NEW DELHI: India all-rounder Tilak Varma marked a spirited return from injury with an impactful performance and an emotional message of gratitude after the defending champions defeated South Africa by 30 runs in their T20 World Cup warm-up match at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Fresh from rehabilitation, Tilak admitted he did not expect to be back in action so soon and credited the BCCI and the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for accelerating his recovery. “To be honest, I did not expect that I will be back on the field this early. Really thankful for CoE and BCCI. I always say that playing the World Cup is my biggest dream,” he said in a video shared by the BCCI.

Walking into a packed stadium chanting his name gave the youngster an emotional lift. “When I entered the ropes and everyone was shouting ‘Tilak, Tilak,’ I really felt nice. It boosted me a lot,” he added, describing the electric atmosphere even during a warm-up game.Inspired by the aggressive intent around him, Tilak said the team’s batting energy pushed him to play freely. “The way Ishan was batting, the way Abhishek and everyone was going, I was also like, ‘Mai bhi maarunga jaake.’ The vibe was really terrific, and yeah — Tilak and the Indian team is ready for the World Cup,” he said.On the field, Tilak backed up his words with a brisk 45 off 19 balls as India piled up 240 for five, building on Ishan Kishan’s explosive start. The bowlers then held their nerve to restrict South Africa to 210, sealing a confident win.With his comeback timed perfectly, Tilak’s return has added fresh energy to India’s campaign as they shift focus to their World Cup opener against the USA on Saturday.

Manmohan Singh in Lok Sabha (From a 2005 clip shared by Jairam Ramesh)

NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing row over Rahul Gandhi stopped from speaking in Lok Sabha and PM Modi‘s speech being cancelled, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh shared old videos of Manmohan Singh refering to when the then-Prime Minister “was prevented from replying to the Motion of Thanks on June 10, 2004”.He claimed BJP had blocked then-PM Manmohan Singh from speaking on the President’s Address in 2004, in a series of posts on X, amid the current political deadlock ongoing in the Lok Sabha.Ramesh shared a video on social media platform X showing Singh’s 2005 speech. In that address, Singh had referenced being unable to speak the previous year. Quoting Singh’s words from 2005, Ramesh recalled the former PM saying: “Mr. Speaker, Sir, I deem it a great privilege to be standing here today to express the gratitude of our Government to the respected Rashtrapatiji for his address to members of both Houses of Parliament.“The current parliamentary standoff escalated dramatically on Wednesday. Women opposition MPs rushed towards the Prime Minister’s seat carrying protest banners. They were demonstrating against a US trade deal and former Army chief Naravane’s unpublished book. PM Modi wasn’t present when this happened. The disruption occurred around 5 PM, just when PM Modi was expected to reply to the Motion of Thanks discussion. BJP member P P Chaudhary was speaking when opposition members entered the Well of the House. Despite Chair Sandhya Rai’s attempts to maintain order. Ultimately, the chaos led to adjournment of Lok Sabha and cancellation of PM Modi’s address on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address.The row initially started on Monday when Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote excerpts from an unpublished book during a Parliament session. Gandhi sought to raise the issue of the India-China confrontation in August 2020, but was repeatedly interrupted by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and later Home Minister Amit Shah, who objected to the use of what they described as an unverified source.General Manoj Mukund Naravane, who authored the book, was serving as Army Chief at the time of the Ladakh confrontation.The situation remains tense following Tuesday’s suspension of eight opposition MPs – seven from Congress and one from CPI(M) – for the rest of the Budget session. While PM Modi is now scheduled to speak in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, his Lok Sabha address stands cancelled with the Motion of Thanks passed in Lok Sabha.

Gold price prediction today (AI image)

Gold and silver price prediction: Gold and silver prices have resumed their upward momentum after the recent crash, signalling bullish momentum, says Abhilash Koikkara, Head – Forex & Commodities, Nuvama Professional Clients Group. He shares his views on gold and silver:

MCX Gold Price Outlook:

MCX Gold on the weekly timeframe has undergone a correction from its all-time high of 180,779. However, prices have found support at the rising trendline and have rebounded, indicating a resumption of the bullish trend. The recent acceleration reinforces the strength and sustainability of the move, and the broader outlook remains positive as long as prices hold above the weekly low.

