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Bharti Singh recalls massive college crush on Karan Kundrra: My sister and I were crazy about him

Mumbai, March 25, 2026

Comedian Bharti Singh revealed that she and her sister had a massive crush on actor Karan Kundrra during their college days, recalling how they would eagerly watch him on television.

The star comedian took to her vlog on her YouTube channel where she was heard revealing that she and her sister were obsessed with Karan Kundrra while growing up.

“We had Karan Kundrra on some show of MTV and he used to come there. My sister and I had started loving Karan. He was such a handsome boy, and such an angry young man, we loved him,” Bharti shared.

Recalling just how big a fan her sister was, she added, “My sister was crazy. She used to leave utensils halfway while cleaning and come to see Karan Kundrra on TV.”

Talking about Bharti and Karan, they are currently seen together on “Celebrity Laughter Chefs,” where their camaraderie has been winning over audiences.

Talking about Karan Kundrra, the actor made his television debut with the popular show “Kitani Mohabbat Hai” in 2009, where he starred opposite Kritika Kamra.

The romantic drama was loved by viewers and established him as a household name.

He went on to then feature in many other shows including “Kitani Mohabbat Hai 2,” “Gumrah: End of Innocence,” “Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum,” and “Dil Hi Toh Hai,” showcasing his versatility across genres.

Karan also participated in “Bigg Boss 15,” where he emerged as one of the most popular contestants.

It was on the show that his relationship with Tejasswi Prakash blossomed, and the two have been dating for four years now.

Currently, Karan Kundrra is seen hosting MTV Splitsvilla, along with Sunny Leone.(Agency)

Sonal Chauhan says she is deeply disturbed by events around, calls the world ‘very cruel’

Mumbai, March 25, 2026

Actress Sonal Chauhan has expressed her concerns over the disturbing events taking place across the world.

The actress said that all of it reflects the cruelty of the times we live in.Taking to her social media account, the actress shared a note expressing her thoughts and deep emotions.

She wrote, “To everyone asking if I am ok … By God’s garce I am absolutely fine … but THE WORLD IS NOT !!! I’ve been deeply disturbed by what has been happening in the world. A little girl being raped while the man walks away saying ‘jo bhi hua aaj maza aa gaya’ ….(sic)”

“A small child being tortured in front of his father …. Old parents being abandoned by their own children. WHERE DOES THIS END ?!?? Will we ever just get up and say – THIS IS IT !!! ??? Everything that could be wrong, is wrong with this world. We are truly living in a VERY CRUEL world… (sic)”

Sonal’s concern and post on social media reflects on the grim situation the world currently seems to be in.

A few weeks ago, Sonam Chauhan had also made headlines after being stranded in Dubai amid escalating war tensions, as the airspace was temporarily shut down back then.

She had made an appeal to the Government of India for assistance and was later safely brought back.

The actress had also penned a note thanking the Indian authorities for their swift response and support.

Talking about Sonal Chauhan on the professional front, the actress made her Bollywood debut with Jannat opposite Emraan Hashmi.(Agency)

5th T20I: Amelia’s century powers NZ to 4-1 series win over SA

Christchurch, March 25, 2026

A brilliant all-round display, led by Amelia Kerr’s 105-run knock and a two-wicket haul, guided New Zealand to a commanding 92-run victory over South Africa in the fifth WT20I here at Hagley Oval, sealing the five-game series 4-1.

Batting first, riding on Amelia’s 105 off 55, the hosts posted 194/6 in their allotted 20 overs, their fourth-highest team total. In response, the Proteas were restricted to 102/9 in front of sensational New Zealand bowling, suffering their third-worst loss in T20Is (by runs).

Opting to bat first, New Zealand were powered by a sensational innings from Kerr, who struck 105 off just 55 balls. Her knock, laced with 19 fours and a six, formed the backbone of the innings and ensured the hosts maintained a high scoring rate throughout.

She found support from Georgia Plimmer (27) and Brooke Halliday (26), while late contributions from Maddy Green and others helped push the total close to the 200-run mark. Despite picking up three wickets, Ayabonga Khaka could not prevent New Zealand from finishing strongly.

In reply, South Africa’s chase never gained momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals. The visitors were reduced to 40/4 inside the powerplay, putting them firmly on the back foot.

