The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 kicked off with high-octane drama at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, March 28. In a quintessential Bengaluru atmosphere, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the toss and elected to field first against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). While the ‘Orange Army’ entered the match with their reputation as clinical power hitters, they were met with a masterclass in pace bowling by RCB’s New Zealand import, Jacob Duffy. In a single, game-changing over, Duffy dismantled the most feared opening duo in the league, sending shockwaves through the SRH dugout.

SRH rocked early as Jacob Duffy removes Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head in quick succession

The match swung decisively in RCB’s favor during the third over of the innings. Duffy, operating with a scrambled seam and impeccable lengths, first targeted Abhishek Sharma. After being tucked up by a series of back-of-length deliveries, Sharma attempted to break the shackles on the first ball of the over (2.1). However, the 133kph delivery forced a sliced pull shot. The ball went straight up, and Jitesh Sharma kept his composure underneath it to complete the catch. Abhishek departed for a sluggish 7 off 8 balls, continuing a lean patch that has shadowed him since the pre-season.

The Chinnaswamy crowd had barely finished celebrating when Duffy struck the final blow of the over (2.6). Travis Head, known for his ability to snatch games away in the Powerplay, fell victim to a 136kph short ball outside off. Head connected with a signature hard, flat pull, but he couldn’t find the gap. The ball rocketed toward deep square leg, where Phil Salt showed exceptional athleticism. Salt cupped the ball near his chest and tumbled backward with the momentum, but maintained a firm grip. With Head dismissed for 11 off 9 balls (including two boundaries), the ‘Travishek’ partnership was effectively neutralized, leaving SRH reeling at 23/2.

Here’s the video:

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SRH’s early wobbles make consolidation period a task against RCB in opening clash

The early wickets of the openers forced SRH into an immediate defensive shell, turning the opening clash into a steep uphill climb. The pressure didn’t let up, as Duffy returned to claim Nitish Kumar Reddy for just 1 run, caught by Abhinandan Singh. By the end of the 5th over, SRH had slumped to 29/3, a far cry from the explosive starts they were known for in previous seasons. Duffy’s initial spell was nothing short of elite, finishing his four-over quota with remarkable figures of 3/22 at an economy of 5.50, including 13 dot balls.

The responsibility of the recovery fell onto the shoulders of captain Ishan Kishan and the reliable Heinrich Klaasen. Despite the early wobbles, Kishan showed immense resilience, counter-attacking to reach 45* off 24 balls, while Klaasen provided support with a steady 19. By the 10th over, SRH managed to drag the total to 87/3, thanks to a 50-run partnership that stabilized the ship. However, the damage inflicted by Duffy in those opening minutes remains the talking point of the IPL 2026 opener, proving that even on a batter-friendly pitch like Bengaluru, disciplined pace can still reign supreme.

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Mumbai: The first phase of Metro Line 9 between Kashigaon and Dahisar is likely to be inaugurated on April 3, with final approval awaited from the state government. The event is also expected to include the bhoomipujan of a Pod Taxi system in BKC and the launch of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for the Thane–Borivali tunnel project.The 4.5-km elevated Metro stretch has completed trials and received key safety clearances, while the Golden Nest flyover — which had drawn criticism over lane narrowing — is also slated to be opened for motorists.The development gained traction after Bhayander MLA Narendra Mehta shared a video indicating that the Metro line could be opened soon. However, officials from Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority said the date is not yet final. “We have requested the date and are awaiting approval,” said an official.The inauguration is expected to be attended by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar. Metro Line 9 is an extension of the operational Metro Line 7 (Dahisar–Gundavli). Commuters from Mira Road will be able to travel directly to Gundavli without changing trains, as the corridor seamlessly merges at Dahisar, providing a continuous link up to Andheri East.Passengers heading towards the western suburbs can interchange at Dahisar to Metro Line 2A to reach Andheri West, which connects with DN Nagar metro station on Metro Line 1 for onward travel towards Versova and Ghatkopar.The Phase I stretch includes four stations — Dahisar (East), Pandurang Wadi, Miragaon and Kashigaon — serving the growing Mira-Bhayandar region.The controversial Golden Nest Junction flyover, which became a talking point due to narrowing of lanes, is also set to open.The Pod Taxi project in BKC, estimated at Rs 1,016 crore under a PPP model, will span 8.8 km with 38 stations, using pods carrying 3–6 passengers.Meanwhile, the 11.8-km Thane–Borivli twin tunnel project will see the launch of TBMs, with the corridor expected to cut travel time to around 15 minutes.

