Jammu and Kashmir captain Paras Dogra has been fined 50 percent of his match fee and handed two demerit points for head-butting Karnataka substitute fielder K.V. Aneesh during day two’s play in the Ranji Trophy final at the KSCA Ground on Wednesday.
A BCCI official told IANS that Dogra has been fined 50 percent of his match fee shortly after day two’s play ended. “In addition to this, two demerit points have been added to Dogra’s disciplinary record, as per the playing conditions for men’s multi-day matches,” further said the official.
The incident occurred in the 101st over of J& K’s first innings, when Dogra and Kanhaiya Wadhawan attempted to steady the innings after early setbacks. Shortly after edging a delivery from Prasidh Krishna to the boundary, Dogra exchanged words with Aneesh, who was stationed at silly point.
Dogra then advanced towards Aneesh and headbutted him while still wearing his helmet, prompting immediate intervention from on-field umpires Rohan Pandit and Ulhas Gandhe, as well as Karnataka opener Mayank Agarwal and captain Devdutt Padikkal. Later, Dogra was seen apologising to Aneesh.
The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) said it would comply with the aforementioned decision, noting that the sanction was in line with established norms by the BCCI and the match referee’s ruling.
“Whatever has been done now is as per the BCCI norms and we have to follow them. Plus, we have to follow the decision made by the match referee for this final, who is Vengalil Narayanan Kutty,” said a JKCA official to IANS.
A source in the J& K team further said the head-butt from Dogra to Aneesh may have happened in the heat of the moment. “We have no idea yet on what exactly transpired on-field, but it looks like some sledging may have led to that. Otherwise, a very calm and ethics following person like Dogra wouldn’t ever react this way, especially when on-field,” said the source.
Coming to the match, Dogra and Kanhaiya Wadhawan struck 70 each while Sahil Lotra was unbeaten on 57 to ensure Jammu & Kashmir, chasing their first Ranji Trophy title, reached 527/6 in 126 overs at the end of day two’s play, before bad light brought an early end to the proceedings.
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
Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan, father of Salman Khan, remains hospitalized at Lilavati Hospital after suffering a brain stroke and is under close observation. Late at night, Aamir Khan was seen visiting him for the second time. A video showed the actor arriving quietly, dressed simply and appearing concerned as he checked on the veteran’s health.
Salman Khan‘s father and veteran screenwriter Salim Khan was hospitalized recently after suffering a brain stroke. The Hindi cinema veteran has not been discharged and is under close observation at the Lilavati hospital in Mumbai. Now, late at night, Aamir Khan was seen at the hospital as he visited Bhaijaan of Bollywood’s father.
Aamir Khan pays a visit to Salim Khan
A video of Aamir Khan showcased him arriving at the hospital late at night. Dressed simply, the actor opted to avoid grabbing attention. This is the second time he has paid a visit to Salim Khan, who is recovering at the hospital. The actor looked concerned in the video, which showed him arriving at the venue. Check out the video here.
Aamir Khan’s first visit to Salim Khan in hospital
Earlier, Aamir Khan visited Salim Khan in the hospital with his girlfriend, Gauri Spratt. Later, at an event, the actor shared, “Main Salim saab se personally nahi mil paya. Main family se mila hu unke. Hum sab dua kar rahe hai wo jaldi theek ho jaye aur ghar aaye. Hum dua kar rahe hai unki health ke liye (I couldn’t meet Salim saab personally. I have met his family. We are all praying that he recovers soon and returns home. We are praying for his health).“
More about Salim Khan’s health
Salim Khan was rushed to the hospital by his family physician. As soon as Salman Khan got to know about the hospitalization, he left his shoot in Madh Island, Mumbai, and arrived at the hospital to check on his father. The doctors had told the media that Salim Khan had undergone a procedure after suffering a brain stroke. They clarified that no surgery was performed on the veteran screenwriter.
More about Aamir Khan
Aamir Khan is set to make a comeback as an actor soon. He has announced that he will be moving on from his producer duties and returning to acting. As of now, he has backed the upcoming film ‘Lahore 1947’, starring Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta. The release date has not been announced yet.
