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By K.R. Nayar   From Wankhede Stadium Mumbai. Indian fans were in for a rude shock on Saturday evening. After the USA won the toss and elected to field, it was taken for granted that they would witness an extension of the fireworks from the opening ceremony by the Indian batters. But what actually happened was jaw-dropping. With the scoreboard reading 46 for 4 in 5.6 overs, latecomers may have thought it was the USA that was batting first . Photos: BCCI Twitter But for Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s stunning assault on the USA bowlers, the story would have very different. Suryakumar Yadav’s batting was a lesson on how to bat under pressure while his other reputed batters fell one by one at the other end. It resembled poetry written under pressure.  Despite the humiliation of losing to the USA looming large, a flurry of strokes came out of his blade. One must be fortunate to be able to witness the kind of strokes he played – the scoop over fine leg, the elega...

By K.R. Nayar From Wankhede Stadium Mumbai. Usually, junior teams grow up in the shadow of their seniors. This time, it is the seniors who are drawing inspiration from the next generation. On Saturday, India begin their T20 World Cup campaign riding high on the dazzling achievement of their Under-19 team, crowned champions of the Under-19 World Cup. It is a triumph that truly deserves to be called ‘Future Perfect’ for Indian cricket. Fans are already buzzing with anticipation, eager to see 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — who smashed a historic 175 off just 80 balls in the final — one day don the senior India jersey and light up a World Cup stage.  Wankhede Stadium entrance decorated for the start of the T20 World Cup. Photo by K,R. Nayar  With India’s women’s team having recently lifted the Women’s World Cup as well, Suryakumar Yadav and his men will be keen to add their names to this growing tale of World Cup glory.  Poster of the T20 World Cup at the entra...

By K.R. Nayar From Wankhede Stadium Mumbai. Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav walked into the press conference room 45 minutes after the scheduled time. The media waited patiently in the press conference room, with every seat taken. When Surya finally arrived, there was no apology—just a wide, disarming smile. And that was enough. In an instant, the irritation melted away. That’s the effect Surya has on people. Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav addresses the pre-match press conference He answers questions the same way he bats—light on his feet, smiling, often slipping in a cheeky one-liner. Yet, the pre-match press conference ahead of the opening game of the T20 World Cup he is defending was no casual affair. When this reporter asked whether playing so-called weaker teams, barring perhaps Pakistan, was an advantage or a disadvantage, Surya’s response was, “I don't see any weak teams in the competition. All 20 teams are very much capable of playing good cricket in this format. On a ...

By K.R. Nayar From Wankhede Stadium Mumbai. In the build-up to every World Cup, press conferences with captains usually follow a familiar script — questions about form, combinations, favourites, and star performers. But at the all-captains’ press conference held at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium on Feb 5, one question towered over all others: Would Pakistan take the field against India. The uncertainty wasn’t new. Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha had already addressed the issue during the captains’ press conference in Colombo, stating: “The India game is not in our control. It’s the government’s and Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision, and we respect that. We will do whatever they decide.” Naturally, when the spotlight shifted to Mumbai, the spotlight followed Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav. Bombarded with questions on the same subject, Yadav struck a calm and composed note. “I feel their decision is not in our control. We have been told to play a game on the 15th. We played...

By K.R. Nayar From DY Patil Stadium For cricket fans across the globe, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is just three days away. And what better way to keep up the excitement than a high-octane warm-up clash between two heavyweight contenders? A mouth-watering India–South Africa warm-up at the DY Patil Stadium did exactly that, igniting anticipation and hopes among fans. This was not merely another preparatory fixture; it was a reunion of the finalists from the previous T20 World Cup, a tournament India had conquered in style. In this dress rehearsal too, India stamped their authority, emerging winners by 30 runs. There was no trophy on offer and nothing tangible to pocket, but this warm-up carried far greater significance — a chance to tick every box before the real battle begins. Over 40,000 passionate fans filled the stands, roaring their support. Team India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, walked in brimming with confidence after a commanding 4–1 home series triumph over New Zealand...

 I am honoured to receive the Mother Theresa International Award 2026 for my contribution to sports on Saturday, Jan 31, in Kolkata. Renowned actor Rajpal Yadav, whom I adore as an actor, presented me the award. Honoured to join the list of past recipients of this award that includes Ajit Wadekar, Baichung Bhutia, Jagmohan Dalmiya, actor Rajesh Khanna, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and many other famous personalities from different fields