With the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 and IPL 2026 to follow soon after, cricket fever in India is at its highest point. While cricket in India is celebrated as a religion, it is also a memory, a ritual and an emotion shared across generations. When Virat Kohli anchors a tense chase or when Rohit Sharma makes a high-stakes game look effortless, the moment resonates far beyond the boundary rope, making the fans a lot happier. However, the ongoing social media trends and the upscaled engagement of fans and cricketers on social media are creating a new way to get to know all the sneak peeks of the teams and the players. For decades, the sport lived in stadiums and on television screens, while the digital era, dominated by social media such as Snapchat and Instagram, has expanded on a much larger scale. Now, a younger audience, particularly Gen Z, is pushing that evolution further. Beyond match highlights and post-game interviews, fans are seeking access to players’ lives off the field, following their travel days, team-bonding moments, celebrations during tours and the quieter routines between fixtures. While platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and X continue to host polished posts and sponsorship-driven content, there is a growing appetite for material that feels less curated. Short-form, real-time updates are also gaining immense ground, offering what appears to be a more spontaneous window into athletes’ daily lives. In this context, Snapchat is one such social media platform that has emerged as a preferred platform for several Indian cricketers. Snapchat becomes the preferred choice of cricketers sharing the team’s inside stories Players such as Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Sharma and Washington Sundar have increasingly used Snapchat to share snippets from dressing rooms, team buses and practice sessions. Unlike traditional posts designed for permanence and broad reach, Snapchat’s ephemeral format encourages quick, in-the-moment sharing. Franchises in the Indian Premier League, including Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans, Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, have also experimented with behind-the-scenes storytelling tailored to younger audiences. The aim appears to be expanding engagement beyond match days and tapping into a fan base that consumes content primarily through mobile-first platforms. Saket Jha Saurabh, Director and Head of AR and Content Partnerships at Snap Inc., sharing his views on the rising popularity of Snapchat among Indian cricketers, said, “Today, fans don’t just want to watch the game. They want to feel closer to their favourite cricketers. Snapchat is uniquely positioned for that because it is built around real connections and authentic self-expression. We are seeing players share everything from dressing room banter to life on tour in a way that feels natural and unfiltered.” “Our focus is on enabling creators with tools like AR and creative formats that help them tell their stories in ways that feel immersive, expressive, and rooted in culture,” Jha added. As cricket continues to dominate India’s sporting landscape, the conversation around the game is no longer confined to commentary boxes and press conferences. Increasingly, it is unfolding in fleeting 30-second clips, shared from team hotels and airport lounges, reshaping how the sport is experienced in the process.
28 February,2026 01:35 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the T20 World Cup 2026 match against New Zealand, England emerged victorious by four wickets at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. Having put to chase a target of 160 runs, the "Three Lions" scored 161 runs for the loss of six wickets in 19.3 overs. Opening the innings, Phil Salt scored two runs in four balls. Wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler was dismissed on a two-ball duck. Captain Harry Brook accumulated 26 runs in 24 balls, including three boundaries and a maximum. Jacob Bethell also registered a score of 21 runs in 16 balls, with the help of four boundaries. Tom Banton smashed 33 runs off 24 deliveries, which was laced with three boundaries and a maximum. Sam Curran amassed 24 runs after facing 22 balls, and also smashed two boundaries and a maximum. Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed stayed unbeaten. Facing 18 balls, Jacks garnered 32 runs, laced with four boundaries and a maximum, whereas Ahmed scored 19 runs in seven balls, with the help of a boundary and two maximums. New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra claimed three wickets for 19 runs in four overs. Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, and Glenn Phillips bagged one wicket each. Skipper Mitchell Santner, Cole McConchie, and Ish Sodhi went wicketless in the T20 World Cup 2026 match against England. Earlier, having opted to bat first, New Zealand's wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert scored 35 runs in 25 balls, including three boundaries and two maximums. Fellow opening batsman Finn Allen accumulated 29 runs in 19 balls, with the help of three maximums. Rachin Ravindra departed after scoring 11 runs in 13 balls, which also included a boundary. Mark Chapman was also dismissed for 15 runs. His knock of nine balls included two boundaries. Later, Glenn Phillips delivered a crucial knock of 39 runs off 28 deliveries, which was laced with four boundaries and a maximum. Daryl Mitchell was dismissed for three runs in eight balls. Cole McConchie also scored 14 runs in 12 balls, including two boundaries. Skipper Mitchell Santner nd Matt Henry stayed unbeaten. Facing five balls, Santner scored nine runs, including a maximum, whereas Henry faced one ball and scored one run. With this, the "Black Caps" posted a total of 159 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs. England's Adil Rashid, Will Jacks, and Rehan Ahmed claimed two wickets each. Liam Dawson also picked up one wicket. Lead pacer Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, and Jacob Bethell went wicketless in the T20 World Cup 2026 match against New Zealand.
