As the IPL 2026 season opener on March 28 approaches, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) find themselves in a precarious tactical position. Despite losing their primary Indian pacer Harshit Rana to a long-term injury and facing extreme uncertainty regarding their INR 18 crore asset, Matheesha Pathirana, the franchise has reportedly decided against seeking immediate replacements. This calculated gamble signals a shift in KKR’s strategy, moving away from impulsive market raids toward a philosophy of internal trust and rehabilitation-led patience.

Reason behind no replacements for KKR

The loss of Harshit Rana is a significant blow to KKR’s bowling equilibrium. After a stellar 2024 campaign with 19 wickets and a follow-up of 15 scalps in 2025, Rana had evolved into more than just a wicket-taker; he was the Indian stabilizer who allowed the team to rotate its overseas slots with flexibility. His recent knee surgery in February 2026, following a ligament strain during a T20 World Cup warm-up against South Africa, has effectively ruled him out for the bulk of the season.

However, KKR’s refusal to sign a replacement is rooted in their recent auction strategy. The franchise intentionally stocked up on high-ceiling Indian pace talent, bringing in Akash Deep, Umran Malik, and Kartik Tyagi to join the reliable Vaibhav Arora. By backing this quartet, KKR believe they can absorb Rana’s absence without disrupting the squad’s core chemistry. The management views this as an opportunity for Malik to rediscover his 150 kmph rhythm or for Deep to translate his Test-match discipline into T20 consistency. In a market where quality Indian seamers are scarce, KKR is betting that the answers are already in their locker room.

Also READ: Suresh Raina suggests the perfect batting slot for Rinku Singh at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of IPL 2026

Why KKR are holding their nerve on Matheesha Pathirana for IPL 2026?

While Rana’s absence is a definitive out, the situation surrounding Pathirana is a wait and watch. The Sri Lankan ‘Baby Malinga,’ who was KKR’s marquee signing at the 2026 mini-auction for a staggering INR 18 crore, suffered a calf strain during the T20 World Cup. Initial reports suggested a lengthy layoff, but recent developments have injected a dose of optimism into the Knight Riders’ camp.

Pathirana’s manager recently shared images of the pacer in KKR colours, hinting at a recovery that is ahead of schedule. By not naming a replacement, KKR is protecting Pathirana’s slot, knowing that his unique slingy action and death-over mastery are irreplaceable. To bring in an overseas replacement now would mean legally releasing Pathirana for the season, a risk the management is unwilling to take given the massive financial and tactical investment.

The arrival of Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani, who replaced the released Mustafizur Rahman further eases the pressure. Muzarabani’s ability to extract steep bounce provides a different dimension, allowing KKR the luxury of time. As they prepare to face Mumbai Indians on March 29 at the Wankhede, the Knights are choosing stability over activity, trusting that their disrupted pace attack still has enough variety to lead them back to the playoffs.

Also READ: “Anil bhai at 8…”: Virat Kohli names his greatest RCB playing XI featuring iconic leg spinner ahead of IPL 2026

Koneru Humpy, Divya Deshmukh, and R Praggnanandhaa with sister R Vaishali (Photos by Andrei Anosov and Michal Walusza/FIDE)

