Morgan Stanley maintained its overweight rating on Reliance Industries with the target price at Rs 1,803. Analysts said RIL’s 15-year green ammonia deal signed with Samsung C&T is worth $3 billion that marks monetisation of new energy investments. It’s aligned with the hydrogen and decarbonisation strategy of the company. RIL’s new energy business is valued at about $20 billion. Analysts also expect RIL’s energy earnings to rise further. They also feel the stock is trading at about 62% discount to peers.HDFC Securities initiated its coverage of Ask Automotive with an add rating and a target price of Rs 480. Analysts said the company is valued at about 22x its expected March 2028 earnings per share (EPS). They said premiumization and electrification are increasing content per vehicle. EVs have 30% to 40% higher content than ICE. Analysts also expect exports mix to support margin expansion while wheel assembly exit to support margins beyond FY27. They also see some near-term headwinds from higher raw material costs and said that geopolitical tensions may impact export demand.Nomura has a buy rating on M&M with the target price at Rs 4,662. Analysts attended the company US Investor Day. They said that the management expects continued strength across segments, with PVs growing 19% FY26 year-to-date driven by new launches and sustained SUV demand, with LCVs at 17% YTD led by a strong replacement cycle. Tractor demand remains robust at 23% FY26 YTD, with management indicating no clear historical correlation with El Niño, while the Indian monsoon remains the key variable to monitor. The management also expects to manage commodity pressure in the near term through hedging, pricing and favourable mix. The company indicated that its EV business continued to be earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA)-positive, and margins will be further supported from PLI benefit on XEV 9E and 9S from FY27. They also expect a doubling of current annual volumes will drive EBIT breakeven.Jefferies has a buy rating on Max Healthcare with the target price at Rs 1,320. Analysts attended the company’s management meet. The key takeaways were one-off issues that impacted Oct-Dec quarter were resolved and its expansion plans were largely on track. The management said they were not worried about capacity addition in Delhi-NCR region, as the market is highly underserved. The company is also open to acquisitions to strengthen presence in existing markets and enter new regions, though it’s not a core strategy.Goldman Sachs has a buy rating on L&T with the target price at Rs 4,420, down from Rs 4,950 earlier. Analysts said the stock is down 18% since March 2 (vs sensex down 7%) driven by concerns around execution of the current projects in West Asia, the possibility of reduced capex in the region impacting L&T’s prospect base in FY27 driving lower revenue growth in outer years. Analysts said while the near-term concerns on execution may be valid, they see the medium term prospect base is unlikely to change even though deferral for a few quarters is likely, given the ongoing conflict. They also expect lower revenue for Jan-March quarter (Q4FY26) assuming slower execution over the last two weeks of March 2025. Analysts also feel the company would carry forward weak execution into April-June quarter (Q1FY27). They also expect lower core order inflow for FY27E from 7.7% earlier to 1.1% now assuming almost no ordering in international business for one month.(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.)

Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke believes that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) would not need Josh Hazlewood to play throughout the tournament. Hazlewood, who had picked up an injury ahead of the Ashes, has been ruled out since then and is most likely to miss the first half of IPL 2026 for RCB.

One injury after the other, and Josh Hazlewood has not been able to recover despite his determination to play in all three formats of the game, unlike teammate Mitchell Starc, who has given up on T20Is to focus on his Test career. Hazlewood is still under rehab, and his return remains a major uncertainty.

However, what remains the biggest concern for the reigning champions ahead of the IPL 2026 season is whether the Australian speedster will be able to make a comeback throughout the season. He was their champion bowler in the previous edition and finished with 22 scalps across 12 games for the defending champions.

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I don’t think he needs to be fit for the entire tournament-Michael Clarke

Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke has opined that RCB pacer Josh Hazlewood, whose availability has been a growing concern, does not need to be available for them throughout the tournament. RCB kicks off their campaign on the 28th of March against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at their home ground, the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Clarke interestingly opined that it would be okay even if Hazlewood gets fit and returns for the latter half of RCB’s campaign; that is when the main business is to be done, by which he meant the qualifying stage and the knockouts.

“Josh Hazlewood is a big one, though. I reckon it sounds like he’s not over in India. I reckoned that could be defining. If he’s fit for that tournament. I don’t think he needs to be fit for the entire tournament.

“Probably the backend; if they can get him up and going and bowling as well as he can, I reckon he’s a match-winner. For RCB, I think they’ll be super confident in what they have achieved. I think Josh is a big player for them,” he said on the ‘Beyond23 Cricket Podcast.’

Australian cricketer declares RCB as the most consistent unit in the IPL

Another Australian cricketer, Peter Hatzoglou, has emphasized the importance of consistency within a unit. He identified the defending champions as one of the franchises showing some remarkable consistency not only from their players but also from the coaches and other staff.

“Consistency and having a consistent core account for a lot. Not only players and coaches but also staff around the group count for so much in setting up the squad for success,” he noted.

He then continued praising Josh Hazlewood in the RCB den and his contributions behind RCB’s maiden IPL triumph. He looked impressed by the unified consistency throughout the RCB management.

“RCB, Josh Hazlewood has been a champion there, and they’ve got that consistency throughout the whole organisation, which sets you up for success,” he said. (via the aforementioned source)

Who can be Josh Hazlewood’s replacement in RCB’s Playing XI?

