Panaji: FC Goa midfielder Ayush Chhetri will have to opt out of the national team camp due to concussion during the clash against Chennaiyin FC on Sunday.The club’s medical staff has confirmed that the player suffered from concussion early in the second half, prompting him to leave the field in the 57th minute.Ayush was later taken to the hospital, and as per FIFA guidelines, will now need adequate rest before he is allowed back on the field.“As per FIFA guidelines, concussion treatment is underpinned by relative rest. His body and mind needs suitable time to recover,” said a senior official.Ayush was among the two players from Goa who were selected by coach Khalid Jamil for India’s AFC Asian Cup 2027 final round qualifier against Hong Kong on March 31. Captain Sandesh Jhingan will join the camp in Kochi on Monday.“Ayush is in the hospital,” coach Manolo Marquez said at the post-match media interaction. “He had a knock and was taken to the hospital. I hope he can attend the national team camp. He deserves to be with the national team.”Manolo was speaking after his side staged another comeback to steal a point from Chennaiyin as the match ended 1-1, thanks to Jhingan’s late header. Goa started slowly, but it was not until the substitutions in the second half – Abdul Rabeeh, Raynier Fernandes, Harsh Patre around the hour mark – that the Super Cup champions got a toehold in the game.“I think the score is fair because we reacted only after the goal, which could have been avoided. We didn’t play a good game. This is not to say anyone is guilty, but we are always with the same 11 and the starters are very comfortable. Today, I am very satisfied with the players who entered from the bench, all of them, because they changed the game completely. “We are unbeaten after six matches, I think the players have a lot of merit. I know there are three consecutive draws (East Bengal, Punjab, Chennaiyin), all away. People don’t know how difficult it is for one team with just two foreigners. They can say whatever they want, but ten points after six games unbeaten, for me, is very good,” said Manolo.

With IPL 2026 just around the corner, former India opener Aakash Chopra has shared his predicted playing XI for Mumbai Indians (MI) – and it comes with a few surprising twists. Known for their star-studded lineup, MI once again look like one of the strongest contenders this season, and Chopra believes they have everything it takes to go all the way.

IPL 2026: Akash Chopra’s playing XI for Mumbai Indians

Breaking down his team on his YouTube channel, Chopra went for a batting-heavy lineup with plenty of depth. At the top, he backed the experienced duo of Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock, followed by a strong middle order featuring Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav and captain Hardik Pandya.

“My opening combination: Rohit Sharma, Quinton de Kock, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Will Jacks to begin with, and I am keeping Naman Dhir after him at No. 7,” Chopra stated.

However, it was his bowling choices that grabbed the most attention. Chopra opted for South African all-rounder Corbin Bosch ahead of seasoned pacer Trent Boult, while also backing Afghanistan’s young spinner Allah Ghazanfar over Mitchell Santner.

“Then I am thinking you should keep Corbin Bosch at No. 8, Deepak Chahar at No. 9, Jasprit Bumrah at No. 10 and Allah Ghazanfar at No. 11. Start like that – Allah Ghazanfar’s spin, Corbin Bosch’s bowling and batting. I am not able to make a place for Trent Boult at the start, even though Mumbai might think differently.”

This combination reflects a clear strategy – balance the side with multi-skilled players while also bringing in an X-factor through Ghazanfar’s mystery spin. It’s a bold approach, especially leaving out an experienced name like Boult, but one that could pay off if the youngsters deliver.

Rohit Sharma backed to shine as MI eye sixth IPL title

While Chopra’s team selection sparked interest, his biggest call was backing Rohit Sharma to finish as Mumbai Indians’ highest run-scorer this season. Despite a relatively average IPL 2025 campaign, Chopra believes the former captain is primed for a comeback.

“Who will be the highest run-scorer of this team this year? Really tough one. I am thinking Rohit Sharma because he plays very little cricket now. He played in January. The series didn’t go well. So he will be hungry,” Chopra explained.

The logic is simple – rest, motivation, and a point to prove. With fewer matches in recent months, Rohit is expected to be mentally fresh and physically ready, something that could translate into big performances.

