Month: March 2026

Indian batting icon Virat Kohli hailed Sanju Samson for his strong performances in the T20 World Cup 2026, which earned him the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award and led to him breaking a couple of his records as well.

From 46 runs in those five horrific innings against New Zealand to being dropped from the team in favour of Ishan Kishan, Sanju has scripted a fairytale comeback that was unexpected; even his die-hard fans had not expected it. After two quick starts against Namibia and Zimbabwe, Sanju saved his best for all the high-stakes matches.

From 97* against West Indies in the virtual quarterfinal for the final semifinal spot, to 89 against England and another 89 against New Zealand in semifinals and finals, Sanju left everyone mesmerised with his clean hitting and silenced every bit of trolling, criticism about his poor run and inconsistency, at least for a very long while to come.

Taking to Instagram, Virat posted, “What a remarkable tournament from the most well deserved man of the tournament @sanjusamson. You performed when it mattered the most. Really happy for you chetta”

Samson made 321 runs so far in five innings at an average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.37, with 27 fours and 24 sixes, and ended as the third-highest run-getter in the tournament. He also surpassed Virat Kohli’s total of 319 runs in the 2014 T20WC edition to have the most runs by an Indian during a single T20WC edition. However, Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan overtook Virat’s record earlier, ending the tournament as the leading run-getter with 383 runs at an average of 76.60 and a strike rate of 160.25, with two centuries and two fifties.

Samson’s brilliant run continued as he went past legendary Virat Kohli to become the Indian batter with the most runs in a single T20 World Cup and also joined Virat and Shahid Afridi in an elite list of batters with fifties in T20 World Cup semifinal and final both. His knock has overtaken West Indies batter Marlon Samuels’ 85* against England in the 2016 T20WC final and New Zealand star Kane Williamson’s 85 against Australia in the 2021 edition final. He owns the highest score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup knockout game.

He also joined Virat and Shahid Afridi, the Pakistani all-rounder, as the third player to post fifties in the T20WC semifinal and final.

Virat had scored fifties in the 2014 T20 World Cup semifinal: 72* against South Africa and 77* against Sri Lanka in the final. On the other hand, Afridi made 51 against South Africa and later 54* against Sri Lanka at Lord’s in the final. Sanju has also joined Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene, Babar Azam, Virat, KL Rahul, Kusal Mendis, and Sahibzada as the batter with three successive 50-plus scores in T20WCs, the joint-most by a batter.

Coming to the match, NZ won the toss and elected to field first. However, a return-to-form, record-breaking fifty from Abhishek Sharma (52 in 21 balls, with six fours and three sixes) and his 98-run stand with Samson made NZ regret the decision. Later, Samson stitched a century stand with Ishan Kishan (54 in 25 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes) to take India past the 200-run mark in the 16th over. After a brief slowdown, Shivam Dube (26* in eight balls, with three fours and two sixes) made some valuable runs to take India to 255/5, the highest total in T20WC finals.

James Neesham (3/46) was the leading wicket-taker for NZ.

In the run-chase of 256 runs, Axar Patel (3/23) and Jasprit Bumrah (4/15) reduced the Kiwis to 72/5, despite a half-century from Tim Seifert (52 in 26 balls, with two fours and five sixes). Despite a brief partnership between Daryl Mitchell (17) and skipper Mitchell Santner (43 in 35 balls, with three fours and two sixes), India kept chipping in with wickets, and the Kiwis were bundled out for just 159 runs. (ANI)

As the second part of the Budget Session set to commence on Monday, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh called for a full-fledged discussion in Parliament on the evolving situation in West Asia.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to make a statement in the Lok Sabha regarding the evolving situation in West Asia. According to the Lok Sabha’s list of business issued on Sunday, Jaishankar will brief members on the developments in the region.

In a post on X, Jairam said that the problems with Ministerial statements are that they convey the information which is already known, with MPs not allowed to seek clarifications or ask questions.

“It has been let known that the External Affairs Minister will make a statement in both Houses of Parliament on the situation in West Asia. The problems with such Ministerial statements are that (i) they convey little of value over and above that is already known; and more importantly (ii) MPs are not given an opportunity to seek clarifications or ask questions,” he said.

