In a groundbreaking development, researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have discovered that humans successfully deflected an asteroid from its regular orbit around the Sun in a 2022 experiment, marking a historic first in planetary defence.

In 2022, NASA scientists deliberately crashed a spacecraft into a small asteroid moonlet, Dimorphos, and successfully changed its path around its parent asteroid, Didymos.

For context, a moonlet is a very small natural satellite, typically under 1-2 km in diameter, that orbits a planet, dwarf planet, or asteroid.

Now, researchers have found that the first-ever successful demonstration of human capability to change an asteroid’s trajectory also resulted in the deflection of both asteroids from their regular orbits around the Sun.

A recent study published in the journal Science Advances revealed that the spacecraft’s collision with the moonlet caused Didymos’s speed to slow by 11.7 micrometers per second.

The researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign determined the change after examining more than 6,000 orbital laps of the asteroid around the star.

This means that future missions could target the moonlets around asteroids to change their orbit, if they pose a threat to Earth.

The lead scientist for solar system small bodies at NASA Headquarters in Washington, Thomas Statler, hailed the incredible success achieved through the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART).

He said, “This is a tiny change to the orbit, but given enough time, even a tiny change can grow to a significant deflection.”

Despite the success, NASA has warned that there are no other DART-like spacecraft ready for launch if the need arises. 

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday announced its Team of the Tournament for the T20 World Cup 2026, with Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan among the standout performers named in the lineup.

The side was selected by a distinguished panel of experts, comprising West Indies great Ian Bishop, former England captain Eoin Morgan, coach-turned-commentator Natalie Germanos, ICC representative Gaurav Saxena and senior Sri Lankan sports journalist Rex Clementine.

Despite Pakistan’s inconsistent campaign, which ended in the Super Eight phase, opener Farhan was a model of consistency.

His remarkable tally of 383 runs across seven matches set a new record for the most runs by a batter in a single edition of the T20 World Cup.

The 29-year-old also created history by becoming the first player to score two centuries in one T20 World Cup. His magnificent hundred against Sri Lanka in the final Super Eight fixture was the cornerstone of a crucial five-run victory for his side.

Sanju Samson proved instrumental in India’s triumphant campaign and was deservedly named Player of the Tournament. Initially unable to break into the star-studded Indian starting XI, Samson seized his opportunity spectacularly when it mattered most.

The right-hander ignited his run spree with a blistering, unbeaten 97 against the West Indies in a virtual knockout Super Eight clash.

He maintained his sublime form with 89 against England in the semi-final and followed it up with another crucial 89 in the final against New Zealand.

In doing so, he became only the third batter to register half-centuries in both the semi-final and final of a T20 World Cup, and just the second to notch three consecutive scores of 80 or more in the tournament’s history.

Ishan Kishan made a powerful impact with his relentless aggression at the top of the order. His three half-centuries were standout contributions, but he also provided vital quick-fire knocks of 38 against Zimbabwe and 39 against England.

His finest performance, however, came against arch-rivals Pakistan. After India lost an early wicket while batting first, Kishan took charge with a breathtaking 77 off just 40 balls, an innings laced with ten fours and three sixes.

Having spent two years on the sidelines, Kishan’s redemption arc was complete as he contributed a vital 54 and took two crucial catches in the final.

Aiden Markram led South Africa admirably as they won their first seven matches of the tournament. Opening the batting, he never shied from responsibility, scoring three half-centuries.

He was particularly effective in Ahmedabad, hitting an unbeaten 86 in a key group-stage victory over New Zealand and another unbeaten 82 against the West Indies in the Super Eights.

In the match against India, Markram also led with the ball, providing the crucial breakthrough by dismissing Kishan in his very first over.

Although the Proteas fell short in the semi-final, Markram’s captaincy and handling of a talented bowling attack were highly impressive.

For several years, Hardik Pandya has been pivotal to India’s success with his ability to change a game with either bat or ball. He continued that rich vein of form at the World Cup, amassing 217 runs and claiming nine wickets.

