Royal Challengers Bengaluru scripted a memorable triumph in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 Final, successfully chasing down a daunting target to overcome Delhi Capitals in a high-stakes clash at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara. In a rematch of the 2024 final, RCB once again rose to the occasion, delivering a composed performance to etch their name into WPL history.

Earlier, Delhi Capitals produced a commanding batting effort to post a formidable 203/4 in their 20 overs, the highest team total ever recorded in a WPL final. Captain Jemimah Rodrigues led from the front with a well-compiled 57 off 37 balls, while Laura Wolvaardt (38 off 22) and Lizelle Lee (37 off 30) ensured sustained momentum through the middle overs. Chinelle Henry provided the late fireworks, smashing an unbeaten 27 off just 12 deliveries, including a decisive 24-run 19th over that pushed DC past the 200 mark.

Facing a stiff chase, Royal Challengers Bengaluru responded with maturity and intent. Led by captain Smriti Mandhana, RCB’s top order embraced the challenge, combining composure with controlled aggression, keeping the Delhi Capitals under pressure throughout the innings.

……..

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have Claimed the Crown once again in spectacular fashion to clinch the #TATAWPL 2026 title ❤️#ClaimTheCrown | #RCBvDC | #Final | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/JDKUm3BDqk

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 5, 2026

RCB win their second WPL title, posting 204/4

Grace Harris and Smriti Mandhana opened the innings for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with Marizanne Kapp taking the new ball for Delhi Capitals. Harris got RCB off the mark in style, cracking two boundaries early in the opening over. However, the early momentum was checked in the second over when Harris was bowled by Chinelle Henry, giving DC their first breakthrough.

Georgia Voll walked in at No. 3 and immediately injected stability into the chase, finding the fence at regular intervals. She punished Chinelle in the fourth over with two crisp fours and followed it up with a similar effort against Kapp in the fifth. Mandhana joined the party in the sixth over, launching a six and a four to keep the required rate in check.

The duo maintained a steady scoring rhythm, bringing up RCB’s 100 in the final ball of the 10th over, fittingly with Mandhana clearing the ropes. The skipper continued her charge in the 11th over with another six, while Voll rotated strike efficiently to complete her half-century off just 37 balls, her fourth fifty in the TATA WPL, also raising a crucial 100-run partnership.

Mandhana reached her own milestone in the 12th over, bringing up her seventh WPL fifty with a boundary off Sneh Rana. Voll followed with two consecutive fours in the same over, as RCB tightened their grip on the chase. Both batters added a boundary each in the 13th over, before Mandhana accelerated further with two fours in the 14th and repeated the feat in the 15th.

A fifty in the #Final for the #RCB captain ❤️

Will she lead her team to glory tonight?

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/9sgUo0XSZa#TATAWPL | #ClaimTheCrown | #RCBvDC | @RCBTweets | @mandhana_smriti pic.twitter.com/m3sDwG8RHj

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 5, 2026

Minnu Mani provided DC with a much-needed breakthrough in the 17th over when Voll was caught by Shafali Verma, walking back to a standing ovation for her superb 79 off 54 balls. At that stage, RCB were 174/2, needing 30 runs from 21 deliveries.

Richa Ghosh joined Mandhana but had a brief stay, striking a boundary in the 18th over before being caught off Nandini Sharma. Nadine de Klerk then walked in as RCB edged closer to the target. In the penultimate over, de Klerk struck a four, but Mandhana fell soon after, dismissed by Chinelle Henry.

Radha Yadav finished the job in style, smashing back-to-back boundaries to take RCB past the finish line in 19.4 overs, ending on 204/4 and sealing a thrilling chase to hand Royal Challengers Bengaluru their second WPL title.

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An incredible finish to #TATAWPL 2026 as @RCBTweets clinch an absolute thriller to win their Title No. 2⃣

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/9sgUo0XSZa#TATAWPL | #ClaimTheCrown | #RCBvDC | #Final pic.twitter.com/sTZtNXQ3Ue

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 5, 2026

Delhi Capitals post highest total in WPL final history

Delhi Capitals got off to a confident start in the WPL 2026 Final with openers Lizelle Lee and Shafali Verma setting the tone against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Lauren Bell took the new ball for RCB, and Shafali immediately put the pressure on, cracking a four off the final delivery of the opening over. The duo looked assured in the powerplay, rotating the strike well and finding boundaries at regular intervals.

The momentum picked up in the fourth over when Lizelle Lee launched Sayali Satghare for two consecutive sixes, underlining DC’s attacking intent. Shafali continued to find the gaps and struck two boundaries in the sixth over, but her promising innings came to an end soon after. She was dismissed by Arundhati Reddy, caught behind by Richa Ghosh, giving RCB their first breakthrough.

Laura Wolvaardt walked in at No. 3 and got off the mark in style with a boundary. The pressure stayed firmly on RCB as Lee and Wolvaardt kept the scoreboard ticking. In the seventh over, Lee smashed two fours and a six, while Wolvaardt capped the over with a four off the final ball. However, Lee’s fluent knock ended in the eighth over when Nadine de Klerk bowled her, with Grace Harris completing the catch, bringing an end to a strong opening phase.