MUMBAI: Worldline will sell its India payments arm to BillDesk for 60 million euros in equity. The deal includes a long-term software pact where BillDesk keeps using Worldline tech. Worldline will continue to keep India as a talent/innovation hub and evolve its Global Capability Centers into AI-first innovation hubs for automation/GenAI/agentic-AI at scale for Western Europe.The objective of the sale is to sharpen Europe core, shrink operations and redeploy capital. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026.BillDesk is among the earliest digital payment platform in India founded in 2000. It specialises in bill payments, recurring mandates and acquiring online merchants. The company has 50-60% of online bill payments in India.Worldline India was created in 2014 when Atos carved out its payments division. TNN
Hollywood actress Jennifer Garner has opened up about the realities of co-parenting her three children with her former husband, Ben Affleck.
Describing both the “loss” and the lessons that come with raising children across two households, Jennifer, 53, made the remarks during an appearance on Bustle’s One Nightstand YouTube series, where she discussed bringing up Violet, 20, Fin, 17, and Samuel, 13, following her split from Ben Affleck, 53, to whom the actress was married from 2005 until 2018, reports ‘Female First UK’.
Speaking to host Charlotte Owen, Jennifer said when the children are with her, she has to “become mom and dad”, and there is a “loss” that comes with co-parenting.
Addressing how she finds the balance in raising her children with a “conscientious upbringing” and “appreciation”, Jennifer added, “And I think my kids’ dad does too. Especially when your kids grow up in two separate households, I become mom and dad and he becomes dad and mom”.
She further mentioned, “You kind of can’t help it, right? Because you don’t have the benefit of both sides of the yin and yang being in the same house. There’s a little bit of loss in that, but there’s also something gained in that. You also just learn. It’s made me let go and not focus so much on bringing up”.
As per ‘Female First UK’, last month, Jennifer described the breakdown of her marriage as “hard”.
She told Marie Claire UK, “You have to be smart about what you can and can’t handle, and I could not handle what was out there. The fact of it is what was hard. The actual breaking up of a family is what was hard. Losing a true partnership and friendship is what was hard”.
Jennifer added putting her children first never felt like a sacrifice, despite her career in Hollywood.
She said, “It never felt like a sacrifice. It was really hard to go to work and it definitely shaped the jobs I chose, in a big way”.
And speaking about navigating public scrutiny, Jennifer went on, “Not hard in the grand scheme of what is hard in the world, but tricky for me and tricky for my family”.
She also addressed the period when Ben reunited with Jennifer Lopez, 56, in 2021.
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
India are up against an opposition – Zimbabwe – that already silenced a home crowd in the group stages when they beat Sri Lanka in Colombo, and Thursday presents them another opportunity to replicate that success at the noisy Chepauk. Both teams find themselves in a must-win situation and Zimbabwe’s Ryan Burl didn’t venture into the “dangerous” territory of silencing India in India.
TimesofIndia.com in Chennai: has put India in a position where they can’t afford to slip up. Their net run rate (NRR) is the second worst in the Super Eight stage. To keep their last-four hopes alive, the Men in Blue need to win convincingly against Zimbabwe and the West Indies. Win is the keyword as anything less would keep the permutations alive but effectively end their campaign. Even a win requires an assist from South Africa, but this scenario should place them in better territory. Now, in the form of Zimbabwe, India are up against an opposition that has already silenced a home crowd in the group stages when they beat Sri Lanka in Colombo. Thursday presents them with another opportunity to replicate that success at the noisy Chepauk. Both teams find themselves in a must-win situation and Zimbabwe’s Ryan Burl didn’t venture into the “dangerous” territory of silencing India in India. The 31-year-old prefers to focus on his side’s process and sticking to what worked for them vs Sri Lanka, in Sri Lanka.
India Playing XI drama: How three players are fighting for two spots | Sanju Samson IN?
“It will be quite dangerous to answer how I am going to silence India in India. No, I mean obviously playing against Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka with home ground advantage is very difficult. But ultimately how we approach tomorrow’s game is going to be no different to how we’ve approached the games before in the sense that we have our processes, we’ve got our game plan, yes it does change here and there according to the conditions and your opponents but ultimately we want to play the game that we know how to play and we have found a lot of success doing it that way. So we would obviously want to focus on as much as what our strengths are but taking into account the challenges that the opposition does present,” said Burl.However, the pressure seems greater in the Indian camp as the runaway favourites find themselves in a position to keep their campaign alive. A side which dominated the bilateral circuit for close to two years finds itself in a delicate position with players running low on confidence. Even during Tuesday’s training at Chepauk, the batters, who were short on runs, took a little while to regain the dominating flow which helped them set the stage on fire in recent months. Some World Cup debutants are probably coming to terms with the pressure of the multi-nation tournament, compounded by the added pressure of it being at home.