NEW DELHI: Even as Koneru Humpy’s potential withdrawal from the Candidates tournament in Cyprus over the Iran war raised concerns, India’s next-gen trio of Divya Deshmukh, R Vaishali and R Praggnanandhaa are set to compete in the prestigious tournament later this month.Concerns of a wider pullout have been put to rest, as TimesofIndia.com can confirm that all three are proceeding with their preparations despite the geopolitical tensions in the region.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Divya, 20, qualified for Women’s Candidates by clinching the FIDE Women’s World Cup in 2025 in Batumi, defeating Koneru Humpy in a thrilling tiebreak to become the first Indian woman to win the title. The victory also earned her the GM title as she became the fourth female Grandmaster from India. Will Divya Deshmukh, Vaishali, and Praggnanandhaa also skip?Despite the whispers of withdrawal, a source close to Deshmukh told TimesofIndia.com: “As of now, we have decided that Divya will go and play. As these things develop, we will monitor the situation and decide afterwards. But at this moment, she will play.”It is also understood that Deshmukh’s camp is busy planning her travel and stay. Similarly, R Vaishali and R Praggnanandhaa are proceeding with their plans to participate in the Candidates.“Have they told publicly that they are not playing? Since Koneru Humpy is potentially not playing, it doesn’t mean that Pragg and Vaishali are not playing. It means only Koneru Humpy is not playing,” RB Ramesh, long-time mentor to both Vaishali and Praggnanandhaa, told this website.“My position is not to judge anyone’s decision. Everyone is free to make their own decision, and that should be respected. If Humpy’s position is not to play, it is fine.”Koneru Humpy unsure of ParticipationOn Monday, Indian Grandmaster (GM) Humpy had revealed she could potentially skip the Candidates tournament, starting March 28. In an interview with the Hindustan Times, she had said, “It just does not make any sense. It is dangerous to travel anywhere near West Asia at this point when there is so much tension and uncertainty. The war started around a fortnight ago, it is still ongoing, and the tournament is less than two weeks away.”A drone strike on a British air base in Cyprus on March 1 also raised worries about security. With European warships and Turkish fighter jets guarding the island, questions have emerged about whether Cyprus is the right place to host such an important chess event.“Our plans haven’t changed. We are in the final stages of preparing the Candidates’ Tournament. Of course, we are monitoring the situation. Cyprus isn’t too far from, let us say, the war zone or conflict zone, but at the same time, it’s not involved in any way and isn’t in a state of war,” Emil Sutovsky, CEO of FIDE, told ChessBase India.“There is no emergency or anything like that. Of course, about 10 days ago, there was some worrying news, but since then, the situation has appeared quite calm.”The road to Candidates 2026 for Praggnanandhaa-Vishali While Praggnanandhaa qualified for the open section of the Candidates after winning the 2025 FIDE Circuit, his elder sister Vaishali secured her spot by winning the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss last year.After a disastrous run at the Chennai Grand Masters Challengers, where she suffered seven straight losses and managed just two draws, Vaishali nearly pulled out of Grand Swiss.“It might sound funny, but after Chennai, I decided not to play Grand Swiss,” the 24-year-old told ChessBase later in an interview. “I felt so bad. Losing seven games in a row was hard to recover from.”Encouraged by coach RB Ramesh, mentor Karthikeyan Murali, and her brother Praggnanandhaa, she eventually competed in Samarkand, where she defended her Women’s Grand Swiss title to qualify.Reigning world champion D Gukesh recently admitted he would like to have an all-Indian showdown at the World Championship later this year. “Personally, I would like to face Pragg. It would be an Indian clash, and it would be great for the Indian fans,” Gukesh recently told ChessBase India.With the Candidates being the only gateway to the World Championship, skipping the event is a risk these young stars appear unwilling to take.

Veteran actress Navnindra Behl, who’s best known for her role in Ishqbaaaz, passed away at the age of 76. Her untimely demise was confirmed by her son, filmmaker Kanu Behl. He shared an emotional post on his Instagram handle and mourned the late actress’ demise. Ishqbaaz co-star Nakuul Mehta has now shared an emotional note for the veteran actress.While sharing the post, Kanu wrote, “My Titan. My faith. Love. Guide. Mentor. My heart. Go well, mumma. Until you birth me again.” Nakuul Mehta, who shared the screen with Navnindra, took to his Instagram handle and shared a series of pictures from the sets of Ishqbaaz.

The post read, “The beauty of long-running television shows is that they sometimes give you the opportunity to spend time with people who may have existed in worlds very different from yours until then… and then, almost magically, they end up shaping a significant part of who you were during those years. And long after the experience ends, some of what they stood for continues to find a home within you.”He further said, “We spent so many days sharing a set floor and many lunches over the three years we worked together on Ishqbaaaz. I’d often complain about the boring sabzis (read: lauki, karela) she’d bring, and she would continue to insist that we try her food. She didn’t give up. I never gave in. My earliest memory of her was filming my very first scene with her on Ishqbaaaz at around midnight in Turbhe. A solemn moment between the matriarch and her grandson. There was something about her presence that made you feel so present in every scene. She liked rehearsals. So did I. It was a match written in the stars. I say so because in television, rarely do you have the discipline and mostly the time… for multiple rehearsals.”Nakuul also shared his experience working with her and said, “She came from the rich tradition of Punjabi theatre. She wrote, directed and produced in her time, but never for once brought that heft onto set. She had more years in the business than the entire ensemble put together, but may have been the lightest co-actor to work with. Only sometimes complaining about the crazy schedules of television. Okay, often 🙂 I’d quite often drop her back home if we packed up at the same time, and those drives are some of my fondest memories of her. She’d be excited about writing back to every audience member who messaged her on Instagram (she embraced technology). She was thrilled about collaborating with Vishal Bhardwaj. She spoke so fondly of her husband and their love story, and mostly of her son, @kanubehl, and the wonderful filmmaker she believed he was.” He then said, “We kept in touch over the years, much after the show ended, and @jank_ee and I had the good fortune of celebrating her on her 75th birthday in October 2024. I doubt I ever called her Ma’am! None of us did. It was always Dadi. We will miss you, Dadi. dearmansi: She was the sweetest person ever, loved being around her and listening to her talks. shrenuparikhofficial: She did make us feel present and didn’t quite bring the age factor on set.”

