 System of National Accounts (SNA 2008).

India plans to conform to the upgraded standard in its upcoming base year revision as the UN Statistical Division moves to SNA 2025, which is anticipated to be adopted internationally around 2029–2030.

Furthermore, India complies with internationally accepted standards for statistical quality and transparency as a signatory to the IMF’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS). The updated GDP series is still completely compliant with global statistical norms.

India’s statistical system is undergoing a thorough modernization, with the base year for GDP estimates being changed to 2022–2023; the base year for the CPI being changed to 2024; and the IIP being changed to 2022–2023.

The base year modification of WPI is also underway, continuing this momentum. The current WPI will remain in use as a deflator until the revised WPI is made accessible.

In the near future, the MoSPI also intends to include the Producer Price Index (PPI). According to the statement, PPI calculates the rate at which the prices of goods and services that manufacturers purchase and sell fluctuate.

Democrats in the US Senate charged that President Donald Trump‘s tariff policies have given China power in global agriculture while raising domestic grocery costs, so exacerbating the crises of farm and food affordability.

Democrats claimed that Trump’s trade battle with Beijing had severely reduced US export markets and put American farmers in financial jeopardy in a new report titled “Trump’s Broken Promises: Devastating America’s Farmers and Working Families.”

China, which used to be a significant consumer of US soybeans, reportedly halted purchasing in response to Trump’s tariffs. China purchased US soybeans for $3 billion in 2024. Trump’s tariffs forced China to switch from US markets to Argentina and Brazil in 2025, and since then, resuming purchases have decreased by 32%.

It also states that farmers have “no assurance about what to plant in the future year” and are starting a new growing year with excess commodities they cannot sell.

Concerns about foreign influence on the US food system were raised in the report. It states that with a quarter of the pork processing industry in the US, Smithfield Foods, which is owned by China’s WH Group, holds a commanding lead.

ChemChina, a Chinese state-owned company, “owns Syngenta Group, a key provider of agricultural chemicals and seeds, giving China control over major inputs for America’s farmers.”

Democrats contend that Trump’s domestic policies have made matters worse in light of this.

American farmers and ranchers are facing severe financial hardship as a result of Donald Trump’s tariffs. Prices are going up. Senator Maria Cantwell declared, “Markets are closing.” “The President is unconcerned. But it is time to see if Republicans are concerned about the rural towns they represent.

According to the survey, over the past year, the cost of beef has increased by 16.4%, coffee by 19.8%, lettuce by 7.3%, and frozen fish by 8.6%. According to the report, during Trump’s first year in office, American families spent $310 more on groceries.

Senator Ben Ray Lujan stated, “Behind every number is a family, a senior, a veteran, or a working family striving to make ends meet.” “Families are under pressure from all sides.”

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer stated: “On ‘day one,’ Trump pledged to lower rates. However, American households face the unpleasant truth that Trump has sold out customers out of loyalty to special interests when they visit the grocery store.

According to the report, the problem has gotten worse due to market consolidation in the meatpacking and seed industries. Farmers “keep just 15.9 cents of every dollar spent on food,” according to the report. It also mentions that “315 farmers filed for bankruptcy in 2025, a more than 46% rise from the previous year.”

“Unpredictable trade policies and corporate mergers are squeezing family farmers on one end and consumers on the other,” stated Rob Larew, president of the National Farmers Union.

Economic tensions between the US and China have long revolved on the tariff and agricultural export issue. Particularly in Midwestern areas where export markets are vital to farm revenues, soybeans have frequently been used as a political barometer.

In the US, food inflation has also emerged as a key domestic political problem. Despite Congress’ continued disagreements over tariffs, antitrust enforcement, and the future course of U.S. trade policy, both parties are concerned about the rising cost of groceries and farm bankruptcies.

Renowned filmmaker Venkat Prabhu revealed the titles of two upcoming Indian films based on Swami Ayyappa’s holy legacy.

The titles, “Tat Twam Assi” and “Arya Kerala Varman,” were revealed by Venkat Prabhu during a formal ceremony at Chennai’s esteemed Raja Annamalai Puram Temple.

In recent Tamil film history, this dual announcement represents one of the most ambitious spiritually grounded cinematic undertakings.

Producer JK Saravana will produce the movies under the Tantra Films label.

For those who do not know, JK Saravana co-produced the popular cult movies “Chennai 600028” and “Chennai 600028 II,” which were directed by Venkat Prabhu. The two large-format movies being made concurrently are united by religion and cinematic ambition, according to those close to the production company.

According to sources, Vishnu Sasi Shankar, who directed the religious movie “Malikappuram,” which became a great hit, will also direct “Tat Twam Assi” (That Thou Art).

“Tat Twam Assi” is positioned as a modern spiritual action drama that will examine the life-changing experience of a Swami Ayyappa devotee—a man who is directed by inner awakening, tested by adversity, and anchored by faith.

The film attempts to integrate religious filmmaking into a contemporary, pan-Indian framework without sacrificing spiritual authenticity by fusing emotional depth with dynamic storytelling and strong action scenes.

The second movie, “Arya Kerala Varman,” is a grand historical epic set in the 16th century. The goal of “Arya Kerala Varman” is to offer a compelling cinematic representation of the lesser-known aspects of Swami Ayyappa’s biography and history.

The film, a visually stunning epic historical drama co-directed by JK Saravana and Adithya Tangirala, will blend bravery, philosophy, divine purpose, and cultural heritage.

A Symbolic Beginning: The Raja Annamalai Puram Temple’s title reveal was deeply symbolic. The location, which has traditionally been linked to Chennai 600028’s inception, serves as the spiritual commencement point for these two devotional movies.

