Sports
How India paused to watch the T20 final
From society lawns to crowded pubs, India’s T20 World Cup victory turned the match into a shared national moment
MUMBAI: For a few hours last night, India did something unusual. It slowed down.
As the T20 World Cup final unfolded, the country pressed pause on its routine and gathered to watch. Apartment societies rolled out projectors in their courtyards. Banquet halls opened their doors and placed rows of chairs before giant screens. Pubs and bars filled to capacity as fans turned up not merely for a drink, but for the drama of cricket.
The match was everywhere, yet it was rarely on a mobile phone.
Instead, India chose the bigger spectacle. Families, neighbours and strangers watched together on televisions, LED screens and projectors that transformed ordinary spaces into impromptu stadiums. In residential complexes, children sat cross-legged on the ground while older residents occupied plastic chairs arranged in neat rows. In pubs, every boundary and wicket was greeted with cheers loud enough to drown out the commentary.
For once, the small screen lost its grip. Laptops remained shut. Phones were used mostly to capture the moment rather than consume it. The heroes of the evening were the bigger screens. The television in the living room, the projector on the society wall and the giant display above a crowded bar counter.
And with good reason. India delivered.
The national side clinched a historic second consecutive ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title, defeating New Zealand in the final and cementing their dominance in the format after the triumph of 2024. The victory was clinical and emphatic enough to spark celebrations almost immediately.
Soon after the final ball, the country erupted.
Motorbikes roared through neighbourhood streets with riders waving the tricolour. Firecrackers lit up the night sky. Groups gathered outside buildings, clapping and cheering as if the team could hear them across continents. In many homes and public spaces, strangers exchanged smiles and handshakes, an unspoken acknowledgement of shared joy.
By morning, the victory had become the nation’s first conversation.
“Did you watch the match yesterday?”
“Congratulations to Team India.”
From office corridors to neighbourhood tea stalls, the match dominated discussions. For a country of 1.4 billion people with wildly different routines and interests, the previous night had produced a rare moment of unity.
What made it remarkable was not just the win, but the way it was watched.
From Gen Z students to millennials and boomers, people chose to experience the match collectively. Cricket turned into a community event again, something to be shared in a crowd rather than consumed alone on a handheld device.
In an era when entertainment is increasingly individual and algorithm-driven, the final reminded India of a simpler ritual. Gathering around a screen and feeling every moment together.
The scoreboard will remember India’s title defence.
But the night will be remembered for something else too. The sound of a billion people watching, cheering and celebrating as one.
Sports
Ashish Limaye bags gold and bronze at Montelibretti 2026 event
Indian rider shines in Italy, gains ground ahead of higher-level tests
MUMBAI: Ashish Limaye delivered a strong performance on the international stage, clinching both gold and bronze at the FEI Eventing Competition Montelibretti 2026 held in Italy earlier this month.
Competing against riders from across the globe, Limaye secured the top podium finish in the CCI 2 Long Format riding Easy Turn, registering a score of 30.2 in a field that featured participants from five nations. He followed it up with a bronze medal in the CCI 2 Short Format aboard Willy Be Dun, scoring 32 in a much larger and highly competitive pool of 66 riders representing nine countries.
Reflecting on the outing, Fédération Equestre Internationale event rider Ashish Limaye said, “Riding at Montelibretti was amazing. To compete with such talented riders from around the world was fantastic. I’m really happy with the results and the effort our team has put in.”
Beyond the podium finishes, Limaye also achieved a milestone result on D’Avril du Pinier, earning a Minimum Eligibility Requirement, bringing him closer to qualifying for the FEI World Equestrian Games.
While the Montelibretti competition was not a direct qualifier for major multi-sport events, it serves as a crucial stepping stone as Limaye prepares to move up to the more demanding CCI 3 level.
With momentum firmly on his side, the Indian rider now looks set to build on this success as he targets bigger stages in the global equestrian circuit.