Also READ: “It’s about building a legacy…” – Hardik Pandya outlines his IPL 2026 ambitions for Mumbai Indians

Chopra also didn’t shy away from setting high expectations for MI as a whole.

“This is 100 percent a team worthy of winning the trophy. If they don’t win, they will have only themselves to blame, although it’s also true that no matter how good a team is on paper, it doesn’t mean the trophy.”

With a core that includes proven match-winners like Rohit, Suryakumar, Hardik, and Jasprit Bumrah, MI certainly have the firepower to challenge for the title once again. Chopra even hinted that anything less than a strong title push would raise serious questions.

As MI prepare to kick off their campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 29, the spotlight will be firmly on how this star-studded lineup performs.

Also READ: SWOT Analysis of Mumbai Indians: MI’s report card ahead of the IPL 2026

Top stocks to buy (AI image)

Stock market recommendations: Coal India, and JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals stocks that Sudeep Shah, Head – Technical Research and Derivatives, SBI Securities recommends buying for the week starting March 23, 2026. There is also a detailed analysis on Nifty and Bank Nifty:Nifty ViewMarkets tend to have very little tolerance for uncertainty, and the sharp escalation in tensions in West Asia since 28 February has kept risk appetite firmly subdued. Since the onset of the conflict, the Nifty has witnessed a steep correction of over 2000 points, reflecting sustained pressure from adverse global cues and a pronounced risk-off sentiment among investors.The price action during this phase has been particularly revealing. The index has seen three distinct dead-cat bounces, each of which was met with aggressive selling at higher levels—clearly highlighting the strong grip of bears on market direction. Every recovery attempt has been sold into, pointing to a clear lack of conviction among buyers. Although the Nifty managed to close the current week on a flat note, the underlying weakness remains intact, suggesting that the broader trend has not materially improved.Volatility remained elevated throughout the week. The index staged a sharp rebound of nearly 900 points during the first three trading sessions, driven largely by short covering. However, these gains proved unsustainable, as the market gave up all its advances on Thursday, recording the sharpest single-day decline since 4 June 2024. Eventually, Nifty ended the week on a muted note, extending its losing streak to four consecutive weeks, reinforcing the prevailing cautious undertone.On the sectoral front, the pain has been most pronounced in Automobile and Banking stocks, which were among the key outperformers prior to the escalation in geopolitical tensions. These sectors have borne the brunt of selling pressure, primarily due to persistent FII outflows. Foreign investors have offloaded a massive ₹81262 crore in the ongoing March series, and given their significant exposure to these sectors, FII selling has further amplified the downside momentum.Adding to the market’s woes has been the sharp surge in crude oil prices. Brent crude once again spiked to $114.3 per barrel during the week before witnessing some marginal cooling. At the same time, concerns around gas shortages and supply disruptions have intensified, with key energy commodities seeing steep price increases since the beginning of the conflict. Elevated energy prices continue to pose risks to inflation dynamics and corporate profitability, thereby acting as a structural headwind for equity markets.From a technical perspective, the trend remains decisively bearish. The index is currently trading below all its crucial moving averages, underscoring the weakness in both short- and medium-term structures. The formation of a bearish candlestick with a long upper shadow on the weekly chart further indicates consistent selling pressure at higher levels. Adding to the caution, the weekly RSI has slipped to 30.22, its lowest reading since the COVID-led market correction—signaling deeply oversold conditions, albeit without any clear reversal trigger at present.Looking ahead, the 22850–22800 zone is expected to act as an immediate support area. A sustained breakdown below this band could accelerate the decline towards the 22500 level in the near term. On the upside, the 23420–23460 zone is likely to act as a stiff resistance, and any pullback towards this region is expected to face renewed selling pressure.Bank Nifty ViewFor the fourth consecutive week, the banking benchmark index Bank Nifty ended on a negative note, underscoring sustained weakness and persistent selling pressure in the banking space. Most notably, on the weekly chart, the index has formed a small-bodied candle with a long upper shadow, which clearly reflects selling pressure emerging at higher levels and a failure to sustain intraday and weekly recoveries.Furthermore, for the second straight week, Bank Nifty has closed below its 100-week EMA, which is a crucial long-term trend indicator and reinforces the bearish undertone. On the daily timeframe, the index continues to remain under pressure, as it has been trading consistently below its 200-day EMA for the past ten trading sessions. This prolonged stay below the long-term moving average highlights a loss of medium-term trend strength and indicates that rallies are being sold into.Momentum indicators also remain firmly biased towards the downside. Both the daily and weekly RSI are placed in bearish territory and are sloping downward, suggesting weakening momentum and limited scope for any meaningful upside in the near term.Going forward, the zone of 54300–54400 is expected to act as a key resistance area for the index. As long as Bank Nifty trades below the 54400 mark, the broader outlook is likely to remain negative. In such a scenario, the index may continue its downward trajectory and test the immediate support near 52200, followed by the next important support around 51500 in the short term.

