Been A Pretty Whirlwind Couple Of Weeks, Says McConchie On Sudden T20 WC Call-up
T20 World Cup: Cole McConchie, New Zealands late addition to the squad, had a night to remember in Kolkata during the semi-final clash as the Kiwis knocked out South Africa to become the first finalists of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup. The fast-bowler said the weeks since his call-up to the side have been a 'whirlwind', saying he was super stoked to receive the opportunity. McConchie, alongside Rachin Ravindra, delivered crucial blows to the Proteas top order, restricting their scoring opportunities and setting up a commanding position for New Zealand. He replaced Michael Bracewell after an unfortunate injury and played a pivotal role in their semi-final victory over South Africa, and the Black Caps will now play the tournaments summit clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Reflecting on his sudden call-up, McConchie told New Zealand Cricket, Yeah, it's been a pretty whirlwind couple of weeks really. Yeah, I was preparing for a four-trophy match down in Invercargill, and I was actually studying in my room the night before the game and yeah, got a text from Black Caps selector Gavin Larson to give him a call. So I gave him a call and obviously the unfortunate news that Michael Bracewood had been ruled out. On the excitement of joining the squad and travelling to India, he said, But yeah, super stoked to get that call up and yeah, excited at the opportunity. So things unfolded pretty quickly to go from Invercargill to Christchurch, sort out visas, flights and get on a flight over to India. And as I say, the last couple of weeks have been pretty whirlwind, but super special to be here and just excited at the prospect of a World Cup final and everything that that will bring. McConchie described the challenge of bowling in the powerplay with limited preparation. Yeah, a little bit. Sort of new to be prepared to bowl early in that power play, especially with a couple of left-handers. Only found out I was playing sort of just before the warm up, so no real time for nerves, he said. But always be prepared, and Sats and Rob sort of said if I was going to play, like potentially some good overs up top. So thankfully it went to plan and kind of got things started nicely. But obviously, yeah, great team performance, he added. He spoke about adapting to the pitch conditions as he said, I think just trying to bowl my best ball on that surface. Yeah, see if I can get a bit of spin out of the surface, bit of bounce. But yeah, obviously I was pretty hyped up, especially after that second one to get a couple of wickets there. And those two had been going well this tournament. So yeah, very excited. Reflecting on New Zealands overall performance against a strong South African batting line-up, McConchie stated, Yeah, obviously, you know, looked a really, really good wicket for batting. I think the way that, you know, we started in that power play and were able to restrict sort of especially up to sort of overs 13, 14. And it's probably, it sounds a little bit strange, but nice in a way that they got a few out of the middle at the end. It probably showed the strength of that, the sort of quality of the batting wicket. And the way that Tim and Finn came out after that and just put on an absolute clinic. Yeah, it was great to watch. On the emotions of a World Cup semifinal, he stated, So, so special. I think obviously, you know, World Cup semifinal, a couple of nerves. But after that power play, I think, you know, kind of put any nerves to rest. And the way that those two strike the ball, you know, super special. And, you know, Finn obviously got the credit there at the end. Some amazing hitting, world-class striking. On the emotions of a World Cup semifinal, he stated, So, so special. I think obviously, you know, World Cup semifinal, a couple of nerves. But after that power play, I think, you know, kind of put any nerves to rest. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Looking ahead to the final, he remained focused yet grounded. And I'm sure, you know, things will just start to ramp up towards the final on Sunday. But as always in Kiwi fashions, kind of take things in our stride. And enjoy the moment as we can. Because it's, you know, pretty special to be heading into a World Cup final. And I'm sure it's going to be a great few days leading into it, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
C V Ananda Bose resigns as Bengal Governor ahead of state polls, R N Ravi to replace
Kolkata, Mar 5 (PTI) In a sudden move days before the assembly elections in West Bengal are scheduled to be announced, Governor C V Ananda Bose resigned from his chair in New Delhi on Thursday evening. A shocked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that Tamil Nadu Governor and ex-deputy NSA, R N Ravi, will hold additional charge of West Bengal following Boses exit. Bose, who was appointed Bengal governor on November 17, 2022, told PTI: Yes, I have resigned. I have been the Governor of Bengal for three-and-a-half years; its enough for me. He, however, did not disclose
Fatherhood, Sleep, T20 World Cup Final: Matt Henry's Whirlwind Journey
New Zealand's Matt Henry played a doting father to his new-born son back home and returned to help his team reach the T20 World Cup final, all in a space of five days. Pace spearhead Henry returned figures of 2-34 in New Zealand's crushing nine-wicket win over South Africa in the first semi-final in Kolkata on Wednesday. Opener Finn Allen blasted the fastest-ever T20 World Cup hundred in 33 balls to lead his team into Sunday's final in Ahmedabad, where they will face India or England. Henry's bowling effort was special after he rejoined the team late on the eve of the match. He the took field less than 24 hours after he landed back in India after flying home for the birth of his second child after New Zealand's last Super Eights match against England on February 27. There was a lot of sleep happening on the way back to be honest, a smiling Henry told reporters. So yeah just focusing on my family to get home, that was important for me, and then it worked out that I could get back for the semi-final so it's great to be here. Henry and his wife Holly Carran have welcomed a baby boy. They're doing great so yeah it was pretty special to be able to get home for that, said the 34-year-old Henry. Obviously Holly's doing really well and Jack's really good as well and Annabelle's enjoying being a big sister so it's all good. New Zealand have reached their second T20 World Cup final. They lost the title clash to Australia in 2021 in the United Arab Emirates. It's pretty special to be able to reach another final, the guys are really excited but for now just enjoy this (win), said Henry. I think the guys have been playing some really good cricket. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Finn was just unbelievable so we'll enjoy that and then we can move on and get ready for what's to come.
CV Ananda Bose resigns as Bengal Governor; RN Ravi to replace
KOLKATA, Mar 5: West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose resigned from his post in New Delhi on Thursday evening. Bose, who was appointed Bengal governor on November 17, 2022, told PTI: Yes, I have resigned. I have been the Governor of Bengal for three-and-a-half years; its enough for me. He, however, did not disclose the grounds of his sudden resignation and whether there was any political pressure that may have prompted his decision. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee confirmed that Tamil [] The post CV Ananda Bose resigns as Bengal Governor; RN Ravi to replace appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly polls, the Election Commission of India has directed enforcement agencies to intensify their activities and bolster manpower. A 13-member ECI full bench will visit Kolkata from March 8-10 to review poll preparedness, holding meetings with political parties, officials, and administrative heads.
'35% Vote Share Across 210 Seats': Why BJP Feels Bengal May Be Heading For 2026 Tipping Point
BJP sources say multiple ground assessments indicate a telling shift in West Bengal, especially in the Presidency regionKolkata and its surrounding urban belt
T20 WC: I Just Wanna Go Home, Says WI Coach Sammy Amid Delayed Departure From Kolkata
T20 World Cup: Amidst the West Indies experiencing delay in going home after their exit from the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup, head coach Darren Sammy expressed his view by saying he just wanna go home. Two-time champions West Indies campaign ended in a five-wicket defeat to India in the Super Eights at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 1. Since then, they have been stuck in their team hotel. I just wanna go home, said Sammy on his X account on Thursday. However Sammy later updated on team's departure on X and wrote, At least an update, tell us something. Today tmw, next week. Its been 5 days, wrote Sammy on another post on his 'X' account. West Indies are one of the teams stranded in India due to the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict leading to the closure of the airspace in West Asia. Previously, Cricket West Indies (CWI) said Monday that the team's departure from India was postponed due to international airspace restrictions in the Gulf Region. These restrictions are a direct result of the security threats posed by military action in the Gulf Region, which has impacted several international flight routes and required airlines to adjust scheduled services for safety reasons. CWI is working closely with the International Cricket Council (ICC), relevant governmental authorities and airline partners to secure the earliest possible safe travel arrangements for the squad and support staff. The safety and well-being of our players, coaches, and officials remain our highest priority. The team is currently accommodated in India and remains safe and well. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide further updates as confirmed travel arrangements are finalised, the CWI had said at that time. Just like the West Indies, Zimbabwe played their last match at the T20 World Cup on March 1, losing to South Africa by five wickets in their Super Eights clash in New Delhi. They were to depart in three batches from Monday, but the plan was cancelled due to airspace restrictions. The team is currently accommodated in India and remains safe and well. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide further updates as confirmed travel arrangements are finalised, the CWI had said at that time. Also Read: Live Cricket Score South Africa are also awaiting their travel schedule for going back home after losing to New Zealand by nine wickets in the semi-final. If England bows out of the competition after losing their second semi-final to India in Mumbai, they will also need to sort their travel plans for going back home. Article Source: IANS
Fatherhood, Sleep, T20 World Cup Final: Henry's Whirlwind Journey
Pace spearhead Henry returned figures of 2-34 in New Zealand's crushing nine-wicket win over South Africa in the first semi-final in Kolkata on Wednesday
Sammy issues plea as West Indies remain stuck in Kolkata hotel
West Indies have not been given an official update in terms of their travel schedule but the first batch of Zimbabwe squad members have now left for home
T20 WC: Pretty Special To Reach Another Final After Being Home For Childs Birth, Says Henry
T20 World Cup: New Zealand pacer Matt Henry said it felt pretty special to reach another T20 World Cup final through a comprehensive nine-wicket win over South Africa in the semi-final, especially after going back home for the birth of his son. At the Eden Gardens, pace spearhead Matt Henry picked 2-34 in New Zealand entering their second T20 World Cup final. Opener Finn Allen smashed the fastest century in tournament history in just 33 balls to propel New Zealand into Sundays final in Ahmedabad, where they will face either India or England. Henrys effort with the ball was notable given that he took the field less than 24 hours after landing back in India, after having flown home on paternity leave following New Zealands last Super Eights match against England on February 27. Pretty special to be able to get home for that. Obviously Holly's doing really well and Jack's really good as well and Annabelle's enjoying being a big sister so it's all good. So, no, it was pretty special to be home for that. It's pretty special to be able to reach another final, the guys are really excited but for now just enjoy this (win). I think the guys have been playing some really good cricket. Finn was just unbelievable so we'll enjoy that and then we can move on and get ready for what's to come, said Henry to reporters at the conclusion of the game. Asked on how he prepared for the semi-final clash, Henry said he leaned on his experience and the sleep hours he clocked while coming to Kolkata. Well we've had lots of cricket, so I think at this point there's trust. Obviously if there's rain you can't train either, so just going for that approach where making sure they're mentally fresh, mentally ready and just being confident in your skills that you possess. So for me it was getting here and doing a job for the team and thankfully we did that. There was a lot of sleep happening on the way back, to be honest. So for me just focusing on obviously my family to get home - that was important for me and then if it worked out that I could get home in time then obviously it'd be great. Sorry, I was always going home but get back for the semi-final, so it's great to be here. Asked on how he prepared for the semi-final clash, Henry said he leaned on his experience and the sleep hours he clocked while coming to Kolkata. Well we've had lots of cricket, so I think at this point there's trust. Obviously if there's rain you can't train either, so just going for that approach where making sure they're mentally fresh, mentally ready and just being confident in your skills that you possess. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Obviously it's tough when you've got a small side (boundaries) like that as well to protect. It can be really dangerous with the power-hitters they (South Africa) do possess. So I think the way we did a great job controlling that. Also wresting some momentum into our batting innings, which is obviously really good as well. Article Source: IANS
Wow! Chicken Celebrates Ramadan with the Launch of Shaahi Chicken Haleem
This Ramadan, Wow! Chicken by Wow! Momo Foods Pvt. Ltd. introduces Shaahi Chicken Haleem, a rich and slow cooked festive special crafted especially for Iftar. Available for a limited period till 30th March, the indulgent offering aims to bring the warmth of tradition to customers across key cities. Shaahi Chicken Haleem Ramadan evenings are defined by anticipation. The first sip of water. The first bite after a day of fasting,and the comforting dishes that bring families together. At the heart of many Iftar tables sits Haleem, hearty, wholesome and deeply satisfying. Wow! Chickens Shaahi Chicken Haleem brings that familiar emotion to life. Prepared with tender chicken, slow simmered lentils and a carefully balanced blend of aromatic spices, the dish is cooked for hours to achieve a smooth, velvety texture that delivers depth and warmth in every spoonful. It recreates the nostalgia of traditional Haleem while offering the convenience and consistency of a trusted QSR brand. Ramadan is not just about food. It is about emotion, tradition and togetherness. With Shaahi Chicken Haleem, we wanted to bring a dish that feels festive and fulfilling while maintaining the quality standards our customers rely on ,said spokesperson, Wow! Chicken With its tagline India ko India ka Chicken, the brand continues to focus on flavours crafted for Indian palates, celebrating the countrys love for chicken in formats that are both authentic and accessible. The Shaahi Chicken Haleem will be available during Ramadan across Wow! Chicken stores inKolkata, Chennai, Kochi, Trivandrum, Coimbatore, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar,Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Siliguri, Malda,Patna, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Gangtok and Guwahati.Whether its a family Iftar gathering or a quick festive indulgence after prayers, this Shaahi Chicken Haleem is a must try. About Wow! Chicken Wow! Chicken by Wow! Momo Foods Pvt. Ltd. is a fast-growing Indian quick-service restaurant brand focused on serving high-quality chicken dishes tailored to Indian tastes. With a commitment to flavour, consistency and consumer trust, the brand continues to expand its footprint across India, bringing innovative chicken experiences to customers nationwide.
