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Shahid Afridi Ex-Pakistan captain lauds Samson, Bumrah for outstanding T20 World Cup show | Cricket News

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Shahid Afridi Ex-Pakistan captain lauds Samson, Bumrah for outstanding T20 World Cup show | Cricket News


'India deserved the title': Ex-Pakistan captain lauds Samson, Bumrah for outstanding T20 World Cup show
Team India Celebrating T20 World Cup Win and Shahid Afridi

Legendary all-rounder and former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi praised India for becoming the first team in history to defend the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title. In a video on X, Afridi said India deserved the win after they crushed New Zealand by 96 runs on Sunday, March 8, to lift the 2026 T20 World Cup.“The World Cup is over. I think India deserved the title. They have a great team combination. The players sitting on the bench were also as good as the playing XI. This is why I say that your bench needs to be strong. India’s bench was very strong; they could have picked anyone from there and slotted them into the playing XI. They played the whole tournament as champions,” Afridi said in a video on his X account.

India’s T20 World Cup win sparks celebrations | Rajeev Shukla, Tharoor & others react

According to Afridi, Bumrah is one of the best bowlers, who has carried India on his back for a long time with his impressive performances.Afridi also praised the performances of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan for their important contributions to India’s win.“Sanju Samson was outstanding. He got the opportunity and he delivered with his sensible hitting and his ability to build the innings. Abhishek Sharma also performed well tonight. Ishan Kishan also performed outstandingly, just like he had performed against Pakistan. Jasprit Bumrah was the backbone of their bowling who has carried India on his back for a long time with his impressive performances. Be it with the new ball, old ball, slower one or yorker, he is one of the best bowlers in my opinion,” he added.India made history by winning the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, successfully defending their title and becoming the first team ever to retain the trophy. They also became the first country to win the Men’s T20 World Cup on home soil. With this victory, India has now won the T20 World Cup three times, in 2007, 2024, and 2026, the most by any team in the tournament’s history.


Anna Camp opens up about her bisexuality

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Anna Camp opens up about her bisexuality


‘Pitch Perfect’ star Anna Camp opens up about her sexuality: ‘I'm really proud to be bisexual’
Pitch Perfect star Anna Camp has proudly embraced her bisexuality at 43, sharing her journey of self-acceptance in the public eye. She revealed the challenges of coming out later in life, citing societal and upbringing constraints. Camp is currently in a happy relationship with stylist Jade Whipkey, having gone public last year.

Actress Anna Camp, who rose to fame after her successful feature in ‘Pitch Perfect,’ recently opened up about her sexuality. The news comes a year after she confirmed that she is dating Jade Whipkey. Read on to know more about what she had to share.

Anna Camp opens up about her sexuality

In a recent interview, the star opened up about claiming her identity as a 40+ woman in the industry. While featuring on ‘I’ve Never Said This Before with Tommy DiDario,’ she shared, “As a 43-year-old woman, I am very proud of myself for owning my sexuality at this age. I am a very strong person for doing it in somewhat of a spotlight with people criticizing and judging and making assumptions. I’m really proud to be bisexual.”Further talking about the matter, she shared that although things feel like a challenge sometimes, she feels happy with where she is in life. She further added, “But to say, ‘No, I only get one life, and I want to be happy,’ that’s what life is all about.”

Anna Camp talks about her struggle to come out

In an interview with Out Magazine in October 2026, the actress had detailed that she had a lot of questions about coming out in her 40s. She revealed that it was one of the biggest challenges of her life.“The largest obstacle I faced this year personally was juggling the emotions about coming out in my 40s. Which included guilt for not embracing it sooner and excitement for finally being free from the constraints that had been placed on me by society and my upbringing,” she further detailed during the interview.

About Anna Camp’s relationship with Jade Whipkey

Only last year, the ‘Scream 7’ actress went public about her relationship with Jade Whipkey, who works as a stylist and creative professional in LA. The two first went public in February last year after they appeared on a ‘man-on-the-street TikTok video.’ When the interviewer asked what they expect from men in their relationships, Camp was quick to reply by saying, “I don’t expect anything [from a man]…not anymore, because I’m dating a woman, and it’s great.”Since then, the two of them have been extremely open about their relationship online.Before this, the actress was married to Michael Mosley from 2010 until 2013, and to Skylar Austin from 2016 until 2019. Austin and Camp were also co-stars on ‘Pitch Perfect.’