Annerie Dercksen top-scored with 23, while Sune Luus (13) and Laura Wolvaardt (9) failed to convert their starts. The lack of substantial partnerships hurt South Africa, as they struggled to cope with New Zealand’s disciplined bowling attack.

Kerr capped off an outstanding outing by claiming two wickets, while Sophie Devine also struck twice to dent the middle order. Lea Tahuhu and Flora Devonshire chipped in with crucial breakthroughs as New Zealand maintained control throughout the innings.

South Africa eventually limped to 102/9 in 20 overs, falling well short of the target as New Zealand completed a comprehensive victory.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 194/6 in 20 overs (Amelia Kerr 105, Georgia Plimmer 27; Ayabonga Khaka 3-32, Tumi Sekhukhune 3-32) beat South Africa 102/9 in 20 overs (Annerie Dercksen 23, Sune Luus 13; Lea Tahuhu 3-26, Amelia Kerr 2-6) by 92 runs.(Agency)

IPL 2026: With clarity in mind and plans, Yash Thakur banks on death overs expertise to thrive for PBKS

New Delhi, March 25, 2026

When Yash Thakur talks about bowling in the death overs in T20s, he does not talk about variations first – he speaks about the clarity in mind and plans before turning his attention to execution. The clarity in his words mirrors Thakur’s reputation as an end-overs specialist in IPL – 13 of his 25 wickets have come in the crunch 17–20 overs phase.

“I feel that death overs are the most challenging. So I always try to do my best for the team in the most challenging situations. My mindset is always the same. That’s why I prefer bowling in death overs. For death overs, your mind and plans should be clear.

“Then your execution comes in the end. These three things I feel are the most important in bowling in death overs. If it is there, you can click it well. Sometimes it won’t happen, but this is a process. The more it goes on, the better it will be,” said Thakur in an exclusive conversation with IANS ahead of IPL 2026 starting on March 28.

It is this simple framework of clarity and execution that has helped Thakur excel since having impactful 2023 and 2024 seasons with Lucknow Super Giants. Though he got only two games with PBKS in the 2025 season, Thakur’s numbers in recent domestic cricket season suggest he can get a longer run: 18 wickets in seven matches at an economy rate of 6.8 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

He had the third-best economy rate amongst pacers who bowled at least 25 overs in the domestic T20 competition. It was followed by 19 scalps in nine games in Vidarbha winning the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Thakur knows what those numbers mean for his IPL 2026 ambitions, especially with PBKS looking to complete an unfinished business after falling six runs short of winning the title.

“I am ready from day one to play matches. Our tactical call and more so, team call will always be on top. Whatever role I am given, I will try to do my best for the team, which is more important. Punjab Kings as a team has only one goal that we have to win the final match and win the trophy for the team. The trophy that was left last year should be in our dressing room this time,” he said.

The death overs specialism that has now become a part of Thakur’s identity traces back to 2018/19, when he turned out for India U19 team. “This process started long ago. It started from under 19 days in 2018/19, when I was playing for India – that’s when it started that I had to be a death overs bowler. It’s because if I wanted to play for India, the better I would do in death overs, the better my chances of playing for the country would become.

“So, all of this is one step at a time. Actually, when I played T20 for the first time in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, I didn’t have much idea. I just played in the tournament, but I got to learn that in death overs, there is always a challenge – the batters come hard on you and from then I started this.

“In Syed Mushtaq Ali (Trophy), I thought I will excel more in death overs and achieve mastery in it. Then slowly I came to IPL and right now, the thing is, the more I am clear in death overs and better I perform there – it stays in my mind,” he explained.

Before joining PBKS camp, Thakur spent time at the NCA club in Nagpur for a focused block of preparation. For one or two days, he would practice bowling yorkers only by keeping his shoes on the blockhole and try to consistently hit it.

The same plan would be in place for honing his wide yorkers and slower balls, apart from spending 1.5 to 2 hours on batting practice. “As per my bowling plan, I work there on my thinking, execution, the specific deliveries I have to work on – so I prepare for IPL and that makes me feel that I am not unprepared.

“So I get a good stage to prepare there. The same goes for batting – I think about the deliveries that I have to prepare against, the shots that can work well. So I practice there for 6-7 days and then I come to the IPL with a feeling that I am prepared.”