Centre pushing Matuas into uncertainty over citizenship: Mamata
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday, March 5, alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre was pushing members of the Matua community into uncertainty and confusion in the name of granting citizenship. Remembering Matua matriarch Binapani Devi, popularly known as Baroma, on her death anniversary, Banerjee claimed that the Centre was Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Petrol, Diesel prices today: There has been no change in the petrol and diesel prices in major metropolitan cities in India on March 5, 2026. In Delhi, the price of petrol per litre stands at Rs 94.77 and that of diesel is Rs 87.67. The petrol and diesel rates are relatively higher in Mumbai at Rs 103.54 and Rs 90.03 perlitre, respectively.
Allens Blitzkrieg blows away Proteas, takes NZ into final
ICC Mens T20 World Cup Kolkata, March 4: A ruthless New Zealand rode on a record 33-ball century from local lad Finn Allen to outclass South Africa by nine wickets and storm into the T20 World Cup final here Wednesday. Allen, who will be turning up for Kolkata Knight Riders in another three weeks time, []
NT Reporter Panaji FC Goa will look to extend their promising start to the Indian Super League 202526 season when they face East Bengal FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata today. The Gaurs have made an encouraging start to the campaign, collecting seven points from their opening three matches to sit third []
Godrej Prop buys land parcels for 1,325 crore
Godrej Properties has acquired two land parcels totaling over 16 acres in Gurugram and Kolkata. The company spent approximately 1,325 crore on these acquisitions. These land parcels will be used to develop new housing projects. Godrej Properties anticipates a total revenue of around 6,150 crore from these upcoming developments. This expansion signals strong business growth amid high demand.
Former England Keeper James Foster Set To Join CSK As Fielding Coach For IPL 2026: Report
CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan: Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings are set to appoint former England wicketkeeper-batter James Foster as their fielding coach ahead of the IPL 2026 season, further strengthening their backroom staff under head coach Stephen Fleming. Foster, 45, represented England in seven Tests, 11 ODIs and five T20Is between 2001 and 2009. Widely respected for his wicketkeeping skills, he has built a strong reputation as a coach in franchise cricket across the world. Confirming the development, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan said, We have been looking for a fielding coach. I am hopeful he will join us, as quoted by Cricbuzz Foster brings significant experience from various T20 leagues. He has previously served as fielding coach with Kolkata Knight Riders and has also worked with Desert Vipers in the ILT20, the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, and Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). At CSK, Foster will join an established support staff that includes batting coach Mike Hussey, bowling coach Eric Simons, assistant bowling coach Sridharan Sriram, and fielding coach Rajiv Kumar. Russell Radhakrishnan continues as team manager. The move comes after a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign in which CSK finished at the bottom of the points table, managing only four wins in 14 matches. The franchise has already begun its pre-season camp at its high-performance centre in Chennai, with several Indian players training. Veteran wicketkeeper MS Dhoni is among those present at the camp, while players on international duty are expected to join later. The move comes after a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign in which CSK finished at the bottom of the points table, managing only four wins in 14 matches. The franchise has already begun its pre-season camp at its high-performance centre in Chennai, with several Indian players training. Also Read: Live Cricket Score CSK has also roped in youngsters like Prashant Veer and Karthik Sharma while leaving their stalwart player Ravindra Jadeja. Ruturaj Gaikwad will continue to lead the team as they aim for their record sixth title. Article Source: IANS
SIR protests continue in West Bengal days after publication of the draft rolls
With the Assembly election due in a few months, the TMC may seek to keep the SIR pot boiling;Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee plans to sit in a dharna in Kolkata against the SIR from March 6
Allen blows away South Africa, takes New Zealand into final
Kolkata: A ruthless New Zealand rode on a record 33-ball century from local lad Finn Allen to outclass South Africa by nine wickets and storm into the T20 World Cup final here Wednesday. Allen, who will be turning up for Kolkata Knight Riders in another three weeks time, smashed 10 fours and 8 sixes to Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
T20 WC: Jansens Unbeaten 55 Carries South Africa To 169/8 Against New Zealand
T20 World Cup: Left-arm seam-bowling all-rounder Marco Jansen struck an unbeaten 55 to guide South Africa to 169/8 in 20 overs against New Zealand in the first semifinal of the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday. South Africa were in trouble at 77/5 in 10.2 overs before Jansen steadied the innings by hitting two fours and five sixes to get his fifty in 27 balls on a gripping pitch. His knock ensured the Proteas set New Zealand a target of 170 if they are to enter the final to be played in Ahmedabad on Sunday. But with dew setting in, the pitch will become better for batting and could mean an advantage for the Blackcaps. For New Zealand, Cole McConchie, Rachin Ravindra and Matt Henry picked two wickets each to stall the Proteas charge, though they conceded 61 runs in the last five overs. Pushed into batting first, Quinton de Kock got going with a stylish four and six before miscuing to mid-on off McConchie in the opening over. A ball later, McConchie struck when he had Ryan Rickelton slashing to backward point for a golden duck. Aiden Markram and Dewald Brevis attempted to rebuild, with the former dropped on three by Rachin Ravindra, and the latter taking boundaries off Lockie Ferguson and James Neesham. But Markram eventually fell for 18, caught at long-on off Ravindra in the eighth over. Brevis continued to be fluent by hitting Ravindra for a six over cow corner and carting Mitchell Santner for another maximum over mid-wicket. But Brevis fell for 34 - caught at cover off Neesham in the 11th over, while David Miller too departed for six after holing out to long-on off Ravindra. Tristan Stubbs joined Jansen, and the pair steadied the Proteas innings. After taking a boundary off Santner, Jansen cleared the long-on fence twice off Ravindra and Henry each. Stubbs, meanwhile, showed signs of acceleration by pulling Henry for four, before driving and clubbing Neesham for a four and six respectively, even as Jansen took on him to get the same result. Their partnership lifted South Africa past 150 before Stubbs was castled by Ferguson in the 19th over. But Jansen continued to attack, bringing up his maiden fifty of the tournament with consecutive sixes off Ferguson. He remained unbeaten on 55 and, despite losing Corbin Bosch and Kagiso Rabada in the final over, ensured South Africa reached a competitive total. Tristan Stubbs joined Jansen, and the pair steadied the Proteas innings. After taking a boundary off Santner, Jansen cleared the long-on fence twice off Ravindra and Henry each. Stubbs, meanwhile, showed signs of acceleration by pulling Henry for four, before driving and clubbing Neesham for a four and six respectively, even as Jansen took on him to get the same result. Also Read: Live Cricket Score South Africa 169/8 in 20 overs (Marco Jansen 55 not out, Dewald Brevis 34; Cole McConchie 2-9, Rachin Ravindra 2-29) against New Zealand Article Source: IANS
T20 WC: England 'confident' Of Beating 'favourites' India After Winning Tight Games
T20 World Cup: When they started their campaign in the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Harry Brook's England had to live up to a huge record for his country, as the two-time champions have made it to the semifinals in every edition since 2016, when they lost to the West Indies in the final in Kolkata. England lost to New Zealand in the last-four stage in 2021, beat Pakistan in the final to win the title in 2022 and lost to eventual winner India in the semifinals of the 2024 edition. By making it to the semifinals of the 2026 edition, Harry Brook's side has lived up to that reputation. They are now hoping to get past hosts India and become the first team to win the T20 World Cup thrice. England have navigated past some tight situations -- they looked down and out against minnows Nepal in their opening league match and then against Pakistan in the Super 8 stage, before bouncing back to win both the matches and eventually finished atop the standings in Super 8 Group 2. Skipper Brook said these Houdini acts by his team has given it the confidence to take on India, who are always a strong side at home because of their familiarity with the conditions and the strong support they muster from the stands -- in a knockout encounter. Asked whether winning the decisive moments in tough encounters lends an air of being unbeatable to the team, Brook said it does give his team a lot of confidence. No, definitely not unbeatable, but I think it gives us a lot of confidence going into tomorrow as well. We've won them tight games, which in World Cups prove to be very important as well. And we've got a lot of confidence going into the deeper parts of the game. We've won games, like you said, which we probably shouldn't have won. And it just feels like we've never really been out of any game so far, which holds you in good stead in these world competitions, said Brook in the pre-match press conference ahead of the semifinals. In Brook's leadership, England have come up with some strong performances and have emerged as a strong contender to dethrone defending champions India as they are the team with the best record after India. But Brook said he was not aware of such stats, but said his side is confident in its abilities and will go into the semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium with the confidence gained from the calm demeanour they showed while extricating themselves from tricky situations. We've obviously played some good cricket over the last year or so, and hopefully we can play some more good cricket tomorrow. I do believe that India were the favourites from the start of the competition, as they should be on their home soil, home crowds and knowing the venues better than anyone else. But T20 is such a fickle game, and anything can happen. We're obviously going into the game very confident. We're playing some good cricket. We haven't quite played that perfect performance, and I feel like it's just around the corner. Hopefully it's tomorrow night, and we go out there, and we just play with freedom, play bravely, and yeah, look to take it to them as much as we can, said Brook. We've obviously played some good cricket over the last year or so, and hopefully we can play some more good cricket tomorrow. I do believe that India were the favourites from the start of the competition, as they should be on their home soil, home crowds and knowing the venues better than anyone else. But T20 is such a fickle game, and anything can happen. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Yeah, obviously when I took over, this was a year away and it felt like it probably needed a little bit of planning and that was slightly part of the planning really to try and get some game time in them guys and then slowly build some confidence up knowing that they were gonna be in the side most of the time and they've taken them roles on beautifully. Jacks, for example, has had four matches this World Cup, but he's been the standout player in the competition, arguably. Dawson's played a massive role in plenty of games as well. Banton has won us a few games off his own bat. And yeah, it's just having that confidence, knowing that you are going to be around for a little while, and thankfully it's got us this far in the competition, said Brook. Article Source: IANS
104-yr-old put under adjudication category in electoral rolls, triggers row
Kolkata: A 104-year-old man has complained of being listed in the under adjudication category in the final electoral rolls issued by the Election Commission following the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal on February 28, officials said on Wednesday, March 4. Sheikh Ibrahim, a resident of Jamalpur gram panchayat in Purba Bardhaman district, Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
T20 WC: Boys Are Up For The Challenge, Says Ferguson Ahead Of NZs Semi-final Against SA