T20 World Cup 2026: Sanju Samson was at his thoughtful best against New Zealand

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T20 World Cup 2026: Sanju Samson was at his thoughtful best against New Zealand



T20 World Cup 2026: Sanju Samson was at his thoughtful best against New Zealand

Watch that follow through

Not in control as the bat turned early on the ball which moved away a shade, but the full follow through of the bat and sheer timing even of the mistimed shot carrying it over third man for six. Just the luck required in T20 cricket.

Giving himself ample time

Probably what makes him special — the length ball which he picks up effortlessly over the infield. This stemming from his ability in not committing his front foot early and hence giving him the necessary time to effortlessly lift it over the infield.

Near-perfect balance

Probably his most controlled shot of this T20 World Cup, a ball tailing into the pads and flicked all along the ground for four past short fine leg, signifying the set up and balance was near perfect.

Ruthless efficiency

The cut off the spinner for four past point has been the hallmark around all his innings; the slightest room has been dealt with ruthless efficiency. It’s the cut shot that has bailed him out when the pressure has been on against West Indies in Kolkata, England in Mumbai and New Zealand in Ahmedabad.

Touch of genius

Deft touches and silken skill combined with brute force. A ball glided between the ‘keeper and short third man for four, signifying a touch of genius.

Signature shot for six

A straight six down the ground powered by a full and complete follow through. Another one of his signature shots of this tournament and pretty much his whole career, there is little to no wiggle room for the bowler to even marginally miss his length.

Power hitting and how

Power hitting at its best with a six over mid-wicket. Multiple such shots powered over the fence through his career and this World Cup, showcasing his ability to pick up back-of-a-length deliveries and despatch them over the fence.


Gold, Silver Rate Today Live Updates: Gold prices rise as Trump indicates possible end to war; what’s the outlook?

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Gold, Silver Rate Today Live Updates: Gold prices rise as Trump indicates possible end to war; what’s the outlook?



Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) linked to gold and silver recorded strong gains of up to 7 per cent on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) on Tuesday as prices of precious metals opened significantly higher. The rally was aided by weakness in the U.S. dollar after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that the conflict in the Middle East could soon come to an end.

Among silver-based funds, Tata Silver ETF posted the sharpest rise, climbing about 10 per cent to reach an intraday high of Rs 26.74, compared with its previous closing level of Rs 25.06. Other ETFs in the same segment advanced roughly 4 per cent to 5 per cent.

In the gold ETF category, Zerodha Gold ETF led the gains on Tuesday, rising 3 per cent to touch a day’s high of Rs 25.72. Other gold-backed ETFs registered increases of around 1 per cent to 2 per cent, while some remained largely unchanged.


Police release images of Oslo US embassy explosion suspect

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Police release images of Oslo US embassy explosion suspect



Norwegian police say their investigation so far shows Sunday’s blast was caused by an improvised device.


‘Minute adjustments’ help Sanju Samson take giant strides at the T20 World Cup | Cricket News

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‘Minute adjustments’ help Sanju Samson take giant strides at the T20 World Cup | Cricket News


‘Minute adjustments’ help Sanju Samson take giant strides at the T20 World Cup

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

Dhol, cheers and flowers: How Delhi welcomed Gautam Gambhir

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


Malaika Arora says Navjot Singh Sidhu sends her `White Makhan` every few days

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Malaika Arora says Navjot Singh Sidhu sends her `White Makhan` every few days



Malaika Arora says Navjot Singh Sidhu sends her `White Makhan` every few days

Actress Malaika Arora revealed that Navjot Singh Sidhu sends `White Makhan` for her every 15-20 days. 

During her appearance on the latest episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show, host Kapil Sharma was heard telling Malaika, “Ma`am, Amritsar`s food is very famous – Kulcha. Have you seen the white butter (Makhan) on kulcha? It reminds me of you.”

Before Malaika could react, Navjot Singh Sidhu asked her, “Malaika mam, what do you get from my house?”

Malaika then revealed that within a gap of every 15-20 days, Navjot Singh Sidhu sends her white butter, some snacks, along with some Jaggery (Gud).

“Every 15 or 20 days, he sends me white butter from his house, along with some snacks and jaggery,” said Malaika.

