Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian appeared to step back from his earlier apology to Gulf neighbours as attacks continued across the region.   In a video message on Sunday, Pezeshkian said his remarks were misunderstood. “The enemy has had misconceptions about my words,” he said.   He added Iran would respond if it comes under attack. “When we are attacked, we have no choice but to respond,” he said.   His statement came as explosions were reported in Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE. A residential tower caught fire in Dubai after debris from an intercepted projectile.   Earlier, Pezeshkian had apologised to neighbouring countries for Iranian strikes and said attacks would stop unless Iran was targeted. (PC: NDTV)

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and chose to bowl first against India in the T20 World Cup 2026 final in Ahmedabad on Sunday.   India will bat first at the Narendra Modi Stadium as both teams kept their playing XIs unchanged for the title clash.   Defending champions India are chasing their third T20 World Cup title. New Zealand are aiming to win the tournament for the first time.   Santner said he expects the pitch to be good for batting. He earlier noted that the surface could be “flat, true, and good for batting”.   The final is being played in front of a packed crowd, with more than 100,000 fans expected at the stadium. (PC: BCCI)

India face New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2026 final in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The match comes as India chase several records in the tournament. A colourful closing ceremony took place at the Narendra Modi Stadium before the final. Singer Ricky Martin performed along with Sukhbir and Falguni Pathak. More than 100,000 fans are expected at the venue. Meanwhile, former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif advised the team management to consider dropping opener Abhishek Sharma due to poor form. “India can give Abhishek Sharma a break. He has played many matches now,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel. He suggested that Rinku Singh could replace him in the playing XI. (PC: BCCI)

A large crowd of Indian fans is gathering at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final between India national cricket team and New Zealand national cricket team.   Fans in blue shirts have returned to the venue, but the mood is calmer than the tense atmosphere during the 2023 final loss.   New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said his team expects strong Indian support. “It’s fair to say we are a bit outnumbered over here — 1.4 billion Team India fans,” he wrote.   Many supporters believe India has played strongly in the tournament. Thousands have travelled to watch the final despite high ticket and hotel costs. (PC: NDTV)

India will face New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The venue is where India lost the ODI World Cup final in 2023. Captain Suryakumar Yadav returns to the ground hoping to leave that memory behind.   India reached the final after a narrow seven-run win over England in the semi-final. Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah played key roles in that match.   New Zealand also enter the final after a strong nine-wicket win over South Africa. Both teams had mixed results earlier in the tournament but recovered to reach the title match. (PC: BCCI)

India’s Lakshya Sen reached the men’s singles final of the All England Open 2026 after defeating Canada’s Victor Lai in Birmingham on March 7. The world No. 12 won the semifinal 21-15, 18-21, 21-16 in a match that lasted one hour and 37 minutes. Sen struggled with severe cramps during the deciding game but continued to fight through the rallies. The tense third game kept the crowd at Utilita Birmingham Arena on edge before Sen sealed the win. Sen had earlier defeated world No. 1 Shi Yuqi and world No. 6 Li Shifeng in the tournament. The Indian shuttler now enters his second All England final. He was runner-up in 2022 after losing to Viktor Axelsen. (PC: India Today)

The International Cricket Council (ICC) arranged a private charter flight for the West Indies cricket team after head coach Daren Sammy publicly appealed for help when the squad was stranded in Kolkata for several days. The team had been unable to travel home following their exit from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup after losing to India national cricket team. Flight disruptions caused by Middle East airspace restrictions linked to military tensions forced delays. After Sammy voiced frustration on social media demanding updates, the ICC intervened and organised a charter flight to ensure the players and staff could safely return home. (PC: X)

Indian women’s cricket star Smriti Mandhana has created history by becoming the first cricketer to receive a personalised Barbie doll. The honour comes as part of Mattel’s “Barbie Dream Team” initiative ahead of International Women’s Day 2026. The campaign celebrates women worldwide who have broken barriers and inspired future generations. Mandhana joins a global lineup of influential women from sports, science and entertainment, including tennis legend Serena Williams. The special Barbie recognises Mandhana’s achievements and impact on women’s cricket in India. The initiative aims to encourage young girls to pursue their dreams and celebrate female role models across different fields. (PC: Instagram)

India defeated England by 7 runs in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 second semifinal at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, thanks to a brilliant 89‑run innings by Sanju Samson. Batting first, India posted 253/7, with contributions from Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya. England fought back with Jacob Bethell scoring 105, but fell short at 246/7 as India’s bowlers performed well in the final overs. Samson’s performance earned him Player of the Match, sending India into the final against New Zealand on March 8. (PC: X)

Sanju Samson was named Player of the Match after delivering a match-winning performance in India’s thrilling T20 World Cup semi-final victory over England at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Samson smashed a brilliant 89 runs off 42 balls, anchoring India’s powerful batting display and helping the team post a huge total. England fought hard during the chase, with Jacob Bethell scoring a century, but India’s bowlers held their nerve in the final overs. The seven-run victory secured India’s place in the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, with Samson’s explosive knock proving decisive in the high-scoring contest. (PC: X)