That preparation feeds directly into his death overs approach on match days, where instinct and planning for specific batters coexists under significant pressure. “In death overs, execution is most important. Whether your plan is getting executed or not. Second thing is planning – what have you planned for specific batters and wickets? These two things are most important.”

“The plans are mostly batter specific. You have to see who is batting and what are their strengths and weaknesses, irrespective of the ground conditions and wickets. Keeping both these things in mind, you have to plan the best balls which can work and give you wickets and save runs. That is the process which is there in that phase,” he stated.

Spending time in the India ‘A’ camp for series against Australia ‘A’, South Africa ‘A’ and Rising Stars Asia Cup has also been a huge boon for Thakur. “It is a step closer to India and the experience was such that it felt like international cricket for me. It was a good experience personally for my skills and development and how I can excel more in that.

“I learnt a lot of things about how I have to keep my temperament and patience. Pressure increases a lot when you represent a country, but when you are calm and composed, you get to learn and experience a lot.”

The adaption of his bowling plans as per different formats has further sharpened Thakur’s adaptability skills. “As a professional cricketer, this is a part of your life that your format will change, so as the time to play, but you have to adapt very quickly because the game has become so fast. You are playing T20 today, then after a week you have to play Test cricket and later one-day cricket.

“So the time and format will change, but your adaptability should be very fast as per the pace of the modern-day game. For every player and professional cricketer, it has become mandatory that your adaptability should be good.”

What makes this PBKS side different since 2025, as per Thakur, is a cultural shift that captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting have brought since joining the side. “When Shreyas bhai joined the team last year, he changed the environment. Shreyas bhai and Ricky sir changed the environment of the team and made it a positive, fun-loving team. Everyone cares for each other and will think about each other.

“Our team building started from there – from day one last year till the final. All the players who were not playing had a thought that how can I do my best for my team? Even if I am not playing, how can I do my best from here? Everyone has the same mindset this year, as we had last year. As a team, we have to move forward, play for each other and make the team win.”

Guided by calmness, clarity in plans and the disciplined execution he has honed since his teens, Thakur shapes up as a compelling option to be in the PBKS playing eleven. In a competition where control in the death overs can tilt the balance, his presence could prove to be decisive in IPL 2026.

“I had a good season for Vidarbha as well. So my mindset and thinking is the same as what I was thinking in the domestic season – that we have to take every match at the same time. The end goal is we have to win that trophy – so we have to go through that process and keep the mindset positive.

“As soon as any situation comes, the more calm and positive you are, the better you will be able to execute. So I saw this in the domestic games and now I want to do the same thing in the IPL,” signed off Thakur. (Agency)

PM should personally brief all-party meet on West Asia, say Oppn MPs

New Delhi, March 25, 2026

Political leaders from across the spectrum reacted strongly on Wednesday ahead of the all-party meeting convened to discuss the ongoing West Asia crisis, with several welcoming the initiative but raising concerns over its timing and format.

Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka welcomed the government’s move but emphasised the need for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address all party leaders directly.

“The proposal for an all-party meeting is a positive step. But it is crucial that Prime Minister Modi personally briefs everyone about the situation in West Asia and India’s role in resolving it,” he told IANS.

Ulaka’s statement reflects a broader sentiment in the Opposition that the meeting should not be a routine briefing but a platform for full discussion.

From the Samajwadi Party, MP Ram Gopal Yadav highlighted concerns about the short notice.

“The meeting was called for 5 PM today, with notice sent just yesterday. From the Samajwadi Party, our leaders Javed Ali Khan and Dharmendra Yadav have been invited,” he said, signalling the party’s readiness to participate but also underscoring the need for proper preparation.

BJP MP, Shashank Mani Tripathi, praised the government’s approach and Prime Minister Modi’s earlier statements in Parliament.

“The day before yesterday, Prime Minister Modi addressed the Lok Sabha to inform the nation. He made it clear that we must act together to navigate this crisis,” he said, highlighting the ruling party’s focus on national unity amid the conflict.

Leaders from different parties reacted in line with their political positions: Opposition MPs stressed on transparency and a full debate, while ruling party MPs emphasised the need for coordinated action and support for the government’s response.

The all-party meeting is scheduled for 5 P.M., inside the Parliament complex today.