To this, Kapil objects, saying that Navjot Singh Sidhu met Malaika only last year and sends her so much stuff, and they have known each other for almost 20 years now, still, he has never even given him even fennel seeds and jaggery (Saunf and Gud).

Kapil even admitted to being extremely jealous of Malaika.

During the episode, as Kapil asked Malaika, “What is more important in life, being good or mischievous?”

Navjot Singh Sidhu quickly jumps in with a playful remark, saying, “Malaika mam is very mischievous, I can’t tell you how much.” 

Sensing the opportunity, Kapil joked that Malaika’s mother might not even know her as well as Navjot Singh Sidhu seems to.

Towards the end of the fun episode, actor and comedian Sunil Grover arrived dressed as Navjot Singh Sidhu. Keeping true to the character, he even flirted with Malaika. He presented her with roses and even proposed to her while Malaika laughed and played along.

Navjot Singh Sidhu also praised Sunil Grover’s impersonation of himself. He made a hilarious remark saying, “Manjot Singh tere aage Navjot fail.”

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever


Adarsh Gourav begins filming docu-series about North East India

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Adarsh Gourav begins filming docu-series about North East India



Adarsh Gourav begins filming docu-series about North East India

Actor Adarsh Gourav, who was recently seen in Tu Yaa Main, has spoken about his love for travelling and exploring off the beaten path.

The actor has begun filming a tentatively titled docu-series, The Tribal Voice. The series takes Adarsh across Northeast India, where he engages with the region’s living cultural traditions and indigenous voices. The first leg of the shoot commenced in Majuli Island in the state of Assam, Northeast India.

Talking about the series, Adarsh Gourav expressed, “The main reason I said yes to this project was the opportunity to explore the cultures of the Northeast in a way that felt intimate and immersive. Through this unique series, I’ve been able to engage closely with local communities, tasting their cuisines, listening to their stories, and learning about the histories of their tribes through firsthand intimate conversations. And to me this experience in itself is invaluable. Collaborating with Edstead was another important factor, they are known for championing stories that truly matter, and knowing the project was backed by them gave me a great sense of assurance”.

“There’s a genuine hunger in me to understand people from my own country about whom I admittedly know so little. While I love travelling and exploring off the beaten path, I don’t think I would have had access to some of these communities without this series. To eventually showcase these experiences on a platform with such a wide reach also makes it a powerful educational tool”, he added.

Through music, oral histories, and everyday practices, the series explores themes of heritage, resilience, and identity, celebrating a creative spirit that is as ancient as it is alive.

Produced and crafted as a cinematic factual narrative by Charu Budhiraja from Edstead, The Tribal Voice is presented by Air India Express, with Dentsu Sports and Entertainment on board as the integration partner. The series is currently in production.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever


Where does Suryakumar Yadav go from here after leading India to T20 World Cup glory?

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Where does Suryakumar Yadav go from here after leading India to T20 World Cup glory?


At 35, Suryakumar Yadav has experienced the thrill of becoming a World Cup-winning captain. On Sunday, when India created history by becoming the first team to defend the T20 World Cup crown, not many may have realised that Surya also became the second-oldest captain to win the tournament, behind his former India teammate and skipper Rohit Sharma. Surya was already 30 when he made his India debut. In Indian cricket, not many manage to build a long career from that stage, but Suryakumar, who has always believed in “getting the right things at the right time”, is now reaping the rewards. With this triumph, Surya has ticked another huge box. As if becoming India’s longest-serving No. 1-ranked T20I batter wasn’t enough, and as if scoring T20I centuries in England, South Africa, New Zealand and against Sri Lanka wasn’t enough, Suryakumar Yadav is now a T20 World Cup-winning captain. Fittingly, the triumph came at the same venue where he faced criticism after struggling against Australia in the 2023 World Cup final. From enduring that disappointment to last night’s historic achievement, the journey feels both fitting and richly deserved.

Suryakumar Yadav finds himself at a crucial stage in his career (AFP)
Suryakumar Yadav finds himself at a crucial stage in his career (AFP)

Also Read: How once bad-tempered Suryakumar Yadav became T20 World Cup-winning captain in a surreal transformation

That being said, it brings us to an interesting stage in Suryakumar Yadav’s career. In his mid-30s, his India career likely has more days behind him than ahead. During the post-match press conference, he may have revealed his next goal – to win an Olympic gold medal at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, but here’s the catch: he would be 37 by the time the Games come around. With youngsters knocking on the door and an eye already on the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia, Surya could have a mountain to climb in the squad. For now, he remains the captain and is likely to hold that role at least for the remainder of the year, if not longer. But just as the BCCI has begun planning succession in ODIs, the transition in T20Is may not be too far away. The selectors are likely already keeping an eye on their next captain.

