Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates delighted his followers by posting an Instagram video featuring Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, with the playful caption, “A snack break before we get to work.” The brief clip captures the duo relishing Mumbai’s beloved street food, vada pav, whilst perched on a bench, ending with a teasing “Serving soon” message splashed across the screen.

Gates, currently touring India, has been making waves with high-profile engagements. Earlier this week, he touched down in New Delhi, where he held discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union ministers. His itinerary then brought him to Mumbai, where he met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The tech titan’s visit underscores his ongoing fascination with India’s innovative spirit, a theme he expanded upon in a recent blog post.

Writing on his personal site, Gates reflected on the trip’s impact: “I came away with fresh perspectives because India is brimming with clever, driven individuals addressing some of the globe’s toughest challenges in ingenious ways.” His words echo sentiments he shared ahead of the visit, when he praised Odisha’s farmers for leveraging artificial intelligence to boost agricultural outcomes—a story that’s garnered attention for its blend of tradition and technology.

The vada pav moment with Tendulkar, a national treasure, adds a light-hearted touch to Gates’s packed schedule. It’s not just a snack break; it hints at a potential collaboration, though details remain under wraps. For Indian fans, seeing two legends—one from tech, the other from cricket—share a casual bite is a rare treat, blending global influence with local flavour.

As Gates continues his journey, his interactions spotlight India’s dual role as a hub of innovation and a cultural powerhouse. Whether it’s AI-driven farming or a street-side snack with a sporting hero, his visit is proving to be a feast of ideas—and vada pav.

As the excitement builds for IPL 2025, cricket fans are set to witness a grand opening ceremony at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Saturday, March 22. Scheduled to begin at 6 PM IST, this event will mark the official kick-off to the new season of the Indian Premier League, with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the tournament opener right after.

This is the first time since 2015 that Kolkata is hosting the IPL’s opening ceremony, making it a special occasion for local fans. Interestingly, this season will feature opening celebrations across all 13 venues, adding a unique flair to the tournament.

However, weather concerns are casting a shadow over the event. Recent showers in Kolkata have raised apprehensions, and forecasts suggest rain is expected around 9 AM on match day. If rain continues later into the day, it may disrupt both the ceremony and the much-anticipated clash between KKR and RCB.

Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Snenashish Ganguly confirmed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has allotted a 35-minute window for the opening performance. “The rest will be like every year,” he added, suggesting that the focus will remain on the cricketing action post the opening celebrations.

Meanwhile, teams are making final preparations. Spinner Varun Chakaravarthy spoke about the importance of forming a strong core early in the tournament. “If we are able to get a set core in the first 3 matches, then we have great chances ahead in this season,” he noted.

Ahead of the season opener, all team captains participated in the official pre-season photoshoot, including prominent names like Pat Cummins, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Axar Patel, Shreyas Iyer, and Ajinkya Rahane.

As fans look forward to big performances, attention will also be on star players like Virat Kohli, who has scored 962 runs against KKR, including one century and six half-centuries. His RCB teammate, David Warner, holds an even more impressive record with 1093 runs against KKR, averaging 43.72.

While the stage is set and expectations are sky-high, all eyes will now be on the skies over Kolkata, hoping the weather does not dampen the IPL 2025 curtain raiser.

Pakistan kept their five-match T20I series alive with a commanding nine-wicket victory over New Zealand in the third T20I in Auckland, chasing down a stiff target of 205 with ease. Opener Hasan Nawaz was the star of the show, smashing an unbeaten century off just 44 balls — the fastest ever T20I hundred by a Pakistani batter.

Nawaz, Haris power dominant chase

Hasan Nawaz, who had failed to open his account in the first two matches, made a stunning comeback by hammering his maiden T20I hundred. His unbeaten knock not only anchored the chase but ensured Pakistan completed the target in just 16 overs. Nawaz found support early on from Mohammad Haris, who scored a quickfire 41 off 20 deliveries during the powerplay, setting the tone for the successful run-chase.

The opening pair made full use of a flat surface and short boundaries at Eden Park, nullifying the New Zealand bowling attack with aggressive stroke play and clean hitting.

Chapman’s 94 in vain as New Zealand falter

Earlier in the match, New Zealand posted 204 on the board, largely powered by Mark Chapman’s explosive 94 off 44 balls. The hosts looked set for a bigger total, but their innings lost steam after Chapman’s dismissal. Pakistan’s bowlers managed to apply pressure in the death overs, restricting the Black Caps to a slightly below-par score given the venue conditions.

New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell acknowledged the failure to bat the full 20 overs as a critical mistake and credited Hasan Nawaz for his match-winning innings.

Series still alive

With this victory, Pakistan reduced the series deficit to 2-1 and gained momentum heading into the final two matches. This match marked their first T20I win under new skipper Salman Ali Agha, who praised his team’s fighting spirit and the performance of young players like Nawaz. He noted that despite the pressure of a do-or-die scenario, the team delivered a complete performance.

Pakistan now head to Mount Maunganui for the fourth T20I, where they will aim to level the series, while New Zealand will look to regroup after a below-par showing.