FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. XLII No. 270 | INDORE | MONDAY | MARCH 9, 2026 | Pages 12 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 www.freepressjournal.in Agencies AHMEDABAD In front of a delirious 132,000strong crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the defending champions didn't just win— they conquered. India produced a near-flawless performance to crush New Zealand by 96 runs in the T20 World Cup final, becoming the first team in history to defend the crown and the first to win three T20 World Cup titles. On November 19, 2023, this stadium watched India cry. On March 8, 2026, it watched India conquer ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE UJJAIN PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK HISTORY IN AHMEDABAD | India crush New Zealand by 96 runs to lift trophy CELEBRATION: History ithin minutes of the BLUE REIGN in pink and blue triumph, Prime MinAs the last wicket fell, the Narendra Modi Stadium erupted. Suryakumar Yadav lifted the trophy as teammates mobbed each other—a moment 364 days in the making, avenging the ghosts of the 2023 ODI World Cup final at the same venue. (DETAIL REPORT ON SPORTS PAGE) W ister Narendra Modi posted on X: "Champions! This remarkable triumph reflects exceptional skills, determination and teamwork. They have shown outstanding grit through the tournament. This victory has filled every Indian heart with pride and joy. Well done, Team India!" A day after apologising to the Gulf countries, Iran clears ‘misconceptions’ and continues attacks Current holders of... CHAMPIONS TROPHY India beat New Zealand by 4 wickets WOMEN'S WORLD CUP India beat South Africa by 52 runs UNDER-19 WORLD CUP India beat England by 100 runs 255/5 India’s score vs New Zealand in the 2026 T20 WC Final in Ahmedabad. Highest Total in T20 World Cup History. 3 Party time: Bihar sees a beta launch Dheeraj Kumar ‘Won’t stop till they cry uncle’ Agencies DUBAI CBI FIR against Anil Ambani The CBI has registered yet another FIR against industrialist Anil Ambani, Reliance Communications Ltd, and others on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and criminal misconduct for allegedly defrauding PNB of Rs 1,085 crore. This is the third CBI case involving RCom. FP News Service MUMBAI interceptions were reported across Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, underscoring the widening regional fallout from the war involving Iran, the US and Israel. US President Donald Trump said Iran must effectively “cry uncle” and accept unconditional surrender to end the ongoing war, while declining to rule out the possibility of deploying American ground troops in the country, according to remarks made aboard Air Force One. Speaking to reporters while returning from Dover Air Force Base after attending a ceremony honouring US troops killed in the conflict, Trump said the war would end only when Iran either formally surrenders or loses the ability to continue fighting. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 7 92/0 India’s all-time 250+ totals. The highest by any team in Men’s T20 cricket. Powerplay Record India posted the highest powerplay total in T20 World Cup history. 250+ Scores in One T20 World Cup. India became only the second team in history to achieve this in a single tournament. Health services to be paralysed with JUDA strike from today 98 runs Opening Stand in Final Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson produced the firstever 50+ opening partnership in a men’s T20 WC final. 89 Highest score in a T20 WC final. Sanju Samson’s 46-ball 89 broke the previous record of 85 by Marlon Samuels and Kane Williamson. 321 runs Samson in T20 WC 2026. The most runs by an Indian in a single T20 World Cup, surpassing Virat Kohli’s 2014 tally. Oldest tigress Langdi Baghin dies in Pench Our Staff Reporter PATNA MUMBAI E-paper DHURANDHARS Strikes after sorry Iran launched missile and drone attacks on several Gulf states on Sunday, a day after President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised to neighbouring countries for earlier strikes and said Tehran would avoid targeting them unless their territory was used for attacks against Iran. "The enemy has had misconceptions about my words," Pezeshkian said in a video statement on Sunday. "When we are attacked, we have no choice but to respond. The more pressure they impose on us, the stronger our response will naturally be. Our Iran, our country, will not bow easily in the face of bullying, oppression or aggression - and it never has," he added. Explosions and air-defence MUMBAI BHOPAL Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar on Sunday formally joined the JD(U) and vowed to carry forward his father’s legacy, amid speculation about a leadership transition in the state’s ruling alliance. Nishant, an engineering graduate in his 40s, was inducted into the party at its headquarters in Patna in the presence of senior JD(U) leaders including Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and the party’s national working president Sanjay Jha, along with several Bihar ministers. Nitish Kumar, who recently filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha after serving as CM for nearly two decades, was conspicuous by his absence at the ceremony. Addressing party workers after his induction, Nishant said he would work as an active member and strengthen the organisation. “My father has decided to go to the Rajya Sabha and I respect his decision. I will try to live up to the faith that the people and the party have posed in me. I will try to take forward what my father has done in 20 years. Everyone remembers what my father has done for the state,” he said. Clad in a simple kurta-pyjama and flip-flops, Nishant thanked party workers for their support. Health services, particularly non-emergency care in government medical colleges across Madhya Pradesh, are expected to be disrupted from Monday. Around 8,000 resident doctors will go on strike, demanding a revision of stipends and pending arrears. The Junior Doctors Association (JUDA) has warned that if the government does not act immediately on their demands, OPD services will be closed and only emergency patients will be treated. This strike could directly affect patients visiting hospitals, with routine operations such as orthopaedic and other planned surgeries likely to be postponed, leading to longer waiting times. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The oldest tigress of Pench Tiger Reserve, P N 20, popularly known among tourists as Langdi Baghin, died a natural death on Sunday. The tigress was found dead in the Karmajhiri forest range at around 10.30 am. She was 18 years old and was considered the longestsurviving tigress in the reserve. Officials of Pench Tiger Re- serve said the tigress had become weak due to old age and died of age-related complications. Born in 2008, she gave birth to 10 cubs during her lifetime. She first delivered two cubs in 2012 and later had litters in 2016, 2019 and 2021. Through these litters, she significantly contributed to the growth of the tiger population in the reserve. 4Continued on | P8 IN FULL GER Rang Panchami was celebrated in Indore on Sunday with vibrant colours. Thousands gathered to celebrate with co""lours, music, and cultural programs, marking a grand, joyful conclusion to the Holi season. Although the festival starts with Holika Dahan, followed by the colour playing, Rang Panchami symbolises the cleansing of negative energies with colours, which is spiritual. According to administration sources, the footfall was over five lakh. Pic: Anand Shivre Full coverage on Page 2