NEW DELHI: Amid concerns over the impact of Iran war on India’s energy supply, PM Narendra Modi said on Thursday his govt is sparing no effort to minimise its fallout on citizens and accused opposition parties of fear-mongering to push their agenda at the of cost national interest.He said no country is untouched by this global crisis and India is trying at different levels to deal with it, including making efforts to get around the supply chain disruption. He has spoken to global leaders, he said at NXT summit.On a day leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, targeted govt over the “LPG crisis” in the House, Modi hit back without naming anyone and said everyone, including political parties, have a role in ensuring that the country successfully handles the crisis.“Some people are trying to spread panic. They want to push their agenda. I do not want to give any political reaction now but will say that they are exposing themselves before people and inflicting a great harm on the country,” he said. India will definitely be able to deal with the challenges arising out of the war, he emphasised.He listed out a host of measures his govt has taken since 2014 to build India’s alternative energy sources, reduce its dependence on oil, multiply its petroleum storage capacity, while ensuring more and more people benefit from them.India used to have negligible storage capacity to deal with any crisis but it now stands at 50 lakh tonne, while it has become one of the biggest refining hubs in the world. People’s aspirations have risen and his govt welcomes them, he added before turning to his critics.“Many of my ‘well-wishers’ are nursing the hope that I will be crushed under the burden of expectations… their intentions are dishonest, and their hopes will never be fulfilled,” he said, adding he has people’s blessings. He asked states to take stringent action against rumour-mongers and black-marketers.India will come out of the crisis successfully as it did during Covid, he said, describing the current era as a period like never before.He compared the rise of Indian economy to people’s abiding interest in cricket, saying they are now keen to know all the time about the latest details. “If you want to be part of the future, you have to be in India,” he said. “Despite numerous global challenges, the world looks at India with great hope,” he said.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Monalisa Bhonsle, the 18-year-old Mahakumbh Mela sensation from Indore who rose to fame last year after videos of her selling rudraksh garlands went viral, tied the knot with actor Farman Khan at the Arumanoor temple in Poovar, Kerala, on Wednesday under police protection. The couple, who had been in a relationship for six months, said they chose Kerala for its supportive and harmonious environment.The wedding, held in traditional Kerala style, saw Monalisa in a red saree and the groom in a white dhoti and shirt. Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan, Rajya Sabha MP A A Rahim, and other prominent leaders attended the ceremony.

Monalisa addressed circulating reports that she was underage, calling them “fake and incorrect.” She stated, “I am 18 years old. I got married according to Hindu rituals. It is not ‘love jihad.’ I respect all religions and consider every religion equal.” Her husband confirmed that their marriage was registered, which would not have been possible if she were underage.The couple had approached the Thampanoor police station earlier on Wednesday, seeking protection after Monalisa’s father reportedly tried to take her back to her hometown in Madhya Pradesh against her will. Police reminded her father that as an adult, she had the right to choose her partner. Monalisa’s father, Jaisingh Bhonsle, alleged that she had been persuaded to come to Kerala under the pretext of acting opportunities. Her uncle also expressed concern, claiming the family was uneducated and worried she may have been influenced through “black magic.”Monalisa and Farman said their relationship began six months ago during a film shoot in Poovar. They had completed shooting for one film and were preparing for another. They expressed their desire to settle in Kerala, where they found an atmosphere free from divisive sentiments.Speaking to reporters, Farman said, “We planned to get married here because everyone lives in harmony and supports each other.” Minister Sivankutty echoed the sentiment, calling it “the real Kerala story where people can live freely.”The couple’s decision to marry in Kerala, despite family opposition, highlights both Monalisa’s rise from viral fame to cinema opportunities and her determination to make independent choices about her personal life.(With agency inputs)

The Men’s players’ auction of The Hundred has concluded, creating a lot of buzz across social media platforms. Since the inception of the league back in 2021, it was the first auction ever to be held. On Thursday, March 12, 2026, the Hundred (men’s competition) held its first-ever player auction at Piccadilly Lights in central London.