T20 World Cup: New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson said his side are prepared for the challenge of facing South Africa in the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup semi-final at Eden Gardens on Wednesday, adding that the make-up of their playing eleven will be a little different for the crunch clash. New Zealand are aiming to stop the unbeaten streak of South Africa and a win will take them to the final to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The Blackcaps have been boosted by the inclusion of pacer Matt Henry, who came back after attending the birth of his second child. Obviously different styles of cricket in Colombo, you had to use a lot of spinners, and the team makeup was slightly different, but nice to get the points and then find ourselves in a semi-final. Tonight we will know how good a bad wicket it is in India, especially this one, so the structure of the team will probably change a little bit, but the boys are up for the challenge. Hes always good. Ive never seen him (Henry) down, so Im sure hell go to the fitness test and hopefully all well for tonight, said Ferguson in a pre-match chat with the broadcasters. Asked about the advice given to him for acing the conditions in Eden Gardens with the ball, Ferguson said, Lots of advice. Ill save it for after the game. But no, look, I think a lot of the players have played here. Its not too dissimilar to other Indian grounds. Its a good batting track, quick outfield, so its important the boys, from a bowling point of view, hit good areas and try to create as much pressure as possible. We know these guys are going to come out hard. But at the same time, if we put the ball in a good area for long enough, well get those rewards. Ferguson stated the occasion of playing the semi-final was special. This is a game of cricket. We both start from zero. Obviously, its nice to play in the semifinals. Its an exciting occasion. Its a good batting track, quick outfield, so its important the boys, from a bowling point of view, hit good areas and try to create as much pressure as possible. We know these guys are going to come out hard. But at the same time, if we put the ball in a good area for long enough, well get those rewards. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Kolkata, March 4 (IANS) Fast bowler Matt Henry has returned to New Zealands playing eleven as captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to bowl first against South Africa in the first semi-final of 2026 Mens T20 World Cup at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday. Article Source: IANS
Two die by suicide after publication of post-SIR voter rolls in Bengal
Kolkata: Two persons died allegedly by suicide in West Bengals Jalpaiguri and South 24 Parganas districts, due to mental stress following the publication of the final list after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, officials said. Rafiq Ali Gazi (44) was found hanging in his room on Wednesday morning at Gholpara area in Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
T20 WC 2026 Crosses 500 Mn Viewers In India, Highest Ever In Tournaments History: ICC Chief Jay Shah
The ICC Men: The ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026 has created history, becoming the most-watched edition of the tournament in its storied history, with the viewership in India alone crossing 500 million, the highest ever for a T20 World Cup. In a post on X, Jay Shah wrote, The journey of the @ICC #T20WorldCup 2026 began with the ambition to make it the most global and accessible cricket event ever. I am humbled that viewership for the event in India has crossed 500 million, the highest ever for any T20 World Cup in history. It was also heartening to see concurrent viewers @JioHotstar hit a peak of 60.5 million. With Knock-out matches for the tournament starting tonight, we hope that the immeasurable love our events receive from Indian fans helps break more records. On the field, the 2026 edition has delivered high-intensity contests and dramatic turnarounds. The group stage featured 20 teams divided into four groups of five, with the top two from each group progressing to the Super Eights. Traditional heavyweights like Australia and Pakistan were tested early, while emerging sides like Zimbabwe and Nepal produced spirited performances that underlined the growing depth in global T20 cricket. The Super Eights stage further intensified the competition. The eight qualified teams, namely India, Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa, England, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Pakistan, were split into two groups of four, with only the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals. Several matches went down to the wire, and net run rate proved decisive in shaping the final standings. The four teams to reach the semi-finals are India, England, New Zealand and South Africa a line-up reflecting both pedigree and consistency. India will face England in a high-profile clash at Mumbais Wankhede Stadium, renewing a fierce rivalry, while New Zealand take on South Africa in the other knockout encounter at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Both fixtures promise explosive batting, tactical battles and high-pressure drama, with a place in the final at stake. The ICCs streaming service, which serves fans in growth territories, set a new concurrent streaming record during the Super 8 fixture between India and the West Indies, surpassing the previous peak achieved during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 final. Both fixtures promise explosive batting, tactical battles and high-pressure drama, with a place in the final at stake. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Across social media platforms, the ICC has surpassed 10 billion video views and remains on track to exceed the 16 billion video views achieved in 2024. Article Source: IANS
SA vs NZ Kolkata Weather Update: South Africa and New Zealand face off in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final at Eden Gardens. The pitch favors batters, but spinners might find help later. Dew is expected, potentially aiding the chasing team. Weather forecasts predict warm, dry conditions.
SA vs NZ Live Streaming: India gears up for a thrilling T20 World Cup semi-final as South Africa faces New Zealand in Kolkata on March 4th. The unbeaten Proteas, buoyed by a previous win over the Black Caps, are slight favourites after a dominant Super 8 run. New Zealand, seeking an improved showing, advanced on net run rate.
T20 WC: What Will Happen If ENG Vs IND Semi-final Is Washed Out?
T20 World Cup: India will face England in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinals at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India secured a commanding victory over the West Indies to advance, despite starting their Super 8 campaign with a loss to South Africa. In the other semifinal, South Africa will compete against New Zealand at Kolkata's Eden Gardens. As fans eagerly anticipate the matches, concerns about the weather persist, leaving many wondering what will occur if the games are cancelled due to rain. If the India vs England match is washed out, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has scheduled a reserve day. If there is a delay, officials have an additional 90 minutes on Thursday and 120 minutes on Friday to ensure at least a five-over match is played. If the match is abandoned, the outcome will be determined depending on the teams position in their respective groups Super 8 points table. In that scenario, England will advance to the final since they finished higher than India in their Super 8 group. England topped their group with 3 wins, remaining unbeaten with six points to their name, while India finished second with 2 wins and four points. If both semifinals are cancelled, South Africa and England will advance to the T20 World Cup final, having topped their respective Super Eights table. The upcoming match in Mumbai continues an exciting semi-final sequence. In 2022, England stopped India's run in the penultimate stage before defeating Pakistan to win the trophy. If both semifinals are cancelled, South Africa and England will advance to the T20 World Cup final, having topped their respective Super Eights table. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Notably, in recent editions, the team that wins the India-England semi-final has subsequently become the world champion, a pattern that makes Thursday's match even more interesting to watch out for. Article Source: IANS
T20 WC: Kolkatas Weather Forecast Ahead Of SA Vs NZ Semifinal
T20 World Cup: The first semi-final of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026 is all set to unfold, with New Zealand locking horns with South Africa here at Eden Gardens on Wednesday. A place in the final is at stake, as the winner will advance to the title clash to face either India or England. Both teams have enjoyed impressive campaigns so far. The Black Caps secured second spot in their Super 8 group to seal their semi-final berth, while South Africa dominated Group 1, a pool that also featured India and the West Indies, to finish at the top. Given the strong form displayed by both sides, the contest promises to be a gripping battle as they vie for a spot in the tournament decider. With anticipation building, fans are also keeping a close eye on the weather conditions in Kolkata ahead of the big match. There is encouraging news on that front. Forecasts suggest minimal chances of rain, with clear skies expected over the city. According to AccuWeather, temperatures are likely to hover around a comfortable 29 degree celcius at the start, then ease to approximately 23 degrees later in the evening. However, the surfaces rolled out in the last two games at Eden Gardens in this tournament were flat. To add to that, smallish boundaries and a lightning quick outfield mean that the margin for error for bowlers is minimal. The team batting first will be eyeing a total in excess of 200. The first semifinal will be played on the pitch adjacent to the one that had India take on the West Indies, so the square boundary dimensions are nearly equal. Once again, the surface looks dry. The average first innings total in the last 19 matches at this venue is 162, while the second innings score is 143. Unlike the Super 8 stage, where no reserve time was in place, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has made special provisions for the semi-finals and final. An additional 90 minutes have been set aside on the scheduled match day to ensure the game reaches a result if possible. In the event of rain interruptions, there will be no bowl-out or toss to determine the outcome. Instead, qualification rules will come into effect based on the Super 8 standings. If the first semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand on March 4 is completely washed out, play will resume on the designated reserve day, March 5, from the exact point at which it was halted. In the event of rain interruptions, there will be no bowl-out or toss to determine the outcome. Instead, qualification rules will come into effect based on the Super 8 standings. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In this scenario, South Africa topped Super 8 Group 1 with six points, while New Zealand progressed after finishing with three points in Group 2. Consequently, if the match cannot be completed, South Africa would move on to the summit clash. Article Source: IANS
Godrej Properties acquires 5-acre land parcel on Kolkata's EM Bypass
Godrej expects the premium residential project to be developed on the site to generate revenues of approximately 1,650 crore
AIFF fines Mohun Bagan for spectator misconduct
Kolkata, March 3: The All India Football Federations disciplinary committee has fined Mohun Bagan Super Giants and ordered that the teams next Indian Super League (ISL) game against Odisha FC be played in an empty stadium for spectator misconduct during their home match against Kerala Blasters on February 14. The club said it has accepted []
SA vs NZ Semi-final 1 Prediction, ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Match Preview And Expected Playing XI
SA vs NZ, Semi-final 1, Cricket Tips :The first semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will be played between South Africa and New Zealand. This contest will be held at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday, starting at 7 PM IST. South Africa have beaten all the opposition they have faced so far, including a win over New Zealand in the group stage. The Proteas have been on point in every area, and they have players in good form. So, can New Zealand produce something special, an effort to outclass the Proteas? It is possible, as South Africa have played most of their games in Kolkata, and it will be a change of venue. Similarly, New Zealand will also be back in India after spending a week or so in Sri Lanka. But both sides have been pretty clinical, and fans expect a close contest. SA vs NZ: Match Details Date: March 04, 2026 (Wednesday) Time: 7:00 PM IST Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata SA vs NZ Live Streaming Details The live action of the SA vs NZ game will be available on the Star Sports Networks on cable TV. Fans can also watch the game on the live stream through the Jio Hotstar platform. SA vs NZ Head-to-Head in T20Is Total Matches : 19 South Africa : 12 New Zealand : 07 No-Result : 00 SA vs NZ: Ground Pitch Report Eden Gardens has been a great venue for the batter. This is a six-hitting venue, where India chased down 196 a few days back against West Indies. There will be dew, and bowling will be difficult in the second innings. Hence, the toss will be important, and batting second will be an advantage. SA vs NZ Possible XIs South Africa : Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton, David Miller, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi New Zealand : Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (c), James Neesham, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy SA vs NZ: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Tim Seifert has been in great form and is the top scorer for New Zealand. His ability to take on the bowlers will be key here. For South Africa, captain Aiden Markram has been scoring and is making sure that his team gets a good start. Probable Best Bowler Lungi Ngidi has been brilliant with his slower ones, and batters are finding it hard to pick him. For New Zealand, Matt Henry has been the game-changer. He takes wickets with the new ball, with his variations. Today Match Prediction : New Zealand can't be taken lightly, as they look like a very complete team in both departments. But South Africa are in red-hot form, and we predict them to win the first semifinal. SA vs NZ Match Semi-final 1, ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Today SA vs NZ Match, SA vs NZ Prediction, SA vs NZ Predicted XIs, Injury Update for SA vs NZ Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer: The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.