27 February,2026 11:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026 against Zimbabwe, Team India emerged victorious by 72 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Team India's management made a major change for the clash by bringing in Sanju Samson and making him open the innings along with Abhishek Sharma. Ishan Kishan was pushed to number three in the batting line-up. Samson smashed 24 runs off 15 deliveries, laced with a boundary and two maximums, whereas Abhishek garnered 55 runs in 30 balls, with the help of four boundaries and the same number of maximums. Speaking about the inclusion of Samson, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar explained how it benefited Team India. "I thought India's process was brilliant right at the start when they had a left-hand right-hand combination to open the inning. That was a very, very important change, and that helped India a great deal. I'll tell you why. If there were two left-handers, Ishan and Abhishek at the top, Sikandar Raza would have brought himself on because it was bowling first, the pitch would have had something for him and his other offspin in the first six overs, and that would have been a little troublesome," he said in a video posted on social media. He then stated that the lefty-righty combination at the top worked beautifully for the "Men in Blue". "Now, because there was a presence of Sanju Samson, he couldn't do that, and that meant that the offspinners were introduced a little late, and when spinners were introduced, India's run rate dropped for just a little bit but the left-hand right-hand combination at the top was a very important change for India and which worked beautifully," said Manjrekar. The "Men in Blue" will lock horns with the West Indies on March 1 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The final of the ongoing marquee event is scheduled to be played on March 8, with the venue yet to be decided. T20 World Cup 2026, Super 8: Full Squads India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (WK), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan (WK), Rinku Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Abhishek Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Tilak Varma. West Indies: Jason Holder, Johnson Charles (WK), Akeal Hosein, Roston Chase, Shai Hope (C) (WK), Gudakesh Motie, Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Matthew Forde, Quentin Sampson, Shamar Joseph. (With ANI Inputs)
27 February,2026 08:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNew Zealand pacer Matt Henry will leave for home on Friday after the Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026 against England. He will stay with his wife for the birth of their second child. Head coach Rob Walter said that the New Zealand team players and management are excited for the pacer and his wife to welcome their second child. "Firstly, we're all very excited for Matt and Holly on the arrival of their second child. It's a very significant moment for their family and we're wishing them all the best," he said in a statement. In the ongoing global showpiece, the "Black Caps" will qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament only if they manage to defeat England in Colombo. In case they suffer a defeat, their qualification will then depend on the clash between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, which is scheduled to be played on February 28 in Kandy. "There's a lot of water to go under the bridge but we're hopeful that the stars align for the team and for Matt and that we'll see him back competing in the final phases of the competition," said Walter. So far in the Super 8 stage of the marquee event, New Zealand has one victory out of two matches. The "Black Caps" are placed in the second position of Group 2 with a net run rate (NRR) of +3.050 and three points. On the other hand, South Africa has sealed their semi-final berth from Group 1. The second team from Group 1 to qualify for the semi-final will be decided after the clash between Team India and the West Indies. The match is scheduled to be played on March 1 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. It will be interesting to see if the "Men in Blue" manage to keep their title defence hopes alive. New Zealand's squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi. (With PTI Inputs)
27 February,2026 08:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026, Team India secured a dominating victory by 72 runs against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. During the match, Team India's opening batsmen Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma delivered a strong start. Facing 15 balls, Samson smashed 24 runs, including a boundary and two maximums. On the other hand, Abhishek garnered 55 runs off just 30 deliveries, with the help of four boundaries and the same number of maximums. Speaking about the partnership with Abhishek, Samson said that he enjoys batting with him as they both complement each other well. "We keep it very simple. He keeps asking me, Paaji (brother), what the wicket is doing. I tell him nothing and to just see the ball and swing your bat, nothing else, so I really enjoy batting with him. We both complement each other really well, so very happy we could actually give India a great start today," he said. Later in the second essay of the match, Arshdeep Singh claimed three wickets by conceding 24 runs in four overs. Varun Chakaravarthy, Axar Patel and Shivam Dube also chipped in with one wicket each. Zimbabwe's 72-run loss to India, following a 107-run loss to West Indies, has sealed their exit from the T20 World Cup, with South Africa qualifying for the semifinal from their group. The "Men in Blue" will lock horns with the West Indies on March 1 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The final of the ongoing marquee event is scheduled to be played on March 8, with the venue yet to be decided. T20 World Cup 2026, Super 8: Full Squads India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (WK), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan (WK), Rinku Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Abhishek Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Tilak Varma. West Indies: Jason Holder, Johnson Charles (WK), Akeal Hosein, Roston Chase, Shai Hope (C) (WK), Gudakesh Motie, Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Matthew Forde, Quentin Sampson, Shamar Joseph. (With ANI Inputs)