The upcoming season is going to be more exciting, not only because of the players’ auction, but also for the arrival of the new owners. There have been new owners in the Hundred, with IPL-owned franchises buying stakes at the Hundred.

James Coles becomes the highest-paid player in the Hundred

Among all the star players in the auction, James Coles, a 21-year-old English all-rounder, got the most hefty pay cheque in the evening. The Sussex talent sold for £390k to the London Spirit. The budding talent is currently an uncapped cricketer who is poised to make massive leaps in the near future. The left-arm spin bowler, who can hit the ball hard, recently won the SA20 tournament in South Africa.

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“I’m delighted. I love the fact it has fallen to someone who has a pedigree in first-class cricket and has built on that,” Former England star Eoin Morgan told to Sky Sports on the development.

Sunrisers Leeds picks Abrar Ahmed

Some of the highly renowned franchise owners in the Indian Premier League (IPL) have made themselves a part of English franchise cricket. Kavya Maran, the co-owner of the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), was among the central figures during the auction at the Piccadilly Lights in Central London.

After a lot of controversy over the last few weeks, the players’ auction for the Hundred league concluded in style. Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed captured the headlines instantly as SRH backed Sunrisers Leeds secured the service of the bowler.

List of Players Sold and Unsold at the Hundred

Sold Players at the Hundred

Unsold Players at the Hundred

Full Squads of The Hundred

Birmingham Phoenix: Saqib Mahmood, Usman Tariq, Joe Clarke, Will Smeed, Mustafizur Rahman, Laurie Evans, Chris Wood, Ethan Brookes, Scott Currie, Jordan Thompson, Rehan Ahmed, Jacob Bethell, Donovan Ferreira, Mitchell Owen.

London Spirit: Jonny Bairstow, David Willey, James Coles, Mason Crane, Tymal Mills, Adam Milne, Matthew Fisher, Adam Hose, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, James Rew, Dewald Brevis, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Adam Zampa.

Manchester Super Giants: Aiden Markram, Tim Seifert, Joshua Tongue, Sonny Baker, Gus Atkinson, Leus du Plooy, Tom Hartley, Thomas Moores, Tawanda Muyeye, Max Holden, George Scrimshaw, Paul Walter, Noor Ahmad, Jos Buttler, Liam Dawson, Heinrich Klaasen.

MI London: James Vince, Tom Curran, Trent Boult, Olly Stone, Nathan Sowter, Sherfane Rutherford, Richard Gleeson, Callum Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Jason Roy, Ollie Sykes, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Rashid Khan, Nicholas Pooran.

Southern Brave: Adil Rashid, David Miller, Luke Wood, Tom Abell, Chris Jordan, Daniel Worrall, Nikhil Chaudhary, Caleb Falconer, Ben McKinney, Michael Pepper, Thomas Rew, Jofra Archer, Jamie Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Tristan Stubbs.

Sunrisers Leeds: Ryan Rickelton, Zak Crawley, Matthew Potts, Daniel Lawrence, Abrar Ahmed, Benjamin Howell, Tom Alsop, Edward Barnard, Tom Lawes, Liam Patterson-White, Reece Topley, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Nathan Ellis, Mitchell Marsh.

Trent Rockets: Finn Allen, David Payne, Lewis Gregory, Matt Henry, Daniel Mousley, Sam Billings, Danny Briggs, Bradley Currie, Aneurin Donald, Louis Kimber, Ben Mayes, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue, Sam Hain, Ben Duckett, Mitchell Santner.

Welsh Fire: Jordan Cox, Joe Root, Jafer Chohan, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Lockie Ferguson, Matthew Short, Tom Aspinwall, Sam Cook, Ben Kellaway, Asa Tribe, Marco Jansen, Rachin Ravindra, Phil Salt, Chris Woakes.