Chennai: Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani during a training session ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and Zimbabwe, at MA Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai. (PTI Photo/R Senthilkumar)(PTI02_25_2026_000358A)
“World Cup in India, there will be pressure. I am a big believer that any international game you play, even I have played some ordinary district game, when you go to bat, you will feel pressure. If you do not feel that anxiety, it means you are not playing cricket. So that anxiety you learn to deal with it from the start of your career. And this is a big pressure game obviously when you are representing a country and a World Cup in India and a lot of expectation. “But I honestly believe that for a professional that is part of his life and we should deal with that in a positive manner. Just because we lost one game and we did not have good partnership and all, people talk more about it. But I honestly think they all are good enough to handle that pressure. If we want to win the World Cup, we have to handle that pressure. If we can’t, then it’s tough. And I don’t believe that there is anything this team cannot handle. So it’s just, I’m personally looking for that momentum. Once we start getting that momentum again, if we do it from tomorrow, I think they will be picking up at the right time. So I am looking at it that way,” said India batting coach Kotak.India are yet to play a perfect game in the tournament and the famed batting, billed as the real deal in the build-up, is yet to fire on all cylinders. Amongst the teams that qualified for the Super 8 stage, India’s collective batting is the worst at around 20 and they have recorded as many as 11 ducks so far, again the most. Not a number to be proud of but it isn’t something which the think tank is losing sleep over. According to Kotak, the team focuses on collective success or failure; individual setbacks do not weigh them down in the business end of the tournament.
Chennai: Zimbabwe’s captain Sikandar Raza during a training session ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and Zimbabwe, at MA Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai. (PTI )
In Zimbabwe, India again faces an opponent aware of its shortcomings and possessing enough variety in its attack to test the best. Blessing Muzarabani has been a real threat, already picking up 11 wickets in the tournament. However, the 6’9″ bowler isn’t the only weapon in their arsenal; they also boast effective spin and seam options. “We’ve obviously got a lot of options and that’s probably one of the advantages of the Zimbabwe lineup is we’ve got left arm seamer, right arm seamer, we’ve got couple leg spinners, we’ve got an off spinner, we’ve got a left arm offie. So we do have quite a lot of depth and I think it will probably just come down to what are the match-ups depending on the batters that are out there at the time and obviously the combinations that we do look to go for,” explained Burl.The lanky Blessing stood out during the nets; it was difficult to miss the intimidating frame. Against India, he will definitely bring something different to the table and Burl emphasised that he hasn’t received the credit he deserves for his performances in the tournament.
Chennai: Zimbabwe’s Tadiwanashe Marumani during a training session ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and Zimbabwe, at MA Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai. (PTI)
“I mean being 6 foot 9 does help. I have to give a lot more credit to Blessing than he has received, because he’s been out for about four to six months prior to this tournament. And he obviously had a lot of doubts coming in with his own body and how he was feeling and stuff like that. The success that he has had with the ball has been amazing. It’s not something that has only just come about now. “He has been doing this in international cricket previously. He’s obviously someone that we really do, we’re really happy having in our squad. He’s one of those bowlers that’s obviously 6’9″, and he does kind of come a little bit from beyond the perpendicular. So jagging the ball back into the righties and across the lefties with that steep bounce does propose quite a lot of a challenge for the batters. So I’m a lot happier knowing that he’s on my team and not on the opposition,” added Burl.In a few hours, India’s campaign will gain much more clarity, starting with the game between South Africa and West Indies. The result of that game will have a major bearing on India’s campaign as after the Ahmedabad blip, the control has slipped
US-Iran tensions live: US-Iran nuclear talks resume in Geneva amid Donald Trump’s warning to ‘never allow’
US Iran tensions live updates: The United States and Iran are scheduled to meet in Geneva on Thursday for the third round of nuclear talks this month, as US President Donald Trump stepped up military pressure and reiterated his warning that Washington will not allow Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons.