A 28-year-old man allegedly shot himself in the chest while his cousin was recording a video of him loading a pistol in east Delhi’s Dallupura, police said on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: “Chalana mat bhai” warned the cousin filming the video. Moments later, despite a second alarm — “Arey, nahi” — a 28-year-old man allegedly shot himself in the chest while recording a video of himself loading a pistol in east Delhi’s Dallupura, police said on Tuesday. According to news agency PTI, the incident came to light on Monday after police at New Ashok Nagar station received information from Dharamshila Hospital in Vasundhara Enclave about a medico-legal case involving a gunshot injury. When officers reached the hospital, they found that Pawan Kumar, a resident of Dallupura village, had been admitted in an unconscious state with a gunshot wound on the left side of his chest. Doctors later declared him dead during treatment.

Police say the incident was captured on camera, although the person filming — identified as Himanshu, a cousin of the deceased — appeared unaware of Pawan’s intentions. In the video, which has since circulated on social media, Pawan is seen inserting a magasine into a licensed pistol and loading the weapon. Himanshu can be heard advising him on handling the firearm and cautioning him against firing it. Moments later, Pawan places the pistol against the left side of his chest, briefly looks towards the camera and pulls the trigger, collapsing to the ground as Himanshu reacts in shock. A preliminary inquiry found that the pistol belonged to Himanshu. Police said the weapon, along with 10 live cartridges, has been seized. The mobile phone used to record the video has also been taken into possession, and investigators have collected other relevant evidence from the scene. The body has been sent to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Police have registered a case under Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant provisions of the Arms Act, at New Ashok Nagar police station.

US President Donald Trump was briefed last week by US intelligence that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, may be gay, and that’s the reason his father, the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, feared his suitability to rule the Islamic Republic, according to New York Post, citing sources.When Trump was briefed, he couldn’t control his laughter and laughed aloud, according to sources.Others in the room also found it “hilarious” and joined the president’s reaction, while one senior intelligence official “has not stopped laughing about it for days,” said one person familiar with the briefing.

The claim was described by two intelligence community officials and a third person close to the White House. All three sources said US spy agencies viewed the allegation as credible, rather than false information intended to undermine Khamenei, 56, who was selected to replace his dead father as supreme leader on March 8.Two of the sources said the intelligence indicated that Mojtaba, who earned the nickname “the power behind the robes” while serving as his ageing father’s gatekeeper, had a long-term sexual relationship with his childhood tutor. The third source said the intelligence indicated the affair was with a person who formerly worked for the Khamenei family.Mojtaba, who is believed to have been wounded in the same Feb. 28 airstrike that killed his father and other members of his family, made “aggressive” sexual overtures to men caring for him, possibly while under the influence of heavy medication, one of the sources said.US spy agencies did not have photographic evidence of Mojtaba Khamenei’s alleged sexual attraction to men, but the sources insisted the tip was solid, with one saying it was “derived from one of the most protected sources that the government has.”“The fact that this was elevated to the highest of high levels shows you there’s some confidence in this,” added a second source.The sources said Mojtaba’s purported sexual orientation had been whispered about inside Iran since at least the May 2024 helicopter crash that killed then-President Ebrahim Raisi, Ali Khamenei’s presumed favourite to be the next supreme leader.Within the US govt, “it’s been a pretty closely held piece of information,” one insider said.Trump previously dismissed Mojtaba Khamenei as a “lightweight” and an “unacceptable” choice to run Iran. The new supreme leader was widely considered to be someone who would not bend to US demands to abandon the nuclear and ballistic missile programmes that prompted Operation Epic Fury.Some elements of Mojtaba Khamenei’s sex life were reported before and were cited as potentially lending credence to the allegation. A classified US diplomatic cable from 2008, published by WikiLeaks, described Mojtaba being treated in the UK for impotence, though that report did not identify what may have caused the condition.The State Department file said Mojtaba married “relatively late in life” around age 30, “reportedly due to an impotency problem treated and eventually resolved during three extended visits to the UK, at Wellington and Cromwell Hospitals, London.”“Mojtaba was expected by his family to produce children quickly, but needed a fourth visit to the UK for medical treatment; after a stay of two months, his wife became pregnant,” the leaked file said.Mojtaba’s wife, Zahra, and teenage son, Mohammad Bagher, reportedly died in the airstrike that killed his father. The new supreme leader has another son and a daughter.The allegation of homosexuality was alluded to in a CBS News report on Sunday that said the elder Khamanei, who ruled Iran since 1989, preferred a different successor in part because of unspecified “issues” in Mojtaba’s “personal life.”“His father and others suspected he was gay and that was something that people were spreading to try to stop his ascension,” one of the sources explained.Homosexual conduct is illegal in Iran, though the govt allows surgical sex change operations, which some gay men reportedly were pressured into undergoing to avoid criminal penalties. Sodomy is a capital offence in the nation of 93 million people, with some gay Iranians infamously hanged from construction cranes as a warning to others.“In Iran, we don’t have homosexuals,” former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is believed to be an ally of the younger Khamenei, claimed in 2007.One of the sources said that although it is generally frowned upon to out people against their will, there was a case of hypocrisy to justify doing so against Mojtaba.“If there was ever a time where it was OK to out somebody, it would be when it’s a leader of a repressive Islamic theocracy that hangs gay people by cranes,” this person said.Mojtaba Khamenei’s current whereabouts and the status of his recovery from the Feb. 28 airstrikes remained unclear, the sources said.

