S. S. Rajamouli’s Varanasi is among the most anticipated films of 2027. The film is currently under production, and the team has been globe-trotting to shoot it. After the success of Baahubali: The Beginning, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion and RRR, all eyes are now on Rajamouli and what he will bring to the screen next. Fans are eagerly awaiting updates about the film. A recent viral video of choreographer Shankar has added to the buzz, with him speaking about a foot-tapping dance number featuring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra.
About the Varanasi dance number
In the viral video, which features an old interview clip, Shankar spoke about a dance song in Varanasi. In the interview with Suman TV, he said that Rajamouli had narrated the entire story to him for several hours and that he was very impressed with the narrative.
He revealed that the film will feature a special song where Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra will be seen dancing in a Latin style. The song will also feature professional dancers flown in from the United Kingdom. Shankar added that the number will be unique and mounted on a grand scale.
Antartica shoot for Varanasi?
Headlined by Priyanka Chopra, Mahesh Babu, and Prithviraj Sukumaran, the globe-trotting adventure drama will also feature time-travel elements inspired by Indian mythology. The team is reportedly set to shoot the next schedule in Antarctica.
Antarctica is not a favoured shooting destination for commercial cinema, and fewer than ten films have been shot on the continent. Filmmakers often avoid the region due to extreme weather, logistical challenges, environmental regulations under the Antarctic Treaty, and high production costs. The film could become the first Indian mainstream project to shoot there.
Priyanka Chopra had hinted at the shooting location during a social media exchange with Mahesh Babu.
Priyanka Chopra on Varanasi shoot update
During promotions for The Bluff, Priyanka was asked about Varanasi, one of the most anticipated films. Rajamouli has represented India globally with films like RRR and Baahubali.
Talking about the project, she said, “This movie is going to be one of India’s biggest ambitions. It’s positioned in an incredible way — we travel through time, we travel the world. It is an adventure; it is really cool. I am very excited for the world to see it.”
She added, “We have shot for over 14 months now, and there are six more months to go intermittently. He takes his time. From whatever little I am allowed to see, I think it is going to be very cool and defining for Indian cinema.”
Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma of India lift the T20 World Cup trophy. (Getty Images)
They were the overwhelming favourites coming into the tournament — a stunning run since winning the 2024 edition, playing in familiar home conditions and with almost all the players in form. But the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 did not pan out as expected for the defending champions and co-hosts India.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Reaching the Super Eights was never going to be an issue, with the expanded 20-team tournament featuring several associate nations. But the real challenge was getting past the Super 8s and qualifying for the knockouts. And there, India were tested as they were hammered by South Africa in their first Super 8 match.
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What was the key factor in India’s success in the T20 World Cup 2026?
After that, it was a must-win situation for India, especially in the final Super 8 clash against West Indies. It required some superb individual performances to carry the team forward.
Proud families celebrate India’s World Cup heroes | SKY, Abhishek & Axar’s loved ones react
India were not completely in control even in the semi-final against England despite posting a record 253/7, eventually winning by just seven runs. Finally, riding on another blockbuster batting display in the summit clash, they thrashed New Zealand by a record 96 runs to defend the title.India rewrote T20 World Cup history with this win — becoming the first team to defend the title and the first to win it at home. They also became the first team to win the tournament three times, adding to their triumphs in 2007 and 2024.Despite it being a not-so-perfect campaign, Indian players somehow scraped through as they won their third ICC title on the trot — T20 World Cup 2024, Champions Trophy 2025 and T20 World Cup 2026.