“What the Opposition wants is a full-fledged debate. On April 8 2003 there was a spirited debate in the Lok Sabha on the US invasion of Iraq and a resolution was even passed condeming it. This was when Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who knew his Rajdharma, was the PM,” the Congress MP posted.

EAM Jaishankar’s statement is expected amid rising global concern over the escalating tensions in West Asia and their geopolitical implications. The conflict intensified after 86-year-old Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28. The strikes reportedly targeted key installations and also killed several senior leaders of the Islamic Republic.

Following the attacks, Tehran launched retaliatory strikes targeting American military bases in several Arab countries as well as Israeli assets across the region. Israel, backed by the United States, has continued strikes on Iranian targets, while also expanding military operations into Lebanon against Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups. (ANI)

Celebrations erupted across Iran as hundreds of people took to the streets of the country after Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was announced as the new Supreme Leader of Iran, Press TV reported on Monday.

His selection saw support pour in from various segments of Iran, with the IRGC and General Staff of the Armed Forces pledging support to Mojtaba Khamenei.

People turned on the streets in large numbers, expressing their happiness after Iran’s Assembly of Experts appointed Ayatollah Sayyed Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Leader of the Islamic Republic

Upon the announcement, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani called for unity behind the new leader and expressed hope for Iran’s development under his leadership, Press TV reported.

Iran’s Parliament speaker called Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection a “soothing balm”, it further reported.

Meanwhile, Press TV also reported that the IRGC and Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces pledged its support to the newly elected supreme leader.

Khamenei’s official X account posted on X, “The representatives of the Assembly of Experts appointed and introduced Ayatollah Sayyid Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei (may God protect him) as the Third Leader of the Sacred Islamic Republic of Iran under Article 108 of the Constitution.”

Shortly after his name was announced, Press TV said that Iran launched two waves of missiles at Israel.

As per the Jerusalem Post, the missile fragments hit central Israel, injuring one.

The developments follow amid escalating tensions in West Asia after a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 on Iranian territory resulted in the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures, prompting a fierce response from Tehran.

In retaliation, Iran launched waves of drone and missile attacks across multiple Arab countries.

Now in its 9th day, the conflict has seen the humanitarian toll in Iran continuing to rise. According to Al Jazeera, the scale of the devastation is mounting, with official figures revealing that “over 1,300 people have been killed” since the violence began.

The intensification of the fighting is such that “around 100,000 have been displaced”, as residents are “forcing many to flee their homes” in search of safety. This mass movement of people has overwhelmed relief efforts, as the UN refugee agency reports a “surge in urgent calls for assistance” to address the growing needs of the affected population. (ANI)

Fiery spells by Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah and a dominant show by the top-order of Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan helped Team India make history, becoming the first nation to defend their T20 World Cup title, beating New Zealand by 96 runs at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

After NZ opted to put India to bat first after winning the toss, Samson (89 in 46 balls, with five fours and eight sixes), Abhishek Sharma (52 in 21 balls, with six fours and three sixes) and Ishan Kishan (54 in 25 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes) and Shivam Dube (26* in 8 balls, with three fours and two sixes) took India to 255/5.

Later on, despite a fifty from Tim Seifert (52 in 26 balls, with two fours and five sixes), the Kiwis had to bow down to the sheer greatness of Axar (3/27) and Bumrah (4/15) as Men in Blue secure their third T20WC title in style, becoming the first team to defend the title, and also the first host nation to win the trophy.

Also, in the process, ‘Men in Blue’ have managed to wipe out the ghosts of the 2023 50-over World Cup heartbreak at the same venue, when Australia put an end to India’s dominant 10-match winning streak with a painful loss in the finals.

In the run-chase of 256 runs, Tim Seifert unleashed an assault on Hardik Pandya in the second over with two fours and two sixes each. However, in the next over, Finn Allen, the Kiwis’ semifinal hero, flat-batted an Axar Patel ball to long-on in the hands of Tilak Varma for just nine in seven balls. NZ was 31/1 in 2.4 overs.

In the very next over, a Jasprit Bumrah special removed Rachin Ravindra for just one, courtesy a fine catch from Ishan Kishan. NZ was 32/2 in 3.1 overs.