Pandya scored two half-centuries, the second being a whirlwind 50 off just 23 balls against Zimbabwe, powering India to 256 for 4 – the highest team total of the 2026 tournament and just four runs short of the all-time T20 World Cup record.

With the ball, his best figures of 2 for 16 came in three crucial overs against Pakistan. Opening the bowling, Pandya removed the opposition’s biggest threat, Farhan, for a duck and later bowled Usman Tariq to wrap up the innings.

The tournament served as a breakout moment for Will Jacks, who established himself as one of the premier all-rounders on show.

Having dropped down the order, Jacks perfected the role of finisher. His best score was an unbeaten 53 against Italy, but he also played a vital cameo against India and struck an unbeaten 32 against New Zealand to guide his team to an unlikely victory in the final Super Eight match.

The off-spinner also registered a three-wicket haul in the Super Eight clash against Sri Lanka, setting up a convincing 51-run win. Jacks’s four Player of the Match awards drew him level with Shane Watson for the most such honours at a T20 World Cup.

A fearsome fast bowler and a powerful lower-order hitter, Jason Holder was one of the stars of the tournament.

His all-round prowess was on full display in the Super Eight clash against India, where he took 2 for 38 and scored a crucial 37 not out from 22 balls, albeit in a losing cause against the co-hosts.

The 6’7″ pacer used his height to extract bounce on even the flattest tracks and ran riot against Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium. Holder claimed 4 for 27, removing three of the top five, to set up a dominant nine-wicket win.

While India’s batting line-up is formidable, it is Jasprit Bumrah who elevates the team above the rest. At the 2026 World Cup, he finished as the joint highest wicket-taker alongside teammate Varun Chakaravarthy.

He saved his best for last, claiming 4 for 15 in the final against New Zealand to earn the Player of the Match award.

Beyond just taking timely wickets, it is Bumrah’s ability to disrupt an opponent’s batting rhythm that sets him apart. His laser-guided accuracy and death-over yorkers turn his spells into pressure-cooker moments.

During the semi-final against England, he took just one wicket, but his 18th over, which conceded only six runs, proved pivotal.

In a match that saw an aggregate of 499 runs, Bumrah’s economy rate of 8.25 was the best from either side and arguably the reason England fell seven runs short.

Lungi Ngidi was one of the tournament’s premier fast bowlers. He began with impressive figures of 4 for 31 against Canada and added two more three-wicket hauls.

Against India, he may have gone wicketless, but his four-over spell, conceding just 15 runs, was crucial in helping South Africa contain India’s formidable batting line-up.

Ngidi used his experience, variations, and slower balls to great effect on largely batter-friendly pitches.

Adil Rashid is the only specialist spinner selected in the team. He used the conditions astutely, particularly in Sri Lanka, to help England win six of their first seven matches.

While his best figures were 3 for 36 against Scotland, Rashid played a pivotal role in the Super Eight victories over Sri Lanka and New Zealand. After England were restricted to 146 for 9 by Sri Lanka, the leg-spinner engineered a home-team collapse with figures of 2 for 13 in 3.4 overs.

Against India, he operated in damage-control mode, claiming the key wickets of Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav to finish with 2 for 41.

Blessing Muzarabani was central to Zimbabwe’s dream run. After missing the 2024 edition, Zimbabwe produced their best-ever performance, reaching the Super Eights.

They announced their arrival with a 23-run victory over Australia, a match in which Muzarabani claimed superb figures of 4 for 17, dismissing the Aussies for 146.

In the group stage, the pacer took nine wickets in just three matches as his team finished top of Group B.

Saurabh Netravalkar of the USA was arguably the best bowler of the group stage. Although the USA could not replicate their 2024 heroics and progress to the Super Eights, Netravalkar was in a league of his own.

He began with a four-wicket haul against India, leaving the co-hosts in trouble at 77 for 6 before they recovered. He followed it up with another brilliant performance, claiming identical figures of 4 for 25 against Pakistan.

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Team of the Tournament: Sahibzada Farhan, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Hardik Pandya, Will Jacks, Jason Holder, Adil Rashid, Jasprit Bumrah, Lungi Ngidi and Blessing Muzarabani.

12th man: Saurabh Netravalkar.