T20 World Cup: Having travelled from Sri Lanka to Kolkata for the first semifinal clash with South Africa at the Eden Gardens, New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner admitted that getting one more day of rest would have been ideal for his team. He, however, said his team has had a good practice session at the Eden and is ready for the semifinal clash. New Zealand left Sri Lanka on Monday, a day after the semifinal line-up was finalised following India's win over the West Indies. New Zealand reached Kolkata on Tuesday and will be playing South Africa on Wednesday night. Moreover, they will be playing in conditions that will be different from those in Sri Lanka. Yeah, I guess the conditions are probably going to be a little bit different from where we've been in Colombo, but I guess this stage of the tournament, everyone's played a lot of cricket. Even some rest days in between are probably more beneficial. Guys had a good head out today. And I guess we watched the game the other night, which was a good indicator of what the surface will be like. And then, yeah, I think everyone will be ready to go for tomorrow, said Santner in the pre-match press conference. The New Zealand captain also admitted that the experience of Indian conditions gained by his teammates during their time playing in India in the IPL and bilateral series will help them get ready for the semifinal clash with South Africa. I think the more you can experience the conditions you're playing in, the more you learn from it, whether it's an international tour, IPL, or the same for most teams. South Africa are the same. They've got a majority of the guys in the IPL who played a lot in these conditions as well, he said. But he added that more than familiarity with the conditions, what mattered more was how his team would handle things during the match. So, yeah, I think everyone's kind of pretty familiar with what you're going to get. And obviously, it's on the day, what it looks like, it can change quickly. Conditions can change, opposition changes. So I think that the teams who can go out there and do that the quickest put themselves in a pretty good position. I guess our squad's been there a few times. But again, you get to the semifinals, it means that you're playing other teams who are also playing pretty good cricket in South Africa, obviously right up there, he added. With the semifinal clash set to be played on the day India will be celebrating Holi, the festival of colour, Santner hoped his team would put on a bit of a show and add more colour to the festivities. I guess our uniform is not that colourful, so I might have to jazz it up a little bit, wearing black out there. But yeah, I mean, I've been around in India a few times; whenever there are festivals, it's great to see. Hopefully, we can put on a bit of a show tomorrow night, he said. With the semifinal clash set to be played on the day India will be celebrating Holi, the festival of colour, Santner hoped his team would put on a bit of a show and add more colour to the festivities. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I guess we're looking at the wicket the other night. It was pretty flat I think there's still a role to play for the spinners, also seamers and I think the ground dimensions as well plays a massive part in conditions I mean Sri Lanka we had a big side for both those games Where you can try get it to that side where it's a little bit smaller here, but more central so again It's adapting on the fly It's getting in and out of overs as best you can and trying to restrict a team, a very good team to a score, he added. Article Source: IANS
How The T20 World Cup Semi-Finalists Shape Up
Just four of the 20 teams are now left standing as the T20 World Cup semi-finals take place this week. South Africa will face New Zealand in Kolkata on Wednesday, while defending champions India take on England in Mumbai the next day. AFP Sport assesses the four contenders for the trophy: SOUTH AFRICA Aiden Markram's South Africa are the only unbeaten team in the tournament and full of confidence as they hunt for a first World Cup after years of being dubbed chokers at the sharp end of tournaments. Runners-up two years ago, South Africa have won seven out of seven including statement Super Eights wins over India and the West Indies. - Strengths - Led by Markram, who has amassed 268 runs in seven matches, they have a power-packed batting line-up with Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickleton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs all able to clear the boundary. Quick bowler Lungi Ngidi has taken 12 wickets and has bamboozled some of the best with his deceptively slow off-cutter, while Keshav Maharaj has the ability to tie batsmen down with his left-arm spin. - Weaknesses If any, they appear to be psychological, the mental scars from decades of failing to fire at the sharp end of World Cups. Five times a 50-over World Cup semi-finalist and twice in the T20 version, they made it to a final for the first time in the T20 World Cup in 2024, only to fail again. Needing 26 off fours overs with six wickets in hand they collapsed to lose by seven runs to India. The World Test Championship final win last year may have gone a long way to erasing those demons -- eight of the T20 squad were in that side. T20 World Cup best: Runners-up (2024) NEW ZEALAND Squeaked into the semi-finals with a better net run-rate than Pakistan, having lost to England in the Super Eights. Beaten by South Africa in the group phase in Ahmedabad but will look to turn the tables in Kolkata. - Strengths - All-round talent in depth, including skipper and leading spinner Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra. From Lockie Ferguson's pace to Ish Sodhi's leg spin, Santner has plenty of bowling variation at his disposal. Opener Tim Seifert often provides an explosive start in the power play and they are razor-sharp in the field. - Weaknesses - Lack the game-busting, match-winning individuals of the other three semi-finalists. They are the only team in the final four to have lost two matches -- to South Africa and England. The only Test playing nations they have beaten in seven matches were Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. T20 World Cup best: Runners-up (2021) ENGLAND Harry Brook's England had some scratchy group stage wins, including edging a last-ball thriller against Nepal, but found form to power through the Super Eights with wins over co-hosts Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand. - Strengths - Brook showed his leadership by moving up to number three against Pakistan and scoring a match-winning century. He is becoming an astute tactician in his first World Cup as captain. All-rounder Will Jacks has already won four player of the match awards in seven outings and can be destructive with the bat. Jofra Archer, expensive in the first two games, is back to his searing best. - Weaknesses - Opener Jos Buttler is in a form slump with 62 runs in seven matches. He has not made a T20 fifty since September last year and looks devoid of confidence but England are unlikely to ditch their former captain. T20 World Cup best: Champions: 2010, 2022 INDIA The defending champions finally produced their best performances when they needed them in the Super Eights with victories over Zimbabwe and the West Indies. Suryakumar Yadav's side were less convincing in the group stage, despite starting the tournament as hot favourites. They were 77-6 in their opening match against the United States before Suryakumar's 84 rescued them and lacked consistency. - Strengths - Sanju Samson has added muscle and balance to the top of the order, upsetting the opposition's bowling rhythm by breaking up the all-left hand combination of Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan. Jasprit Bumrah has proved himself again to be one of the best pacemen in the business and top-ranked T20 bowler Varun Chakravarthy, who has claimed 12 victims, leads the spin attack. Home support in a 35,000-strong Wankhede stadium could be like having a 12th man on the field. - Weaknesses - Abhishek came into the tournament as the world's number one T20 batsman then had three consecutive ducks. A fifty against Zimbabwe showed glimpses of his talent but he fell for 10 against the West Indies and England will be targeting him for an early wicket. Also Read: Live Cricket Score T20 World Cup best: Winners (2007, 2024)
1-md.jpg)
Unbeaten South Africa Face 'Fresh Start' In Semi-Final: Aiden Markram
South Africa captain Aiden Markram on Tuesday said his team's win over New Zealand in the group phase will count for nothing in the T20 World Cup semi-final, which will be a completely fresh start. The two teams clash at Kolkata's Eden Gardens in the first semi-final on Wednesday, with both having never lifted a cricket World Cup. South Africa are the only unbeaten side in the last four and are trying to rid themselves of a reputation for choking in the final stages at World Cups. They have been the team to beat in this edition and got the better of New Zealand by seven wickets in a group game in Ahmedabad on February 15. We had a good run against them in the group stages, but both teams have played a lot of cricket since then, Markram told reporters. It's a completely fresh start tomorrow and it being a semi-final which is exciting as well. I don't think it's as straightforward as just being able to repeat that. We'll try to bring our best game to the front again. South Africa suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against India in Barbados, when they needed 30 off 30 balls with six wickets and lost by seven runs after a clatter of wickets. South Africa beat India and the West Indies in the Super Eights to have many marking them down as the favourites to lift the trophy. With regards to being favourites or not, that's all different people's opinions, said Markram. Us as a team really just try to focus on putting good games of cricket together and playing that exciting brand that we've been trying to play for the last 18 months or so. Markram has led South Africa from the front with 268 runs including three half-centuries and a top score of 86 not out in seven matches. He holds an impressive captaincy record of 15 wins in 16 T20 World Cup matches with the only defeat in the 2024 final. The senior guys in the team, we lean on them a lot. They help guide you and lead you when you have a few doubts, said Markram. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I think because of that and a really strong group of players over the years, we've developed that. Fortunately it reflects well, but it's definitely a reflection on the group as a whole.