Read More: Pakistan players overlooked? Only two Pakistan players finds spot as Indian-owned franchises shape the Hundred auction

NEW DELHI: WhatsApp has introduced accounts that parents can create and control for children under 13, with restrictions that limit usage mainly to messaging and calling, the company stated in a blog post.“Parent-managed accounts allow pre-teens to communicate with their family and close friends on WhatsApp with parental supervision,” the company said. The move by the Meta-owned messaging platform marks a significant shift for the app, which earlier maintained a minimum age requirement of 13 in India, and higher in some regions.Managed accounts come with built-in parental controls and several restrictions. Users do not have access to features such as Meta AI, Channels, Status updates, Chat Lock, App Lock, linked devices, location sharing, view-once messages or disappearing messages in individual chats. WhatsApp also said ads would not be shown.Privacy settings on these accounts are automatically restricted so that only saved contacts can see information such as profile photos or last-seen status, and only parents can change these settings. By default, only saved contacts can send messages and group participation is also controlled by parents. Messages or group invites from unknown contacts go to a ‘Requests’ folder that requires parental approval.The parental controls are protected by a 6-digit PIN that is required to make any setting changes.To set up the account, parents must install WhatsApp on the child’s phone and tap ‘More options’, and then select “Create a parent-managed account”. After registering the child’s phone number and confirming their age, the account must be linked to the parent’s WhatsApp by scanning a QR code. The parent then verifies their identity and creates the PIN.WhatsApp said the rollout of these accounts will happen gradually, and the feature will work on both Android and iPhone devices.

Chennai Super Kings MS Dhoni (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)

The batting position of MS Dhoni in the Chennai Super Kings line up has become a talking point in recent seasons. Fitness concerns have often seen the legendary wicketkeeper batter walk in much lower down the order, sometimes at No. 8 or even No. 9. As a result, Dhoni has been left with only a handful of deliveries to influence the game with the bat.In his prime, Dhoni built a reputation as one of the most destructive finishers in world cricket. Even now, the former CSK captain has produced several quick cameos that remind fans of his finishing ability. Those flashes have sparked debate among supporters and experts who feel he should bat higher to maximise his impact.

India Test veteran Cheteshwar Pujara is among those who believe Dhoni should be given a bigger role with the bat. Speaking on JioHotstar, Pujara said he struggles to understand the logic behind sending the former India captain so far down the order.“I don’t see a point in MS Dhoni batting at No. 8 or 9, because he has the potential to turn games around single-handedly, something no other batter in the CSK team can do. If he bats for only five or ten balls, imagine what Mahi bhai can do if he plays 25 or 30 balls,” Pujara said on JioHotstar.Pujara, who was part of the CSK squad that lifted their record-equalling fifth Indian Premier League title in 2021, also spoke warmly about the franchise’s dressing room culture.“I’ve been in the CSK setup. In that environment, players are very comfortable; it’s like a family. When you’re in that setup, there is clarity about what is expected of you as a player,” Pujara said.He added that loyalty has always been a defining feature of the franchise’s philosophy.“Loyalty also comes into the picture because most of CSK’s players, if you look at the history, stay for a long time once they become part of that setup. There is a transition in the team now, so there is a bit more preference for young players,” he added.Meanwhile, CSK chief executive Kasi Viswanathan has expressed confidence that Dhoni will feature regularly for the team throughout the season.“He (Dhoni) will play all the matches, according to me,” Kasi said.CSK recently secured the services of wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson from the Rajasthan Royals, a move that has raised fresh questions about what role Dhoni will perform in the playing eleven.Kasi clarified that the final call on Dhoni’s responsibilities will rest with the team’s coaching staff rather than the administrative management.“That is a cricketing decision which will be taken by the cricketing staff, not by the administrative staff. So they will decide whether he is going to play as a batsman, as a wicketkeeper-batter, or as an impact player,” he said.