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Virat Kohli during a training session at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar As Royal Challengers Bengaluru prepares to go up against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 opener on Saturday (March 27, 2026), head coach Andy Flower looked back at fond memories from its maiden title run last season.“The franchise worked hard for many years to get that star on our shirts. That was embodied most in Virat (Kohli)’s commitment to the franchise over such a long period of time,” Flower said at the pre-match press conference here on Friday.Also Read | IPL 2026 Countdown: Batting-heavy…

Different ball game: It will be intriguing to track how Nabi, known for his red-ball prowess, copes with the demands of the IPL. | Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO: K. MURALI KUMAR Few domestic cricketers in recent years have evoked as much curiosity about their craft as Auqib Nabi. The pacer from Baramulla was wholly compelling in the recently concluded domestic season, helping Jammu & Kashmir win the Ranji Trophy for the first time ever with a chart-topping 60 scalps in 10 matches at an average of 12.56.With the 29-year-old in the prime of his career, a chance in the Indian…

Action returns to the Chinnaswamy Stadium with RCB taking on SRH in the opener. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar Ishan Kishan’s elevation to the helm of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), albeit on a temporary basis, signals a shift in IPL dynamics.The league, which now begins with all franchises boasting home-grown captains, is rebalancing to showcase, develop and depend on Indian assets.While proven performers like Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav continue to lead the charge, uncapped players have risen significantly in stature.Teenager Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who lit up IPL 2025, is proof that young talent has earned the trust to…

Image used for representational purposes. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto The rupee plunged to a record low ‌on Friday (March 27, 2026), sliding past the ₹94-per-dollar mark, with mounting worries over the energy crisis sparked by the West Asia war putting the ⁠currency on track for its worst fiscal-year drop in more than a decade.The rupee declined 0.9% to end at 94.8125 after hitting an all-time low of ₹94.84 per dollar. The Asian ‌currency has fallen about 4% since the Iran war began at February end and is down 11% this fiscal year.India’s fiscal year runs ‌from April to March.The…

The government will review the special additional excise duty on diesel and ATF. File picture | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphotos CBIC Chairman Vivek Chaturvedi on Friday (March 27, 2026) said the government will review the special additional excise duty or windfall tax on diesel and ATF (Aviation Turbine Fuel) every fortnight.The move to levy special additional excise duty (SAED) is to ensure domestic availability of diesel and ATF, Mr. Chaturvedi said, while briefing the media.The revenue gain from SAED is estimated at ₹1,500 crore in the first fortnight, he added.The government has imposed an export duty of ₹21.5 per litre…

Sai Kishore of Gujarat Titans celebrates after taking a wicket. File | Photo Credit: Getty images Gujarat Titans (GT) is one of the youngest cricket franchises in the Indian Premier League, founded in 2022.The team made an immediate impact in the league, lifting the IPL title in its debut season in 2022 and finishing as runners‑up the following year in 2023.It has also appeared in two finals and qualified for the playoff stages 3 times.At the 2026 IPL auction, GT added West Indies all‑rounder Jason Holder, England wicketkeeper batter Tom Banton, Indian fast bowler Ashok Sharma, England left‑arm pacer Luke…

Offering further respite to commercial entities seeking supplies of liquified petroleum gas (LPG), the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) Friday (March 27, 2026) called to increase allocation of the hydrocarbon gas to States and Union Territories (UTs) by another 20%. Thus, taking the total allocation of commercial LPG to 70% of the pre-crisis levels.The latest additional allocations seek to accord priority to sectors where piped natural gas may not serve as an alternative.This includes labour-intensive and essential sectors which support other sectors, as steel, automobile, textile, dye, chemicals, and plastics.“Among these, priority shall be given to process industries…

Rajasthan Royals’ captain Riyan Parag bats during the Indian Premier League cricket match. File | Photo Credit: AP Rajasthan Royals (RR) is among the most prominent teams in the Indian Premier League. It has also appeared in two IPL finals and qualified for the playoff stages six times, having participated in 16 editions of the IPL.Ahead of the season, RR made nine additions to its team, including leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi and New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne. The Royals strengthened their bowling squad by acquiring Sushant Mishra, Yash Raj Punja, Brijesh Sharma and Vignesh Puthur. Batter Aman Rao Perala was…

The 10 IPL captains for the 2026 season with the IPL trophy. Source: X/@IPL The 2026 Indian Premier League season begins on March 28, with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru entering this edition as the reigning champion. For last year’s runner-up, Punjab Kings, Shreyas & Co. will enter the battleground with a single-minded focus on capturing PBKS’ maiden title.While the power-packed Mumbai franchise is chasing its first silverware since 2020, another giant of the tournament, Chennai Super Kings, seems to have bolstered its batting lineup to improve on its last-place finish last year.IPL 2026: A look at full list of all…

Long queues seen before petrol pumps in Belagavi. FIle | Photo Credit: The Hindu  India slashed its special ​excise duties on petrol and diesel, as fuel ‌prices stay volatile with supplies choked by the ​Iran war.In a government order on ⁠Thursday (March 26, 2026), Union Finance Ministry reduced the special excise duty on petrol to ₹3 ($0.0318) per litre from ₹13 ‌earlier. It also cut the duty on diesel to zero from ₹10.The ‌U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has led to ‌a ⁠near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which ⁠serves as a conduit for 40% of crude oil imports, hurting shipping…