T20 WC: Its A Completely Fresh Start In Semifinal, Says Markram Ahead Of Clash With NZ
T20 World Cup: South Africa skipper Aiden Markram emphasised on treating the T20 World Cup semi-final as a completely fresh start ahead of their clash against New Zealand at Kolkatas Eden Gardens on Wednesday. The Proteas, the only unbeaten side left in the tournament, are chasing a maiden cricket World Cup title and hoping to shed their long-standing reputation for faltering in knockout stages. We had a good run against them in the group stages, but both teams have played a lot of cricket since then, Markram told reporters, referring to South Africas seven-wicket win over New Zealand in Ahmedabad on February 14. Its a completely fresh start tomorrow, and it's a semifinal, which is exciting as well. I don't think it's as straightforward as just being able to repeat that. We'll try to bring our best game to the front again, he said. South Africas recent World Cup history still looms large. They faced a tough loss in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against India in Barbados. They needed 30 runs off 30 balls with six wickets remaining before collapsing and losing by seven runs. Since that defeat, the team has shown strength and consistency. They defeated both India and the West Indies in the Super Eights of this tournament, which has led many to call them favourites as they approach the semi-finals. Markram, though, brushed aside that narrative. With regards to being favourites or not, that's all different people's opinions, he said. Us as a team really just try to focus on putting good games of cricket together and playing that exciting brand that we've been trying to play for the last 18 months or so. Leading from the front, Markram has scored 268 runs in seven matches, which includes three half-centuries and a top score of 86 not out. His captaincy record in T20 World Cups is also impressive, with 15 wins in 16 matches. The only loss came in the 2024 final. Us as a team really just try to focus on putting good games of cricket together and playing that exciting brand that we've been trying to play for the last 18 months or so. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The senior guys in the team, we lean on them a lot. They help guide you and lead you when you have a few doubts, Markram said. I think because of that and a really strong group of players over the years, we've developed that. Fortunately, it reflects well, but it's definitely a reflection on the group as a whole. Article Source: IANS
Santner: 'SA have a lot of power, but we back ourselves in a one-off game'
He expects a flat pitch in Kolkata, and aims to restrict SA to 180 if NZ bowl first
ISL: Mohun Bagan hit with stadium closure for 'spectator misconduct'
Mohun Bagan Super Giants have been fined and hit with a full stadium closure for their upcoming game against Odisha FC on March 6. The Kolkata giants have been found guilty of 'spectator misconduct' during their season opener against the Kerala Blasters on February 14.
Why will India be knocked out if rain washes out T20 WC semi-final?
The T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals feature India vs England in Mumbai and South Africa vs New Zealand in Kolkata. Though the forecast is clear, rain concerns remain after earlier washouts. The ICC has reserve days and extra time in place. If a semi-final is abandoned, the higher Super 8 team advances meaning England and South Africa would qualify.
T20 WC: England's Sam Curran Focuses On Delivering 'perfect Game' Vs India In Semis
About Captain Harry Brook: After navigating varied conditions across Sri Lanka, all-rounder Sam Curran believes England are peaking at the right time as they gear up for a T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal against India on Thursday at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. Curran insisted that the focus is on delivering a perfect game when it matters most. Yeah, I guess it doesn't really matter now. It comes down to the World Cup semifinal. If there's ever a time we want to play our perfect game, it's probably Thursday night, Curran said in a press interaction at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday. We've all been chipping in at different times, but we know in T20 cricket it probably just takes a couple of our guys to come good with the bat and good with the ball. We're a quality fielding side as well, so we know we'll kind of come good on that aspect, but yeah, it's exciting hopefully the perfect game comes Thursday. Sanju Samson struck an unbeaten 97 to guide India to the semis with a five-wicket victory over the West Indies at Eden Gardens. England finished first in Group 2 of the Super 8 standings after winning all three of their matches. This confirmed their semifinal match against defending champions and co-hosts India, who are placed second in Super 8s Group 1. Reflecting on Englands journey through the tournament, Curran described it as one that demanded flexibility. Yeah, it's been, I guess the word's probably very flexible this tournament. I guess with a different country, playing in Sri Lanka as well, probably suited the spinners a lot more. I think we bowled a lot of spin, so I guess I took the back seat in Sri Lanka a little bit with the ball, but with the bat obviously, just trying to adapt to those conditions. I guess I presume on Thursday night it's going to be a pretty good wicket, and I guess I'll probably be used a lot more with the ball. So excited for that challenge. I think the best thing we've done is adapt really well as players, and we've had guys chip in at different stages, and hopefully on Thursday evening I can have a really good game myself. Curran returned repeatedly to the theme of collective effort. The word chipping is quite a nice word. If everyone chips in, it generally is a good thing. So we're really excited, and fingers crossed we have a good evening. Curran also spoke about the personal journey behind this campaign, having spent time on the side earlier. Yeah, it's been great. Obviously, the last it was weird to be a little bit positive when I was on the side. I felt like I developed in different areas. Had a bit of time out the side, so that was kind of looking back now, the way things have gone, I guess, to see it as a positive. And to be back in another T20 World Cup semi-final I feel like I'm one of those guys who will be in the game, really excited and bringing out all I can for everyone. In their recent meetings, India have had the upper hand. They won nine of the last 12 T20 matches against England, including five of the most recent six. On the broader tournament, Curran believes the best sides have adapted smartest to subcontinental conditions. I think this tournament for us has been a little bit of a challenge in terms of we've come across so many different conditions I think we've adapted extremely well. I think you'd probably say that the non-subcontinental teams have adapted really well to the conditions thrown at them. All of us play a lot of cricket in India now, so we know how to play on these grounds, and we know what to expect. And the IPL, no question, has helped a lot of that with the players. I think probably the four best teams are in the semi-finals. And yeah, we'll see who takes that trophy. India and England have faced each other in the 2022 and 2024 T20 World Cups. In 2024, India made up for their earlier loss with a strong 68-run victory against the team led by Jos Buttler in the semi-final. However, in the 2022 tournament, England took control and handed Rohit Sharmas team a heavy 10-wicket defeat in the semi-final. The first semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2026 will be played between South Africa and New Zealand at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday. Speaking about the semi-final venue, the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Curran acknowledged both the occasion and the atmosphere. It's a fantastic stadium, obviously very iconic Its an experience as a young cricketer you dream of. Its normally a pretty good wicket, small ground, so I'm probably expecting a really high-scoring game. It's such a cool occasion and two great teams. This is what the last four or five weeks have been building for. He also addressed handling the noise and pressure of a big-match crowd. I think we'll probably start with the National Anthems. It'll be incredibly loud, and I think you've got to look at that as an exciting opportunity. If the crowd is silent, England are probably going to be doing well. We've played so much cricket in India as players, and you just get so used to it. You can block it out, and you take it in. So many young cricketers would love to be playing in the semi-finals. So hopefully it's, like I said, a nice silent stadium, but I'm sure it's going to be very, very loud and such a cool occasion. On conditions and dew, Curran stressed adaptability over speculation. I think there's no expert on dew, but if there is dew, I'm sure it will be a different challenge. We won't go into big messes from our groupers. We're just going to the game and adapt to whatever surface is thrown at us. It's no question we've got a really deep batting lineup whoever comes together and performs well on the night will probably win. Curran had special praise for Will Jacks, who has thrived in a new role. Will's been amazing. Such a very different role for him than what he's used to. Scoring such vital runs at number seven and bowling some very tough overs, taking a lot of wickets. We've been joking that he's the local boy here he's been absolutely amazing. Let's hope he can get his fifth man-of-the-match. He also backed Jos Buttler amid scrutiny over his indifferent form. Id certainly rather have Jos Buttler in my team than coming up against him. He's such a quality player. He's done so well for us over many, many years. There's no doubt that he'll come good and we're not worried about him at all. He also backed Jos Buttler amid scrutiny over his indifferent form. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He's been great leading us and obviously giving full responsibility to the players, keeping nice and calm. We're loving the new journey that we're on with him. Hopefully for him and for us as a team, we can all have a cracking game, he added. Article Source: IANS
Shah Rukh Khan's billionaire status, estimated at $1.4 billion, is attributed to strategic financial planning beyond cinema. Financial advisor Deepak Hiro Vazirani highlighted the actor's diversified investments, including real estate like Mannat and the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, as key to his wealth accumulation.
T20 WC: What Will Happen If SA Vs NZ Semi-final Is Washed Out?
T20 World Cup: South Africa and New Zealand are meeting for the second time in this T20 World Cup, but the stakes are much higher than in their previous match. Unlike their earlier group game, which had little impact, this is now the first semifinal of the tournament as the match, scheduled for Wednesday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, will determine the first team to reach the final. South Africa head into the knockout fixture with momentum firmly on their side. The Proteas remain unbeaten, having swept through the group stage before continuing their strong run in the Super 8s. Their victory over India in the second phase further underlined their credentials as serious title contenders. New Zealands path has been comparatively uneven. The Black Caps advanced from the group stage with three wins and a defeat that loss coming against South Africa. In the Super 8s, they secured a comfortable win over Sri Lanka, suffered a narrow defeat to England and saw their fixture against Pakistan abandoned due to rain. Unlike the Super 8 stage, which did not have a reserve provision, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has allocated additional time for the semi-finals and final. Match officials have an extra 90 minutes on the scheduled day to complete proceedings. If rain disrupts play on either day, the rules are clear: there will be no bowl-out or coin toss. Instead, the teams' progress will be based on the Super 8 standings. If the first semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand on March 4 is fully washed out, the match will be continued on the reserve day, March 5, starting from where it was interrupted. If rain disrupts play on either day, the rules are clear: there will be no bowl-out or coin toss. Instead, the teams' progress will be based on the Super 8 standings. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In this case, South Africa led Super 8 Group 1 with six points, while New Zealand advanced to the semi-finals with three points in Group 2. Therefore, if there was a washout, South Africa would progress to the final. Article Source: IANS
Agencies Kolkata India opener Sanju Samsons unbeaten 97 under pressure in a virtual quarterfinal of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup has drawn glowing tributes from former greats, who believe the knock could mark a significant turning point in his career. Chasing a stiff 196 against the West Indies at Eden Gardens on Sunday, Samson []
T20 World Cup semifinals: From on-field umpires to match referees
Indian umpire Nitin Menon has earned a spot on the elite panel for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup semifinals. He will serve as the third umpire for the Kolkata clash between South Africa and New Zealand on March 4. The following day, India faces England in Mumbai, with a separate officiating team in place.