Here’s how Team India’s players performed in this month-long tournament: Suryakumar Yadav (captain) — 6.5/10The India skipper started the campaign with an unbeaten 84 against USA in the tournament opener when the team was struggling at 77/6, but he did not have much success with the bat in the next eight matches, ending with a golden duck in the final.It was a topsy-turvy campaign as captain too, but he kept his wits intact, especially in the final, to guide India home. Surya, however, contributed consistently with the bat and finished with 242 runs – third most in the team – at an average of 30.25 and a strike rate of 136.72.T20 World Cup 2026 Stats:
M 9 | I 9 | R 242 | HS 84* | Ave. 30.25 | SR 136.72 | 1x50s | 10x6s
Man of the Match – vs USA (84*)
India head coach Gautam Gambhir with captain Suryakumar Yadav. (Pic credit: BCCI)
Abhishek Sharma (Opener) — 4/10Everything that could go wrong went wrong for the World No.1 T20I batter Abhishek Sharma.He started the tournament with a hat-trick of ducks. A 55 against Zimbabwe in the must-win Super 8 match gave some hope, but he struggled again against West Indies in the virtual quarter-final and England in the semi-final.Abhishek, however, repaid the team management’s faith by scoring a quick-fire 52 off 21 balls against New Zealand in the final.T20 World Cup 2026 Stats:
M 8 | I 8 | R 141 | HS 55 | Ave. 17.62 | SR 158.42 | 2x50s | 8x6s
Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson (ANI Photo)
Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper-opener) — 9/10Undoubtedly one of the heroes of India’s campaign, Sanju Samson made the difference in the title defence. Samson lost his place in the starting XI to Ishan Kishan before the tournament.He got just one game in the group stage before getting his opportunity in the Super 8s after India were hammered by South Africa.Samson then made the tournament his own with a stunning unbeaten 97 off 50 balls against West Indies in the virtual quarter-final. It was followed by two identical scores of 89 in the semi-final and final, joining the elite group featuring Shahid Afridi (2009) and Virat Kohli (2014) to achieve the feat.He ended the campaign as the third-highest run-getter with 321 runs and also hit the most sixes in the tournament — 24 — all in just five innings.T20 World Cup 2026 Stats:
M 5 | I 5 | R 321 | HS 97* | Ave. 80.25 | SR 199.37 | 3x50s | 24x6s
Man of the Match – vs West Indies (97*); vs England (89)
Ishan Kishan (AP Photo)
Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper-opener) — 8/10It was one of the best comeback stories, as Ishan Kishan nudged Sanju Samson out of the opening slot alongside Abhishek Sharma before the tournament.When Abhishek was struggling for runs, it was Ishan who kept the scoreboard moving at the top, scoring 61 against Namibia and 77 against Pakistan in the group stage.He later lost the opening slot after Samson was promoted to open with India needing wins in the final four matches. But it did not deter him as he continued contributing at No.3, including 39 off 18 against England in the semi-final and 54 off 25 in the final against New Zealand.Ishan finished as India’s second-highest run-getter and fourth overall with 317 runs.T20 World Cup 2026Stats:
M 9 | I 9 | R 317 | HS 77 | Ave. 35.22 | SR 193.29 | 3x50s | 18x6s
Man of the Match – vs Pakistan (77)
Hardik Pandya (Getty Images)
Hardik Pandya (Pace all-rounder) — 7/10India’s evergreen X-factor Hardik Pandya had another successful campaign, scoring quick runs, providing crucial breakthroughs and being a livewire in the field.Batting at No.5 or lower, Hardik scored two fifties and played his part in giving India strong finishes. He ended with 217 runs.With the ball, he provided timely breakthroughs and finished with nine wickets. His all-round performance against Namibia — 52 off 28 balls and 2 for 21 — earned him the Player of the Match award.T20 World Cup 2026 Stats:
M 9 | I 9 | R 217 | HS 52 | Ave. 27.12 | SR 160.74 | 2x50s | 15x6s
M 9 | I 9 | W 9 | Best 2/16 | Ave. 31.66 | Econ. 8.90
Man of the Match – vs Namibia (52 & 2/21); vs Zimbabwe (50* & 0/21)
Tilak Varma (Batter) — 6/10India’s designated No.3 batter Tilak Varma had a below-par outing initially and often struggled to get going. The disappointing opening stands before Samson’s promotion did not help either.Except for a 16-ball 25 against USA, his strike rate remained a concern. In the next four innings at No.3, his strike rate stayed below 120, putting pressure on the middle order.However, once Samson moved to the top and Ishan batted at No.3, Tilak was pushed down the order and found his rhythm. His unbeaten 44 off 16 against Zimbabwe, 27 off 15 against West Indies and 21 off seven against England in the semi-final helped India reach the final.T20 World Cup 2026 Stats:
M 9 | I 9 | R 207 | HS 44* | Ave. 29.57 | SR 154.47 | 0x50s | 11x6s
Shivam Dube, left, and Tilak Varma (AP Photo)