The latest round of indirect talks comes amid a significant US military buildup in the Middle East. The two sides are attempting to break a decades-long standoff over Iran’s nuclear program – which Washington, Western powers and Israel believe aims to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran has consistently denied the accusation and says its program is for peaceful purposes.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to take part in discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, a US official told news agency Reuters. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi will once again mediate the talks, following the previous round held in Geneva last week.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi is also expected to be in Geneva during the talks, as he was last week, to hold discussions with both delegations.
America-Iran diplomacy under pressure
The talks are going on in a tense backdrop. In June last year, the United States joined Israel in attacking Iranian nuclear sites. Since then, Iran has warned that it would retaliate strongly if attacked again.
Trump, who is serving his second term as US President after winning the 2025 election, addressed the issue during his State of the Union speech to Congress on Tuesday. He made it clear that diplomacy is his preferred path, but military action is an option.
Trump said, “My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy – but one thing is certain: I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror to possess nuclear weapons.”
He reiterated the warning in no uncertain terms: “But one thing is certain. I will never allow the number one sponsor of terror in the world, which they still are, to have nuclear weapons. Can’t let that happen.”
Trump also said Iran “wants to make a deal”, but added that Washington has not yet heard what he called “the secret word” – a firm declaration that “we will never build nuclear weapons.”
Earlier, on February 19, Trump had set a strict deadline, saying Iran must reach an agreement within 10 to 15 days or face consequences, warning that “really bad things” would happen otherwise.
Tehran signals flexibility, but draws red lines
On behalf of the Iranian side, Araqchi has said that any agreement is possible only if diplomacy is given priority. “A deal is within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority,” Arracchi said in a statement on X.
He also stressed that Iran wants a “fair” and quick deal, but that it will not give up its right to peaceful nuclear technology.
Big stake for Iran
According to a Reuters report on Sunday, Tehran has offered new concessions in exchange for sanctions relief and formal recognition of its right to enrich uranium.
Yet significant shortcomings remain. A senior Iranian official told Reuters the two sides were still deeply divided over issues including the scope and sequence of relief from crippling US sanctions.
The stakes are high for both governments. Inside Iran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is in what analysts describe as one of the most challenging periods of his 36-year rule. The Iranian economy is under severe pressure from tight sanctions, while renewed protests followed major unrest and a bloody crackdown in January.
…read more
The latest round of indirect talks comes amid a significant US military buildup in the Middle East. The two sides are attempting to break a decades-long standoff over Iran’s nuclear program – which Washington, Western powers and Israel believe aims to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran has consistently denied the accusation and says its program is for peaceful purposes.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to take part in discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, a US official told news agency Reuters. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi will once again mediate the talks, following the previous round held in Geneva last week.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi is also expected to be in Geneva during the talks, as he was last week, to hold discussions with both delegations.
America-Iran diplomacy under pressure
The talks are going on in a tense backdrop. In June last year, the United States joined Israel in attacking Iranian nuclear sites. Since then, Iran has warned that it would retaliate strongly if attacked again.
Trump, who is serving his second term as US President after winning the 2025 election, addressed the issue during his State of the Union speech to Congress on Tuesday. He made it clear that diplomacy is his preferred path, but military action is an option.
Trump said, “My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy – but one thing is certain: I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror to possess nuclear weapons.”
He reiterated the warning in no uncertain terms: “But one thing is certain. I will never allow the number one sponsor of terror in the world, which they still are, to have nuclear weapons. Can’t let that happen.”
Trump also said Iran “wants to make a deal”, but added that Washington has not yet heard what he called “the secret word” – a firm declaration that “we will never build nuclear weapons.”
Earlier, on February 19, Trump had set a strict deadline, saying Iran must reach an agreement within 10 to 15 days or face consequences, warning that “really bad things” would happen otherwise.
Tehran signals flexibility, but draws red lines
On behalf of the Iranian side, Araqchi has said that any agreement is possible only if diplomacy is given priority. “A deal is within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority,” Arracchi said in a statement on X.
He also stressed that Iran wants a “fair” and quick deal, but that it will not give up its right to peaceful nuclear technology.
Big stake for Iran
According to a Reuters report on Sunday, Tehran has offered new concessions in exchange for sanctions relief and formal recognition of its right to enrich uranium.