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 just around the corner, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) find themselves dealing with an unexpected leadership dilemma. Regular captain Pat Cummins is set to miss the opening phase of the tournament due to injury, forcing the franchise to rethink its plans just days before their first match.

While early chatter suggested that Abhishek Sharma could step in as captain, recent reports indicate that Ishan Kishan is now the frontrunner to lead SRH in Cummins’ absence. Its a decision that reflects both immediate practicality and long-term leadership thinking within the team.

Pat Cummins’ injury update and SRH’s captaincy dilemma

Cummins’ absence has been a major blow for SRH. The Australian skipper, who has led the franchise over the past two seasons, is still recovering from the injury that forced him out of the final two Tests of the 2025-26 Ashes series. The same issue also kept him out of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Reports suggest that Cummins is likely to miss the first few matches of IPL 2026, including SRH’s high-profile opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Initially, many expected Abhishek Sharma – currently the world No. 1 T20I batter – to take over the captaincy. However, internal discussions within the SRH camp appear to have shifted the focus toward Ishan Kishan.

Kishan’s selection as a potential stand-in captain is not just a stop-gap solution. It reflects the franchise’s confidence in his leadership ability, especially given his experience in domestic cricket. The 27-year-old has already captained Jharkhand to a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title and continues to be seen as a natural leader.

With a demanding early schedule – including matches against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) SRH need a captain who can make quick decisions and handle pressure from the very first game.

Ishan Kishan vs Abhishek Sharma: Who is better suited to lead SRH?

The debate between Kishan and Abhishek isn’t just about talent – it’s about experience versus potential.

Ishan Kishan enters IPL 2026 in red-hot form. After a stellar T20 World Cup campaign, where he scored 317 runs at a strike rate above 190, he has firmly established himself as a match-winner on the biggest stage. His performances in the semi-final and final showcased his ability to thrive under pressure.

Also READ: ‘Shame on Kavya Maran’ – Sunrisers owner faces backlash for signing Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed in The Hundred Auction

Beyond his batting, Kishan brings valuable leadership experience. Having played over 200 T20 matches and represented multiple franchises like Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Lions, he understands different team environments and strategies. That exposure gives him an edge when it comes to managing a diverse squad like SRH.

On the other hand, Abhishek Sharma represents the future. The 25-year-old has rapidly risen through the ranks to become the No. 1 T20I batter in the world. While he had a mixed run during most of the World Cup, he delivered when it mattered most – smashing a breathtaking 52 off just 21 balls in the final.

However, captaincy is a different challenge altogether. Abhishek has limited leadership experience, especially at the IPL level. While he has shown confidence and composure as a batter, leading a franchise requires tactical awareness, man-management skills, and the ability to make high-pressure decisions – areas where Kishan currently holds the advantage.

For now, though, SRH appear to be prioritizing stability over experimentation.

As IPL 2026 kicks off, all eyes will be on who walks out for the toss in SRH colours. If reports are accurate, Kishan could be set for his first stint as an IPL captain – a big moment in his career and a crucial test for SRH’s ambitions this season.

And with Cummins expected to return later in the tournament, the franchise will hope this temporary leadership call sets the tone for a strong campaign rather than becoming a lingering question mark.