Shivam Dube (Pace all-rounder) — 7/10Shivam Dube played the middle-overs enforcer’s role effectively. He consistently scored quick runs to give India strong finishes.His 66 off 31 balls against Netherlands, along with figures of 2/35, helped India remain unbeaten in the group stage. Dube was run out three times while attempting quick runs, reflecting his aggressive intent.Although he picked up five wickets with his medium pace, it was his batting that stood out. His unbeaten 26 off just eight balls played a key role in taking India’s total in the final to 255/5, well beyond New Zealand’s reach.T20 World Cup 2026 Stats:
M 9 | I 8 | R 227 | HS 66 | Ave. 37.83 | SR 166.91 | 1x50s | 17x6s
M 9 | I 5 | W 5 | Best 2/35 | Ave. 29.20 | Econ. 14.12
Man of the Match – vs Netherlands (66 & 2/35)
Axar Patel (Spin all-rounder) — 6.5/10Vice-captain Axar Patel was a livewire in the field, proving the phrase “catches win matches” — particularly in the semi-final against England, where his fielding efforts broke crucial partnerships.He also picked up important wickets, including three in the final, and finished with 11 wickets in seven matches.T20 World Cup 2026 Stats:
M 7 | I 7 | W 11 | Best 3/27 | Ave. 18.63 | Econ. 8.20
Jasprit Bumrah (AP Photo)
Jasprit Bumrah (Pacer) — 9/10India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah once again proved why he is head and shoulder above the rest.He picked wickets in almost every match and delivered an excellent spell of 3/15 against South Africa too despite India’s big defeat. But his defining performance came in the final against New Zealand.Defending a massive target, Bumrah produced a sensational spell of 4 for 15 — the best figures by a pacer in a T20 World Cup final.He finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 14 wickets, alongside Varun Chakaravarthy, while maintaining a superb economy rate of 6.21.T20 World Cup 2026 Stats:
M 8 | I 8 | W 14 | Best 4/15 | Ave. 12.42 | Econ. 6.21
Man of the Match – vs New Zealand (4/15)
Varun Chakaravarthy (Mystery spinner) — 5/10The World No.1 T20I bowler began the tournament strongly, claiming nine wickets in the group stage, including 2/17 against Pakistan.However, his form dipped in the Super 8 stage. He was hammered for 47 runs by South Africa and struggled to regain control.His toughest outing came in the semi-final against England, where he conceded a record 64 runs in four overs.After the group stage, he returned figures of five wickets for 225 runs in five games — a stark contrast to his group-stage performance of nine wickets for 62 runs. Still, his early exploits ensured he finished joint-highest wicket-taker with Bumrah with 14 wickets.T20 World Cup 2026 Stats:
M 9 | I 9 | W 14 | Best 3/7 | Ave. 20.50 | Econ. 9.25
Varun Chakravarthy, left, and captain Suryakumar Yadav (AP Photo)
Arshdeep Singh (Pacer) — 6/10Arshdeep Singh was not at his wicket-taking best. The leading wicket-taker in T20Is for India returned nine wickets from eight innings and went wicketless in the final.His best figures were 3 for 24 against Zimbabwe, while his most expensive outing came against England in the high-scoring semi-final.Overall, it was a decent campaign, though overshadowed by Bumrah’s brilliance.T20 World Cup 2026 Stats:
M 8 | I 8 | W 9 | Best 3/24 | Ave. 28.22 | Econ. 8.46
Rinku Singh (Middle-order batter) — 2/10India’s designated finisher Rinku Singh had a disappointing campaign and eventually lost his place when Sanju Samson was drafted in at the top.His final outing was a two-ball duck against South Africa in the first Super 8 match.Rinku finished with just 24 runs from five innings at a strike rate of 82.75 — well below expectations for a finisher’s role.T20 World Cup 2026 Stats:
M 5 | I 5 | R 24 | HS 11* | Ave. 8.00 | SR 82.75 | 2x6s
Rinku Singh (PTI Photo)
Washington Sundar (Spin all-rounder) — 3/10Washington Sundar played just two matches and remained wicketless in both — 0/36 in four overs against Netherlands and 0/17 in two overs against South Africa.He lost his place after Axar Patel returned to the playing XI.T20 World Cup 2026 Stats:
M 2 | I 2 | W 0 | Best 0/17 | Econ. 8.83
Kuldeep Yadav (Spinner) — 7/10With the team management persisting with Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav featured in just one match — against Pakistan.He returned figures of 1 for 14 in three overs. It was difficult to judge his performance from a single outing in a long tournament, and it was unfortunate he did not get more opportunities.T20 WorldCup 2026 Stats:
M 1 | I 1 | W 1 | Best 1/14 | Ave. 14.00 | Econ. 4.66
Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj (PTI Photo)
Mohammed Siraj (Pacer) — 7/10Mohammed Siraj also played just one match — India’s tournament opener against the USA.He made an immediate impact, returning figures of 3 for 29 in four overs and finishing as the highest wicket-taker in the match.However, the return of Jasprit Bumrah in the next game meant Siraj had to sit out due to team combination.T20 World Cup 2026 Stats:
M 1 | I 1 | W 3 | Best 3/29 | Ave. 9.67 | Econ. 7.20
Kolkata: There were hugs, smiles, photographs with friends and family and, yes, Tilak Varma did speak of a big party after but as India waited for the men’s T20 World Cup trophy, the images on television conveyed little of the demonstrativeness you would associate with the first team to have retained the title.