27 February,2026 06:11 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026 against Zimbabwe, Team India's swashbuckling opening batsman Abhishek Sharma scored 55 runs in 30 deliveries, laced with four boundaries and the same number of maximums. This was his first half-century in the ongoing edition of the T20 World Cup. Following his knock, the legendary Team India batsman Sunil Gavaskar said that the left-handed batsman has silenced his doubters by delivering such a knock. "We know how good Abhishek Sharma is as a batter. He silenced his doubters with this knock of 55 runs against Zimbabwe," he said. The former cricketer was also surprised to see the explosive opening batsman play defensive shots during his knock. "He took that extra time to start his innings. There was a method to his batting. He respected the off spinner, didn't take any kind of risks and played in a calm and a composed manner. In this game, he actually played a defensive shot. He defended the ball. I was surprised to see that because we don't usually see Abhishek do that," said Gavaskar. In the initial matches of the global showpiece, Abhishek had registered three ducks. Gavaskar feels that the tournament is a learning lesson for the left-handed batsman. "I really think this is a learning curve for him. Every cricketer goes through a rough patch of not scoring runs in back-to-back games. It is about how much you learn from it. I feel Abhishek has learned a lot and this will augur well for him going forward, in the next couple of games and the all-important clash against West Indies in Kolkata," said the 76-year-old former cricketer. The "Men in Blue" will lock horns with the West Indies on March 1 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. T20 World Cup 2026, Super 8: Full Squads India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (WK), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan (WK), Rinku Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Abhishek Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Tilak Varma. West Indies: Jason Holder, Johnson Charles (WK), Akeal Hosein, Roston Chase, Shai Hope (C) (WK), Gudakesh Motie, Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Matthew Forde, Quentin Sampson, Shamar Joseph. (With PTI Inputs)
27 February,2026 05:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSecretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Devajit Saikia expressed condolences to Indian cricketer Rinku Singh and his family after his father, Khanchand Singh, died following a prolonged battle with stage-4 liver cancer. Rinku, who is currently part of India's T20 World Cup squad, left Chennai at 5:00 am to rush to New Delhi, reported IANS. The left-handed batter is now believed to be on his way to his hometown, Aligarh, for the last rites of Khanchand. BCCI secretary Saikia also confirmed that he will not be travelling with the team to Kolkata for their next Super Eights fixture against the West Indies, to be played on Sunday. Devajit Saikia, while expressing grief about the sudden demise of Rinku’s father, said, “I would express my deepest condolences on behalf of BCCI to Rinku Singh and his whole family at this hour of crisis. He left for Delhi from Chennai at 5 am to rush to the hospital in Greater Noida, where his father was undergoing treatment, as per IANS. “So, he will not be travelling with the Indian team to Kolkata on the flight scheduled for this afternoon. Once we get any updated information on Rinku, we'll let you know,” Saikia added. Rinku’s father was admitted in hospital on February 21 As reported by IANS, Khanchand had been admitted to Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida on February 21 after his condition deteriorated significantly. He was placed on ventilator support before passing away in the early hours of Friday. Rinku had previously been by his father's side when his condition worsened, but rejoined the squad ahead of India's match against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday. Although the southpaw did not feature in the playing eleven, as Sanju Samson got the nod to play and open the batting alongside Abhishek Sharma. India to face West Indies on Sunday Defending champions India will face the West Indies in a virtual knockout clash on Sunday. With a semi-final spot at stake, the winner of Sunday’s match will join South Africa for the semi-finals from Group 1. (With inputs from IANS)
27 February,2026 12:02 PM IST | Chennai | mid-day online correspondentIndian cricketer Rinku Singh's father, breathed his last on Friday morning at the Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida, informed the hospital PRO. Singh's father was battling stage-four cancer, He was undergoing treatment at Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida, but sadly couldn't make it. Rinku had to rush back home from the T20 World Cup squad to be with his family after his father's condition worsened after India's first Super 8 fixture against South Africa. Rinku was quick to return to Chennai to join the Indian squad ahead of the Zimbabwe clash on Thursday after a quick visit to meet his father. However, Rinku didn't feature in the playing 11 for the Zimbabwe clash as India opted for Sanju Samson to open alongside Abhishek Sharma, leaving Rinku out of the equation. Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh expressed his condolences to Rinku Singh and his family on the passing of his father. Pained to learn about the demise of Shri Khanchand Singh Ji, father of Rinku Singh. This must be an especially difficult time for Rinku and his family, even as he remains committed to his responsibilities during the T20 World Cup.My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with him… — Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) February 27, 2026 In an X post, Harbhajan wrote, "Pained to learn about the demise of Shri Khanchand Singh Ji, father of Rinku Singh. This must be an especially difficult time for Rinku and his family, even as he remains committed to his responsibilities during the T20 World Cup. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with him and his loved ones. May Waheguru grant eternal peace to the departed soul and give strength and courage to the bereaved family." So far, Rinku has had a mixed bag World Cup with the bat, often arriving at the crease with very few balls left to score. He has made just 24 runs in five innings, staying unbeaten twice and having a best score of 11*. In 10 T20Is this year, the left-hander has made 115 runs in eight innings at an average of 28.75, with a strike rate of 132.18 and best score of 44 not out. The Indian team will now travel to Kolkata for their last Super 8 clash against the West Indies on Sunday. The winner of the match will join South Africa to qualify for the semi-finals from Group 1
27 February,2026 09:15 AM IST | Greater Noida | ANINew Zealand's "street-smart" cricketers can find a way to beat England and guarantee their semi-final place at the T20 World Cup, coach Rob Walters said on Thursday. A win for New Zealand in Friday's night's Super Eights clash in Colombo will see them top Group 2 and join the already-qualified England in the final four. A defeat would leave the door ajar for Pakistan to beat eliminated Sri Lanka on Saturday with the second semi-final berth then being decided on net run rate. Mitchell Santner's New Zealand were in trouble at 84-6 against Sri Lanka on Wednesday before the captain steered them to 168-7 and a thumping 61-run win which knocked out the co-hosts. "I think if you look historically at the Black Caps, you would probably say that they're a team that have been great problem solvers," Walters told reporters. "They are street smart, they find a way to understand the conditions quickly. "It's certainly something that we pride ourselves on. We can adapt to conditions quickly and find a method." England are the only team to secure a place in the semi-finals so far after skipper Harry Brook's match-winning century against Pakistan. New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra is aware of England's threat. "You're always confident going into these fixtures, especially when we know what the surface is going to be like," said Ravindra, who took four wickets against Sri Lanka. "But I think it'd be silly to underestimate England at any point. "They're obviously such a quality unit and they've shown this in how well they've been bowling. "They've got world-class batters throughout their order." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 February,2026 08:43 AM IST | Colombo | AFPIndia all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s girlfriend Mahieka Sharma delighted her near-six lakh Instagram following with her latest post. She shared a slew of her photographs (including the one below), modelling different outfits for a fashion brand. Her post received nearly one lakh ‘likes,’ with even Pandya dropping a heart and fire emoji in the comments section in appreciation of her style.
27 February,2026 08:36 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentThey can’t speak or hear, yet they have made a strong statement. The Virender Singh-led Indian deaf cricket team outclassed Sri Lanka by six wickets to clinch the inaugural Deaf T20I Asia Cup at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Wednesday. The feat is remarkable, considering 11 out of the 16-player squad, including skipper Virender, are jobless, meaning they don’t have a steady income. Head coach Dev Dutt is hoping this stellar show can draw the attention of the BCCI and government authorities, who can offer employment to these talented cricketers. “My players are unable to speak, but they communicate among themselves flawlessly through their skills and intent. Just like India’s blind cricketers have received support from the BCCI, I hope this team too gets similar assistance from the board. More so, because our players play under the same set of ICC rules that govern able-bodied cricketers. A deaf cricket match is like any normal match, the only difference being the players can’t speak or hear. I also hope the government steps in to reward these hardworking players,” Dutt told mid-day over the phone from New Delhi on Thursday. India deaf team head coach Dev Dutt; (right) India deaf team captain Virender Singh The Indian team remained unbeaten in the Asian Deaf Cricket Association-organised three-team competition (the third team being Nepal) where every team played each other twice. “Hats off to the passion of these players who work hard despite little or no monetary reward,” added Dutt, who has been coaching this team since 2020. Dutt, a BCCI Level-1 coach, who previously coached the Delhi U-19 team, went on to explain how he initially struggled to communicate with his players. “For the first two years, it was very difficult for me to deal with these players because I am not deaf and don’t know the sign language. We have a sign language specialist, who explains my instructions to the players. I also try and demonstrate technique to them and they understand. Sometimes I also hand them little notes with specific instructions and they follow everything diligently,” added Dutt. Skipper and all-rounder Virender, 41, who scored a match-winning 52 in the final, is hoping his team can go a step further and conquer the world next. “Winning our maiden Asia Cup is a very big achievement for us. It’s the result of perfect teamwork. Now, we want to keep up this momentum as we work towards our next goal — the Deaf World Cup, which is in Dubai in October. I have no doubt this team can be world champions,” Virender, who hails from Himachal Pradesh’s Una district, told mid-day via a text message. 11No. of players who are jobless in the 16-member India deaf team
27 February,2026 08:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureADVERTISEMENT
