Suryakumar Yadav takes a breather after getting hit by a delivery from South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi during the T20 World Cup cricket match between India and South Africa in Ahmedabad, India, Sunday, Feb 22, 2026. (AP Photo)

TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: The first game of their Super 8 campaign was a reality check for the Indian cricket team as they were completely outplayed by South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Chasing the 188-run target, the famed batting line-up never got going and succumbed to the big-game pressure in front of over 90,000 people. The run-chase lacked application, intent, and discipline. Whatever could go wrong, went wrong for Suryakumar Yadav & Co as they lost the fixture by a heavy 76-run margin.Questionable shot selection, a lack of partnerships, and some fine bowling by South Africa led to the hosts’ downfall, ending their unbeaten 12-match streak in T20I World Cups. For a side that had dominated the format since winning the title in the Caribbean in 2024, Sunday’s showing, particularly the batting, was nothing short of an embarrassment. The team, which effortlessly posted huge scores and breezed past massive totals, managed only 57 at the half-way mark of the run-chase and had half their side cooling their heels in the dugout.Concerning signs were apparent in the group stage too, but the bowlers continued to find a way and do the job. However, the cracks were completely exposed when they were asked to chase. The pressure of the big stage clearly overwhelmed the batting as Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma played some very ordinary shots. Abhishek sighed with relief when he scored his first run of the tournament, courtesy of a boundary, but he never looked at ease during his stay in the middle. The left-hander looked very short on confidence, and so did India’s designated No.3 Tilak Varma.Tilak has been scrutinised for his poor strike rate, and while he has enjoyed the backing of the men who matter, his performances aren’t inspiring much confidence. India tried to shake things up by promoting Washington Sundar up the order but even that backfired, just like his overall selection for this game ahead of the experienced Axar Patel. India’s vice-captain was on the bench for the second match in a row, and his absence was dearly felt with both bat and ball.Shivam Dube fought a lone battle to get the side’s total closer to the target and minimise net run-rate damage but writing was clearly on the wall, leaving only mere formalities before South Africa sealed the comprehensive win. Marco Jansen & Co. combined to completely dominate the hosts and their smart use of the pitch, and conditions, helped them make a statement.

Bumrah and the rest

Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh combined to keep the Proteas under the 200-run mark. The innings can be divided into three phases. India dominated the powerplay, taking three wickets. South Africa rebuilt with David Miller and Dewald Brevis, but India seized control again between overs 16 and 19. In four overs, the Aiden Markram-led unit scored 23 runs and lost three wickets, undoing the middle-phase efforts of Miller and Brevis. They also lost the same number of wickets in the powerplay but had a plan for the spin threat that was coming their way. The left-right combination targeted Varun Chakravarthy and never allowed India’s X-factor to settle down on a pitch that offered little for spin. The first two overs of the World No.1 T20I bowler leaked 28 runs and Miller looked dangerous in front of the capacity crowd. From the moment he walked out to bat in the fourth over, the left-hander operated with calculated intent. He hit the ball where it was meant to be hit and didn’t retreat after the early wickets. The presence of a busy Brevis at the other end gave the innings the much-needed impetus, and the two put on a breezy 97-run stand off just 50 deliveries.When they were batting, a total of 200+ seemed very achievable, but India did well to pull things back in the final phase. Bumrah was in the mood today and at his menacing best in both the powerplay and the death overs. His last two overs conceded only 8 runs and another wicket added to his match tally made him India’s most successful bowler in T20I World Cup history. Arshdeep sustained pressure from the other end with just a 7-run 18th over but the 20th over, bowled by Hardik, swayed momentum in South Africa’s favour. Tristian Stubbs hit back to back sixes off the final two deliveries to end the innings emphatically at 187/7. T20I cricket is all about riding the momentum when it is on your side. South Africa did that with the bat in the final over and then the bowlers later rode on it to outplay India in their first Super 8 clash.Brief Scores:South Africa: 187 for 7 in 20 overs (David Miller 63, Dewald Brevis 45, Tristan Stubbs 44; Jasprit Bumrah 3/15, Arshdeep Singh 2/28).India: 111 all out in 18.5 overs (Shivam Dube 42; Marco Jansen 4/22, Keshav Maharaj 3/24, Corbin Bosch 2/12).

Marcus Rashford signing for Barcelona from Manchester United permanently this summer could depend on who wins the Catalan club’s upcoming presidential election

Barcelona preliminary presidential candidate Xavier Vilajoana believes the Catalan club should consider re-signing Jan Virgili before deciding whether to make a permanent move for Marcus Rashford during this summer’s transfer window.

Rashford’s loan deal gives Barcelona an option to sign the England international for £26million. However, they also have a clause that enables them to bring Virgili back to the club a year after selling him to Mallorca.

The teenage winger has six assists for them in La Liga during his first season of senior football. Rashford, in comparison, has 10 goals and 13 assists, but is nine years Virgili’s senior.

Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings

Vilajoana, a former Barcelona executive who was head of La Masia, brought up Virgili when discussing the possibility of signing Rashford permanently. He told ESPN: “I am someone who believes you should always look in-house first, as I’ve always said, and then look outside depending on the characteristics of the players you have.

“For example, I want to give the example of Jan Virgili, who is currently playing for Mallorca. He’s a great winger. I would maybe look at [exercising the clause to re-sign him] as an option, for example, rather than paying the Rashford clause.

FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page

“That said, it’s not just the president who arrives and makes the decision. The president arrives, puts things on the table, alternatives are considered, it’s discussed, and a decision is made.