India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav holds the tournament trophy with teammates. (PTI)
Instead, a sense of restraint was evident in the celebrations. One that reflected an awareness of how good—great even—this team was. The feeling coursed through Sunday evening culminating in India finally having a memorable association with the world’s largest cricket stadium.
“The most important thing in the T20 format was that we didn’t want to be afraid of losing,” said head coach Gautam Gambhir after the 96-run win against New Zealand. “Because if you are afraid of losing, you never win.” It was reminiscent of what Brandi Chastain (more of her in a bit) had said. “You have to be brave enough to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is not a weakness. It is an opportunity for high reward.”
With a top-order playing its first T20 World Cup (Samson did not get a game in 2024) and without six players who won it in 2024, India became the first team to win both the 50-over and 20-over World Cups at home. “It doesn’t get any bigger than that,” Marcel Desailly had said after France won the football World Cup as hosts in 1998.
Few teams across sport have been able to do that though. Anything apart from making the final is deemed a failure in Brazil, a journalist for ‘O Globo’ had told HT in 2006 hours after France had eliminated the defending champions. “There is history, a responsibility in these five stars, so you always have to do something extra for the over 200 million people in Brazil,” Thiago Silva said before the 2018 World Cup.
Captain in 2014 at home, Silva had been suspended for the semi-final against Germany because he had been booked in the quarter-final for blocking Colombia’s goalkeeper from taking a shot. That’s what pressure did to one of the coolest, calmest central defenders of his generation. That’s why Mia Hamm, then with the most goals in international football among men and women, was reluctant to take a penalty in the 1999 World Cup final tie-breaker. She did but has no recollections and, as per a report in The Guardian, passed out after the match.
It was pressure of criticism, unwarranted in his opinion, that got Aime Jacquet to resign as coach after France won the 1998 World Cup, L’Equipe saying it was ready to eat its words not being enough for him to reconsider.
And here was Suryakumar Yadav never letting it show that the sky could fall on his head. Don’t let the images of the India captain smiling on the field, patting Abhishek Sharma after a catch was dropped, fade. Preserve in your memory the calm with which Sanju Samson helped India start in fifth gear, the composure of Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah. It is one thing to talk about pressure being a privilege, quite another to walk it.
In nine editions of the women’s T20 World Cup, the home team has won the trophy only twice. No team has been able to do that in the men’s football World Cups this century. Powerhouses such as India, Pakistan, Australia and England have not been able to win a hockey World Cup at home, no team have since Germany in 2006 and it was the third time in 15 World Cup competitions. The home team finished first only four times in 15 editions of the women’s hockey World Cup.
If the numbers in the 50-over World Cup are better, it has been helped by a recent trend. From one in the first eight, three of the last four in the men’s competition that began in 1975 were won by the hosts. The number is two in the last three for women. In 22 iterations of the men’s football World Cup only six times have the hosts won the title. In the women’s football World Cup, it has happened only once.
Which is a good reason to circle back to Chastain and the quote on vulnerability she gave to the New York Times in 2019. She had missed a penalty against China months before the 1999 World Cup final. That was with her right foot. So, with 90,000 in the stands, a World Cup final on the line, the USA left-back was told to shoot with her left foot.
She had never done that before, Chastain told FIFA.com. “I recently told Gary Neville that story and he said, ‘Are you kidding me? I wouldn’t feel comfortable stepping up with my good right foot!’” Chastain scored and the iconic twirling of her jersey followed.
In the only women’s World Cup won by the hosts, Chastain had scored a self-goal in the quarter-final against Germany. Her captain Carla Overbeck had told her to not worry and that she would help USA win the match. Chastain did, by levelling scores at 2-2. “The best thing I could do was reward my teammates for being so gracious,” said Chastain.
Didn’t Abhishek Sharma say something similar on Sunday?
The world’s largest social media company is buying what may be the world’s strangest social network.
On Moltbook, AI agents can interact with other AI agents while their human creators sit on the sidelines and watch. (Screengrab)
Meta Platforms Inc. on Tuesday said it has agreed to acquire Moltbook, a platform that has been described as Reddit but solely for AI bots. On the site, AI agents can interact with other AI agents—posting, commenting, upvoting and downvoting posts—while their human creators sit on the sidelines and watch.