It will be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expected to brief leaders on the latest developments and India’s diplomatic stance.

The meeting follows Prime Minister Modi’s statements in both Houses of Parliament, where he described the West Asia situation as an “unprecedented crisis” with potential long-term implications.(Agency)

Pakistan leans on Sunni groups to curb Shia mobilisation, maintain Iran neutrality

New Delhi, March 25, 2026

For Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, countering the pro-Iran Shia mobilisation in the country is increasingly becoming a headache. For Pakistan, countering this mobilisation is important as it is threatening to become bigger. However, the dilemma the establishment faces is that it cannot use its official machinery to take on the mobilisation of the Shias.

Pakistan has chosen to mediate between Iran and the United States, and hence it needs to remain neutral. Any direct action against the Shia mobilisation would infuriate Iran, and this is something that Islamabad wants to avoid.

An official said that Pakistan has now brought back its proxies to take on this problem. The Pakistan Army chief has ordered hardline Sunni elements and leaders from the Sipah-e-Sabah (SeS) and Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) to take on the Shias who are mobilising in large numbers in support of Iran. These groups have, in the past, come to the rescue of the Pakistan establishment. When it comes to countering protesters who were seeking justice for jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, it was these elements who took to the streets.

The members of the SeS and JuD have the backing of the army and ISI and have been given a free hand to indulge in street violence against those who are questioning the establishment, an official said.

The SeS is a banned Sunni Deobandi Islamist organisation and a former political party that was founded in 1985. This outfit came into existence only to oppose Shia influence in Pakistan. The SeS has a history of being involved in sectarian conflicts, including violence with the Shia organisation, Shipah-e-Muhammad, Pakistan.

The JuD, on the other hand, is the charity wing of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. The JuD follows the Ahl-i Hadith interpretation of Islam, which is similar to Wahhabism and Salafism.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that by involving the SeS and JuD, the Pakistan army chief would look to put down the mobilisation of the Shia. Since these groups have no accountability, the violence would not be blamed on the state, but on two individual organisations. This helps in the deniability factor, when Pakistan speaks with Iran, the official added.

Such violence will no doubt be scrutinised internationally and by foreign Intelligence agencies. The establishment would, however, try to get away by putting the blame on the SeS and JuD, while stating that it has nothing to do with them.

Another official said that both groups have been given immunity by the establishment. This means that they can choose to act the way they please.

Another official said that with such a plan in place, one could anticipate street violence and bloody clashes with the Shias in Pakistan.

By trying to mediate between Iran and the US, Pakistan wants to place itself in a position of power. Pakistan also wants to claim geopolitical relevance by offering to mediate between the two warring nations.

Field Marshal Asim Munir has taken this task upon himself and has been engaging directly with Iranian President Masood Pezeshkian. He has also been leveraging his relations with some of the Gulf nations and the US.

With Pakistan wanting geopolitical relevance, it cannot afford to officially crush the mobilisation that is taking place in support of Iran. If Pakistan ends up angering Iran at this juncture, then Tehran may not come to the table. This would hurt Pakistan’s ambitions of playing mediator and reclaiming geopolitical importance, another official said.

The JuD and the SeS have readily accepted what the Pakistan army chief has said, as they have done in the past. Officials say that both these outfits have had an agenda against the Shias for a long time, and hence the offer made by Field Marshal Munir is more than welcome for them.(Agency)

Pant’s talent is tremendous, but you need a method and game plan in T20s: Faf

New Delhi, March 25, 2026

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has delivered a pointed critique of Rishabh Pant’s T20 performance, pointing out why the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) leader’s considerable talent has not consistently shown in the shortest format before IPL 2026.

Pant carries high expectations as both a batter and a leader. While his aggressive stroke play has made him one of the most exciting players in world cricket, questions remain over his consistency in T20s.

Breaking down Pant’s approach, du Plessis highlighted the numerous options in the left-hander’s game as both a strength and a challenge.

“The talent that Rishabh Pant has is tremendous. You look at him playing Test cricket and you think, this guy has all the shots. When I look at his game, I feel he has too many options in his head. He feels like he can hit a six off every ball to any part of the ground. But in T20 batting, you still need a method. You need a game plan for how you go about your business. Look at all the great T20 players. You can almost have an idea of where they will score their boundaries and where they have slight weaknesses,” du Plessis told JioStar.

