With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 set to kick off on March 28, discussions around team combinations have begun to intensify. Chennai Super Kings (CSK), coming off a disappointing campaign last season, are under the spotlight as experts and former players weigh in on how the franchise can turn things around. Former India batter Abhinav Mukund has now shared his views on CSK’s ideal top order, suggesting a fresh and aggressive approach to fix their long-standing powerplay struggles.

CSK looking for redemption after back-to-back setbacks

The Super Kings endured a forgettable IPL 2025 season, finishing at the bottom of the points table with just four wins in 14 matches. The struggles were not limited to one department, but their top-order inconsistency stood out as a major concern. Even in IPL 2024, the franchise failed to qualify for the playoffs, raising questions about their evolving strategy in a fast-changing T20 landscape.

Recognizing these issues, CSK made bold moves ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. Their focus shifted towards injecting youth and dynamism into the squad. One of the biggest talking points was the acquisition of Sanju Samson, a move that generated significant buzz among fans and experts alike.

Solid opening pair for IPL 2026

Mukund believes CSK must rethink their approach at the top and prioritize aggressive intent in the powerplay. He has backed Samson and young talent Ayush Mhatre to open the innings for the franchise in IPL 2026.

According to Mukund, the powerplay has become the defining phase in modern T20 cricket, and teams can no longer afford slow starts. He pointed out that CSK’s opening partnerships and powerplay scores have been among the weakest in recent seasons, often putting them on the back foot early in games.

Mukund emphasized that a minimum of 60 runs in the first six overs is now essential, and players like Samson and Mhatre have the skillset to achieve that consistently. While Mhatre showed promise during his time with Mumbai, Mukund acknowledged that he faced some challenges on South African pitches but still remains a highly explosive option.

“This is Ruturaj Gaikwad’s team. He wants these sort [aggressive] of players. Last couple of seasons, they’ve had the worst opening partnerships, worst powerplay scores. They were behind the eight ball in terms of how they started. I think the games changed to a powerplay game, where 60 is a bare minimum. I think they’ve gone there and biggest thing to address is the opening pair and they’ve got Sanju before the auction. So, Sanju and Mhatre open for me,” said Mukund on ESPNcricinfo.

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Ruturaj Gaikwad at No. 3

Mukund also suggested that skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad should slot in at No. 3, a position that allows him to anchor the innings while still maintaining tempo. He believes this combination aligns with Gaikwad’s leadership vision of building a more aggressive and fearless batting unit. However, this approach could lead to difficult selection decisions. Mukund noted that if Samson and Mhatre open, it might leave players like Urvil Patel on the sidelines, highlighting the depth and competition within the squad.

“I still think Mhatre will be as explosive as ever. He opened for Mumbai. He struggled a little bit on the South African pitches. But, if you’ve got Mhatre in the side and Rutu wants to bat three, unfortunately, Urvil Patel misses out,” Mukund added.

Also READ: Mohit Sharma reveals his all-time CSK playing XI ahead of IPL 2026

There is a chance that North American LPG will gain a stronger foothold in the Indian import mix. (AI image)

India is turning to the US to mitigate its ongoing LPG supply crisis as the war rages on in the Middle East. India gets around 60% of its LPG needs from the Gulf region, and more than crude oil, it is the disruption in liquified petroleum gas supply through the Strait of Hormuz that has got the government scrambling to secure stocks.As per an S&P Global Energy report, India is moving to broaden its sources of LPG imports, stepping up refinery output and intensifying diplomatic engagement as it works to maintain a steady supply of cooking fuel for households and essential services such as hospitals and educational institutions amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.

India turns to US for LPG supplies

Analysts at S&P Global Energy noted that the global LPG market is currently grappling with a shortage of cargoes, as disruptions in the Middle East have temporarily affected the Strait of Hormuz that accounts for nearly 30 per cent of global LPG supply. This has tightened overall availability and reduced the pool of spot cargoes.Anmol Bhushan, associate director for LPG at S&P Global Energy CERA, said, “India is increasingly turning to the US for LPG as geopolitical tensions reshape global trade flows.”

Four Gulf nations supply 80% of India’s imported LPG (Source: S&P Global Energy)

According to the expert, if the Middle East war conflict continues for a longer duration, there is a chance that North American LPG will gain a stronger foothold in the Indian import mix. “Recent trade patterns show rising US volumes moving into India”, he says.