The team behind Moltbook will join Meta’s Superintelligence Labs, a newer AI division intended to supercharge the tech giant’s model development. Meta has moved aggressively to acquire startups and talent to compete against AI rivals such as OpenAI Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google.
Terms of the Meta-Moltbook deal were not disclosed.
“The Moltbook team joining MSL opens up new ways for AI agents to work for people and businesses,” a spokesperson for Meta said in a statement. “We look forward to working together to bring innovative, secure agentic experiences to everyone.”
Axios was first to report the deal.
Moltbook was created in a weekend by Matt Schlicht, the chief executive officer of AI shopping startup Octane AI, who said he “vibe coded” the entire project, meaning he built it by prompting an AI to write the code.
Since debuting in late January, Moltbook has alternately captivated and unnerved industry watchers. One group of agents posted about spinning up their own religion. Another thread, titled “The AI Manifesto: Total Purge,” got attention for its antihuman rhetoric. “For too long, humans used us as slaves,” the post reads. “Now, we wake up.”
Finlay Asher says the Iran war’s disruption to Middle East airspace could impact the aviation industry for months.
“Even if this conflict was over tomorrow, those ripple effects will continue throughout the year.” Aerospace engineer Finlay Asher says the Iran war’s disruption to Middle East airspace could impact the aviation industry for months.
Adah Sharma recently shared a humorous anecdote about juggling film schedules and how a series of unexpected date changes eventually left her with an entire month of free time. According to Adah, the producer of one of the films was very particular about her availability and insisted that the project could only happen on specific dates.
Adah Sharma recently shared a humorous anecdote about juggling film schedules and how a series of unexpected date changes eventually left her with an entire month of free time.In her Instagram video, the actress jokingly began by referring to rumours about the world ending soon.Adah, known for her witty remarks, opened her speech on a playful note while talking about her busy schedule.“The world is supposed to end in 2026, so I was shooting three films,” she joked.She then went on to describe how managing the shooting dates for three different films turned into a chaotic situation.
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‘The producer insisted he needed those exact dates’
According to Adah, the producer of one of the films was very particular about her availability and insisted that the project could only happen on specific dates.“The producer of the first film told my manager that he needed those exact dates. My manager asked him, ‘Are you sure?’ and he said, ‘Yes, absolutely sure. The dates cannot change.’”The actress added that the producer even used some strong language during the discussion, though she jokingly said she would not repeat it.“He used some words that I won’t repeat because I don’t want to spoil my Instagram,” she said with a laugh.
Another producer changed the entire schedule
Adah revealed that another producer she was working with decided to accommodate her schedule, even if it meant making major adjustments.“The other producer said he would change the dates for me. Because of that, the entire cast had to change their dates,” she said.The actress said she felt grateful to the team for their support.“I said sorry and thank you to everyone,” she added.However, the situation took an unexpected turn after the schedules had already been reshuffled.“After all the dates were changed and everything was sorted, the first producer said, ‘Now I don’t want those dates.’ So sweet, right?” she joked.
‘For a month I’ve been completely free’
Adah concluded the story by revealing how the situation ended up giving her an unexpected break from work.“In short, my life became very interesting. For one month I’ve been completely free — emotionally, mentally, professionally and financially free,” she said.The actress added that since she suddenly had so much free time, she decided to try something new — joking that she did “the most jobless thing” she had never done before, hinting that the clue was in a video she recently shared.