Yet significant shortcomings remain. A senior Iranian official told Reuters the two sides were still deeply divided over issues including the scope and sequence of relief from crippling US sanctions.
The stakes are high for both governments. Inside Iran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is in what analysts describe as one of the most challenging periods of his 36-year rule. The Iranian economy is under severe pressure from tight sanctions, while renewed protests followed major unrest and a bloody crackdown in January.
Follow all updates here:
February 26, 2026 8:20:12 am First
US-Iran tension live updates: Talks resume after first round in Oman, Geneva
US-Iran tensions live updates: The current round of diplomacy follows two previous meetings this month. The United States and Iran held talks for the first time in Oman, which is brokering the talks, before convening a second round of meetings in Geneva last week.
An earlier effort to negotiate last June failed dramatically when Israel launched surprise attacks on Iran, triggering a 12-day war. Washington briefly joined the conflict and attacked Iranian nuclear sites.
February 26, 2026 8:17:49 am First
US-Iran tension live updates: Trump claims Iran is developing missiles that can reach US, Tehran responds
US-Iran tensions live updates: In his State of the Union address, US President Donald Trump stepped up his rhetoric against Tehran, accusing Iran of “pursuing terrifying nuclear ambitions”.
He went on to claim that Iran “already has developed missiles that can threaten our bases in Europe and abroad, and they are working on creating missiles that will soon reach the United States.”
Iran immediately rejected the allegations. The Iranian Foreign Ministry described Trump’s claims as a “big lie” and refuted suggestions that Tehran was building intercontinental missile capabilities aimed at the US mainland.
Based on Iran’s own public disclosures, its missiles have a maximum range of approximately 2,000 kilometers (1,200 mi). The US Congressional Research Service has estimated their range to be about 3,000 kilometres, still less than a third of the distance to the continental United States, AFP reports.
February 26, 2026 7:59:22 am First
US-Iran tension live updates: Key players to attend Geneva nuclear talks today
US-Iran tensions live updates: The upcoming round of US-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva will bring together senior representatives from both sides along with key international mediators.
From the US side, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to participate in the discussions. An American official told news agency Reuters that President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will also be present.
Iran will be represented by its Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who is leading Tehran’s diplomatic involvement in the renewed talks.
Oman will once again play the role of mediator, with Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi facilitating indirect talks. Muscat has been the center of backchannel diplomacy between Washington and Tehran, including the last round held in Geneva last week.
Additionally, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi is expected to be in Geneva during the talks. Grossi is likely to hold discussions with both delegations, as he did last week.
Rumours had abounded for weeks that Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal 5 is inspired by Do Aur Do Paanch (1980). Earlier this month, the filmmaker dismissed these reports. Now, it looks like we may get a movie bearing a connection to the Amitabh Bachchan and late Shashi Kapoor-starrer, not from Shetty’s stable, but from producer Deepak Mukut. The producer revealed to mid-day that the project is at the scripting stage.
Mukut, who has the rights to the 1980 original, shared, “A decade ago, I was planning a remake with Kunal Kohli as the director, and Abhishek [Bachchan] and Bobby Deol playing Bachchanji and Shashi Kapoor’s roles [respectively]. At that time, it could not materialise.”
A still from ‘Do Aur Do Paanch’
The producer is now giving a second shot to the project. “I haven’t [decided] whether the movie will be inspired by, a remake, or a sequel to Do Aur Do Paanch. Ideally, I’d like to cast Abhishek and Bobby again as they look great together on screen,” he said.
The rumours surrounding Golmaal 5 had reached Mukut too, who immediately took action. He recalled, “I put the notice in a trade magazine, so that no one else can remake or be inspired by it. I own Do Aur Do Paanch’s rights.”
Bobby Deol and Abhishek Bachchan
In early February, Rohit Shetty shut down rumours of ‘Golmaal 5’ being inspired by ‘Do Aur Do Paanch’. The filmmaker stated that the reports “are factually incorrect, misleading, and completely untrue”.
You know, if you landed at Meenambakkam today, you probably wouldn’t even realise a World Cup was on. There aren’t any massive Suryakumar Yadav billboards greeting you, and you won’t find a giant Sanju Samson cut-out staring you down on that final, sticky stretch of Anna Salai.
