New Delhi, March 7: As Team India prepares for Sunday’s high-stakes summit clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against New Zealand, former India spinner Piyush Chawla believes managing emotions will be the defining factor for the hosts in a pressure-filled home final.

Chawla stressed that while the expectations surrounding India may add pressure, the key for players is to embrace the occasion and focus on expressing themselves on the field.

“You just have to go out there, control your emotions and express yourself. Because it’s very important when there are so many people around and so many think that you’re going to win the game. You are the favourites, and that tag also brings a little bit of pressure,” Chawla told JioStar.

Chawla noted that nerves are inevitable in a global final, but the home crowd’s support can transform that tension into motivation.

“And the butterflies, if someone says they’re not there, is totally wrong. Once you enter the field and the whole crowd is behind you, cheering for you, gives you motivation. It’s the same feeling that you have to do something special. And when every player thinks that way, that we have to do something special, the whole team comes together,” he explained.

He also emphasised that success in a final often results from a shared belief throughout the whole squad and support system. “It’s not only about the eleven who are playing, even the players who are outside and not part of the playing XI, even the support staff, when everyone comes together, it becomes like a brute force,” he said.

Reflecting on India’s road to the final, Chawla singled out wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson for his crucial contributions in recent matches.

“This is the moment you live for as a cricketer,” Chawla said while recalling India’s must-win clash against the West Indies cricket team.

“The game against the West Indies was a virtual quarter-final, and the way Sanju Samson played that innings while chasing 195 in a pressure situation, he made it look so easy. That’s the beauty of his batting.”

Samson carried that form into the semifinal against the England national cricket team as well, continuing his aggressive approach at the crease.

“And again, against England, he came in to bat and made sure he was hitting every ball. We all know Wankhede brings a lot to the table for the batters, so you have to try and convert even the balls that are not there to hit into boundary balls,” Chawla said.

Speaking about batting dynamics at the Wankhede Stadium, Chawla explained that totals often need to be adjusted upward because of the venue’s chasing-friendly conditions. He said, “Whatever you’re thinking of scoring, you have to add 20 runs to that because it’s a chasing ground, and we saw what happened there. India scored 250-plus and at one point we thought 250 was a good enough score in a high-pressure game, but England just fell seven runs short.”

Chawla also assessed the recent struggles of mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, suggesting that inconsistency in his lengths has reduced his effectiveness.

“I feel sometimes when you get desperate or when you try to do too many things, you end up bowling too full, and that’s exactly what’s happening with Varun,” Chawla said.

“His strength is to bowl that hard length, not the one that fast bowlers bowl, but for a spinner, the good length where the bounce is around knee-high. Because with his pace, if the batter is not picking him up from the hand, it becomes really difficult as he’s so quick off the surface.”

“But when you are a little off radar, then you go for plenty,” he added. “Either he’s too full or too short, and with this kind of pace, it becomes easier for the batter when the bounce is so true on the surface.”

As India head into the final with expectations running high, Chawla believes staying composed and embracing the occasion will be key if the hosts are to overcome New Zealand and lift the trophy.

New Delhi: India has intensified efforts to assist its citizens stranded across Gulf countries as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has set up a dedicated control room to coordinate assistance and provide real-time support to Indian nationals affected by the crisis.

MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared the update on X, announcing that the control room will operate daily from 9 am to 9 pm. The helpline numbers issued by the ministry are 1800118797 (toll-free), +91 11 2301 2113, +91 11 2301 4104 and +91 11 2301 7905.

In addition, the MEA released a list of emergency contact numbers for Indian embassies and missions across the region to ensure stranded citizens can seek immediate help. These include Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Ramallah, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the MEA said India has once again strongly called for dialogue and diplomacy to bring an early end to the conflict in West Asia. Jaiswal said New Delhi is ‘raising its voice clearly’ for de-escalation and expressed grief over the large number of lives lost in the violence.

Safety & Well-Being Of Indians Top Priority

He emphasised that nearly one crore Indian citizens live and work in the Gulf region, making their safety and well-being a top priority for the government. “India cannot be immune to developments that negatively affect this region,” Jaiswal said, noting that vital trade routes and energy supply chains pass through West Asia. He warned that any major disruption could have serious consequences for the Indian economy.

The spokesperson also said India is firmly opposed to attacks on merchant shipping, pointing out that some Indian nationals have been killed or are missing following recent incidents at sea. He added that the conflict has not only intensified but also spread to other countries, bringing normal life and economic activity in parts of the region to a standstill.

India had earlier expressed deep concern when hostilities began in Iran and the Gulf region on February 28, urging all sides to exercise restraint and prioritise civilian safety. Jaiswal said it was particularly unfortunate that the situation has worsened during the holy month of Ramadan.

The MEA said Indian embassies and consulates in affected countries remain in close contact with Indian nationals and community organisations, issuing regular advisories and extending all possible assistance to those stranded by the conflict.

A vehicle convoy carrying former German World Cup winner Mesut Ozil and Necmettin Bilal Erdogan, the son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was involved in a minor road incident on Thursday evening while returning from humanitarian activities in Cox’s Bazar.

The incident occurred around 6:45–7:00 pm on the Cox’s Bazar–Teknaf highway in the Kutupalong area of Ukhiya upazila, officials said. The convoy was making its way back after visiting Rohingya refugee camps and taking part in an iftar event.

According to Saiful Islam, Officer-in-Charge of the Shahpori Highway Police Station, a battery-operated three-wheeler or auto-rickshaw suddenly entered the main road from a side path and collided with a police escort vehicle assigned to secure the VIP convoy.

While the vehicles carrying Ozil and Bilal Erdogan were positioned at the front and escaped damage, the auto-rickshaw was badly mangled in the collision. The driver was seriously injured and later taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Police have seized the damaged vehicle and launched an investigation into the cause of the incident.

Authorities are probing whether the crash was due to a traffic breach, a breakdown in VIP protocol, or a genuine accident, with legal action to follow based on findings. No members of the Turkish delegation or Ozil’s team were harmed. Earlier in the day, Ozil and the Turkish delegation engaged with Rohingya communities, participated in football activities with youth at Camp 4, and attended an iftar gathering in the camp.