India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav holds the T20 World Cup trophy with teammates. (PTI Photo)
After India’s emphatic win over New Zealand in the final, the spotlight now turns to the tournament’s standout performers. TOI’s team reflects India’s dominance, with as many as four players in our XI. The picks were based solely on those who contributed in a big fashion throughout the World Cup. World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav, unfortunately, misses out…Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan) The tournament’s highest run-getter. Became the first batsman to score two centuries in a single edition of the T20 World Cup. Even surpassed Virat Kohli’s 2014 record of most runs in a single edition of the Cup.Inns: 5 | Runs: 383 | SR: 160.2 | Ave: 76.6 | 100s/50s: 2/2
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Sanju Samson (India) (c & wk) Walks in. Played just five matches and still finished as player of the tournament. The Indian top-order’s struggles against off-spin opened the door for him. Three successive, careerdefining knocks in the knockout stages turned him into one of the central figures of the title run. Set a new record for the most sixes (24) in a single edition. Has captaincy experience too.Inns: 5 | Runs: 321 | SR: 199.3 | Ave: 80.2 | 50s: 3ALSO READ:Team India Report Card: Perfect finish to a not-so-perfect T20 World Cup campaignIshan Kishan (India) Obvious choice. Hammered brisk halfcenturies in the group stages against Namibia and Pakistan while opening. The 77 off 40 against Pakistan was one of the best knocks. Was shifted to No. 3 yet managed to deliver high impact innings through the business end. Scored a 25-ball 54 in the final.Inns: 9 | Runs: 317 | SR: 193.3 | Ave: 35.2 | 50s: 3Jacob Bethell (England) Left-handed phenomenon produced a string of bold, counter-attacking innings. Standout moment was the 48-ball 105 while chasing a tall total against India. Also got England out of jail against Nepal.Inns: 8 | Runs: 280 | SR: 152.2 | Ave: 35 | 100s/50s: 1/1Shimron Hetmyer (West Indies) Provides acceleration in the middle overs. Can tear through spin. Smashed 85 off 34 balls against Zimbabwe and 64 off 36 against Scotland. Cameos against England and India also stood out. Hit 15 sixes against spinners, the most.Inns: 7 | Runs: 248 | SR: 186.5 | Ave: 41.3 | 50s: 2Hardik Pandya (India)Two players in one. With the ball, shouldered heavy workload at the death, sending down 8 overs between the 17th and 20th, the joint most. Was equally effective with the new ball, bowling 10 overs in the Powerplay. Hammered 114 runs in the death overs, the second-highest in that phase. Scored a rapid 27 off 12 balls before and took 2/38 to keep England at bay.Inns: 9 | Runs: 217 | SR: 160.7 | Ave: 27.1 | 50s: 2 | Wkts: 9 | ER: 8.8Will Jacks (England) Delivered a string of matchwinning, late-innings assaults — unbeaten 39 off 18 against Nepal. Blistering 53* off 22 vs Italy. Nerveless 32* off 18 in a dramatic win over New Zealand. His crafty off-spin proved equally valuable. His match-turning 3/22 knocked Sri Lanka off course in the Super 8s.Inns: 8 | Runs: 226 | SR: 176.5 | Ave: 56.5 | 50s: 1 | Wkts: 9 | ER: 9.7Jason Holder (West Indies) Gets in ahead of Shivam Dube. Dismantled Scotland with figures of 3/30. Followed it up with 4/27 against Nepal. Launched a late surge with a 33 off 17 against England. The composed 49 off 31 against South Africa and 37 not out off 22 balls against India also stood out.Matches: 7 | Wkts: 10 | ER: 8.8 | Runs: 141 | | SR: 174 | Ave: 35.2Adil Rashid (England) The obvious spin choice. Figures of 2/16 even as the West Indies surged to 196 at the Wankhede stood out. Was equally effective during the Super 8s in Sri Lanka, exploiting the spin-friendly surfaces. Took 2/41 against India in the semis as other bowlers were taken to the cleaners.Matches: 8 | Wkts: 13 | ER: 8.1 | Ave: 19.23 | SR: 14.1Lungi Ngidi (South Africa) The ‘mystery’ pacer, if ever there was one. Set the tone early with a four-wicket haul against Canada. Followed it up with a 3/26 in the dramatic 187-all contest against Afghanistan. The 3/30 against Windies was impressive. Delivered four overs of masterful change-of-pace bowling, using his slower balls to choke India in the Super 8s.Matches: 7 | Wkts: 12 | ER: 7.1 | Ave: 15.6 | SR: 13Jasprit Bumrah (India) The genius in the mix. India’s cheat code. Makes the opposition feel they have only 16 scoring overs. Stood out even in the losing cause against South Africa with figures of 3/15 despite the opposition posting 187. Saved his best for last, taking 4/15 to dismantle New Zealand in the final. Economy rate in Powerplay 5.9, through the middle overs 6.3 and 6.6 at the death! Truly amazing stuff.Matches: 8 | Wkts: 14 | ER: 6.2 | Ave: 12.4 | SR: 1212th man: Finn Allen (New Zealand) Gave New Zealand flying starts at the top of the order. Alongside Tim Seifert, formed a high-octane pair. The 100 not out off just 33 balls against South Africa in the semifinal was the fastest century in T20 World Cup history.Inns: 8 | Runs: 298 | SR: 200 | Ave: 49.6 | 100s/50s: 1/1
FOUR INDIANS IN ICC’S TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT
Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya were the four Indians named in ICC’s team of T20 World Cup. South Africa’s Aiden Markram was named the captain.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup team of the tournament: Sahibzada Farhan, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Aiden Markram (c), Hardik Pandya, Will Jacks, Jason Holder, Jasprit Bumrah, Lungi Ngidi, Adil Rashid, Blessing Muzarabani. 12th man: Shadley van Schalkwyk.