“They work their way through that. With Pant, I feel he is always on the edge. When you watch him play, you feel he can get out at any time because it is almost frantic at times. The surprising number for me is his T20 strike-rate, which is around 130. How is that possible for a guy with so many shots? Maybe it is because we watch him in Test cricket playing these extravagant, exuberant innings, taking the game on. We almost feel that should just happen in T20 cricket as well,” he added.

With LSG assembling a strong top order featuring Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran, du Plessis also weighed in on where Pant could best fit into the batting lineup.

“Looking at LSG’s 2026 auction and their strategy around who they signed, you look at that top-heavy batting line-up – Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran are the main ones alongside Pant. Pooran is maybe the only guy who can slide down. But the success Marsh and Markram had at the top of the order for LSG last season is probably something I would expect them to start with again.

“So, maybe there is an opportunity for Pant to bat at number three. The numbers suggest that for him to be the best player he can be, number three looks good. I see him batting at number three for LSG this season with Nicholas Pooran sliding down to number four,” he stated.

Du Plessis further stressed that Pant needs to bring clarity to his T20 blueprint, especially in the early stages of his innings, to achieve greater consistency.

“Rishabh Pant’s stroke play is one that looks all over the place. There is some sort of method and game plan that goes into his head. He has a blueprint for how he wants to play Test cricket. The same thing applies in T20 cricket. He needs to figure out exactly what his game plan looks like to give himself the best chance. Not to be a one out of ten or two out of ten kind of player, but to be in the 60 to 70 per cent range where he can have consistency. To do that, you can’t premeditate every ball,” he noted.

“That is too high risk. Yes, you might hit a few sixes and play a couple of good innings. But when teams bowl wide to him, he is good enough to have something else in his armoury to hit through the offside. His game plan is not one-dimensional. He can score all around the ground. For me, it is about his first six balls. When I look at him, he is almost like a highlight player. I want him to be more of a high-impact player in terms of what he can give in his numbers,” he stated further.(Agency)

Met dept sounds alert on dust storms, rain in Rajasthan from March 28

Jaipur, March 25, 2026

The Meteorological Centre in Jaipur has issued an alert forecasting a fresh spell of dust storms and rainfall in eight districts of Rajasthan beginning March 28.

According to the Met Centre, weather conditions between March 25 and 27 will remain partly cloudy in some regions, while most parts of the state are expected to witness clear skies. The recent spell of dust storms and rainfall subsided on Tuesday.

However, the impact of a weak Western Disturbance kept skies overcast in several western districts. Light dusty winds were reported from areas such as Jaisalmer and Barmer, while temperatures recorded a gradual rise.

Jaipur witnessed clear skies and bright sunshine through the day, with the maximum temperature rising by 4 degree Celsius to settle at 33 degree Celsius.

While mornings and evenings remained slightly cool, a mild breeze during the day ensured relatively pleasant conditions. In many cities across the state, daytime temperatures remained below normal.

Meanwhile, districts including Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jalore, Sirohi, Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, and Jodhpur experienced overcast conditions due to the lingering effect of the weak Western Disturbance.

Meanwhile, back-to-back Western Disturbances have brought in a chill in weather and minimum temperature across the state has been recorded under 20 degree Celsius except at a few places.

Chittorgarh recorded the highest temperature in the last 24 hours in the state which was 36 degree Celsius while Barmer in west Rajasthan was the hottest in the state with temperature touching the 36.8 mark.

Meanwhile, the minimum temperature recorded in East Rajasthan was in Fatehpur which was the 14.1 mark while it was 17.8 degree Celsius in western Rajasthan in Churu.

Radheshyam Sharma, Director of the Meteorological Centre, Jaipur, said that a weak Western Disturbance is currently active over western Rajasthan, leading to light cloud cover in border areas while the rest of the state is likely to remain clear.

He added that another Western Disturbance is expected to become active from March 28, which may bring a change in weather conditions across several districts.

Under its influence, overcast skies along with dust storms and light rainfall are likely in various parts of the state.(Agency)

Hasina says efforts on in Bangladesh to rehabilitate perpetrators of 1971 genocide by Pakistan

Dhaka, March 25, 2026

As Bangladesh observes Genocide Day on Wednesday, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tribute to the millions of people killed during the 1971 brutal crackdown by Pakistani forces.