In the fifth over, Seifert tried to dominate Axar with a four and a six, but the bowler had the last laugh as he cleaned up a dangerous Glenn Phillips for five in five balls. NZ was 47/3 in 4.5 overs.

NZ ended the powerplay at 52/3 with Seifert and Mark Chapman at the crease.

However, Seifert continued to attack nonetheless, striking Varun Chakravarthy for a couple of sixes. But Hardik removed Mark Chapman (3), while Varun removed Seifert (52 in 26 balls, with two fours and five sixes).

NZ was five down at 72 in 8.1 overs.

Daryl Mitchell and skipper Mitchell Santner took NZ to 88/5 at the end of 10 overs. The duo collected some fours and sixes against Indian bowlers, taking NZ to the 100-run mark in 10.3 overs. However, the 52-run stand was broken by Axar, who removed Mitchell for an 11-ball 17, with two fours. NZ was 124/6 in 12.5 overs.

Bumrah took two wickets in two in the 16th over, removing James Neesham (8) and Matt Henry (0) quickly. NZ was 141/8 in the 17th over.

Bumrah took his fourth and ninth wicket, removing Santner for a 35-ball 43. NZ was 152/9 in 17.3 overs.

In the end, Abhishek took the last wicket, removing Jacob Duffy (3) and ending NZ’s innings at 159 in 19 overs.

Earlier, majestic fifties from Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma and a late cameo from Shivam Dube propelled India to a massive 255/6 against New Zealand in the final of the T20 World Cup 2026.

India posted the highest total ever in the final of a T20 World Cup. Dube slammed an unbeaten 26 off just 8 balls. He smashed James Neesham for 24 runs in the final over.

India’s opening duo, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, exposed New Zealand’s lack of big-match experience in the powerplay.

After a watchful first couple of overs, India hit top gear, clobbering 24 in the fourth over by Lockie Ferguson, with two fours and sixes each as Samson-Sharma became the first opening duo to score a 50+ stand in a T20 World Cup final. India reached the 50-run mark in four overs.

The Black Caps’ pacers, including Matt Henry, struggled to maintain a steady line, with Henry conceding four wides in the fifth over.

This led to New Zealand bowling eight extra deliveries in the powerplay, the most they had ever done in T20Is. Samson and Sharma have capitalised on this, scoring 92 runs in the power play, the highest ever in a T20 World Cup match.

Abhishek Sharma blasted an 18-ball fifty, with six fours and three sixes.

Though Sharma wasn’t in the best of form at the start of the World Cup. Sharma rose to the occasion in the final, bringing up the fastest 50 of the tournament in just 18 balls with the help of six fours and three sixes.

Rachin Ravindra provided his team with the breakthrough as he had Sharma nicked to the wicketkeeper. However, the 98-run opening stand, with Sharma contributing 52 off 21, may have well set India up for another big score. India was 98/1 in 7.1 overs. India reached the 100-run mark in 7.2 overs.

Even after losing the wicket, India kept up the relentless pace. Samson and Ishan Kishan took India to 127/1 at the end of 10 overs, with Kishan hitting some delicious boundaries.

Samson continued his incredible form, scoring a half-century in the T20 World Cup final, his third consecutive in the tournament. He became the third player to achieve this feat in a semi-final and final, joining Virat Kohli and Shahid Afridi. He reached the landmark in 33 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes.

The 12th over by Lockie also yielded 24 runs, with three sixes (including two by Sanju) and a four by Sanju, taking India to 150-run mark in 11.3 overs.

The 14th over saw Samson smack Rachin for a hat-trick of sixes. In the next over, Ishan reached his third fifty of the tournament in 23 balls, with three fours and four sixes. In the same over, courtesy a straight hit down the ground, India reached the 200-run mark in 15 overs.

Samson’s masterclass knock and 105-run stand between Kishan and him ended with a Cole McConchie catch at long-on, with a full toss by James Neesham doing the trick. India was 203/2 in 15.1 overs. In the same over, he removed Ishan Kishan (54 in 25 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (0), reducing India to 204/4.