The government of India has released a Casebook on AI and Gender Empowerment, marking a major turning point in the country’s dedication to ethical and inclusive AI development, the IT Ministry announced on Friday.

The casebook was created by the government through the IndiaAI Mission under MeitY, in collaboration with UN Women, and with assistance from the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD). It was formally unveiled at the “India AI Impact Summit 2026.”

It combines 23 practical AI solutions from the Global South that show quantifiable effects on women’s empowerment and gender equality.

The ministry claims that the casebook has 23 AI solutions that were chosen after a rigorous multi-stage examination process from 233 applications from more than 50 nations.

According to the announcement, “an impartial review committee comprising senior officials from MeitY, MoWCD, and UN Women assessed proposals based on real-world deployment, verifiable gender impact, and evidence-based outcomes.”

The highlighted solutions cover a wide range of important areas, such as access to justice and legal services, education and skill development, digital safety and the prevention of gender-based violence facilitated by technology, healthcare, including menstrual health, economic empowerment and financial inclusion, climate resilience and sustainable agriculture, and knowledge resources for policymakers and practitioners.

When UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stopped by the UN Women booth at the JanAI Expo, the casebook gained international recognition.

Under the WeSTEM project, which was carried out by UN Women in partnership with the governments of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, as well as the European Union, Micron, Nokia, and the Head Held High Foundation, the Secretary-General spoke with young women from rural communities who were interested in pursuing STEM jobs.

The statement claims that the young women discussed how they are use AI to broaden learning possibilities, develop new talents, and investigate new career paths, all of which are realistic steps toward becoming future leaders in technology.

It added that the casebook highlights workable solutions to guarantee AI systems are moral, inclusive, and sensitive to the various realities of women and girls in India and throughout the Global South. It is a comprehensive knowledge resource for policymakers, technology developers, researchers, and practitioners.

India easily defeated Zimbabwe by 72 runs in their Super Eights match of the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday, with Arshdeep Singh scoring 3-24. The outcome confirmed South Africa’s spot in the semifinals while eliminating Zimbabwe from the competition.

After an earlier setback against South Africa, the outcome puts India’s campaign squarely back on track. However, it virtually eliminates them from the match against fellow two-time winners West Indies on March 1 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Zimbabwe was never really in the chase despite pursuing an impressive 257. However, Brian Bennett made sure the match maintained some dignity by hitting an outstanding 97 not out off 59 balls, which included four sixes and eight fours. Zimbabwe reached a respectable 184/6 thanks to his one act of defiance, but Bennett missed a historic century by three runs.

Zimbabwe had a wicket-less power-play, but their chase never had the traction it required. Tadiwanashe Marumani, the opener, had early difficulties and was even dropped by Ishan Kishan on number 17. However, when Marumani sliced to cover-point off Axar Patel’s second ball of the match, he was unable to capitalize and fell for 20.

India maintained their tight grip despite Bennett’s sustained impressive boundaries via loft, inside-out shot, and slog-sweep. Bennett reached his fifty with a flat six over long-on. Local boy Varun Chakaravarthy had Dion Myers holing out to deep mid-wicket.

The asking rate had long since risen to unachievable heights by the time Sikandar Raza joined Bennett in the middle to add some energy. Despite this, the two kept hitting boundaries, particularly Shivam Dube’s careless bowling, which cost him 26 runs in his opening over.

After that, Arshdeep came back and had Raza hole out to long-on. He then cast Tony Monyonga with a brilliant yorker and trapped Ryan Burl lbw for a two-ball duck. Bennett hurt his numbers by smashing a six and a four on the final two balls to carry his bat throughout the innings, even though Dube had Tashinga Musekiwa out in the penultimate over.

The think tank will be concerned about Dube’s bowling returns even though India won, greatly increasing their net run rate. While Chakaravarthy went for 35 in his four overs, he let up 46 runs in only two overs, the most costly two-over stint by any bowler in T20 World Cup history.

Before they play the West Indies, India would want much sharper returns from these two bowling routes. Since India’s batting power, which was based on Abhishek Sharma’s 55 and Hardik Pandya’s late fifty, was simply too much for Zimbabwe, the victory margin for the time being spoke for itself.

“I believe we wanted to move on from everything. We did not give our performance in the league stage or the final game in Ahmedabad much thought. For every batter and bowler, our video analyst had developed a PowerPoint that showcased our successful performance over the previous 12 months. We considered that, drew a lot of positive conclusions from it, and arrived here with clarity,” Suryakumar stated at the post-match presentation ceremony.

“I think there was virtually anything missing in our performance, with contributions from the top order all the way down to number seven,” Suryakumar added.

Of course, I believe we could have performed our defensive play a little bit better. They ended up scoring a lot of those runs because, regrettably, there was a lot of inconsistent execution from all of the bowlers while we were bowling. I believe we ended up going at them with a hammer and tongs. It is difficult to stop the train once it starts moving in that direction. If I had to sum it up, I would say that we should have done a better job of carrying out our defensive strategies. That would have given us a better opportunity to limit them to perhaps 210 or 220, but you never know,” Raza stated during the presentation ceremony after the game.

“You need all three departments to be working hard at the World Cup against the greatest teams, Unfortunately, the game will abandon you if you do not have it. Therefore, we should aim to organize all three of our departments and leave everything on the park in the final game, which should offer us the best chance to win.” Raza added.

Brief scores:
India 256/4 in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 55, Hardik Pandya 50 not out; Sikandar Raza 1-29, Tinotenda Maposa 1-40)
Zimbabwe 184/6 in 20 overs (Brian Bennett 97 not out, Sikandar Raza 31; Arshdeep Singh 3-24)