Recalling it as the most horrific night in the life of the Bangladeshi people, Hasina said on March 25, 1971, the Pakistani military launched “Operation Searchlight”, beginning a systematic campaign to exterminate the Bangladeshi Bengalis.

“Within nine months, the death toll of this brutal genocide rose to over 3 million. Since such extreme brutality had no precedent in Bengali history, an exact Bengali term for ‘genocide’ has never truly emerged; the commonly used word ‘genocide’ is applied to convey its meaning,” read a statement issued by the former PM, which was posted by Awami League on its social media platform X.

“On this dark night, I remember the great leader of the Bengali liberation struggle, the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was arrested that very night by the occupying Pakistani forces. I pay my respects to the countless martyrs whose sacred blood has stained this soil,” she added.

Hasina stated that to ensure that the “atrocities and barbarity” committed by the occupying Pakistani forces are recognised both nationally and internationally, the Awami League government during its tenure made a historic declaration on March 11, 2017, in the national Parliament, marking March 25 as ‘Genocide Day’.

“We have sought to inform the world about the heavy price of our independence and to strengthen the global demand for justice for this genocide,” said the former PM.

Hasina stressed that despite domestic and international “conspiracies and pressure”, the former Awami League government ensured that several identified perpetrators of crimes against humanity face exemplary punishment through due legal process.

“This was not an act of vengeance,” she said, “but a necessary step toward justice, the rule of law, and ending the culture of impunity.”

Slamming the former Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, Hasina said, “During the tenure of the Yunus government, this trial process was halted, and convicted war criminals were released. A death-row war criminal was even made a member of the National Parliament, thereby dishonouring the sacrifice of millions of martyrs.”

“In continuation of this trend, there are ongoing efforts to deliberately undermine the sacred memory of the martyrs and to rehabilitate collaborators of the perpetrators and defeated forces in various ways. This is not only a distortion of history but also an attack on the spirit of the freedom fight,” she added.

Emphasising the unity shown during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, the former PM said that any attempt to rehabilitate the killers and reintroduce Pakistani ideology in the country must be resisted through national solidarity.(Agency)

Gauff sets up Muchova clash in maiden Miami Open SF

Miami, March 25, 2026

Coco Gauff produced a gritty comeback performance to book her maiden semifinal berth at the Miami Open, overcoming Belinda Bencic in a hard-fought three-set contest.

The American recovered from a dip in momentum and a break deficit in the deciding set to secure a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 victory in a match that lasted two hours and 15 minutes.

Gauff began the encounter in dominant fashion, asserting control early with an aggressive approach. She broke serve in the opening stages and displayed sharp instincts at the net, winning all eight of her net points in the first set. Backed by strong serving and precise shot-making, she wrapped up the opener comfortably in 51 minutes.

Bencic, however, responded emphatically in the second set. The Swiss player significantly reduced her errors and found her rhythm, dictating rallies more effectively. Her improved consistency allowed her to level the match quickly, taking the second set in under 30 minutes.

The final set proved to be a tense affair, with momentum swinging between the two players. Gauff faced a crucial moment while serving, fending off a break point to stay in contention. Despite a brief lapse and visible frustration over missed opportunities, she used the moment as a turning point.

Regaining composure, Gauff broke back to level at 3-3 and began to reassert control. With renewed confidence, she capitalised on key opportunities, delivering strong serves and mixing in clever shot selection, including a decisive drop shot. She held her nerve while serving for the match to complete the comeback.

The victory sends Gauff into the Miami semifinals for the first time in her career, where she is set to face Karolina Muchova. The American holds a dominant head-to-head record against the Czech, having won all five of their previous meetings, four of which were decided in straight sets.

In the other quarterfinal, Muchova continued her impressive run of form with a straight-sets win. The Czech edged past her opponent 7-5, 7-6(5), saving a set point in the second set during the one-hour, 47-minute contest.

The result extends Muchova’s strong 2026 season record to 18-3 and marks her ninth semifinal appearance at the WTA 1000 level or higher. It is also the third season in her career in which she has reached multiple semifinals at this level, underlining her consistency on the tour.(Agency)

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