India's Nitin Menon Among Elite Panel Of Match Officials For ICC T20 WC Semifinals
ICC T20 WC: India's Nitin Menon is among the elite panel of match officials named for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup semifinals scheduled on March 4 and 5. South Africa will go up against New Zealand in the first semi-final on March 4 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, while defending champions India will square off woth England in the second semifinal on March 5 in Mumbais Wankhede Stadium. Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf will serve as the on-field umpires for the first semifinal between South Africa and New Zealand on Wednesday. Illingworth was in the middle for South Africas victory at this stage two years ago, when the Proteas dismissed Afghanistan for 56 and won by nine wickets, while Wharf oversaw New Zealands win over the same opposition in the group stage this time around. In Kolkata, Nitin Menon will serve as the third umpire, with Rod Tucker as the fourth umpire, and Javagal Srinath appointed as the match referee. In Mumbai, the second semi-final between India and England will be officiated by on-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Allahuddien Paleker. The two nations faced each other at the same stage in 2024, with India winning by 68 runs and Gaffaney officiating that match. So far in this tournament, he has been involved in Indias games against South Africa and the West Indies. Paleker has taken control of two England matches, against the West Indies and Scotland, as well as Indias victory over the Netherlands. Adrian Holdstock will serve as the third umpire in Mumbai, while Paul Reiffel takes on the role of fourth umpire. Andy Pycroft will act as the match referee. Semi-Final 1: Kolkata, Wednesday, March 4 South Africa v New Zealand On-Field Umpires: Richard Illingworth & Alex Wharf Third Umpire: Nitin Menon Fourth Umpire: Rod Tucker Match Referee: Javagal Srinath Semi-Final 2: Mumbai, Thursday, March 5 India v England On-Field Umpires: Chris Gaffaney & Allahuddien Paleker Third Umpire: Adrian Holdstock On-Field Umpires: Chris Gaffaney & Allahuddien Paleker Also Read: Live Cricket Score Match Referee: Andy Pycroft Article Source: IANS
T20 WC: Samson's Return Shows Pieces Are Falling Into Right Place For India, Says Gavaskar
DP World Celebrity Golf Event: India legend Sunil Gavaskar believes Sanju Samson's return to playing eleven for the Super Eights of the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup is a proof that the pieces are falling into place for the defending champions at the right time ahead of their semi-final against England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday. Samson rose to the occasion with a perfectly paced 97 not out off just 50 balls as India chased down 196 to beat West Indies by five wickets in a virtual knockout clash in front of 67,000 spectators at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Yes, sometimes you have a situation where you actually have a piece falling into the right place. I do believe that Rinku Singh's father's illness at that stage and because he was away, had the opening for Sanju Samson to be brought into the team for the game the other day - not the one at the Eden Gardens, the one in Chennai. That's where he got the Indian team off to a start with Abhishek Sharma of over 40 because in all the matches till then, one of the openers, either Abhishek or Ishan Kishan had got out for a duck and the Indian team would lose a wicket in the power play, said Gavaskar, while replying to a query from IANS in an interaction ahead of the DP World Celebrity Golf Event to create awareness on the CHAMPS Foundation. Samson featured only once in the group stage, making 22 against Namibia in New Delhi, as India majorly preferred to have the left-handed opening pair of Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma. But after the 76-run defeat to South Africa, Samson was recalled for the Super Eights tie against Zimbabwe to break the left-handed monotony and made a brisk 24, before hitting 12 boundaries and four sixes in an unforgettable knock in a crunch clash to steer India to the semi-finals. In fact, they used to lose two wickets in the power play. But that partnership certainly steadied the Indian innings. From there, obviously, with him batting the way that he did, breaking the two left-handers together to make the opening into a right-hand, left-hand combination, certainly has made it look very good. Its because that was the old form anyway - the old partnership before Samson went out of form and Ishan Kishan came back into the team. So you could say that the pieces have certainly fallen into place. Even England are peaking and India are also peaking and it is going to be some game worth going miles to see, added Gavaskar. Gavaskar also termed Samson's match-winning knock in Kolkata as one of the finest knocks he commentated on in recent times in T20s. He anchored the innings and then he also took India home, which is such an important thing. A lot of times, players get out in the 16th or the 17th over and so, when a new batter comes in, then it becomes a little bit difficult. So, it was a superb innings in the way he anchored and took India home. He didn't seem to take any undue risk and played normal cricketing shots and play any reverse sweep or scoop. He stuck to his strength, which was playing normal shots in the V and it was one of the finest T20 innings that we have seen in recent times. England, led by Harry Brook, come into the semi-final on the back of winning all their Super Eight games and have been growing in form and confidence as the tournament gets to the business end. Gavaskar feels Thursday's semi-final, the third straight time of India meeting England in this phase of the competition, had all the ingredients of a classic. It's going to be another cracker of a game just like this sort of quarter-final against the West Indies was because both sides are very well matched. They have got batting, bowling, middle order and the finisher. Both teams have finishers and variety in their bowling, and also got a fair bit of experience of T20 cricket. England have got a few players who have played in the IPL and are familiar with Indian conditions and when they play for their franchise in an away game, the crowd pressure is there and are familiar with that as well. So, it is going to be a humdinger of a game, like it went in Kolkata and this one also will likely go to the 40th over. Asked about Indias semi-final hoodoo at the Wankhede Stadium - defeats to England in the 1987 ODI World Cup and West Indies in the 2016 T20 World Cup - Gavaskar remained unperturbed. Well, the other day, somebody said as well that West Indies had never lost a knockout game at the Eden Gardens, but that was broken. So it's a new era, new team and yes, India have not had the best of semi-final experiences at the Wankhede. But I do believe that they have the capability to go all the way to the final in Ahmedabad. Gavaskar also had an advice for young left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma, who has scored 80 runs in six games at an average of 13.33 and a strike-rate of 131.14. Barring 55 against Zimbabwe, Abhishek hasnt played any innings of note and Gavaskar urged him to focus on building his innings rather than attacking relentlessly from the outset. My advice would be to not always look to bat in the fourth gear. Maybe look to up the gears as you settle in. Yes, you want to take advantage of the power play where only two fielders are outside the 30-metre circle. You want to certainly take advantage of that - play to your strengths, but don't always have to look to bat in the fourth gear. Like you saw with Sanju Samson batting in the third gear, for most of the time, he got 97 off 50 deliveries. Anybody who gets 97 will mean that his team will at least get double that amount, if not more - double that number of runs. So, if you get 190-200 in a semis while batting first, you are looking at possibly a winning score, he added. On the sidelines of the semi-final, Gavaskar spoke about the charity golf initiative being organised in Mumbai on Friday, featuring leading names from Indian and international sport. The event seeks to raise awareness for the CHAMPS Foundation (Caring, Helping, Assisting, Motivating, Promoting Sportsperson), founded by Gavaskar, which supports former Indian international sportspersons facing financial and medical challenges. Well, we saw that there is a semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup in Mumbai on March 5. So we knew that there would be some commentators and also some former players who would be around here. So we decided to go and request that those who play golf (to be a part of it). On the sidelines of the semi-final, Gavaskar spoke about the charity golf initiative being organised in Mumbai on Friday, featuring leading names from Indian and international sport. The event seeks to raise awareness for the CHAMPS Foundation (Caring, Helping, Assisting, Motivating, Promoting Sportsperson), founded by Gavaskar, which supports former Indian international sportspersons facing financial and medical challenges. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So, with that in view, we decided that having these players being around, we would be able to then do like we did in that inaugural 1983 double wicket tournament, and would be able to get potential sponsors as well to participate in this golf team, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attacks Mamata govt over law and order, infiltration in Bengal
KOLKATA (WB), Mar 2 : Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday slammed the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal over the law and order situation, and alleged that it was sheltering infiltrators. Addressing a Poriborton Yatra rally in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas, the BJP leader also accused the TMC of preparing fake Aadhaar and voter cards for infiltrators and attempting to change the regions demography. Mamata Banerjee should be ashamed. Though Bengal has a [] The post Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attacks Mamata govt over law and order, infiltration in Bengal appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
How 15 balls reignited India's T20 World Cup campaign before Sanju's 97
While Sanju's 97 in Kolkata will be remembered, his short-lived but significant innings against Zimbabwe three days prior had brought momentum to India's T20 World Cup campaign.
IndiGo to launch daily direct Kolkata-Shanghai flights from March 29
The service will use A320 aircraft and follows the restart of Guangzhou flights, underscoring IndiGos push to expand India-China connectivity
Holika Dahan City Wise muhurat timing: India's vibrant Holi festival commences with Holika Dahan, a sacred bonfire ritual on the full moon night, symbolizing good's victory over evil. This year, the auspicious timing follows the end of Bhadra, with bonfires lit across cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata.
SA vs NZ: Stats Preview ahead of the South Africa vs New Zealand Semi-final 1 in Kolkata
SA vs NZ Semi-final 1, T20I Approaching Milestones and Records :The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will host the first semifinal on Wednesday. South Africa cricket team and New Zealand cricket team will be up against each other in this high-profile clash, which starts at 7 PM IST at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday. These two sides will be aiming for their first World T20 title, and this game will take them very close to their dream. South Africa have been undefeated in this tournament so far. They have beaten all the opposition they have faced and are the only side to win all of their games. They have an incredible top order with in-form batters, and the other players are also supporting them well. With the ball, their pace unit is very dangerous. New Zealand have had some ups and downs as they lost the last Super 8 clash to England, which put them near elimination. But Pakistan were not able to meet the equation against Sri Lanka, which helped them qualify. New Zealand have already lost once to South Africa and will be looking to beat them now. Here, we will talk about big records and milestones which are lined up and can be achieved in the South Africa vs New Zealand Semifinal 1at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. SA vs NZ Semi-final 1Approaching T20I Records and T20I Cricket Milestones Ahead of the SA vs NZ clash at Eden Gardens, Kolkata 36 - Quinton de Kock is just 35 runs away from surpassing former Australian captain Aaron Finch (3120) in the leading scorers' tally in T20Is. 52 - South African captain Aiden Markram is just 52 runs away from completing 2000 T20I runs. He will be only the fourth South African to do so. 3 - Ish Sodhi is approaching a massive milestone. He needs three more wickets to surpass Martin Guptill (164) and become the leading wicket-taker for New Zealand and second-highest ever in T20Is. 4 - David Miller has 141 sixes in T20Is, and he needs four more to enter the top ten batters with the most sixes in T20Is. 25 - Aiden Markram has 268 runs in the tournament so far. He needs 32 runs more to become the first South African to score 300 or more runs in a single T20 World Cup edition. 4 - Ryan Rickleton has 15 sixes and needs four more to hit the most sixes in a single T20 World Cup edition. 3 - Anrich Nortje needs three more wickets to become the fifth highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history. Also Read: Live Cricket Score 2 - Lungi Ngidi needs two wickets to become the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026.