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has permitted foeticide in the uterus before medical termination of a nearly 34-week pregnancy in which the foetus has a genetic bone growth disorder characterised with shortened arms and legs and a large head.Considering the “advanced gestational age” and the report of the medical board of J J Hospital, Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande on Friday permitted “petitioner no.1 to terminate the pregnancy by performing feticide in utero prior to delivery.”The woman (37) and her husband moved the HC after the medical board of the District Civil Hospital, Thane, on March 20 advised against MTP. It opined that the foetus is detected with non-lethal short limb skeletal dysplasia. There is “no life-threatening anomaly identified” and the condition is compatible with postnatal survival. On Thursday, the couple’s advocate, Meenaz Kakalia, relied on HC’s Feb 2025 decision where JJ board had recommended MTP of a foetus with skeletal dysplasia. Therefore, HC directed JJ board to examine the petitioner and give its opinion.The judges noted that the board in unison recommended MTP and concluded that the “foetus is affected by serious congenital abnormality and/or mental abnormalities, and continuation of pregnancy is likely to result in the birth of a child with significant morbidity.” As the foetus, “approximately 33-34 weeks,” may be born alive and since the couple sought foeticide in utero before termination, the board permitted it, subject to the HC’s approval.Questioning the petitioners’ insistence on foeticide, state’s advocate Molina Thakur said that JJ has conducted many MTPs earlier and “termination can be done by following the due process.” Kakalia, however, cited the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s guidance note that necessitates foeticide procedure in pregnancies beyond 24 weeks. She explained that “because the foetus is formed substantially, if only termination is done, the foetus may still be born alive.“Addressing Thakur, Justice Dangre said, “Now the opinion is the child is going to be born with so many malformations. Who is going to cater to this child? The State? You expect the State to do it? That’s why the parents don’t want to give birth to this child because that will be a burden.” She further said the procedure probably is that before termination, “the foetus itself is eliminated.”The judges took note of Centre’s guidelines, framed on request from Supreme Court/HCs, set out procedures and steps for MTP, including stopping foetal heartbeat. Allowing the petition, they concurred with JJ board’s opinion, “which has also kept in mind the autonomy and wishes of the patient, who had desired for foeticide in utero prior to delivery.” As JJ does not have facility and expertise to carry out foeticide procedure and the couple desired to have it done in a private hospital, the judges permitted it “at their risk and consequences.“

Mumbai: Even as the police were eager to bring chain snatching under the ambit of the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), with the prosecution’s failure to provide documentary evidence linking the accused to a criminal syndicate, it has not stuck in all cases. While a special court this week convicted and sentenced 46-year-old Ajiz Sayyed, alias Irani, to seven years rigorous imprisonment for a 2018 Parel chain-snatching case, it has struck down the state’s attempt to label him as an organized criminal.Special judge NR Pradhan ruled that while the robbery was proven through the “trustworthy, cogent and reliable” testimony of eye-witnesses who caught the accused red-handed, court found major procedural and evidentiary gaps in the claims of him being involved with a gang. The judge noted that the Sanctioning Authority, then police commissioner Subodh Jaiswal, admitted in cross-examination that the exact quantum of financial gain was not mentioned. “There is absolutely no evidence on record to show that accused…was member of organised crime, and by doing organised crime, he earned pecuniary gain,” special judge NR Pradhan ruled, leading to Sayyed’s acquittal from all charges under MCOCA. Special public prosecutor Vijay Malankar cited the evidence of 30 witnesses to seek the accused conviction. The incident occurred on Dec 4, 2018, near KEM Hospital. The victim, was walking with her mother when Sayyed and an accomplice, Mohammed Sayyed, alias Andu, approached on a black motorcycle. The pillion rider snatched Sakpal’s mangalsutra, valued at Rs 1.60 lakh, and the duo attempted to speed away but their escape was thwarted when their motorcycle slipped during a sharp U-turn, allowing a pursuing witness, Prathamesh Sarang, and local residents to apprehend them. Andu subsequently absconded and is yet to be caught. The judge noted the significance of the immediate capture and noted that the stolen jewelry was recovered directly from Sayyed’s person during a search at the Bhoiwada police station later that evening.The legal battle centered largely on the invocation of MCOCA. The prosecution argued that the duo operated as an organized crime syndicate led by Andu. Investigating officers claimed Sayyed had at least four previous cases against him. However, the judge pointed out that prior approval order and the final sanction order failed to specify the crimes allegedly committed by Sayyed. While Sayyed was sentenced to seven years and a Rs 10,000 fine for robbery, he was granted a set-off for the time already spent in custody. The trial against “gang leader”, Andu, has been separated as he remains untraceable.

Cameron Green (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)

Mumbai: Over the years, the IPL has seen various top buys burdened by the pressure of their high price tags. In 2014, it was Yuvraj Singh, bought by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs 14 crore, while in 2025, it was Rishabh Pant, purchased by Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 27 crore, who both seemed weighed down by their massive auction prices. There have been many others as well.In that context, there is genuine concern that the latest in the list could be Australian allrounder Cameron Green, who was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders for a whopping Rs 25.20 crore in the IPL mini-auction in November last year.