In a recent Instagram video, James personally guides viewers through the unique features of his custom-built Maybach, highlighting both exterior and interior refinements. The vehicle boasts a rare light ivory exterior, contrasted by dark blue leather, along with personalised touches such as the custom logo. The S-Class combines opulent interiors with a powerful V12 engine, making it a standout addition to James’ growing collection of high-end vehicles.

LeBron James’ Mercedes-Maybach S-Class: Exterior and custom interior

The light ivory shade is non-metallic. Most S-Class models go for glossy finishes or bolder colours, but James chose restraint. He mentions in the Instagram video that this shade was deliberate.Inside, the cabin tells a different story with stormy blue leather stitched in porcelain, creating a rich, textured contrast to the pale exterior. The materials appear soft to the touch and well-placed throughout. James walks viewers through these details, highlighting the subtle craftsmanship. He also points out embossed and embroidered crown logos on the headrests and door panels.

LeBron James’ Mercedes-Maybach S-Class highlights customised features

A few details make the car even more unique. There’s a “1 OF 1” plaque on the inside, signalling its exclusivity. The door sills carry the birthdays of James’ children giving the personal dimension. Experts say these details are what separate a truly bespoke build from a factory-customised one.Even with all the custom touches, the Maybach remains focused on comfort. The executive rear seats come with massage functions and plenty of space, emphasising passenger experience over driving thrill. According to the official website, the base S 680 starts at roughly $244,000 in the US.

Mercedes-Maybach S-Class other key details

The 2026 Mercedes-Maybach S 680 4MATIC is a full-size luxury sedan powered by a handcrafted 6.0-litre V12 biturbo engine producing 621 hp and 664 lb‑ft of torque, paired with a 9-speed 9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission and 4MATIC all-wheel drive. It accelerates from 0–60 mph in 4.3 seconds and has a curb weight of 5,214 lbs. Fuel economy is estimated at 12 mpg city and 20 mpg highway, with a 20.1-gallon fuel capacity. The vehicle seats five passengers with generous interior dimensions, offering up to 49.1 in of rear legroom and 12.3 cu ft of cargo space. Its adaptive, self-leveling AIRMATIC suspension complements a 133.7‑inch wheelbase, while the exterior features a range of standard and MANUFAKTUR paint options, including metallic and matte finishes. The sedan rides on 20‑inch Maybach Exclusive Forged wheels with all-season tires, balancing performance with comfort.

Just days before IPL 2026 gets underway, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have been hit with a major setback. Their left-arm pacer Yash Dayal will not be part of the squad this season, a development that has raised plenty of questions among fans.

Putting an end to all speculation, RCB’s Director of Cricket Mo Bobat confirmed the news during a pre-tournament press conference. While Dayal remains contracted to the franchise, he won’t be available for the upcoming campaign due to personal reasons.

Official confirmation about Yash Dayal from the RCB camp

Addressing the situation, Bobat made it clear that the franchise has stood by Dayal throughout and continues to support him. However, both parties have agreed that stepping away from the tournament is the right decision for now.

“Yash will not be joining the squad, as you know, he is going through a personal situation currently,” Bobat said. “Just to clarify, we have been very supportive of Yash to date, and that’s reflected in the fact that we have retained him whenever we have had the opportunity to retain him. And he remains under contract.”

He further added, “We have been communicating with him regularly, and I spoke with him earlier today as well. But it has been decided that it is not in his or franchise’s best interest at this point in time to join with the squad.”

Bobat also revealed that RCB had already prepared for such a scenario while planning their squad. “We went into our auction planning for the worst-case scenario,” he said.

Dayal’s absence is a significant blow for the team, especially considering his contribution in their title-winning IPL 2025 campaign. The left-arm seamer picked up 13 wickets and brought balance to the bowling unit with his ability to swing the ball and deliver in crunch moments.

While the franchise has chosen not to go into details, describing it as a “personal situation,” the backdrop involves serious legal challenges faced by Dayal. Reports suggest he is currently dealing with multiple cases, including one in Ghaziabad related to allegations of exploitation under the pretext of marriage.

Another case, filed in Jaipur under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, is even more serious, involving allegations from a minor. In December 2025, a special POCSO court rejected his anticipatory bail plea, citing the gravity of the case and ongoing investigation.

These developments have already kept him away from competitive cricket for a while. He missed the UP T20 League and hasn’t featured in any match since the IPL 2025 final. There have also been reports suggesting that state authorities struggled to reach him for selection discussions.