From a weekly standpoint, the 147,000 region stands out as a crucial support, aligned with the 30-days exponential moving average. Any pullback toward this zone is expected to draw fresh buying interest, helping to limit downside risk in the near term. Sustaining above this level keeps the bullish structure intact and supports ongoing positive momentum.Gold looks well positioned to move toward the 175,000 mark in the coming sessions, and a decisive close above this level would validate the bullish bias for subsequent periods. This potential upside aligns with the broader uptrend and highlights the strength of prevailing momentum. Moreover, the formation of higher highs and higher lows over the week further supports positive sentiment and points to the likelihood of a sustained upward move.Overall, gold continues to exhibit a positive bias, with the broader technical structure clearly supporting trend continuation. As long as prices stay comfortably above the key 147,000 support level, the bullish setup remains valid. Backed by strong momentum indicators and a supportive market sentiment environment, the metal appears well placed to carry its upward move forward in the coming sessions.

MCX Gold Trading Strategy:

MCX Silver Price Outlook:

MCX Silver has seen a healthy pullback from its all-time high of 420,048 and has since rebounded from recent lows, signalling a resumption of the bullish trend. With the underlying trend still positive, any ongoing dips may be viewed as buying opportunities as long as the latest weekly low holds. We advise aligning positions with the prevailing uptrend, while maintaining a controlled stop-loss at the recent weekly lows.Silver’s rally at the start of the week signals a renewed bullish trend and strengthens the outlook for further upside. As long as prices remain above the weekly support levels, the positive bias is expected to persist. Immediate key support is seen around the 245,000 zone, and a close below this level could weaken the bullish outlook. Until then, any pullback is likely to attract fresh buying interest, sustaining upward momentum.On the upside, silver appears well positioned to test the 330,000 resistance over the near to medium term. This prospective move points to a continuation of the prevailing bullish phase, backed by strong momentum and favourable technical indicators. Overall, provided prices remain firmly above the 245,000 support level, silver is expected to sustain its uptrend, with ample scope for further appreciation as bullish sentiment continues to strengthen.

MCX Silver Trading Strategy:

(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

PUNE: The long-delayed ‘missing link’ on the Pune–Mumbai Expressway, slated to open on May 1, has come again into focus after a 32-hour traffic nightmare triggered by a toppled gas tanker in the accident-prone Khandala ghat section earlier this week.The 13.3-km missing link — designed to bypass the steep and winding ghat stretch — is expected to reduce travel time by at least 30 minutes and significantly improve safety. Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) joint managing director Rajesh Patil told TOI that the project is 98% complete and in its final phase.

“The missing link project near Lonavla is nearing completion and we have a firm target to open the stretch on May 1, coinciding with Maharashtra Day. Safety standards will not be compromised,” Patil said.

The development comes amid growing public and political scrutiny following Tuesday evening’s accident, when a tanker carrying highly flammable propylene gas overturned near the Adoshi tunnel in the Borghat section, bringing traffic to a grinding halt for more than a day.

Missing link back in spotlight

As traffic snarls stretched into a second night, questions resurfaced over whether the long-pending missing link could have mitigated the scale of disruption.Currently, vehicles must navigate nearly 19 km of sharp curves, steep gradients and tunnels through the ghat section — an area notorious for accidents, landslides and long jams during emergencies and monsoon months.The missing link comprises two tunnels (8.9 km and 1.9 km), a 900-metre viaduct, and a 650-metre cable-stayed bridge being built over Tiger Valley at a height of over 180 metres. The bridge will feature India’s tallest road pylons at 182 metres, surpassing the Bandra–Worli Sea Link.

Executed by Afcons Infrastructure Ltd at an estimated cost of Rs 6,695 crore, the project was originally scheduled to open in December 2025 but faced delays due to heavy rainfall, high winds and safety concerns in the ghat terrain.“There are past instances of hurried infrastructure projects leading to mishaps. We did not rush the work,” a senior MSRDC official said.