Hardik Pandya’s sluggish 18 in 13 balls, with a four and six, led to a slowdown, with Matt Henry dismissing him. India was 226/5 in 18.2 overs.

A late over blitz by Dube, including three fours and two sixes against Neesham, helped India secure a total of 255/5 in 20 overs.

New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner again bowled a decent spell; he went wicketless but gave away only 33 runs in his 4 overs, while the rest of the Kiwis’ bowlers took a hammering from Indian batters. Neesham was the top wicket-taker with three wickets for 46 runs.

Brief score: India 255/6 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 89, Ishan Kishan 54; James Neesham 3/46) beat New Zealand: 159 (Tim Seifert 52, Mitchell Santner 43; Jasprit Bumrah 4/15). (ANI)

The Indian cricket team has set a new benchmark in Men’s T20 cricket by registering its fourth 250-plus score in 2026, marking the highest number of such totals by any team in a single calendar year.

India’s latest 250+ total came during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

Team India posted 271/5 against New Zealand during the 5th T20I of the home series at Thiruvananthapuram.

After this, India slammed three 250+ scores in the T20 World Cup 2026 edition. The Men in Blue posted 256/4 vs Zimbabwe during the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup in Chennai. India then hammered 253/7 vs England during the semi-final at Wankhede Stadium.

After this, the defending champions slammed 255/5 vs New Zealand (Mar 8) in the T20 World Cup final.

This highlights the dominance in the shortest format of the game this year and also in the T20 World Cup. This achievement also makes India the second team in Men’s T20 history to register three 250-plus scores in a single T20 competition, following Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2024 Indian Premier League season.

Additionally, India is also leading the pack with seven 250-plus team totals, followed by Sunrisers Hyderabad with five. Other teams with 250+ totals include West Indies (3), Zimbabwe (3), and Surrey (3).

Coming to the match, NZ won the toss and elected to field first. However, a return-to-form, record-breaking fifty from Abhishek Sharma (52 in 21 balls, with six fours and three sixes) and his 98-run stand with Samson made NZ regret the decision.

Later, Samson stitched a century stand with Ishan Kishan (54 in 25 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes) to take India past the 200-run mark in the 16th over.

After a brief slowdown, Shivam Dube (26* in eight balls, with three fours and two sixes) made some valuable runs to take India to 255/5, the highest total in T20WC history.

James Neesham (3/46) was the leading wicket-taker for NZ. (ANI)

The Lebanese government on Sunday called on Hezbollah to “immediately surrender” its weapons, while strongly condemning Iranian attacks targeting Arab nations amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon, Youssef Raggi, stated in a post on X that during his participation in a meeting of the League of Arab States Council at the level of foreign ministers, he voiced Lebanon’s “strong condemnation and unequivocal denunciation” of Iranian aggressions against the Arab Gulf states, Jordan, and Iraq and emphasised that such hostile acts violate international norms and standards.

Raggi highlighted the Lebanese government’s emergency session decision following Hezbollah’s missile launches at Israel, which prohibits the group’s military and security activities and mandates the immediate surrender of its weapons.

He expressed regret that Hezbollah has repeatedly disregarded Lebanon’s national interests to serve external agendas, defending Iran and dragging Lebanon into conflicts in which it has no stake, thereby provoking Israeli military operations against Lebanese territories.

“I expressed my profound regret that Hezbollah has once again disregarded Lebanon’s supreme interests to serve external agendas, engaged in defending Iran, and dragged Lebanon into a war in which it has no stake, thereby provoking harsh Israeli military operations against Lebanese areas,” the foreign minister said.

“I affirmed that Hezbollah acts unilaterally, isolated from the Lebanese state and its legitimate institutions, and that the Lebanese government and the Lebanese people are innocent of these actions and their consequences,” the post added.

The development comes amid escalated tensions in West Asia, following the killing of 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on Iran on February 28. The strikes also killed several senior leaders of the Islamic Republic.

In retaliation, Tehran launched counter-strikes targeting American military bases in multiple Arab countries and Israeli assets across the region. Israel, along with the US, continued its strikes on Tehran, with Tel Aviv widening the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah and Iranian-backed militant groups.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) released operational figures highlighting a week of combat against Hezbollah in Lebanon, detailing the scale of its air, sea, and ground operations.