Josh Hazlewood is surely not arriving to play the first half of the tournament, and being the defending champions, the Royal Challengers Bangalore side cannot compromise with their start. Hazlewood has to be replaced by some player, and who RCB would pick for the role remains a huge question.

Royal Challengers will have the likes of Nuwan Thushara, who played a handful of games previously in the IPL, and will also have debutant pacer Jacob Duffy. Duffy is much of a Hazlewood-like bowler who often offers a lot of bounce on tracks and some movement with the new ball.

However, they will also get the chance to start with Jacob Bethell in the playing XI, but under such circumstances, they will have to keep faith in their Indian bowling attack, which will be headed by the likes of experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya.

ALSO READ: Fakhar Zaman slammed for ‘unprofessional’ behaviour while taking fitness test

The NIA’s suspicion that the seven arrested foreigners brought in drones from Europe via Myanmar has not been confirmed

Border Porous, Area Out Of Junta’s Control

The NIA’s suspicion that the seven arrested foreigners brought in drones from Europe via Myanmar has not been confirmed

Border Porous, Area Out Of Junta’s Control

The NIA’s suspicion that the seven arrested foreigners brought in drones from Europe via Myanmar has not been confirmed

AIZAWL: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has asked Mizoram to verify reports that seven foreigners arrested in Lucknow, Kolkata and Delhi recently conducted weapons and drone training in Myanmar’s Chin state between late Jan and Feb, a senior official of the police’s intelligence wing said on Wednesday.While evidence of anti-India activity across the border has been found through “sources” in Chin state, what is even more concerning is how easily foreigners can cross from Mizoram into Myanmar through the 404km border the two share, the official said.“This has become easier due to the absence of effective control by Myanmar’s military junta in Chin state where the Chin National Front, Chin National Army and other Chin militias now hold sway,” he said.The Tiau river, which is part of the border, is currently so shallow that even children can cross it on foot.Foreigners entering Mizoram require a protected area permit, a mandatory special travel document for all foreigners barring Bhutanese nationals visiting specific security sensitive areas within Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Manipur, Mizoram and parts of J&K and Himachal Pradesh.Although local authorities are tightening enforcement, those already in the state face little difficulty crossing into Myanmar, the intelligence official said.The NIA’s suspicion that the seven arrested foreigners – six Ukrainians and a US national – brought in drones from Europe via Myanmar has not been confirmed. But the entry of foreign mercenaries through Mizoram to train anti-coup armed groups fighting the junta is an established pattern, the official said.Concerns over this route surfaced after the June 19, 2024, arrest of retired British SAS commando Daniel Newey at Aizawl’s Lengpui airport. Police found a live bullet on him. Subsequent probe indicated that western mercenaries had entered Myanmar through Mizoram to provide weapons training to Chin armed groups.India has announced plans to fence the entire 1,643km border with Myanmar, which separates the junta-governed country from Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. Mizoram Police and intelligence agencies believe the move has come not a day too soon.

BENGALURU: Nine months after a homecoming that ended in tragedy, Royal Challengers Bengaluru returned to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday, beginning preparations for the Indian Premier League, which begins here on March 28.A small but vocal group of fans gathered outside the stadium to welcome the players as the RCB contingent arrived around 4.30 pm. The session lasted two hours before rain forced an early wrap at 6.30 pm.

The spotlight, unsurprisingly, was on Virat Kohli. The former captain looked in rhythm right away as the session opened with a team huddle, where Kohli and head coach Andy Flower addressed a partially assembled squad.Skipper Rajat Patidar was the most notable absentee and is expected to join on Thursday. Batting coach Dinesh Karthik was also missing, while left-arm pacer Yash Dayal, retained for Rs 5 crore and facing criminal charges, was also absent. Among overseas recruits, only England wicketkeeper-batter Jordan Cox has arrived so far.However, TOI has learnt that the director of cricket Mo Bobat and the logistics team have mapped out travel plans for the overseas players well in advance, ensuring minimal disruption despite the ongoing unrest in West Asia.Amid the noise of construction work inside the stadium, Kohli’s bat provided the loudest sound. His trademark lofted strokes repeatedly cleared the midwicket boundary, landing deep into the stands.Kohli trained alongside Karnataka skipper and southpaw Devdutt Padikkal, with the duo taking turns against a mix of pace and spin. In an interesting move, RCB did away with net bowlers for the session, relying instead on their own bowling unit and sidearm specialists.The 37-year-old appeared particularly assured against spin, stepping out confidently against the Krunal Pandya-led spin attack. He showed similar intent against Bhuvneshwar Kumar and new recruit Venkatesh Iyer, maintaining intensity throughout.RCB, who returned to the Bengaluru venue after much dilly-dally, will open their campaign against fellow southerners Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28. They will play four more home games at the venue and play two fixtures in Raipur.

Unbox event scrapped

The franchise’s popular ‘Unbox’ event — a fan engagement initiative that has drawn large crowds in recent seasons — will not be held this year.While there hasn’t been an official announcement, it appears the tight schedule and the planned mock drills at the stadium on Mar 23 and 26 led to the decision.