Sports

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting praised India’s decision to back Sanju Samson as opener in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Samson recovered from a slow start to score 321 runs, including key knocks against the West Indies national cricket team, England national cricket team and New Zealand national cricket team. Ponting credited captain Suryakumar Yadav and the team management for showing faith in him and guiding India to the title.

The National Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship at Sarla Birla University in Ranchi saw over 400 players compete. Abhimanyu Puranik won the Blitz title with 9 points, beating Sayantan Das on tie-break, while Madhavan N B finished third. In Rapid, Aronyak Ghosh remained unbeaten with 9.5/11 to claim the championship.

Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav is set to tie the knot with Vanshika Chadha on March 14, 2026, in Mussoorie, following India's T20 World Cup victory. Pre-wedding rituals are underway at the historic Savoy Hotel. A grand reception in Lucknow on March 17 will host prominent figures from cricket, politics, and business.

Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has stepped down as mentor of Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League, citing lack of time for the role. He will still appear as a commentator during the tournament. Pietersen joined the franchise in 2025 and previously played for several IPL teams during his career. The season begins March 28 in Bengaluru.

Pakistan's selectors are demanding an inquiry into how star players Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman sustained injuries, with concerns raised that fitness issues were not disclosed during the T20 World Cup. Aaqib Javed questioned if players would have been declared fit had Pakistan advanced, highlighting a lack of transparency. Younger players are now being given opportunities.