DC skipper Jemimah Rodrigues then took charge. She announced herself with a boundary in the ninth over and steadily built the innings alongside Wolvaardt. Jemimah found her rhythm in the middle overs, striking three fours in the 12th over as DC maintained control. The duo stitched together a crucial partnership, keeping the run rate healthy.

In the 15th over, Jemimah completed a well-crafted fifty, taking a single off the second-last ball, before Wolvaardt followed it up with a towering six on the next delivery. The 76-run partnership finally ended in the 16th over when Sayali Satghare dismissed Jemimah, with Nadine de Klerk taking the catch, giving RCB a much-needed wicket.

With momentum still on DC’s side, Chinelle Henry walked in and made an instant impact. The 19th over proved decisive as Henry went berserk, smashing four boundaries and a six, swinging the game firmly in DC’s favour. In the final over, she added another six off the third-last ball before Wolvaardt struck a boundary off the penultimate delivery, pushing DC past the 200-run mark — the highest total ever in a WPL final.

Fiery final flourish!

Chinelle Henry at her very best to power @DelhiCapitals to 2⃣0⃣3⃣/4

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/9sgUo0XSZa#TATAWPL | #ClaimTheCrown | #RCBvDC | #Final pic.twitter.com/IBNEaimlGh

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 5, 2026

Wolvaardt was run out on the final ball while attempting a second run, but by then, the damage was done as Delhi Capitals closed their innings at a record 203/4, putting RCB under massive pressure in the title clash.

RCB vs DC WPL 2026 Final: Toss Update

Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the toss and elected to bowl first against Delhi Capitals.

Toss @RCBTweets have won the toss against @DelhiCapitals and elected to bowl in the #Final

Predict the target #DC will set

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/9sgUo0YqOI#TATAWPL | #ClaimTheCrown | #RCBvDC pic.twitter.com/Gml8UX87a3

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 5, 2026

Malaika Arora lights up the WPL 2026 Final Ceremony

As the WPL 2026 Final gets set to begin at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, the atmosphere was lifted by a special opening performance from Bollywood star Malaika Arora. The popular actor and dancer took centre stage ahead of the high-voltage clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals, delivering a vibrant performance that added glamour to the summit clash.

Glitz, Glamour and Energy ✨

Malaika Arora enthralls the crowd in Vadodara ahead of the #TATAWPL 2026 Grand Finale! #ClaimTheCrown | #RCBvDC | #Final pic.twitter.com/Qe25yUxBpx

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 5, 2026

After Malaika Arora’s high-energy act, Punjabi singer Talwinder Singh took over the stage, lifting the atmosphere with his live performance.

High notes & Higher energy

Talwiinder Singh gives a musical start to the #TATAWPL 2026 Final #ClaimTheCrown | #RCBvDC | #Final pic.twitter.com/VSayPz2hXl

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 5, 2026

Captains at the Toss

Smriti Mandhana (RCB):
“We’d like to field first today. Of course, it’s been a trend in the tournament, but having said that, on a good wicket, it’s always good to know what you’re going to chase. We’re playing with the same XI what we played in the last match.

(On the break and playing the final) It’s been brilliant, I feel. First 2–3 days, we all had a good time off. We didn’t think a lot about cricket. And of course, in the last two or three days, we came back together, practised hard. And again, there’s nice nerves, nice anxiousness, and nice excitement. And I feel you all have to embrace it.

(Different preparations for the final?) Well, I’m not sure that it’s different. What’s worked for us is keeping things as simple as we can. And I think nothing changes for us today as well. Everyone had that calm energy today. But of course, the excitement level is high. And for sure, we know that we have to turn up and play our best cricket.”

Jemimah Rodrigues (DC):
“It’s better to lose the toss in such big games. We are going with the same team. We’ve kept it very simple, kept our plans simple. We played the Eliminator here, so we know what it’s going to be like.”

RCB vs DC WPL 2026 Final: Playing XIs

Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (c), Georgia Voll, Richa Ghosh (w), Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil, Lauren Bell

Delhi Capitals:
Lizelle Lee (w), Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues (c), Marizanne Kapp, Chinelle Henry, Niki Prasad, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma

Here are the Playing XIs of @RCBTweets and @DelhiCapitals for the #Final

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/9sgUo0YqOI#TATAWPL | #ClaimTheCrown | #RCBvDC pic.twitter.com/wSONndtya7

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 5, 2026

RCB vs DC WPL 2026 Final: Match Details

Match: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals, WPL 2026 Final

Date: February 5, 2026

Time: 7:30 PM IST

Venue: BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara

RCB vs DC WPL 2026 Final: Live Streaming Details

Where to watch on TV:
The RCB vs DC WPL 2026 Final will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network.