Chennai isn’t a city that always performs its passion for the cameras. But don’t let the lack of bunting fool you; the obsession here is felt in the humidity and heard in the fierce debates over filter coffee. On Thursday, that quiet anticipation will erupt. The roads leading to Chepauk will dissolve into a shimmering sea of blue as the knowledgeable Chennai crowd makes its pilgrimage.
India will face Zimbabwe in their T20 World Cup Super 8 fixture in Chennai at 7 pm IST. The match will be broadcast on Star Sports and streamed live on JioHotstar.
Chennai has a reputation for appreciating the artistry of visiting sides, and this T20 World Cup has been no exception. But this week, the spirit is different; the city will roar exclusively for the home side, acutely aware that the Men in Blue are gasping for air.
The city may have been denied a glamour tie, but the local faithful understand the gravity of the situation. Along Bells Road and Wallajah Road, sandwiched between filter coffee stalls and the spiced heat of Triplicane’s biryani pots, the air is thick with whispers of permutations and combinations. There is a sobering realisation that India’s campaign could be mathematically extinguished before they even take guard; the result of the West Indies vs South Africa double-header earlier in the day will dictate their fate. (More about this here.)
That 76-run hammering on Sunday in Ahmedabad against South Africa hurt India’s pride and sent their Net Run Rate off a cliff. Now, after that shock in the west, the team is looking to the dark, abrasive clay of Chepauk for a foothold.
THE CHEPAUK TWIST
Here’s the twist. We’ve always thought of Chepauk as a lion’s den for spinners, a dark, turning trap. But this World Cup has flipped that narrative. The Marina breeze has brought with it a proper batting surface. Surprisingly, Chennai has produced the lowest bowling average for spin and the highest batting average of any venue in the tournament so far.
Chepauk has been the batter’s best friend in T20 World Cup 2026
For an Indian top order that has looked a little uneasy against the turning ball, this statistical quirk could not have come at a better time. While other venues across the country have offered two-paced challenges, Chepauk has rewarded clean stroke-play. It’s a funny old game. The venue once feared for exposing weaknesses might now allow India to lean into their strengths. Chepauk could be the surface that allows India’s big hitters to play with freedom rather than caution.
After the heartbreak in Ahmedabad, everyone is hoping the climb back begins here, in the sultry heart of the south.
Zimbabwe, who stunned Sri Lanka and Australia on spin-friendly pitches in Colombo, struggled to find rhythm with both bat and ball during their 107-run defeat to the West Indies in Mumbai. Sikandar Raza’s men now face another stern examination on a surface that promises runs.
IND vs ZIM: HEAD-TO-HEAD
India and Zimbabwe have met 13 times in T20Is, with India winning 10 of them. Thursday’s encounter will be their first meeting in India in the format.
CHENNAI: PITCH AND CONDITIONS
A black-soil pitch will be used, and it is expected to be a true surface. The match will be played on the centre strip. Zimbabwe, who endured the punishment of short boundaries when they conceded 254 to the West Indies in Mumbai, will welcome the more balanced dimensions in Chennai. However, the newly laid outfield has been lightning quick, offering full value for shots.
The MA Chidambaram Stadium has been a batting-friendly venue in this tournament. The batting average here is 32, nearly eight runs higher than the second-best venue, Ahmedabad.
In each of the six matches played here so far, teams have crossed 170. The first-innings scores in the two evening matches have been 200 and 196.
Dew is unlikely to play a major role at this time of year in Chennai, and no weather interruptions are expected.
IND vs ZIM: TEAM NEWS
India face a significant selection decision heading into this crucial fixture. They may consider introducing a right-hander at the top after opponents repeatedly targeted their left-handed-heavy top order with part-time off-spin.
Off-spinners, most of them part-timers, have taken 12 wickets against India in five matches, exposing a pattern Zimbabwe will be eager to exploit.
“I won’t give away too many secrets on how we’re going to approach tomorrow, but what you’ve said is spot on, and it is something we are aware of,” Zimbabwe all-rounder Ryan Burl said on the eve of the game when asked about India’s struggles against spin.
It was no surprise that Zimbabwe’s spinners had a lengthy workout at the nets. Captain Raza was even suggesting Muzarabani, the 6-foot-8 inch tall pacer, try some off-cutters.