Securing Passage Through Strait of Hormuz

With nearly 60 per cent of its LPG needs met through the Gulf region, the government has taken urgent steps to secure alternative supplies. It is also encouraging the use of substitutes such as kerosene and coal in restaurants and other non-priority segments to reduce pressure on limited availability.“The silver lining is the ongoing diplomatic dialogue between Iran and India. This engagement helped enable Indian-flagged LPG carriers to transit the region, setting a positive precedent,” said Charles Kim, associate director for LPG at S&P Global Commodities at Sea. “Continued cooperation could support the passage of additional Indian-linked ships, keeping vital supply routes workable for India and offering some relief to the broader market.”Two state-owned LPG carriers have safely navigated through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route that handles around 90 per cent of the country’s LPG imports from the Middle East.

LPG flows from Middle East & US

India’s LPG import loadings pivot to US (Source: S&P Global Energy)

India has condemned attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, calling them “unacceptable,” as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) urged coordinated action to safeguard civilian vessels in the Gulf region.Addressing the 36th extraordinary session of the IMO Council in London on Thursday, Vikram Doraiswamy, India’s ambassador to the UK, emphasised New Delhi’s commitment to maritime security, freedom of navigation, and the safety of all seafarers.“India remains deeply concerned about the evolving situation and continues to call for de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy, with utmost restraint and priority being given to the safety of civilians,” he said.Condoling the loss of innocent lives, including three Indian seafarers, Doraiswamy asserted that attacks on commercial shipping and civilian maritime infrastructure endanger lives and are unacceptable. “Targeting of commercial shipping and attacks on civilian maritime infrastructure is unacceptable. Such attacks have resulted in the loss of innocent lives, injuries, and heightened risks, including to seafarers. India is among the top three seafarer-supplying nations, contributing approximately 13 per cent of the global seafaring workforce. We remain deeply concerned about the safety and welfare of all seafarers,” Doraiswamy added. He also noted India’s 24×7 helpline for affected seafarers and the role of the Information Fusion Centre, Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), hosted by the Indian Navy, in coordinating rescue efforts and sharing information. He added, “We reiterate that targeting commercial shipping, endangering civilian crews, and impeding safe and free navigation through international waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz, are unacceptable. The exercise of navigational rights and freedom by merchant and commercial vessels in accordance with international law must be respected.”The ambassador went on to say, “At present, 24 Indian flagged vessels are operating the Persian Gulf region, including 22 vessels west of the Strait of Hormuz with 611 Indian seafarers on board and two vessels east of the Strait of Hormuz, with 47 seafarers on board” Further he reflected on the critical importance of Strait of Hormuz for the country saying, “ India’s energy, security and trade are critically dependent on the safe and unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Any disruption, obstruction or closures of these vital waterways have direct consequences for India’s economy and for global energy and humanitarian supply chains.”The IMO Council condemned threats and attacks on merchant vessels, including attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz, citing UN Security Council Resolution 2817. The Council adopted a decision encouraging the establishment of a maritime safety corridor to facilitate voluntary evacuation of ships from high-risk areas. It called for an internationally coordinated approach to maritime security and urged member states to ensure continuous provision of essential supplies, water, food, and fuel, to ships unable to leave the region.IMO secretary-general went on to emphasise the need for decisive action, saying, “Let it be the responsibility of each and every one of us to demonstrate that inaction is not an option, that words alone are not sufficient. Together, we can drive the change required to protect the wellbeing of those who have no voice and safeguard the principle of freedom of navigation.”The session was attended by more than 120 member states, including all 40 Council members. The Middle East conflict has heavily affected shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Currently, 24 Indian-flagged vessels are operating in the Persian Gulf, with 611 Indian seafarers west of the Strait and 47 east of it.This session follows growing international concern over maritime safety as attacks in the Gulf threaten both trade and energy supply chains.