Where to live stream:
The match will be available for live streaming on the JioHotstar app and website.

RCB vs DC WPL 2026 Final: Squads

Delhi Capitals Women’s Squad:
Lizelle Lee (w), Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues (c), Marizanne Kapp, Chinelle Henry, Niki Prasad, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma, Alana King, Taniya Bhatia, Lucy Hamilton, Pragati Singh, Eddla Srujana

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women’s Squad:
Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (c), Georgia Voll, Richa Ghosh (w), Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil, Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith, Dayalan Hemalatha, Prathyoosha Kumar, Gautami Naik, Prema Rawat

Uttar Oradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s dream project, the ‘International Film City,’ has now gained momentum on the ground. The first film to be shot at this first International Film City of Uttar Pradesh, being developed in the Jewar area of Gautam Buddh Nagar, will be ‘Mom-2’. Preliminary preparations for the shooting have begun at the film city complex.

Bayview Bhutani Film City Private Limited, a joint venture of Boney Kapoor and the Bhutani Group, which is constructing the project, has started the land mapping work. According to officials, after the mapping is complete, the shooting set will be ready within about 20 days, after which filming is expected to begin.

It is noteworthy that the International Film City project has been jointly awarded to renowned Bollywood producer-director Boney Kapoor and the Bhutani Group. This company has signed an agreement with the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA). After YEIDA approved the layout plan, preparations for the first phase of the project have been accelerated.

Rajeev Arora, GM of the Bayview Bhutani Film City Project, said here on Thursday that along with the preparations for shooting, the construction work of the film city is also being started. After the land mapping is complete, the shooting set will be ready within about 20 days, allowing film production activities to begin.

Simultaneously, the construction of the film city will also begin, and its formal inauguration by CM Yogi and PM Modi is expected soon. He stated that Boney Kapoor’s company had produced the Bollywood film ‘Mom’, released in 2017, and has now made the significant decision to shoot its sequel in Uttar Pradesh.

The International Film City is being developed in Sector-21 of the Yamuna Expressway. This is an ambitious project of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, aimed at making Uttar Pradesh a national and international hub for the entertainment industry, including films, OTT platforms, and web series. Located near the Jewar International Airport, this film city, with its modern infrastructure, excellent connectivity, and world-class facilities, will establish the state as an entertainment and aviation hub.

Industry experts believe that the shooting of a film like ‘Mom-2’ even before the formal inauguration of the film city indicates the rapidly growing confidence of the film industry in Uttar Pradesh’s film policy and infrastructure. This project has the potential to become a strong alternative to Mumbai and other film production centers in the country in the future.

East Coast Railway on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bank of India (BoI) for providing an enhanced salary package with a wide range of banking and welfare benefits for its employees and their families.

The MoU signing ceremony was held at Sabhagriha, Rail Sadan, Bhubaneswar, in the presence of senior officers of East Coast Railway and representatives from Bank of India.

Under this MoU, Bank of India will extend several employee friendly benefits, including unlimited free ATM transactions, free demand drafts, concessional locker rentals, personal accident insurance, educational grants for wards, and health insurance coverage with premium options, aimed at ensuring greater financial security and convenience for railway employees.

Speaking on the occasion, senior officials of East Coast Railway highlighted that the agreement reflects the organisation’s continued commitment towards employee welfare and providing access to comprehensive financial services on attractive terms.

Officials from Bank of India expressed their appreciation for the association with East Coast Railway and reiterated the Bank’s commitment to delivering efficient, technology driven and employee centric banking solutions.

The MoU is expected to benefit a large number of serving railway employees by offering improved banking facilities and value added services under a single salary account framework.

India continued its dominant run at the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship New Delhi 2026, extending their gold-medal surge on Day Two as reigning world champion Samrat Rana and World Cup Final winner Suruchi Singh secured silver in the 10m air pistol mixed team event. With multiple podium finishes across categories, the hosts took their gold tally to 10, underlining their supremacy at the continental meet.

India’s juniors and youth shooters were at the forefront of the medal rush. Rashmika Sahgal and Vanshika Chaudhary delivered a commanding 1–2 finish in the women’s junior 10m air pistol, while Priyanshi Purva and Chahek Kohla mirrored that feat in the women’s youth category. By the end of the day, India had amassed an impressive haul of 10 gold, five silvers and one bronze medal, opening a significant gap over second-placed Uzbekistan, who trail with three golds.

The only gold for Uzbekistan on the day came in the mixed team 10m air pistol event, where Nigina Saidkulova and Mukhammad Kamalov edged past the Indian duo of Samrat and Suruchi 481.3 to 479.6 in the 48-shot final. Earlier, the Indian pair had topped the 10-team qualification round with a score of 583 from 60 shots, ahead of Vietnam (582) and Chinese Taipei (575), all of whom progressed to the final.

In a tense medal round, the Uzbek pair produced remarkable consistency, becoming the only team in the final with both shooters averaging over 10 points per shot across their 24-shot efforts, eventually outlasting the home favourites. Chinese Taipei claimed the bronze medal.