India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak hinted at Sanju Samson’s return to the top of the order. Abhishek Sharma has endured a lean run, but the team management is expected to back the World No. 1 T20I batter to rediscover form. Ishan Kishan could return to No. 3, a position in which he scored a century against New Zealand last month.
Rinku Singh, who travelled home to visit his ailing father, remains a doubt. It will be interesting to see whether India use Tilak Varma as a floater, although retaining the in-form Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4 remains the logical choice.
Vice-captain Axar Patel is set to replace Washington Sundar.
For Zimbabwe, captain Sikandar Raza is fully fit after recovering from a blow to his hand sustained against the West Indies.
Zimbabwe’s pace spearhead Blessing Muzarabani looked sharp in the nets and will be central to their plans, alongside Richard Ngarava. They also possess variety in their spin attack, and will hope the experience of Graeme Cremer and the resourcefulness of Raza can make a greater impact after a difficult outing in Mumbai.
Watch out for Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani, who have been fire and ice at the top of the order. India will be wary of Bennett’s class and Marumani’s fearless approach.
ZIMBABWE XI: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Dion Myers, Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (captain), Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Graeme Cremer, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani.
QUOTES CORNER
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak:
“First thing, I don’t think we struggle on black soil. Slower pitches in T20 cricket can become very slow, and that makes it difficult for any team. But I don’t think the wickets have been that slow. Here also, the wicket looks good for scoring.”
Zimbabwe all-rounder Ryan Burl:
“To be honest, I think we can only take positives from that defeat to the West Indies. It sounds strange, but we hadn’t really had a bad game until then. There are massive learnings in that. India also had a tough game against South Africa, so both teams are looking to respond. There’s no better place to do that than here.”
Veteran actor Jaya Bachchan has dismissed speculation that her sometimes tense interactions with the paparazzi could negatively affect the career of her grandson, Agastya Nanda, affirming that his destiny in the film industry is his own to shape.
Jaya Bachchan recalled that her husband, Amitabh Bachchan’s press ban couldn’t affect his career, adding that Agastya Nanda has the determination to carve his own path in Bollywood.
Jaya Bachchan on her feud with paparazzi affecting Agastya
Jaya has been caught on camera rebuking photographers, and recently drew criticism for comments on their conduct and attire. At a media interaction, she elaborated on her perspective on press dynamics while firmly separating those from her grandson’s future in cinema. In a recent interview with Variety India, she stated, “No power on earth can change my grandson’s destiny. If Agastya is destined to be a star, nothing can change it. Agastya will have his own equation with the press. It has nothing to do with me.”
Jaya also reflected on an earlier period in her family’s cinematic legacy, recalling that her husband Amitabh Bachchan once faced a prolonged press ban. “At the height of his stardom, Amitji was banned by the press for almost 15 years. How did that impact his career?” she asked, underscoring that even significant media pushback did not impede his long and influential trajectory.
Agastya, the son of Shweta Bachchan and Nikhil Nanda, stepped into Bollywood with the 2023 Netflix adaptation The Archies alongside Suhana Khan. He followed it with the war drama Ikkis, directed by Sriram Raghavan, which marked the final screen appearance of actor Dharmendra. Despite considerable anticipation for the project, Ikkis struggled to make a substantial commercial impact. The film earned a modest ₹33 crore worldwide over its full theatrical run, leading trade analysts to classify it as a box-office flop.
Jaya, who has previously spoken about Agastya’s determination and his roots outside the typical actor upbringing, remains supportive of his efforts to build his own identity. Earlier, she praised his work ethic and resolve, noting that neither of his parents was an actor and that he was learning from his larger family in the industry.
Jaya and Agastya’s upcoming film projects
For Jaya Bachchan, the veteran actor is slated to appear in an upcoming film titled Dil Ka Darwaaza Khol Na Darling (provisionally titled), a romantic comedy directed by Vikas Bahl that also stars Siddhant Chaturvedi and Wamiqa Gabbi. The project is in production and is expected to showcase a lighter, more fun side of Jaya, in contrast to her recent dramatic roles. This marks a rare return to feature films after her appearance in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023). After Ikkis, Agastya is said to be starring in a new romance project produced by Maddok Films, with reports suggesting he might be paired alongside Naomika Saran.