Also WATCH: Sanju Samson hilariously mimics Vaibhav Suryavanshi while recalling his IPL chat with Rahul Dravid

Representative image (AI-generated)

Amid the ongoing Middle East crisis, Sri Lanka has declared every Wednesday a public holiday to conserve fuel as the island nation grapples with possible shortages following the US and Israel’s war with Iran.President Anura Kumara Dissanayake speaking at an emergency meeting with senior officials on Monday, said, “We must prepare for the worst, but hope for the best.” The announcement comes as part of a series of precautionary measures implemented by several Asian countries since the outbreak of the conflict.The war has disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage that carries millions of barrels of oil from the Gulf into global markets. Nearly 90% of that oil and gas was bound for Asia, the world’s largest oil-importing region.Other Asian nations have also introduced reciprocal measures to cope with the escalating energy crisis. In Thailand, authorities are urging citizens to swap formal suits for short-sleeved shirts to reduce reliance on air conditioning. Myanmar has limited private vehicle use to alternate days based on license plate numbers, BBC reported. Bangladesh has declared university holidays during Ramadan and implemented planned blackouts to conserve electricity. In the Philippines, some government offices require staff to work from home at least one day a week and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has banned non-essential public sector travel. Vietnam is encouraging citizens to stay home, use bicycles, carpool or rely on public transport, while restricting unnecessary vehicle use.In Sri Lanka, the new public holiday affects not only government offices but also schools and universities. Essential services, including health and immigration authorities will continue operating. Officials chose Wednesday as the day off to prevent three-day closures for government offices in a row.Additionally, motorists are now required to register for a National Fuel Pass, which rations fuel purchases. The quota allows 15 litres for private cars and five litres for motorcycles. The rationing system was first introduced in 2022, during Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis, when the country ran out of foreign reserves and struggled to import essentials, including fuel.Since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran late last month, global oil prices have surged, hovering around $100 per barrel. The war has heightened fears of regional supply disruptions, prompting countries across Asia to implement different measures to deal with the crisis.

Indian IT stocks had already experienced a notable drop earlier this year. (AI image)

Indian IT shares tank! Shares of Indian IT companies dropped by as much as 6% on Tuesday after fresh artificial intelligence announcements from global chipmaker Nvidia, which reignited concerns about AI-driven disruption in the technology services sector. Investor caution also remained high ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s FOMC meeting scheduled for later this week.Indian IT stocks had already experienced a notable drop earlier this year after Anthropic introduced plug-ins for its Claude Cowork agent, capable of automating tasks across departments such as legal, sales, marketing and data analysis. Some analysts had then warned that IT services firms may eventually need to reduce their workforce as more affordable and efficient AI tools begin to replace certain functions.

What Nvidia has announced

At its annual GTC developer conference in San Jose, California, Nvidia said the potential revenue opportunity for its artificial intelligence chips could reach at least $1 trillion by 2027. During the event, CEO Jensen Huang introduced a new central processor along with an AI system built using technology from Groq, a chip startup whose technology Nvidia licensed for $17 billion in December.“The inference inflection has arrived,” Huang said. “And demand just keeps on going up,” he added.Wall Street closed higher after Nvidia’s announcements. The S&P 500 rose 1% to finish at 6,699, marking its strongest single-day gain in more than a month. The tech-heavy Nasdaq advanced 1.22%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.83%.Investors are also closely watching the outcome of the US Federal Reserve’s FOMC meeting scheduled later this week. The decision is expected to influence sentiment toward IT stocks, as Indian technology companies generate a large share of their revenue from the US market.

Indian IT shares take a hit

Shares of Coforge fell about 6%, while major companies such as Wipro, Infosys, Mphasis, LTI Mindtree and Persistent Systems each declined by more than 2%. Several of these stocks touched fresh 52-week lows during the session, according to an ET report.Earlier, brokerage Nuvama said in a note that the sharp correction in IT stocks since the start of the year, triggered by fears of AI-driven disruption following successive AI tool launches by Anthropic, has made valuations in the sector more appealing.“Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated,” Nuvama said, quoting Mark Twain to describe what it believes reflects the current situation in the IT industry.“Given the advent and adoption of Gen AI, obituaries of the Indian IT services industry are being written all around. The concerns have been amplified by the sharp stock reactions, first with global SaaS and now with IT services companies,” the note said according to ET.Nuvama added that it does not view generative AI as an existential threat to the sector. The brokerage said companies will continue to require system integrators capable of customising plug-and-play enterprise software inputs and outputs to meet specific organisational needs.(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)(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)