In the women’s junior individual final, Rashmika Sahgal clinched gold with a score of 237.9, narrowly ahead of Vanshika Chaudhary, who finished with 236.7. Indonesia’s Asyifa Rihadatul completed the podium with bronze. The women’s youth final followed a similar script, with Priyanshi Purva taking gold with 234.8 and Chahek Kohla earning silver on 233.0, while Chinese Taipei’s Liao Ke Rong finished third.

India added two more gold medals in the team events. Rashmika, Vanshika and Agam Grewal combined for a total of 1714 to win the junior women’s air pistol team gold, finishing a commanding 43 points clear of silver medallists Kazakhstan. In the youth women’s team event, Priyanshi, Chahek and Shiksha Saran secured gold with a combined score of 1709, once again leaving Kazakhstan to settle for silver with 1627.

The Supreme Court on Thursday said that the issue of political parties promising freebies in their election manifestos and during election campaigns is of “paramount importance” and raises serious questions of public interest, warranting consideration by a three-judge Bench.

The observation was made when the issue was mentioned before a Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi by BJP leader and advocate petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay, who has sought a ban on the announcement of freebies in election manifestos and during campaigning.

Indicating that the matter would be placed before a larger Bench, the Chief Justice said, “It is of paramount importance and is in public interest… this has to be heard by three-judges’ bench.” The CJI asked the petitioner to wait for the matter to be taken up later this month, adding, “Wait for March.”

Upadhyay urged the Court to hear the case urgently, pointing out that five State Assembly elections are scheduled in the coming months. He submitted that political parties were increasingly making promises to influence voters, which, according to him, amounted to corrupt practices.

“Five assembly elections are coming. Only the sun and moon are left to promise. These are corrupt practices,” the petitioner told the Court.

The public interest litigation filed by Upadhyay seeks directions to the central government and the Election Commission of India to issue directives regulating election manifestos and to ensure accountability for promises involving public expenditure. The plea also flags concerns about the long-term economic consequences of such promises and their impact on the fairness of the electoral process.

Political parties, by and large, have opposed the plea, some terming it as politically motivated, arguing that welfare schemes and subsidies are integral to governance and aimed at supporting vulnerable sections of society.

The Supreme Court has, in earlier hearings, acknowledged the complexity of the issue, noting that it raises difficult questions about the limits of judicial intervention in electoral and policy matters. The Court has also indicated that its 2013 ruling in Subramaniam Balaji v. Government of Tamil Nadu—which held that promises of freebies in election manifestos do not constitute corrupt practices under the Representation of the People Act—may require reconsideration.

Backgrounder

On August 26, 2022, the Supreme Court had referred the issue of freebies promised by political parties to a three-judge Bench, observing that the subject required extensive debate, including a relook at the 2013 Subramaniam Balaji judgment. That (2013) ruling had held that such promises were not corrupt practices under Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act and could fall within the ambit of the Directive Principles of State Policy.

The court had noted that the matter involved complex questions, including “what is the scope of judicial intervention” and whether constituting an expert body to examine the issue would serve any purpose.

During earlier hearings in August 2022, the Court had remarked that while promising freebies to lure voters is a concern, regulating the practice poses difficulties since all political parties, without exception, engage in it. The Court had also mooted the idea of involving an expert body with representatives from the Finance Commission, RBI and NITI Aayog to study the economic impact of such promises.

The plea to curb freebies has been opposed by parties including the Aam Aadmi Party, DMK and Congress, which have argued that the term “freebie” itself lacks a clear definition and that welfare measures cannot be equated with corrupt practices.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that Article 370 has not been removed from the Constitution of India and his government remains committed to restoring the special status of Jammu and Kashmir that was abrogated in August 2019.

Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks on the Lieutenant Governor’s Address in the assembly, Omar said Article 370 was not specifically mentioned by him as the provision still exists in the Constitution despite being “hollowed out”.

“I want to reiterate that the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and this government remain committed to the promises made during the elections, particularly the promise to restore the special status of Jammu and Kashmir”.

“Had the Article been removed from the statute book, I would have said it must be reinserted. It still exists. You hollowed it out and snatched away our constitutional status,” he said, pointing towards the BJP members.

Some opposition MLAs had criticised the Omar-led government on the issue that Article 370 was not explicitly mentioned in the address.

Referring to a resolution seeking restoration of the special status of J&K passed in the assembly in the first session after the formation of the National Conference government, Omar said Article 370 continues to remain on the statute books and the House has already expressed its view that it should be restored.

“There is nothing more that needs to be said. Most of its substance was removed, but that part embedded in law still remains,” he added.

Omar said that after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the BJP claimed that the action would end the cycle of terrorism and separatism in Jammu and Kashmir. ”But little has changed, and terrorism is continuing and from where did the terrorists, who were killed yesterday, reach Udhampur.

Who was accountable for last year’s terror attack in Pahalgam, where tourists were killed at point-blank range? Such incidents never happened during the National Conference rule.”