T20 WC: Jasprit Bumrah Wins impact Player Of The Match Medal After Indias Win Over WI
T20 World Cup: India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was adjudged the Impact Player of the Match after a decisive spell helped India maintain the West Indies to a chaseable target before Sanju Samsons unbeaten 97 helped the defending champions secure a crucial victory in their T20 World Cup clash on Sunday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Bumrah returned figures of 2/36 from his four overs. While the numbers may not fully reflect his influence, the timing of his breakthroughs proved pivotal. In the 12th over of the innings, with the West Indies looking to accelerate, Bumrah struck twice, removing the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer and Roston Chase, to derail the Caribbean sides momentum and tilt the contest firmly in Indias favour. His ability to deliver in pressure situations once again underlined why he remains Indias go-to bowler in crunch moments. The twin strikes not only stemmed the flow of runs but also exposed the middle order, allowing India to tighten the screws in the death overs. Presenting the medal, Indias fielding coach T Dilip lauded the teams collective intensity while singling out Bumrah for his composure in decisive phases. Brilliant stuff, brilliant effort, well done. We're a gun team and today we showed with our intent what it means to be that. That's what the play was today. Today's game reminds me of my favourite quote: The strength of the team is each individual, and the strength of each individual is the team. Today we represented that through care and belief everytime we did that. Outstanding efforts. The impact player goes to someone who owns the big moments most of the times with his calm face and deadly execution. He's none other than Jasprit Bumrah, he said while presenting the medal to the pacer. Bumrah, in turn, credited his teammates for holding their nerve during the chase and ensuring India crossed the line without panic, as he said, Thank you so much. Special mention to Dube as well, the two fours that he hit didn't let the pressure come into our team. So yeah, special mention to him. Tilak also played a great knock, not taking away anything from him but yes, come the big day we're off to get together and hopefully do well in Mumbai. Cheers. Brilliant stuff, brilliant effort, well done. We're a gun team and today we showed with our intent what it means to be that. That's what the play was today. Today's game reminds me of my favourite quote: The strength of the team is each individual, and the strength of each individual is the team. Today we represented that through care and belief everytime we did that. Outstanding efforts. The impact player goes to someone who owns the big moments most of the times with his calm face and deadly execution. He's none other than Jasprit Bumrah, he said while presenting the medal to the pacer. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With this win, India continued their strong run in the tournament, showcasing both bowling discipline and batting depth and secured their place in the semi-final, where theyll meet England on Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Article Source: IANS
T20 WC: When And Where To Watch SA Vs NZ Semifinal
New Zealand ICC Men: The knockouts of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 are all set, with the first semi-final taking place at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Wednesday between New Zealand and South Africa. South Africa will come in with high spirits after beating New Zealand in their group game. The Proteas beat the Kiwis by seven wickets in Ahmedabad on February 14 and will look to replicate that result. A five-wicket win over Zimbabwe in their final Super 8 game meant South Africa finished first in their group with a perfect record of 3 wins from 3 games. New Zealand will look to take revenge against South Africa and put an end to their unbeaten streak in the tournament after finishing second in Group 1 and will look to return to the T20 World Cup final for the first time since 2021. In 2021, New Zealand made it to the final but lost by eight wickets to Australia at the Dubai International Stadium on November 14. With a place in the final at stake, two of the tournaments most consistent sides will battle for supremacy in what promises to be a high-stakes encounter. The second semi-final will feature England, who topped Group 2 with a perfect record, facing India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, March 5. India secured their spot in the semi-finals after a thrilling win over the West Indies in their final Super 8 match, creating an exciting matchup against the defending champions. The final is set to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 8. Venue, time and streaming details- T20 World Cup 2026 South Africa vs New Zealand semifinal: Venue Eden Gardens in Kolkata will host the second semi-final clash between South Africa vs New Zealand. T20 World Cup 2026 South Africa vs New Zealand semifinal: Time The South Africa vs New Zealand semifinal will begin 7:00 PM (IST) and 1:30 PM (GMT) with the toss taking place 30 minutes before the starting time on Sunday. T20 World Cup 2026 South Africa vs New Zealand semifinal: Live Telecast Live television coverage of the South Africa vs New Zealand ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final match will be available on the Star Sports Network. T20 World Cup 2026 South Africa vs New Zealand semifinal: Live Streaming The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand will be streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website. Squads: The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand will be streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website. Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Cole McConchie Article Source: IANS
SA, NZ Meet In T20 WC Semis For The First Time; Key Stats Ahead Of Historic Clash In Kolkata
T20 World Cup: South Africa and New Zealand head into the semi-finals of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 following impressive yet contrasting campaigns and gear up to face each other on Wednesday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. South Africa are heading into the semifinals on the back of a flawless campaign, having remained unbeaten through the group stage and Super Eights. The Proteas topped their Super Eight group with commanding performances that underlined both their batting depth and bowling discipline. A comfortable chase against Zimbabwe capped their second-round run, while a commanding victory over India underlined their title credentials. Having finished as runners-up in the previous edition, the Proteas appear determined to go one step further this time. New Zealand, meanwhile, began strongly with convincing wins over the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan and Canada. A key Super Eight triumph over Sri Lanka strengthened their semi-final push, although a narrow defeat to England in their final Super Eights match meant qualification depended on net run rate. Despite that setback, the BlackCaps advanced and now bring a well-balanced unit into a high-stakes clash for a place in the final. This will be the first time South Africa and New Zealand meet in a T20 World Cup semi-final. They have competed four times in the group stage of the tournament, but never in the knockout rounds, making this upcoming match a historic first. The two heavyweights first met in a T20 World Cup match in 2007, with the Proteas emerging victorious. They faced each other three more times in subsequent tournaments, in 2009, 2014 and the current edition, with South Africa winning on all occasions. The venue, however, might prove challenging for both teams and could give the Kiwis an upper hand, given their prior experience at Eden Gardens. New Zealand have played two T20Is at the venue previously. While they beat Bangladesh in the 2016 edition of the marquee event, the BlackCaps suffered a 73-run defeat at the hands of India during a T20I series in November 2021. South Africa, meanwhile, do not hold any experience of playing a 20-over game at the venue, with their only game against India in October 2015 being washed out. However, players of both sides have extensive experience of playing the Indian Premier League matches at the venue, making the upcoming World Cup contest even more interesting. South Africa vs New Zealand Head-to-Head Record in T20 World Cups: Played: 4 South Africa vs New Zealand Head-to-Head Record in T20 World Cups: Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealand won: 0 Article Source: IANS
22K & 24K gold price today, March 2, 2026 across Indian cities
Indian cricket team leaves from Kolkata, fans go mad for Sanju Samson
Indian cricket team leaves from Kolkata, fans go mad for Sanju Samson
Samson Never Lost His Cool, Even With Wickets Falling Around Him: Shastri
T20 World Cup Super Eights: Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes Sanju Samsons match-winning knock against the West Indies in the last ICC Men's T20 World Cup Super Eights contest at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday could mark a turning point in the openers career and lauded the fact that he did not lose his cool when 'wickets kept falling around him.' Samson struck an unbeaten 97, laced with 12 fours and four sixes, steering India into the semi-finals and earning the Player of the Match award for his commanding display under pressure. Speaking on The ICC Review, Shastri praised the 29-year-olds temperament in a high-stakes contest, saying, It is Sanju's special Samson today, and that innings was special, because just his calmness, his composure, and just the sublime touch right through that innings. You had everything. You had timing, you had placement, you had explosive power, you had class and what I liked best was even with wickets falling around him, he never lost his cool. He was calm and composed in front of a big crowd. This was not a league game. This was a knockout contest. People, their expectations of Samson have been huge right through his career. No one has questioned his talent, but they have been disappointed with his consistency. He brought everything to the fore today and made millions around the globe happy, he added. You had everything. You had timing, you had placement, you had explosive power, you had class and what I liked best was even with wickets falling around him, he never lost his cool. He was calm and composed in front of a big crowd. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India will now face England in the semi-final at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, with Samsons return to form providing a timely boost ahead of the knockout clash. Article Source: IANS
T20 World Cup Super: Joy and celebration filled the air at Eden Gardens as International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah, along with BCCI president Mithun Manhas, secretary Devajit Saikia, vice-president Rajeev Shukla and others, was seen soaking in the vibrant atmosphere during India's nervy win over the West Indies in the T20 World Cup Super 8 contest. BCCI secretary Saikia shared glimpses from the stadium of what were described as joyous moments at Edens. In the pictures shared by Saikia, alongside the ICC chair, who was seated in the BCCI corporate box beside Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Sourav Ganguly, who also handed out autographs to the fans at Eden Gardens during the match. India secured their spot in the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals with their win over the West Indies in the final Super 8 fixture. The defending champions knocked out two-time winners to set up a mouth-watering knockouts clash against England, in a repeat of the 2024 semifinal. The two teams will square off in the second semi-final on March 5 in Mumbais Wankhede Stadium. Both the West Indies and India required a win in Sundays fixture to progress through. The defending champions came up with a solid performance to cruise to a five-wicket win in Kolkata on Sunday. The two teams will square off in the second semi-final on March 5 in Mumbais Wankhede Stadium. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Samson led the chase with an unbeaten 97, as India brought up 199/5 in 19.2 overs. It was the highest score by an Indian in a run-chase at the T20 World Cup. Article Source: IANS
Everybody Wants Sanju To Do Well: Gavaskar
Samson broke his sequence of low scores with a match-winning 97-run knock at the big stage in a high-stakes T20 World Cup game against the West Indies in Kolkata on Sunday night
T20 World Cup Super Eight: India opener Sanju Samson said he switched off his phone and social media to listen to himself and protect his self-belief during a lean patch, which ended with his match-winning 97 in the Mens T20 World Cup Super Eight clash against the West Indies on Sunday. Samson hammered 12 fours and four sixes in his 50-ball knock to steer India to a five-wicket victory by chasing 196, thus keeping the defending champions campaign alive and set up a semi-final clash against England in Mumbai on Thursday. Shot selection was something I kept working on. I did not want to change too much because I knew I had performed with the same setup, so I kept believing in myself, switched off my phone, switched off social media and listened to my own self. I am very happy it happened in a very special game, said Samson to Star Sports at the conclusion of the game. He reflected on how doubts crept into his mind when the runs werent coming for him in the lead-up to the showpiece event. Our human nature is that we often start from a negative thought like, 'Can I do it? I don't think I can.' When I have that thought, I try to alter it with a very positive one. When I had a series like New Zealand where I wanted to perform and be part of the World Cup team, things did not work out well, but luckily I got a 10-day gap. I did not play any games and was not in the team. I kept thinking, 'Sanju, what else? Why didn't it work? What else should I do?' So I did some soul-searching. I worked on my base, how I set myself up, and came back to it. A lot of people had suggestions and I saw a lot of valid points, but at the same time I felt, 'Sanju, you have scored three international hundreds with the same setup.' Samson was recalled to open the batting for India with a bid to break the left-handed top-order monotony and carried the team home almost single-handedly in the daunting chase, especially when he lost partners from the other end. It was a bit of a difficult chase. Looking at our batting power, I felt that chasing 190-odd at Eden Gardens, when dew comes in, gets a bit easier, but losing wickets at regular intervals made it challenging. To be honest, that's where my experience and my role played a big part. I got a good start, but when the wickets kept falling, I felt I needed to finish the game and take it till the last moment. Normally you feel like doing it, but it doesn't happen all the time, so I am very grateful it happened in this game. It was a bit of a difficult chase. Looking at our batting power, I felt that chasing 190-odd at Eden Gardens, when dew comes in, gets a bit easier, but losing wickets at regular intervals made it challenging. To be honest, that's where my experience and my role played a big part. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He signed off by saying on what the unbeaten 97 in Kolkata will mean to him. More than a hundred cricketers in India dream about a day like this. I dared to dream. A young guy from Trivandrum, Kerala, dreaming about playing for the country and winning a game in such a crucial match. I dared to dream and it happened. Article Source: IANS
T20 WC semi-final schedule, dates, times, venues All you need to know
Team India secures a thrilling semi-final spot in the T20 World Cup 2026, setting up a high-voltage clash against England on March 5 in Mumbai. South Africa will face New Zealand in the first semi-final on March 4 in Kolkata. The winners will battle for the championship title on March 8 in Ahmedabad.