32 hours of chaos

The accident occurred around 4.45 pm on Tuesday, about 50 metres ahead of the tunnel on the Mumbai-bound carriageway. Gas leakage from the tanker forced authorities to halt traffic in both directions as a safety precaution. While the immediate jam affected a 15-km stretch, officials said congestion eventually extended to nearly 50 km, leaving thousands of commuters stranded overnight.

Traffic towards Mumbai resumed only after 1 am on Thursday, once the gas was decanted into another tanker and the damaged vehicle removed with a hydraulic crane.

ZN Gawade, technical director of Mec Elec Industrial Services, Thane, a private agency involved in the response, said the situation on the ground was “extremely volatile and critical.” All three top-mounted ball valves on the tanker were damaged, with liquid propylene leaking from every connection. Lower Explosive Limit readings were alarmingly high even 500 metres from the site, underscoring the severe explosion risk.Working under life-threatening conditions, the team managed to arrest two of the three leaks. The third valve had jammed against the weld cap, making operation impossible while liquid propylene continued to escape. Gawade reached the site the following morning in a police-escorted ambulance and decided on a high-risk decanting strategy—transferring the contents through the single operable vapour valve into multiple empty tankers.The operation, involving NDRF, police, fire brigade, and other state and local agencies, lasted over 32 hours and included lifting the overturned tanker using four cranes.

Residual leaks were swiftly controlled, and the tanker was finally transported to the Khalapur testing station by 5 am Thursday. Authorities said the complex operation averted what could have been a major disaster.Stranded commuters included children, senior citizens and patients travelling for medical treatment. In one instance, a Navi Mumbai resident rode a two-wheeler — despite restrictions — to rescue his mother who had been stuck without food for over seven hours. Several MSRTC and private buses were stranded, forcing cancellation of 139 state transport trips.For many, a simple three-hour journey between Mumbai and Pune turned into an eight-hour ordeal. Nikita John, travelling from Mumbai at 9 am, said the nightmare began near the Bhatan tunnel when vehicles were halted, and many were forced to take U-turns.

Traffic police instructed motorists to head back via the Old Mumbai–Pune Highway, only to face further jams near Khopoli that moved at a snail’s pace for nearly three hours.Commuters struggled with overheating vehicles, limited information, and long waits. “Despite the chaos, traffic police were guiding vehicles at every juncture.

Luxury buses with anxious passengers were waiting, and officials were seen distributing water and snacks,” she said. Some passengers even played cards on the roadside to pass the time, making light of an otherwise difficult situation.Railway officials said Pune–Mumbai intercity trains witnessed unusually heavy crowding as desperate travellers abandoned road travel.

Hazard exposure and preparedness gaps

Disaster management experts warned that the incident exposed serious shortcomings in Maharashtra’s preparedness to deal with hazardous material accidents on high-traffic corridors.Propylene, a pressurised and invisible hydrocarbon gas, can form a fast-moving vapour cloud that ignites with the smallest spark. “You don’t see flames, but you’re standing inside a potential fireball,” a senior industrial safety consultant said.Retired major general P K Shrivastava, a CBRN expert, called the incident a “wake-up call”, urging the state to deploy dedicated HazMat response units along highways like the Pune–Mumbai Expressway.Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde took serious note of the incident and directed authorities to prepare a special emergency traffic management plan.

Shinde instructed MSRDC and the police to enhance preparedness and reduce response times during hazardous material emergencies. Toll collection on the expressway was suspended until traffic returned to normal.Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan said the chemical cargo was extremely flammable, and even a small spark could have caused a major explosion. Partial traffic movement was allowed on one side only after technical teams successfully contained the leak. Shinde also reviewed the Mumbai–Pune Missing Link project and asked officials to expedite its completion, noting that the new stretch would serve as a critical alternative route during emergencies.State disaster management director Bhalchandra Chavan admitted that authorities currently lack specialised technical capability to handle such emergencies. He also said the delayed arrival of BPCL’s recovery team worsened the situation.An FIR has been registered against the tanker driver for rash and negligent driving. Officials said an explosion could have affected a 2–3 km radius had the situation escalated.Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray criticised the government for failing to provide basic amenities to stranded commuters. In a post on X, he called the situation “beyond absurd” and suggested that toll operators should be responsible for providing food, water, and toilets during such emergencies, given that they maintain and operate the expressway.