Hitting out at the BJP, Omar said that, ”You question me on the issue of not implementing the poll promises, but has your party fulfilled its manifesto promise of restoring statehood of J&K? What is the fault of the people of J&K that you are keeping them waiting for restoration of statehood.”

Continuing to position itself as a leading innovation-driven institution in India, National Institute of Technology-Rourkela has achieved a milestone by recording 100 patents.

Of the 101 patents, 97 are national and four international. Considering the time typically required for patent examination and approval, the impact of the 2025 filing surge is expected to be reflected more prominently in the current and subsequent years. In 2025 alone, the Institute was granted 23 patents, marking growth over previous years, said NIT authorities on Thursday.

The key innovation areas for which NIT R got the patents are very diverse in nature. The fields are AI-based vehicular communication systems, autonomous drone technologies, industrial waste treatment prototypes, health-monitoring IoT devices, sustainable food packaging technologies and advanced materials derived from waste resources.

Commenting on the achievement, Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director, NIT Rourkela, said, “we are proud of our contribution towards the country.”

“Surpassing 100 granted patents marks a significant milestone in NIT Rourkela’s journey toward building a strong culture of research, innovation, and intellectual property creation. With over 230 patents filed and 101 granted to date, our growing portfolio reflects impactful work across priority areas”, he added.

“With 91 patent applications filed in 2025 alone, we are accelerating our efforts to strengthen an innovation-driven ecosystem and aim to double the number of granted patents in the coming year”, he further said.

NIT Rourkela’s Centre for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR) serves as a comprehensive platform for intellectual property development and support system for the faculty in filing patents to protect and secure their innovations and technologies. It supports creating awareness and capacity in IP matters within and beyond the institute, reviewing and approving IP proposals from faculty and students, assisting in patent filing, prosecution, and grant processes, facilitating licensing, technology transfer, and collaborations and supporting MoUs and issuing NOCs related to IP matters.

JSW Steel, Odisha Mining Division, has been conferred with the Best Exhibition Display Award at the 35th Annual Flower and Vegetable Show held at Noamundi.

The award recognizes the company’s innovative concept and visually captivating floral presentation.

The two‑day exhibition showcased more than ten varieties of winter seasonal flowers, including Marigold, French Marigold, Pansy, Chrysanthemum, Petunia, Sylvia, and Dahlia. These flowers were artistically arranged to form a Swastik symbol, which drew widespread appreciation and attention from visitors.

Deeply rooted in Indian culture, the Swastik symbolizes prosperity, well‑being, positivity, and harmony. The thoughtfully curated display reflected a fine balance of cultural sensitivity and creative expression, seamlessly blending tradition with natural aesthetics.

In addition to the floral exhibit, JSW Steel Odisha also showcased a variety of medicinal plants suitable for home cultivation, which received appreciable interest and positive feedback from visitors.

The annual Flower and Vegetable Show serves as an important platform to promote horticulture, environmental awareness, and community participation. JSW Steel’s exhibit stood out for its originality, precision, and overall presentation, earning high appreciation from the judging panel.

Amid the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s proposed boycott of their high-profile T20 World Cup clash against India, Pakistan captain Salman Agha has made it clear that the decision lies entirely beyond the team’s control and rests with the country’s government.

Speaking at the Captain’s Day press conference ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Agha said the players are respecting the government’s stance while remaining focused on their on-field responsibilities.

“Yeah, the India game, it’s not in our control. It’s a government decision, and we respect that. Whatever they are going to say, we do that. We’re also playing three other games, and we are very excited about that. Yeah, we lost to the USA in the last World Cup, but that’s history now. It’s a new World Cup, a new team, and a new combination. And we are very excited for that,” Agha said.

While uncertainty continues to loom over the scheduled India–Pakistan group-stage fixture, the Pakistan skipper stressed that the team’s attention is firmly on the remaining matches in the tournament.

“There are three other games. They can come and watch that game, and I’m sure they will be excited as well. Don’t worry.”

Asked whether Pakistan’s stance would change if the two arch-rivals were to meet later in the knockout stages, Agha reiterated that such matters are beyond the team’s remit.

“I have mentioned that before. It is a government decision, and we respect that,” he said. “We will do what they are going to say, and we will do that.”

The captain also acknowledged that there is no clarity at this stage on whether the India fixture will go ahead at all.

“Regardless, I do not know if the game is going to happen or not, but the government has said one thing, and we are going to do that. I do not know about the game.”

Addressing concerns over possible weather interruptions in Colombo, Agha downplayed the issue, saying the team is focusing only on factors within its control.

“The weather is something you can’t control. We don’t really think about what we can’t control,” he said. “We are just here to play good cricket, and whatever challenges are thrown at us, we will deal with that.”

Pakistan’s decision to boycott the India match has been linked to its show of solidarity with Bangladesh, which was replaced by Scotland in the tournament after refusing to travel to India, citing security concerns. Bangladesh had requested that their matches be shifted to Sri Lanka, a proposal that was rejected by the ICC.