“What I am clear on is that if [signing Rashford] is considered to be the best decision from a sporting point of view, the money will be there to make it happen.”

Vilajoana is one of four confirmed presidential candidates for the 15 March election. Joan Laporta is standing for re-election, while Marc Ciria and Victor Font, who also stood in the last elections five years ago, are his other opponents.

Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

£49

£35

Advertisement

Sky

Get Sky Sports here

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.

Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.

Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.

You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.

And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis, then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.

Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

DUBAI: Stan Wawrinka returns to a place of cherished memories this week, back at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis where he lifted the trophy in 2016. Now 40 and competing in the final season of a storied career that once saw him rise to a career-high No. 3 in the world, the Swiss great is embracing one last chapter on the Tour.

Excerpts:Stanimal captured the physical power of your game, do you think the mental strength behind your success was sometimes overlooked?That’s the beauty of tennis, it has many parts to it. It’s a big puzzle. You need to put every piece of the puzzle in its place — fitness, tennis, mentally, and also you need to be in the right place. It took a lot of hard work, a lot of energy to push and find myself as a player. It was important for me to work on myself, my mindset, and how I was going to go in with confidence, ready to beat the best players in the world. It took me years to achieve that. I’m really happy with what I’ve done. Was it tougher to break through in the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era than it is today in the Alcaraz-Sinner duopoly?Those five players you mentioned, and also Andy Murray are the best players we saw in the game. It has been amazing for me to face them, to be able to play against the Big Four for more than 15 years. It was a challenge. But first I’m a fan of tennis, I’m passionate about the game. I always enjoyed watching them, as a tennis fan and player. It was an opportunity for me to play the best players in the game. Right now we are seeing that the level of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz has been amazingly high. What they’ve been doing already for a few years, winning all the Grand Slams between them, is amazing to watch. Which of your three Grand Slam titles gave you the most satisfaction?It’s tough to choose, but it’s also my job to answer the question. If I have to pick one title… (exhales) they have all been really special, but one is the French Open (2015). I grew up playing on clay, I practised a lot in Spain, also coming from the French part of Switzerland, Roland Garros was the one that we watched the most as kids. That’s also the one I won as a junior (2003). To beat Novak in the final there was really special. Was retirement a sudden decision, or something that had been building in the months before your announcement?The last few years, I’ve been asking myself when to stop but I never had an answer. At the end of last year, I finally had the answer. I realised that I was most at peace to play for one more year, to push one last time. I’m still passionate about the game, I wish I could play forever, but nobody can play forever. I also wanted to finish my 20-plus year career on a good note. So I’m happy that my level is still there and physically I’m feeling good. You appear leaner now than at your peak? I always try to push myself to be the best player I can to be. You have to do that to be able to stay in the game for 20 years. It was challenging, fitness wise, especially with the injuries. I have always been trying to optimise, to do what’s best for me, what’s best for my body so that I could push my own limits. You were known for those statement shorts and now, in your final year, you’re making a statement with this 40-Love tee…Last year I turned 40, so Yonex did this for me as a present. The ‘Love’ stands for my love of the game, my passion.

Stranger Things actor Noah Schnapp was in attendance at the Milano Santagiulia Arena on Sunday cheering for Team Canada as they faced Team USA in the men’s hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

Popular social media account Buzzing Pop shared a picture of Schnapp watching the game from the stands with his family. The 21-year-old had donned a Team Canada jersey on the occasion.

Fans flooded social media with reactions ranging from confusion to support as photos and videos of Schnapp wearing Team Canada gear circulated online.

Following are some fan reactions from X:

“Thought he was American?”

“Is he a Canadian? I thought he was an American,” commented one user.

“Wow this was unexpected but appreciate his support for my country 🍁🇨🇦,” wrote another fan.

Some fans who understood Schnapp’s Canadian heritage were quick to defend his choice while some even celebrated the celebrity endorsement.

“His parents are canadian (hes dads right by his side), so it makes sense Go Canada! Go Noah!” wrote one fan.

“Noah Schnapp switching sides. Canada just got a celebrity power‑up 🍁✨,” quipped one user.

“Everybody wants to be canadian i understand,” read one comment.

The choice makes perfect sense for those familiar with Schnapp’s background. The New York-born actor holds dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship with both parents hailing from Montreal, Quebec. His extended family still lives in the Canadian city which he visits regularly.

Noah Schnapp is a Montreal Canadiens’ fan

Schnapp’s love for Canada and particularly Montreal runs deep through his passion for the Montreal Canadiens. The actor is a self-proclaimed “true-to-heart” Montreal Canadiens fan who has shared his hockey devotion in a previous interview with the organization.

Schnapp gushed about the experience of attending games at the Bell Centre describing the atmosphere:

“The loud music and the big TV’s, the food stands, the loud vibe.”

When asked about his favorite player, Schnapp named former Canadiens goaltender Carey Price.

“Carey Price. I like the goalie. He’s just a very good goalie, and I like goalies,” he said.

The actor maintains his hockey passion even at home and reveals that he plays street hockey with his father. He also shared that he visits Montreal regularly, approximately twice a year, driven by both family connections and his love for the Canadiens.

“I visit Montreal about twice a year, partly because of family and partly for the Habs,” he explained.

Schnapp’s Canadian hockey fandom has occasionally put him in awkward situations. He once wore a Canadiens shirt to a New York Rangers playoff game at Madison Square Garden in 2014. In another instance, he attended a Boston Bruins game where he had to pretend to be a Bruins supporter to avoid conflict with the home crowd.