Traffic restored

Traffic on the Mumbai-bound carriageway was finally restored early Thursday at 1.46 am after the damaged tanker was removed with heavy-duty cranes and the gas safely transferred to empty tankers. Vehicular movement gradually normalised, though minor congestion persisted due to stranded heavy vehicles.The incident also disrupted public transport, with several MSRTC buses stranded and a large number of regular services cancelled. Goods transport, including milk and vegetables, was also affected, highlighting the broader impact of the prolonged shutdown.For many commuters stranded during the ordeal, the missing link now represents more than faster travel — it symbolises a critical safety upgrade that may finally put an end to the expressway’s recurring crisis moments.

India’s Ishan Kishan plays a shot during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup warm-up cricket match between India and South Africa, at the DY Patil Sports Academy, in Navi Mumbai. (PTI Photo/Shashank Parade)(PTI02_04_2026_000391A)

TimesofIndia.com in Mumbai: At the post-match presentation during India’s warm-up game against South Africa, Ishan Kishan admitted that he knew he was going to open a day before the match. And boy, did he make the most of the opportunity, ending the Ishan Kishan vs Sanju Samson debate, at least for a while now.Ishan Kishan’s belligerent 20-ball 53 lit up the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and sealed the opening spot for India’s tournament opener against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.

If the T20I series against New Zealand was an opportunity to prove that he still belonged, the fixture against South Africa was a stern message that he is warmed up for the marquee event. In front of over 40,000 spectators, Ishan was like a kid who knew his way around a candy shop as he picked his spots as effortlessly as drawing lollipops from the shelves. Anrich Nortje was a portrait of disbelief when he was smashed for four sixes in an over. The faster he bowled, the quicker they sailed into the stands as South Africa looked like a hapless bunch when the assault was on. The pick-ups over fine leg were clean and mean, the variations were read to perfection, and it was fitting that his entertaining innings ended the way it started—with an authoritative six.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Ishan always had that extra spunk in his batting, but there has been tremendous improvement in his range, and the hard yards in the domestic circuit have hardened him for the international grind. He has been a character who was never overawed by the occasion, but the weight of runs has allowed him to take his game a few notches higher than where it was when he last played at this level. There is no fear, no insecurity, and a lot of clarity. The runs did come at No.3 in the New Zealand T20Is, but Ishan was really “excited” to return to the opening position in the Blues.“I did find out a day prior to this game. Was very much excited for this opportunity. I wanted to open the innings. Enjoyed batting at 3 as well. With the World Cup coming up, even if I was to bat at any number, I was looking to do my best,” he said after India’s 30-run win over South Africa.

Navi Mumbai: India’s Ishan Kishan plays a shot during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup warm-up cricket match between India and South Africa, at the DY Patil Sports Academy, in Navi Mumbai. (PTI Photo/Shashank Parade)(PTI02_04_2026_000394B)

Clarity of thought has remained the keyword in how Ishan has gone about his business since returning to the setup, and it is validated by the shot selection in the last few outings. Seeing the ball and reading the bowler has been the mantra, and the emphasis has been on “staying in the present” rather than “putting too much thought or effort”.“I think it’s about staying in the present, watching the ball, and playing the shots that are required at that point in time. I’m not putting too much thought or effort into it. I’m just reacting, watching the ball, and playing accordingly, and that seems to be working well for me. Some days you feel really good, some days you don’t.

With the World Cup so close, it’s important to be in the mindset that if the ball is there, even if there’s a fielder, you back yourself and go for it.