Also READ: RCB legend Virat Kohli reacts to ‘chartered flight to London’ rumours ahead of IPL 2026

A ripple effect in RCB’s bowling plans

For RCB, this situation creates a ripple effect in their bowling plans. Dayal’s absence leaves a gap in the pace attack, especially with Australian quick Josh Hazlewood also expected to miss the early part of the tournament due to injury concerns.

The team will now rely heavily on experienced names like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, along with young Indian pacers such as Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh and Mangesh Yadav. Their overseas options include Jacob Duffy, Nuwan Thushara and all-rounder Romario Shepherd.

Adding to the challenge, RCB cannot bring in a replacement for Dayal since he is still officially under contract. This limits their flexibility and puts more pressure on the available bowlers to step up.

As the team gears up to begin their title defence on March 28 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, all eyes will be on how they manage this unexpected setback. While the squad still has depth, losing a proven performer like Dayal just before the season is far from ideal.

Also READ: SWOT analysis of Royal Challengers Bengaluru – RCB’s report card ahead of the IPL 2026

NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for comparing the current fuel crisis sitution to that of Covid-19 in his Parliamentary address on Monday. The Congress leader remarked that the PM has “forgotten what had happened then, how many people had died and what kind of tragedies had unfolded”.“Yesterday he made an irrelevant speech. He is the prime minister of India, he must appear to be as the PM of India, he has no position. It is sad that this would bring harm to people. It is the beginning — LPG, petrol, fertilizer, all these would pose a problem. Modi ji said Covid-like time is coming. He has forgotten what had happened then, how many people had died and what kind of tragedies had unfolded,” Rahul said on Tuesday.PM Modi had said the challenging global situation arising from the West Asia conflict is likely to endure, urging the nation to stay prepared and united, much like it did during the Covid pandemic.“This war has created difficult global conditions that may persist for a long time. Hence, we must remain prepared and united. We faced similar challenges during the Covid crisis with unity. Now again, we must prepare in the same way. With patience, restraint, and calmness, we must face every challenge-that is our identity, that is our strengt,” he had said.“At the same time, we must remain vigilant and cautious. Those who try to exploit the situation will attempt to spread falsehoods, but we must not let them succeed,” he added.Rahul also criticised PM Modi over his handling of the West Asia conflict, alleging that India has been sidelined in global negotiations and calling the prime minister “compromised” and questioned the PM’s autonomy on global stage.“Our foreign policy is Prime Minister Modi’s personal foreign policy. You can see the result of this. It’s a universal joke. Everybody considers it a universal joke. Donald Trump knows exactly what Mr Modi can do and what Mr Modi cannot do. So if the Prime Minister is compromised, our foreign policy is compromised. It’s obvious; everyone can see it. They did a US deal,” he said.Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha also criticised the Covid reference saying the “nation cannot forget the tragic suffering during the pandemic”.“It has now been 25 days since the conflict began, and India is facing a deepening energy crisis, one for which the government should have been far better prepared. The Prime Minister has now likened the situation to being ‘Covid-like.’ The nation cannot forget the tragic suffering during the pandemic, when over 40 lakh lives were lost and countless citizens were left struggling for basic necessities like oxygen,” he said.He termed the PM’s Rajya Sabha speech “an exercise in obfuscation”.“The 20-minute statement by Prime Minister Modi in the Rajya Sabha was, at best, an exercise in obfuscation. We seek clear answers to three fundamental questions: First, through his inconsistent and swinging diplomatic posture, the Prime Minister appears to have altered the balance of India’s strategic autonomy; long a cornerstone of our foreign policy across successive governments. Following his recent visit to Israel, India has faced visible diplomatic consequences. Why did the Prime Minister fail to take Parliament and the nation into confidence about this apparent shift, and what concrete steps have been taken to restore India’s strategic autonomy?” he said in a post on X.He criticised the government for failing to secure safe passage for Indian ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz despite high-level diplomatic efforts.“Second, nearly 37–40 Indian-flagged ships, carrying around 1,100 sailors, remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, with cargo valued at approximately Rs 10,000 crore. Despite the Prime Minister personally speaking to the Iranian President twice, and the External Affairs Minister engaging multiple times with his Iranian counterpart, why has India failed to secure safe passage for its own vessels? Why are countries like China Russia, Japan, along with other ‘friendly nations,’ being granted safe transit, while Indian ships remain stuck?” he said.He further questioned the PM’s claims that India had diversified its energy imports from 27 to 41 countries.“If so, which countries are currently supplying LNG, LPG, and crude oil to India, and in what quantities? More importantly, if diversification has been achieved, why are citizens still facing shortages, long queues, black marketing, and sharp price rises across the country?” he said.