Who that might be is anyone’s guess. Last year, the obvious choice was Shubman Gill, but after a string of failures, India’s ODI and Test captain was shown the door. Gill is still only 26, and with the team management having moved past Hardik Pandya long ago due to workload management concerns, the possibility of Gill earning a recall, considering the bigger picture, cannot be ruled out. Indian cricket has never been a firm believer in the split captaincy theory. Hence, with Gill already leading two formats, it could only be a matter of time before he takes over entirely.

Suryakumar’s immediate next move

Where does that leave Suryakumar Yadav? First and foremost, he needs to find a way to score runs at a rate of knots again – the same barrage that earned him an India call-up and defined his scintillating 2022 season, when he hammered 1164 runs in 31 innings at an average of 46.5 and a strike rate of 187.8. It’s not something beyond him. In fact, Surya has built a career on defying the odds. The fact that he now plays just one format for India also gives him more time to recalibrate.

The immediate next step is the IPL 2026, where Surya will turn up for the Mumbai Indians and have at least 14 matches to rediscover his groove. Going through the entire 2025 without a single fifty was a tough pill to swallow, and although he struck four fifties in five matches in and around the T20 World Cup, the last few games have again been a bit of a struggle by his lofty standards. Surya is far from his free-flowing best, and he would know it. The IPL, after all, is what made him; the tournament that first brought him to the selectors’ notice. Last season, he bludgeoned 717 runs, and if he can replicate even 70 per cent of that, Surya should be in good stead.

India’s next T20Is are in June – five of them in England – before three each against Bangladesh and Afghanistan, provided the series goes ahead. In September-October, India are scheduled to play 10 more T20Is: five against West Indies and five against New Zealand. Rest assured, Suryakumar Yadav is unlikely to feature at the Asian Games, just as he didn’t in 2023. Three more T20Is in December will cap off the year. In between these 24 T20Is, Suryakumar Yadav’s fate could very well be decided.


Iran-Isreal conflict: Urvashi Rautela is scared as she leaves Dubai amid unrest

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Iran-Isreal conflict: Urvashi Rautela is scared as she leaves Dubai amid unrest



Iran-Isreal conflict: Urvashi Rautela is scared as she leaves Dubai amid unrest

Actress Urvashi Rautela, who was in Kuwait, recently shared an emotional update as she left the country amid escalating tensions in West Asia following the conflict between Israel and Iran. As the actress boarded her flight back to India, she penned a touching note stating that she was experiencing a sudden wave of fear and that she was feeling vulnerable and anxious.

Urvashi Rautela is scared as she leaves Dubai

The actress appeared emotional and was even seen wiping away tears in a video. She asked her fans to keep her in their thoughts and pray for a safe journey back home. Taking to her Instagram stories, Urvashi shared a note, where she revealed that she was completely fine until she boarded the plane. After that, she suddenly started feeling scared. “I was completely fine until the moment I sat on the plane… but as soon as I settled in, this sudden wave of fear came over me and my heart just started racing. I don’t know why, but I started feeling really scared all of a sudden,” she mentioned.

She further added, “Right now I just feel a little vulnerable and anxious, and I really need your prayers. Please keep me in your thoughts for a safe journey. It would mean so much to me. I’m sorry if this sounds emotional or if I worried you in any way… I just felt like I should share how I’m feeling. Your prayers and support truly mean the world to me right now.”

According to reports, Urvashi had travelled to Kuwait for a professional commitment when the situation in West Asia escalated. Meanwhile, Urvashi has landed in Mumbai safely. She confirmed the same by sharing a clip from inside her car while travelling through the city.

Other celebrities who returned safely

Last week, actress Esha Gupta, who was stranded in Dubai, shared an update revealing that she had returned safely to India after being stuck in Abu Dhabi since February 28. Revealing that it was very tough to be in the situation, she expressed gratitude to the governments of India and UAE for their support and swift action. Similarly, actress Sonal Chauhan, who was also stranded in Dubai, returned safelyto India, expressing her gratitue.