Following the Pakistan government’s announcement on social media that the national team “shall not take the field” against India, the International Cricket Council (ICC) issued a strong response, warning that selective participation undermines the principles of global competition.

In an official release, the ICC said it had taken note of the Government of Pakistan’s position, adding that such a stance is difficult to reconcile with the fundamentals of a global sporting event.

“While the ICC awaits official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms per the event schedule,” the ICC stated.

The governing body further stressed that ICC tournaments are built on fairness, competitiveness and sporting integrity and warned that selective participation threatens the sanctity of the competition.

“While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan,” the statement added. “The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country.”

The ICC reiterated that its priority remains the smooth conduct of the Men’s T20 World Cup and urged the PCB to seek a mutually acceptable solution that safeguards the interests of all stakeholders.

Last month, PCB chairman and Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to brief him on the situation following Bangladesh’s withdrawal. The ICC subsequently confirmed Scotland’s inclusion as Bangladesh’s replacement, citing the absence of any credible or verifiable security threat to the Bangladesh team in India.

Scotland, currently ranked 14th in T20Is, became the highest-ranked team outside the original qualification bracket to be drafted into the 20-team tournament, which runs from February 7 to March 8.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address, on Thursday, spoke on the recently concluded trade deals with the US and the European Union.

The PM told the Upper House MPs that many big countries are keen to have good trade relations with India. Modi added that trade deals with India contribute to global stability, while also making the country future ready.

“India is signing future-ready trade deals with several countries. In the past few days, we signed trade deals with nine big and important countries of the world. Mother of all deals with 27 countries, with the European Union is one of them.

“Big countries are very eager to have trade relations with India. Be it the trade deal of the European Union or the recent deal with the US. The entire world is openly praising these trade deals. When we signed the trade deal with the EU, the world became more confident about the greater likelihood of global stability. After the trade deal with the US, the world became even more confident that with stability, they can sense a speed too. This is a positive sign for the world,” said the PM in his address.

#WATCH | In Rajya Sabha, PM Modi says, “…Big countries are very eager to have trade relations with India. Be it the trade deal of the European Union or the recent deal with the US…The entire world is openly praising these trade deals. When we signed the trade deal with the… pic.twitter.com/CIjwAms1kA

— ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2026

The PM underscored that India today has emerged as a trusted partner of several countries as it is playing its role in a manner that contributes to global welfare.

India today has emerged as a strong voice of the Global South on global platforms, he stated.

The trade deals with the EU and the US have come at a crucial time amidst global economic and political upheaval. The agreement reached with the US is particularly crucial as it brings down the 50 per cent tariffs imposed on Indian goods to 18 per cent.

The trade deal announcement marks a significant turnaround in India-US relations, which had plummeted after Donald Trump took charge of the US as president last year. His imposition of up to 50 per cent tariffs on India, half of those being a penalty for New Delhi buying Russian oil, brought about an unprecedented chill in bilateral relations, which had been on an upward trajectory for the past two decades.

India and the United States are likely to finalise and sign a joint statement on the first tranche of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) in the next 4-5 days, informed Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday.

A formal legal agreement on the trade deal is expected to be signed around mid-March, Goyal told mediapersons here, adding that after the joint statement is released, the US is expected to issue an executive order to reduce tariffs to 18 per cent.

Once an executive order is issued following the statement, the reduced 18 per cent US tariff on Indian goods will come into force.

“A more comprehensive and formal agreement is targeted for signing by mid-March,” Goyal said.

Providing technical clarity on the procedural aspects of the deal, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal explained the distinction between the two nations’ tariff structures.

“Their (US) tariffs are executive tariffs. Our tariffs are most-favoured-nation (MFN) tariffs. So, our MFN tariffs reduction can only take place after the legal agreement has been signed. That will only happen after the legal agreement has been signed,” Agrawal said.

Goyal further stated that India has already entered into a record eight trade agreements, and the first tranche of the BTA with the US will soon become the ninth. The FTAs signed by India under PM Narendra Modi will help in the thrust to modernise India, he added.

“The FTAs signed under PM Modi help us in our thrust to modernise India,” said the minister.

Meanwhile, Goyal announced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that the interests of India’s farmers have been protected in the India-US trade deal, as agricultural and dairy products have been kept outside the ambit of the deal.

The minister said that India has successfully protected sensitive sectors such as agriculture and dairy while giving full attention to food and farming concerns in the India-US trade agreement.

He said the partnership will create new opportunities for MSMEs, skilled workers, and industry; strengthen bilateral ties; and ensure energy security, which remains a top priority for 140 crore Indians.

The minister said the trade deal “will simplify the reach to advanced technologies and help in realising India’s ‘Make in India for the World’, ‘Design in India for the World’ and ‘Innovate in India for the World’.”

Defending champions India went down 2-3 to Thailand in their second Group Y encounter of the Women’s Division at the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Qingdao, China, on Thursday, conceding the top spot in the group to their opponents.