According to a post on X, the IDF stated that over 600 terror targets were struck across Lebanon using approximately 820 munitions.

The operations resulted in the elimination of 190+ terrorists, including Abu Hamza Rami, the commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in Lebanon, along with several senior commanders.

The IDF further reported that 27 waves of strikes were conducted in Beirut, including five waves targeting the Dahieh area, a Hezbollah stronghold. (ANI)

Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar lauded the Indian players for their blistering performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

Superb contributions of Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson helped the defending champions to post a monstrous total of 255/5 in 20 overs.

Taking to the social media platform X, Tendulkar noted that Abhishek Sharma had a challenging tournament but justified the team’s faith with a blistering half-century in the summit clash.

“Not the easiest tournament for Abhishek Sharma, but the team showed belief in his ability. He has repaid that faith with a crucial knock in the final. Well played. Ishan Kishan is bringing real momentum to the innings, and Sanju Samson is continuing his reliable run,” Tendulkar wrote on X.

Coming to the match, Majestic fifties from Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and a late cameo from Shivam Dube propelled India to a massive 255/6

India posted the highest total ever in the final of a T20 World Cup. Dube slammed an unbeaten 26 off just 8 balls. He smashed James Neesham for 24 runs in the final over.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to field against India in Ahmedabad.

India’s opening duo, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, have exposed New Zealand’s lack of big-match experience in the powerplay.

After a watchful first couple of overs, India hit top gear, clobbering 24 in the fourth over as Samson-Sharma became the first opening duo to score a 50+ stand in a T20 World Cup final.

The Black Caps’ pacers, including Matt Henry, have struggled to maintain a steady line, with Henry conceding four wides in the fifth over.

This led to New Zealand bowling eight extra deliveries in the powerplay, the most they’ve ever done in T20Is. Samson and Sharma have capitalised on this, scoring 92 runs in the power play, the highest ever in a T20 World Cup match.

Abhishek Sharma blasted an 18-ball fifty, and the duo became the first opening pair to score a 50+ stand in a T20 World Cup final.

Though Sharma wasn’t in the best of form at the start of the World Cup. Sharma rose to the occasion in the final, bringing up the fastest 50 of the tournament in just 18 balls with the help of six fours and three sixes.

Rachin Ravindra provided his team with the breakthrough as he had Sharma nicked to the wicketkeeper. However, the 98-run opening stand, with Sharma contributing 52 off 21, may have well set India up for another big score.

Even after losing the wicket, India kept up the relentless pace. Samson and Ishan Kishan have put on 93 off just 41 balls for the second wicket, taking India to 191/1 in 14 overs.

Samson continued his incredible form, scoring a half-century in the T20 World Cup final, his third consecutive in the tournament. He became the third player to achieve this feat in a semi-final and final.

New Zealand’s pace-heavy attack, featuring Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry, struggled to contain India’s aggressive batting, with Ferguson conceding 48 runs in two overs.

Neesham gave a much needed break through over to New Zealand as he removed Samson, Kishan, and Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav on a golden duck in the 16th over, as India slipped from 203/2 to 204/4.

Kiwi’s pulled back the scoring rate after the 16th over. Veteran seamer Henry, in his last over, opened his wicket tally after he removed Hardik Pandya for 18 runs.

India’s crisis man delivered yet again with his big hits in the final over. India finished on 255/5, six runs short of the highest T20 WC score. (ANI)

Actor Vijay Deverakonda has won the internet with a heartfelt response to a young fan who adorably questioned why she was not invited to his wedding with actor Rashmika Mandanna.

The Telugu stars tied the knot on February 26 in an intimate yet grand ceremony in Udaipur, attended by close friends and family members.

Following the celebrations, the couple also hosted a lavish wedding reception in Hyderabad last week for colleagues and friends from the film industry and political circles.

While the wedding celebrations have been widely discussed online, it was a simple question from a young admirer that recently caught attention on social media. In a viral comment addressed to Deverakonda, the child asked why she had not received an invitation to the wedding reception despite being his fan.

“Am I not your fan too? What about us?” the little girl wrote, in a message that quickly went viral on the internet.