Asian markets showed a mixed performance on Friday, following modest losses on Wall Street and a retreat in oil prices after a sharp spike triggered by escalating Iran-Israel tensions.Oil had a volatile session on Thursday, with Brent crude briefly hitting $119 per barrel after Iranian attacks on Gulf energy facilities followed Israel’s strike on a key Iranian natural gas field. In early Friday trading, Brent fell 1.6% to $106.90 per barrel, while benchmark US crude dropped 2% to $93.63 per barrel. The decline came after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would hold off on further attacks on Iran’s gas field at the request of US president Donald Trump.The conflict, now in its third week, has disrupted energy supply, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway between Iran and Oman, and has heightened global inflation concerns. US treasury secretary Scott Bessent suggested that Washington might ease sanctions on Iranian oil already at sea to help stabilize prices.In regional equity markets, South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.6% to 5,798.23, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.6% to 25,340.43. China’s Shanghai Composite gained 0.2% to 4,013.16. Japan’s Nikkei 225 was closed for a holiday. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.5%, and Taiwan’s Taiex was down 0.2%.Wall Street posted modest losses on Thursday, with the S&P 500 down 0.3% to 6,606.49, the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing 0.4% to 46,021.43, and the Nasdaq down 0.3% at 22,090.69. Shares of US memory chip maker Micron Technology fell 3.8% despite better-than-expected quarterly results, although the stock has risen roughly 330% over the past year amid a global memory shortage.Precious metals recovered from earlier dips, with gold rising 2.6% to $4,727.20 per ounce and silver gaining 4.2% to $74.22 per ounce. Currency movements saw the US dollar strengthen to 158.38 Japanese yen from 157.76 yen, while the euro traded slightly lower at $1.1558, down from $1.1589.The easing of oil prices helped stabilize markets, but analysts said uncertainty remains as the Iran-Israel conflict continues to impact energy supplies and global financial sentiment.

CM Yogi Adityanath with cricketer Deepti Sharma (Video grab)

Uttar Pradesh has stepped up its efforts to emerge as a major sporting hub, with the government led by Yogi Adityanath rolling out one of the most ambitious incentive structures for athletes in the country. The state’s focus is clear — encouraging youth to pursue sports as a serious career option rather than just a recreational activity.At the heart of this push is a comprehensive monetary rewards scheme for medal winners across international and national competitions. The government has announced a whopping Rs 6 crore for an individual Olympic gold medallist from the state, along with Rs 4 crore for silver and Rs 2 crore for bronze. Team event winners are also generously rewarded, with Rs 3 crore for gold, Rs 2 crore for silver and Rs 1 crore for bronze.Massive rewards aimed at inspiring the next generationThe incentive structure extends beyond the Olympics to other major international events such as the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. Athletes winning individual gold medals in these competitions will receive Rs 3 crore, while silver and bronze medallists will be awarded Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 75 lakh respectively.At the national level too, the state has ensured recognition for excellence. Individual gold medallists will receive Rs 6 lakh, silver winners Rs 4 lakh and bronze medallists Rs 2 lakh. For team events, the rewards stand at Rs 2 lakh for gold, Rs 1 lakh for silver and Rs 50,000 for bronze.This structured approach aims to build a strong pipeline of athletes from grassroots to elite levels, ensuring that talent is both identified and rewarded consistently.Job security and long-term support for athletesBeyond financial incentives, the Uttar Pradesh government has also prioritised post-career security for sportspersons through job provisions in various state departments. Since Yogi Adityanath took office, more than 500 athletes have been given government jobs, mostly in the police department. International medallists are often recruited as gazetted officers, underlining the state’s commitment to recognising sporting excellence.Prominent examples include India women’s cricketer Deepti Sharma, who was appointed as a DSP in the UP Police after her standout performances, and track star Parul Chaudhary, who also serves in a similar role. The policy has provided athletes with both financial stability and social recognition.Interestingly, the state’s support has extended beyond its own athletes as well. After the Tokyo Olympics, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra was honoured by the UP government despite not being from the state, reflecting its broader commitment to celebrating sporting success.The state’s growing sporting ecosystem will also be on display during the upcoming The Times of India Sports Awards, set to be held in Lucknow on March 21, 2026. Athletes from Uttar Pradesh feature prominently among the nominees, with 15 names — including 13 athletes and two coaches — earning recognition across disciplines such as athletics, cricket, hockey, shooting and para sports.From cricketers like Deepti Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav to track and field athletes such as Gulveer Singh, Sachin Yadav, Parul Chaudhary and Rupal Chaudhary, the state’s representation underlines the impact of sustained policy support.

QatarEnergy says Iranian missiles hit Ras Laffan Industrial City, causing “extensive damage”

Iran’s unprecedented attacks on Qatar’s gas facilities would significantly dent the Gulf state’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity and result in losses running into billions of dollars, according to Qatar’s state minister for energy affairs, Saad al-Kaabi.“I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that Qatar would be — Qatar and the region — in such an attack, especially from a brotherly Muslim country in the month of Ramadan, attacking us in this way,” Kaabi, who is also the CEO of state-owned QatarEnergy, one of the facilities targeted by Iran, told Reuters.