Despite the loss, both India and Thailand advanced to the knockout stage, with Thailand finishing as group leaders and India settling for second place.

India began the tie on a strong note, with world No. 42 Tanvi Sharma producing a superb performance to upset world No. 16 Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-14, 17-21, 21-18 in a hard-fought match lasting one hour and three minutes.

The early momentum continued as the doubles pair of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly extended India’s advantage, overcoming Tidapron Kleebyeesun and Nattamon Laisuan 21-14, 20-22, 21-11 to give India a 2-0 lead.

Thailand, however, mounted a comeback in the third rubber, with 19-year-old Pitchamon Opatniputh defeating Rakshitha Ramraj 21-19, 21-17 to pull one point back for her team. The tie was then levelled after Tanisha Crasto and Shruti Mishra went down to Hathaithip Mijad and Napapakorn Tungkasatan in a closely contested doubles match, losing 21-19, 14-21, 15-21.

The decisive fifth match saw Malvika Bansod fall to Pornpicha Choeikeewong 21-18, 21-14 in a 40-minute contest, sealing the tie for Thailand and confirming their position at the top of Group Y.

The Badminton Asia Team Championships also serve as the continental qualifying event for the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals, scheduled to be held in Horsens, Denmark, in April-May. India’s women enter the tournament as defending champions, while China are the reigning men’s titleholders. India’s men have previously secured bronze medals in 2016 and 2020.

India had opened their title defence on a positive note on Wednesday, registering a dominant 5-0 victory over Myanmar in their first Group Y match.

Tamil Nadu, particularly Chennai, has been put on high alert after it was confirmed that the death of over 1500 crows on the southern flank of the city and the East Coast Road was due to avian flu, the H5N1 virus.

The sudden death of a huge flock of crows last month in Adyar, Pallikaranai, Velachery, Thiruvanmiyur, ECR and the IT Corridor – Old Mamallapuram Road (OMR), has rattled the residents. Crows falling from trees, on residential apartments and public places like parks has triggered concern and alarm. Since these places fall under Kancheepuram district, officials from the Animal Disease Investigation team from there rushed to these places, collected samples and sent them for analysis to the Bhopal-based National Institute of Animal Disease Control.

With the test results confirming presence of avian influenza in the deceased birds, commonly called bird flu, the Union Government has alerted the state government to carry out intensive surveillance and preventive measures without any slackness. The virus poses the risk of spreading to other animals and possibly to humans as well, the Central Veterinary Research Institute has written to the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary to immediately activate preventive measures.

The Tamil Nadu Animal Husbandry Department and the Department of Public Health have issued advisories warning the public not to panic and handle dead birds but inform the local authorities of such incidents. Since such deceased birds might be infected, authorities have been advised to bury them in 8-ft deep pits to prevent further spread of contamination. The Public Health Department is closely monitoring the situation.

With similar incidents reported in Kerala, officials said surveillance and monitoring have been intensified on the inter-state borders.

Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the state government, accusing it of making “false claims” about development and asserting that Bihar’s condition today is no better than it was in 1960. He urged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to approach the Centre and demand special category status for the state, assuring full support from the Opposition.

Referring to the government’s claims of achievements during the Governor’s address, Tejashwi said, “Bihar stands today where it stood in 1960.”

Questioning the ruling party’s narrative of development, he said if Bihar was indeed progressing, the government should name even one sector in which the state ranked number one. “In what matters is Bihar better than other states? Bihar has the highest poverty and unemployment, the state is lagging behind in education and healthcare, corruption is at its peak, criminals dominate, per capita income is low, investment is low, and farmers feel cheated,” he said.

“If Bihar were a separate country, it would be the poorest in the world. Even compared to the poorest country today, Bihar would be poorer than that,” Tejashwi added.

On the government over the suspicious death of a NEET aspirant in a girls’ hostel in Patna, he said the police station was silent, the administration unconscious, and the government completely intoxicated. There was widespread regret and anger among the people against the government,” he pointed out.

Referring to the state government’s decision to recommend a CBI investigation into the case, he remarked, “The Bihar government has become a cold storage, busy freezing every issue.”

Hitting back, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said he had returned to power with a thumping majority because his government had worked for the development of Bihar over the past 20 years.

The chief minister chided Tejashwi, calling him immature. “You are a child. Your father was my contemporary. Even he got married after me. Come on, sit down, don’t create noise,” Nitish Kumar said.

Nitish Kumar further accused the RJD leader of conspiring to destabilise his government, alleging that Tejashwi Yadav had planned to lure away six JD(U) MLAs.

At a time when the Left is fighting back to the wall for electoral relevance across the country, the DMK government is bringing alive the father of communism, Karl Marx, by installing a statue of the late philosopher at the sprawling Connemara Public Library–State Museum campus in the heart of Chennai.