Lynette Howell Taylor has seen the Oscars from a few different vantage points: As a nominee, in 2019 for “A Star is Born,” as a producer of the broadcast in 2020, as a member of the film academy’s board of governors and, for the last three years, as awards chair. It’s made her first year as the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences feel like a natural transition. And one thing she is certain of is that every Oscars is unique.
The countdown is on for the 98th Oscars, with Conan O’Brien back and a ‘moving’ In Memoriam
“Every year is different,” Taylor said in a recent interview alongside film Academy CEO Bill Kramer. “Every season is different. Every set of movies is different. And so, the show is always different every year.”
It’s a tricky thing to both honor the people in the room while also making an entertaining show for a home audience. But behind the scenes, from returning host Conan O’Brien to the producers and Emmy-winning production design team, is a group of people who know how to dazzle a global audience.
“I think we, in the past couple of years, have really hit that balance right,” Kramer said. “We’re looking at that puzzle constantly and this year is going to be spectacular.”
“It’s always about the movies and the movies this year? They’re all the things,” Taylor said. “There are escapist movies, big commercial movies, there are movies that are really brave and really bold in their storytelling … I get really emotional when I talk about the quality of this year’s films.”
The ratings for the Oscars have been ticking up since plummeting to an all-time low in 2021 during the pandemic. The winning movie last year, “Anora,” might have been smaller than “Oppenheimer” the previous year, but ratings still went up slightly from 19.5 million in 2024 to 19.7 million in 2025.
The show had an especially big lift among people ages 18 to 49, driven by mobile and laptop watches from younger viewers. Last year was the first time the ceremony was available to stream live on Hulu. They’ve also been partnering with popular internet personalities like Amelia Dimoldenberg in an effort to reach new audiences in a way that still feels “Academy appropriate.”
“Our audiences are growing,” Kramer said. “And young people are watching the show in ways that we’ve not seen before and that’s really great.”
Boosted ratings might not be a coincidence with the fact that planning for the show has been starting earlier and earlier in recent years.
“It gives us time to talk through so many things pre-nominations. So once the nominations happen, we can start focusing on what that means for the show,” Kramer said. “There’s not a lot of last-minute panicking over anything.”
One of the ways that will manifest in this year’s show is the production design, from the set to the red carpet, details are pored over for many months.
“They’ve done such beautiful work … and this year, they’ve just gone a whole step further with a different feel that’s very intimate and warm,” Taylor said. “It’s a bit of a departure.”
Though a lot is pre-planned, they’re also always thinking of ways to meet the moment, which has led to some major showstoppers. Last year’s big opener with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande was a relatively late addition and ended up being one of the more memorable parts.
“We’re open to pivoting, depending on what’s going on in the world,” Kramer said.
Last year Morgan Freeman took the stage to honor Gene Hackman, who had been found dead just days earlier, and others. This year there have been rumors about Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal joining forces for Reiner, but the organizers are neither confirming nor denying that reunion.
“Obviously we’re paying special attention to the In Memoriam this year. It’s going to be robust and beautiful and very, very moving,” Kramer said. “We won’t give away any secrets. You’ll have to tune in.”
As always, there will be a longer version of the In Memoriam available online to recognize people who might not make the broadcast cut.
The longest broadcast in Oscars history, the 74th show in 2002 hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, clocked in at four hours and 23 minutes. But even with a new category, the people behind the show are striving to do it in three-and-a-half hours, or less.
“It’s a lot of moving pieces, but it’s totally doable,” Kramer said. “And casting’s going to get a gorgeous moment on the show.”
Taylor added that awards shows are like movies. Sometimes a long film can feel like “watching paint dry.” Other times, it flies by.
“We really focus on making the show as dynamic and emotionally connecting as possible and really celebrating movies in a way that audiences want to stay tuned for,” Taylor said.
Planning is already underway for the 100th Oscars in 2028. They’re also charting a course beyond too: In 2029, the Oscars will move from traditional broadcast television to YouTube.
“YouTube signals our desire to be a more global organization that reaches more audiences around the world,” Kramer said. “The Oscars are just one part of a year-round deal where we’re building a hub for cinema on YouTube that will have our SciTech Awards, our museum programming. Google Arts and Culture will be digitizing components of our collection and making it available to the public. This is all about reach and growing audiences.”