Deverakonda soon noticed the video and responded with a cute gesture, “Sweetie, I’m inviting you home for lunch. Tell me your favourite food and sweets; I’ll have everything prepared at home and we’ll have a great meal,” the actor wrote in reply.

Rashmika also shared the video on her social media handle.

The newly married couple had earlier celebrated their union by distributing sweet boxes to fans across several cities and temples after the wedding ceremony.

Meanwhile, the celebrations continued with several high-profile visits. Revanth Reddy, the Chief Minister of Telangana, visited Deverakonda’s residence to bless the couple after their wedding reception.

Rashmika Mandanna also shared glimpses of meetings with national leaders ahead of their wedding.

She posted photographs from her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, writing that spending time discussing culture and history with him was a special moment. She added that the Prime Minister had written a thoughtful letter to her parents, describing it as a memory she would cherish.

In another post, the actor shared images from her meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, thanking him for gifting the couple a Ganesh idol that now holds a special place in their home. (ANI)

Before witnessing the cricket clash between Team India and New Zealand in the ICC T20 World Cup final at Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday evening, spectators were treated to a musical performance by Punjabi singer Sukhbir Singh and international star Ricky Martin.

Sukhbir kick-started the closing ceremony with his chartbuster ‘Oh Ho Ho Ho’, prompting the audience to dance to the iconic track. After his performance, Ricky Martin took to the stage and performed several of his popular numbers. The international star also sang his evergreen hit ‘Maria’, with its famous “Un, Dos, Tres” lyrics reverberating through the stadium.

Prior to his performance, Sukhbir even spoke with ANI and expressed his excitement.

“I am very excited as I have never performed for a cricket audience. This performance will be very special…” the singer said.

Coming to the match, New Zealand have won the toss and opted to field against India in the final of the T20 World Cup 2026 in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

New Zealand entered the finals after defeating South Africa in the semifinal, India secured a thrilling seven-run win over Engalnd in Mumbai to book their finals berth.

In their head-to-head clashes, history may favour New Zealand, but form is with India. The Black Caps have not lost a match to India in the T20 World Cup, having scored victories in 2007, 2016 and 2021.

Going into the final, India are chasing a few firsts – first to defend a T20 World Cup title, first host team to win the T20 World Cup and the first to three T20 World Cup championships.

For New Zealand, the biggest challenges will be how to keep the star-studded Indian batting line-up relatively quiet and how to deal with Jasprit Bumrah’s unerring line and length.

Teams:

India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah.

New Zealand (Playing XI): Tim Seifert(w), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner(c), Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy. (ANI)

Heartfelt warm wishes have been pouring in from across the country, celebrating the spirit of womanhood on International Women’s Day.

Leading the chorus of appreciation were actors Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Rashmika Mandanna, who shared empowering messages dedicated to women everywhere.

In a nod to the amazing women in her life, Samantha penned down a special note which read, “To the most incredible women I have the privilege of knowing. Women who are shaping the future we’re building together, and who I learn from and grow with every single day.”

The ‘Kushi’ actor shared pictures with the special ladies of her life, including her mother, her friends, team members, and colleagues.

On the other hand, Rashmika Mandanna also wrote a heartwarming message for all the beautiful women out there.

Highlighting that every day should belong to women, Rashmika wrote, “To the women who dream big, to the women who work extremely hard but your wins are not always celebrated, to those who quietly hold everything together, who are still figuring life out, and to the women who smile even on the days when it’s hard and you just want to give up but you say to yourself this too shall pass. I see you. And I am so proud of you.”

The ‘Animal’ actor reminded women of being capable to rise again as she added, “You are enough Exactly as you are. Your kindness, your courage, your laughter, your tears every part of you is beautiful. It’s not being too much to handle or over dramatic. Your achievements are as big as anyone else’s. Your decisions matter. Your opinions matter. Your feelings matter. YOU MATTER.”

The actress concluded by sending her “biggest love” to all the incredible women.

International Women’s Day, observed globally on March 8, celebrates the achievements, leadership, and contributions of women across all spheres of life and reaffirms the collective commitment to gender equality, safety, dignity, and empowerment. (ANI)