ECI meets for two days to review Bengal post-SIR scenario, poll preparations
Kolkata: Amid the publication of the final voters list in West Bengal minus those whose names have been referred for judicial adjudication as per the direction of the Supreme Court, the Election Commission of India (ECI) will be conducting crucial meetings on Monday and Tuesday to review the post-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) scenario in the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
BJP begins campaign for Bengal Assembly elections with Parivartan Yatras
Senior party leaders flag off four Parivartan Yatras in four different corners of the State. On March 2, five more will be flagged off in the State. All nine yatras will conclude with a public rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Kolkatas Brigade Parade Grounds
T20 World Cup 2026: West Indies post 195/4 in do-or-die matach against India
Kolkata: West Indies executed a clear attacking blueprint in their virtual quarterfinal against India as they rode on Roston Chases foundation before unleashing a late assault to post an imposing 195/4 in their T20 World Cup Super Eight clash here on Sunday. Chase, making full use of two reprieves, struck a fluent 40 off 25 Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Bengals Muslim districts have highest number of cases awaiting adjudication under SIR
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will sit on a dharna against the Election Commission of India, on March 6 in Kolkata
T20 World Cup Live: Ignored Pak Star To 'Quit' If India Lose To West Indies. Here's Why
India vs West Indies LIVE Score Updates: India must beat the West Indies in their Super 8 clash in Kolkata to qualify for the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup.
Rain To Play Big Role In T20 World Cup Semis Race? All Scenarios Explained
India look to book their spot in the T20 World Cup semifinals as the Suryakumar Yadav-led side take on West Indies in a crucial Super 8 match in Kolkata on Sunday.
Zimbabwe Wins Toss And Opts To Bat Against South Africa In Super 8 Matchup At T20 World Cup
Co-host and defending champion India will battle against the West Indies later on Sunday in Kolkata for the second semifinal spot from this group
India vs West Indies Weather Updates: Pitch conditions and forecast for Eden Gardens
India and West Indies clash in a crucial match to decide a semifinal spot in the 2026 T20 World Cup. The winner will face England. Eden Gardens in Kolkata hosts this high-stakes encounter. A win for India secures their place in the last four. The pitch conditions and weather forecast are favorable for a thrilling contest.
Bengal SIR: Maximum under adjudication cases in Bangladesh-bordering districts
Kolkata: As the final voters list in West Bengal, prepared under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, was published on Saturday, official statistics showed that the maximum number of under adjudication cases are concentrated in three Bangladesh-bordering districts Murshidabad, Malda and North 24 Parganas. Of these, Murshidabad and Malda are minority-dominated districts. The Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
T20 World Cup: India vs West Indies A Chapter Will Be Closed in Kolkata Today
T20 World Cup 2026, India vs West Indies: There is a first for everything. There will be a first in Kolkata today.
Metro Railway to run special services on March 1 for India-West Indies ICC T-20 match
Kolkata Metro Railway will operate special services on the Blue Line late on March 1. These trains will run from Esplanade to Dakshineswar and Esplanade to Sahid Khudiram. The special services aim to assist spectators attending the India-West Indies T-20 match at Eden Gardens. Both trains will depart from Esplanade at 11:15 pm.
Over 47,000 names deleted in Mamata Banerjee's Bhabanipur seat after SIR
West Bengal Election SIR: South Kolkata's Bhabanipur assembly segment, widely regarded as Banerjee's pocket borough, had 2,06,295 voters when the SIR process began on November 4 last year.
What is Shah Rukh Khans secret to his IPL team KKRs success? Karan Johar breaks it down
Filmmaker Karan Johar reveals Shah Rukh Khan's Kolkata Knight Riders is a success due to his deep involvement. SRK's hands-on strategy and dedication make KKR a profitable brand. This approach shows genuine passion and effort create successful ventures. It sets a standard for celebrity-led businesses. Fans connect with this authentic commitment.
EC starts publishing post-SIR electoral rolls in Bengal in phases
KOLKATA, Feb 27: The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday started publishing the post-SIR electoral rolls in West Bengal in phases, as officials put up hard copies of the list in some districts such as Bankura. Till reports last received, the list was yet to be made available online on the designated EC portals and mobile app. No clarity was yet received on the total number of deletions from the draft rolls, but EC sources said that names of over 1.35 [] The post EC starts publishing post-SIR electoral rolls in Bengal in phases appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
EC begins phased release of Post-SIR rolls in West Bengal
Kolkata: The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday, February 28, started publishing the post-SIR electoral rolls in West Bengal in phases, as officials put up hard copies of the list in some districts such as Bankura. Till reports last received, the list was yet to be made available online on the designated EC portals and mobile Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Mamata Banerjee unveils Pink Booths and SHINING patrols to keep Kolkata women safe
Kolkata Police unveil all-women Pink Booths and SHINING mobile patrol units to bolster women's safety and confidence. The city is touted as one of India's safest, with crimes against women on a decline. By merging technology, trained personnel, and strong community involvement, these initiatives aim to deter crime and promote security.
India vs Windies: Key Head-to-Head Stats Before Super 8 Clash
With semifinal hopes on the line, Suryakumar Yadavs India face Shai Hope-led West Indies in a must-win ICC Mens T20 World Cup clash in Kolkata.
Tachikawas late stunner helps Jamshedpur upset East Bengal
Kolkata, Feb 27: Substitute Rei Tachikawa scored a late stunner to help Jamshedpur FC secure a comeback victory in their first away match of the season, beating East Bengal FC 2-1 in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday. In what turned out to be one []
What If Kolkata Sees No Play? Rain Could Knock India Out
ICC Mens T20 World Cup Kolkata, Feb 27: The equation is straightforward: win and advance, lose and exit. Yet there remains a third possibility no result at all. As the Super 8 stage of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup intensifies, Indias fate hinges on their final Group 1 clash against the West Indies []
From Colonial Park to Cricket Cathedral: How Eden Gardens Got Its Name
Kolkata, Feb 27: In a city rooted deeply in Bengali culture, the name Eden Gardens often raises a simple question how did one of Indias most famous cricket venues end up with such an English name? The answer lies in colonial history. The area that now houses Eden Gardens was originally a landscaped park []
Bengal braces for post-SIR rolls on Saturday
Kolkata: When West Bengals post-SIR electoral rolls are published on Saturday, February 28, it will not only update a list of over seven crore voters, but also reflect months of political confrontation, courtroom battles, street protests and a climate of anxiety that have reshaped the narrative ahead of the high-stakes Assembly polls. The February 28 Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Watch: 5.5 magnitude Bangladesh earthquake felt in Kolkata and adjoining West Bengal districts
China Eastern Airlines to expand India operations, plans Mumbai-Shanghai service from May
The airline is also looking to restart flights between Kunming and Kolkata in the summer
KKRs Umran Malik Concedes 36 Runs in One Over in DY Patil T20 Cup
SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmir born Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Umran Malik struggled in the DY Patil T20 Cup, conceding 59 runs in two overs while playing for Tata Sports Club against Mumbai Customs. Defending a total of 193, Umran opened the bowling with captain Shardul Thakur. After Thakur gave away 10 runs in the first over, []
Tremors from Bangladesh quake rattle Kolkata, people rush out of buildings
Panic gripped government employees working at the state secretariat, Nabanna, the assembly house, and at the office of the chief electoral officer, who continued to remain on the streets in apprehension of aftershocks
Was Very Scary: Social Media Flooded With Kolkata Earthquake Posts
A burst of social media posts originating from the City of Joy flooded the internet as people frantically ran out of their homes, offices and other buildings following a magnitude 4.9 earthquake.
Kolkata earthquake today: Massive tremors were felt in West Bengal's capital Kolkata today and residents were seen rushing out of their offices and buildings. However, amid this, netizens were debating whether Bangladesh is secretly testing nuclear power with another one asking what is wrong with our neighbouring country. As the news of the Kolkata earthquake continues to circulate on social media, the internet remains flooded with reactions, memes, and on-ground visuals.
5.5-Magnitude Bangladesh Earthquake Sends Strong Tremors Across Kolkata; Offices Evacuated
Tremors were felt across Kolkata and nearby districts after a 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck Bangladesh on Friday afternoon, triggering panic and precautionary evacuations.
Video: Union Minister Was Speaking At Kolkata Event, Then Quake Struck
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar was addressing a gathering in Kolkata when an earthquake struck the City of Joy this afternoon