Chief Minister MK Stalin, whose DMK is providing a lifeline to the two dominant left parties, CPI and CPI(M), by ensuring two MPs each, is unveiling the statue on Friday. Like his father, the late DMK patriarch and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, Stalin too claims that the Dravidian ideology is akin to the Communist ideology and that is why half of the DMK flag is red.

Last September, Stalin paid tributes to Marx by paying a visit to his memorial at Highgate Cemetery during his visit to London to scout for foreign investment. He also visited the Ambedkar memorial on the occasion.

“Both Dravidian ideology and Communist ideology stand against casteism, class division, authoritarianism and all forms of oppression. The comradeship will defeat fascism, communalism, authoritarianism and dictatorship. Those who tried to divide and destroy us have now collapsed…Despite minor differences, both Dravidianism and Communism stand for everything for everyone. I want to emphasise that ideologies of black, red and blue must stand together,” he had said on Sunday, addressing the 100th foundation day celebration of the CPI at Chennai.

The demand for a statue for the German philosopher was first mooted a few years ago by independent Marxists, including writer A Marx, a retired college professor. A committee was also formed to take the idea forward. Initially, it was suggested that the statue should be at the Marina seafront or at Nandanam. But Marx had expressed great satisfaction at the new venue, the more than a century-old British-era Connemara library campus. The library in the Egmore area of the city, built in 1890, was opened to the public in 1896. Now, it has Marx added to it.

The T20 World Cup 2026 is yet to begin, but controversy has already taken centre stage, with uncertainty continuing over Pakistan’s refusal to play India in the tournament. The latest twist came after Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Advisor, Asif Nazrul, publicly thanked Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for boycotting the India fixture in what he termed an act of solidarity with Bangladesh.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Nazrul acknowledged Pakistan’s stance and described it as a protest against Bangladesh’s exclusion from the multi-nation tournament.

“Thank you, Pakistan,” he wrote, while sharing remarks made by Sharif during a cabinet meeting in Islamabad earlier this week.

During the meeting, Sharif explained Pakistan’s decision to skip the high-profile clash against India, scheduled for February 15 at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium.

“Pakistan has decided not to play the match against India in protest of Bangladesh’s removal from the T20 World Cup,” Sharif was quoted as saying. He added that the move was taken after careful consideration, stressing that politics should not influence sporting contests and that Pakistan stood firmly with Bangladesh.

The Pakistan government had earlier confirmed that its national team would not take part in the group-stage encounter against India, intensifying concerns around the tournament’s integrity and scheduling.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) responded with a firm statement, urging the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to work towards a mutually acceptable solution. The governing body warned that selective participation goes against the very foundation of a global sporting event.

“While the ICC awaits official communication from the PCB, selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global tournament where all qualified teams are expected to compete as per the schedule,” the ICC said. It further cautioned that Pakistan’s stance could have significant long-term consequences for its own cricketing ecosystem and the global game at large.

Bangladesh’s removal from the T20 World Cup followed its government’s decision not to allow the team to travel to India, citing security concerns. The Bangladesh Cricket Board had requested that their matches be relocated to Sri Lanka, but the proposal was rejected by the ICC, leading to Scotland being named as their replacement.

With the tournament approaching, the India–Pakistan standoff remains unresolved, adding another layer of uncertainty to an event already overshadowed by off-field drama.

As the Indian men’s cricket team prepares for the T20 World Cup 2026, messages of support have poured in from their female counterparts, with members of the Indian women’s team extending their best wishes ahead of the title defence.

Fresh from their historic triumph at the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, the Women in Blue sent heartfelt messages to the men’s side, underlining the sense of unity and camaraderie within Indian cricket as the defending champions gear up for another global challenge.

The men’s team enters the tournament as holders, having lifted the T20 World Cup in 2024 after a thrilling final victory over South Africa, and the backing from the women’s team has added an emotional boost ahead of the campaign.

Women’s team captain Harmanpreet Kaur led the show of support with a confident message for the squad.

“Wishing Team India all the best for the T20 World Cup. Play with full of your heart, enjoy, and we all know you are going to win this. Wishing all the luck,” she said.

Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana echoed the sentiment while also acknowledging the expectations surrounding the side.
“Wishing the best for the Indian Team, looking really good, we all are looking forward to another cup. But no pressure, and hopefully we can play some good cricket,” she stated.

All-rounder Deepti Sharma, who played a key role in India’s World Cup-winning campaign and was named Player of the Series, highlighted the significance of the tournament being held at home.
“Wishing all the very best, this is going to happen in India and it will be very special. Go get the cup home,” she said.

Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh also sent her encouragement to the men’s team ahead of the marquee event.
“Wishing you all the very best for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, good luck guys,” she said.

The Indian women’s team, which created history by winning the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup for the first time, reiterated that the spirit of Indian cricket transcends formats and genders.

While the Men in Blue are set to open their World Cup campaign against the USA on Saturday, the women’s team is preparing for a multi-format tour of Australia, beginning on February 15. The tour will start with a three-match T20I series, followed by three ODIs and a one-off Test.