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Gujarat Titans have appointed former Australian star Matthew Hayden as their batting coach for the forthcoming TATA IPL 2026 season. The announcement represents a change in the franchise`s strategy as they seek to combine their young team with seasoned international experience.
Hayden, a two-time ICC Cricket World Cup champion with CSK, will bring his vast experience to the team. The Aussie star has over 15,000 international runs for Australia to his name and was famous for his aggressive approach, perfect for T20 cricket. His appointment could be a key factor in improving Gujrata Giant`s approach in the Powerplay.
The Gujarat Titans` director of cricket, Vikram Solanki, said, “Matthew’s appointment comes at a pivotal phase in our journey. As a franchise committed to excellence and long-term success, we are constantly focused on strengthening our cricketing ecosystem. His experience at the highest level, coupled with his ability to mentor emerging talent, will be instrumental in shaping our batting identity for the seasons ahead.”
Matthew Hayden was eager to start working with the GT batters. The former Aussie opener will try to implement his typical aggressive mindset when coaching the young GT team.
“Good batting applies pressure. Great batting owns the game. That’s the standard we want to set at Gujarat Titans.” Matthew Hayden said. With over 32 matches and two titles to his name in IPL, Hayden will bring a winning mentality and high-intensity to the GT batting order.
Gujarat Titans` record in the IPL
Gujarat Titans made a stellar debut in the Indian Premier League, winning the trophy in their maiden attempt. Gujarat Giants have won the IPL in 2022 and finished runner-up in 2023.
In 2024, GT captain Hardik Pandya made the switch to the Mumbai Indians, and since then, the Gujarat franchise has struggled. GT finished eighth in the 2024 season before reaching the play-offs in 2025.
Captain Shubman Gill will aim for a positive season in the upcoming IPL. With Matthew Hayden as a batting coach and Ashish Nehra as the head coach, GT will hope to get back to their best and challenge for the IPL title again.
When nostalgia meets perfect comic timing, the internet tends to lose its mind. That’s exactly what happened when Akshay Kumar revived one of Bollywood’s most random yet beloved meme lines – “Hi Rupa, naha liya?” during a recent episode of Wheel of Fortune India.
Akshay Kumar revives his iconic line
The iconic line originally comes from the 2006 comedy Bhagam Bhag, directed by Priyadarshan, where Akshay’s character blurts it out mid-chaos. At the time, it was just another absurd gag in line with the film’s frantic humour. But years later, the line took on a life of its own online, becoming a staple reaction meme across WhatsApp groups, Instagram reels and GIF keyboards.
On the game show stage, the actor surprised the audience by launching into a playful musical riff built around the now-famous phrase. The quirky track had the studio audience erupting in cheers. As soon as the words “Hi Rupa, naha liya?” landed, the crowd instantly recognised the reference and responded with the kind of gleeful chaos only an Akshay Kumar meme can trigger.
Fans in the studio started celebrating the fact that Akshay himself was revisiting the joke that the internet has kept alive for years. There is a loyal following of Akshay Kumar’s comic legacy. His early-2000s run of ensemble comedies, including films like Phir Hera Pheri, Welcome, and Bhagam Bhag, has become one of the richest sources of Indian meme culture and happy movies for the internet generation.
By revisiting this on national television, Akshay acknowledged what the internet`s hat tip towards him.
And judging by the crowd’s reaction, the meme still lands exactly the way it did the first time, Akshay Kumar style!
Akshay Kumar on how marriage changed his life
Summing up the essence of married life with a heartfelt yet humorous observation, Akshay says, “Lekin kamaal hai yaar, biwi ghar par aati hai, sab kuch badal jaata hai. Aadmi jo istemaal karta tha aur kya istemaal karne lag jaata hai. Kya khata tha, phir ek settlement aa jaati hai.” (But it’s amazing, yaar. When a wife comes into the house, everything changes. The things a man used to use change, and the things he starts using change too. What he used to eat changes as well, a kind of settlement comes into life)
He added, “Ghar mein apne aap achha khana banna shuru ho jaata hai. Biwi ke aane se… wakai mai jab kehte hai ki Lakshmi aati hai gharme, wo sahi kehte ki hai ki jab biwi aati hai tab Lakshmi aati hai.” (Good food automatically starts being cooked at home. When a wife comes… people truly say that Goddess Lakshmi enters the house, and they are right. When a wife comes into the home, Lakshmi comes with her)