Ishan Kishan

“On this particular day, I also have to give credit to the pitch; it was tremendous to bat on, even in the second innings. With the World Cup so close, it’s important to be in the mindset that if the ball is there, even if there’s a fielder, you back yourself and go for it,” he added.When he was called back to the dugout after facing 20 balls, which were laced with seven sixes and two fours, captain Suryakumar Yadav was up on his feet applauding the knock. Hardik Pandya came out of the change room to tap his former Mumbai Indians teammate’s head in appreciation, and the team management would have taken a sigh of relief at having found the missing piece to their batting puzzle.

India’s Ishan Kishan celebrates his century during the fifth and final T201 cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the Greenfield International Stadium, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. (PTI Photo/R SenthilKumar) (PTI01_31_2026_000456B) *** Local Caption ***

Sanju Samson’s loss of form came at a very poor time as far as the wicketkeeper-batter is concerned, but Ishan’s giant strides to dominance augured well for the entire unit heading into a multi-nation tournament. Surya had tried to keep everyone guessing when he said the call on Ishan and Sanju would be revealed on February 7, but he wasn’t left with an option other than to take the “definitely Ishan and Abhishek (to open)” route at the toss.Such was Ishan’s dominance that even Abhishek was reduced to a spectator from the other end as the wicketkeeper-batter farmed most of the strike and manufactured shots at will. The two would exchange a smirky smile every time Ishan went big and the scoreboard raced to 80/0 at lightning speed. For a change, Abhishek wasn’t the marauder in the first six as he could only manage 23 off the 14 deliveries he faced.This is what good form, coupled with the right amount of backing, can do. It can reduce one of the most destructive batters in the format to the position of a bystander. A batter used to hitting at least a couple of boundaries in his first few balls found his first hit to the ropes only off the eighth delivery he faced. Two more came off the next two, but it was clear by the end of the fourth over that it was Ishan who was dominating the powerplay game on Wednesday.

It is one of the most dangerous teams. But what all is needed in a good team? Everything. They have the experience, especially when it comes to this format. The experience is vast.

MS Dhoni

There has been a lot of debate over Ishan vs Sanju Samson for the spot, but it is now set to be put to bed. You surely can’t bench an in-form batter like Ishan, and Sanju’s excess baggage of recent failures will weigh the team down in their title defence at home. There is scope for extended runs, like an out-of-form Surya got in bilaterals, but multi-nation tournaments are a different sauce. One bad game, one poor start can suck momentum out of the campaign, and there is very little scope for recovery in a format which, like India’s batting, vrooms in the fast lane.Sanju tried, and so did the management by giving him an extended run, but it looks like the right-hander’s wait to play his World Cup game for the country is going to get even longer.At the moment, it’s Ishan’s world, and we all are living in it.

Indian batters on the fast lane

Meanwhile, the Indian batters too have embraced life in the fast lane, and Wednesday evening was another exhibition of the template they have stuck to in the last few months in the format. Even in tight corners, there is no intention of slowing down, and Suryakumar Yadav & Co. will instil a lot of fear in the oppositions they are scheduled to face in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

India’s Hardik Pandya plays a shot during the fifth and final T201 cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the Greenfield International Stadium, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. (PTI Photo/R SenthilKumar) (PTI01_31_2026_000478B) *** Local Caption ***

There is a belligerent Abhishek Sharma, a back-to-form Suryakumar Yadav, consistent Tilak Varma, a dangerous lower middle order featuring Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, and a fresh addition to this dangerous bunch is pocket dynamo Ishan Kishan.Former India captain MS Dhoni had already warned the other teams, praising Team India’s “vast experience” in the shortest format of the game.

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Do you believe Ishan Kishan has secured his position in the starting XI for the World Cup?

“It is one of the most dangerous teams. But what all is needed in a good team? Everything. They have the experience, especially when it comes to this format. The experience is vast,” Dhoni had said on cricket commentator Jatin Sapru’s official YouTube channel.Fasten your seatbelts as Surya and his boys are on the loose, and the way they are batting is the culmination of the shifting tectonic plates in T20 cricket.