Stock recommendations:

Coal IndiaCoal India has staged a strong and steady rebound from the 455–460 zone, a level that previously acted as a key resistance in late January 2026 and is now turning into a solid support base. The up move is backed by a healthy surge in volumes, reflecting strong buying participation. Trend strength remains robust, with ADX continuing to rise, while RSI has reclaimed the 60 mark, signalling sustained bullish momentum. Additionally, the upward sloping MACD further reinforces the positive bias, indicating the stock is well-positioned for continued upside. Hence, we recommend to accumulate the stock in the zone of 465-470 with a stoploss of 453. On the upside, it is likely to test the level of 500 in the short term.JB Chemicals and PharmaceuticalsJB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals has been consistently holding above its 20-day EMA since forming a bullish flag-and-pole pattern on 2nd March, with this level acting as a strong dynamic support. The price structure remains constructive, highlighting sustained buying interest on dips. With Friday’s close above the Bollinger Bands midline, the bullish bias has further strengthened.Notably, the rising ratio line in JBCHEPHARM/NIFTY ratio chart signals clear relative outperformance versus the benchmark Index. Overall, price action and indicators suggest the stock is well-positioned to extend its outperformance in the sessions ahead. Hence, we recommend to accumulate the stock in the zone of 2134-2144 with a stoploss of 2075. On the upside, it is likely to test the level of 2290 in the short term.(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)

With the Middle East conflict now stretching into its fourth week, the impact is rippling across global markets, triggering a fresh wave of selling in cryptocurrencies and pulling Bitcoin below the $70,000 mark. Bitcoin fell to around $68,000 and was hovering near $68,627 after about $243 million in rapid liquidations hit the market, with most losses coming from long positions. The broader crypto space also saw declines. Ethereum dropped 2%, while Bitcoin eased 0.9% over the past 24 hours. Among altcoins, BNB, XRP, Solana, Dogecoin, Hyperliquid and Cardano declined by up to 2%, while TRON managed a marginal gain of 0.3%.However, even as prices soften, market positioning indicates that investors are still eyeing higher levels, with call interest concentrated near $75,000 and $80,000, and a support base forming around $60,000. According to the CoinSwitch, macroeconomic pressures, including elevated oil prices and reduced expectations of US rate cuts, continue to weigh on both equities and digital assets. The desk added that short-term volatility is likely to persist, especially as weekend trading typically sees thinner liquidity, with clearer trends expected once full participation returns during the week. The total crypto market capitalisation slipped by 1% to $2.35 trillion, data from CoinMarketCap showed. Over the past week, Ethereum has declined 8.5%, while Bitcoin has fallen 7%. Among altcoins, BNB, XRP, Solana, Dogecoin and Cardano have dropped by as much as 11%, whereas TRON and Hyperliquid have risen 4% and 0.5% respectively.Here’s what analysts are projecting Riya Sehgal, as cited by ET, said that the market is currently in a cautious consolidation phase amid macro uncertainty. She highlighted that Bitcoin is holding support near $66,000–$67,000, while Ethereum is testing the $2,000 level, pointing to a fragile near-term structure. Vikram Subburaj, CEO at Giottus told the financial daily that the market remains confined to a narrow range and continues to be driven more by oil prices, interest rates and geopolitical developments than by internal crypto dynamics. He added that unless Bitcoin moves back above $70,000–$72,000 with stronger participation and steady ETF demand, the current rebound should be treated with caution.

Anna Muzychuk (Image credit: X)

NEW DELHI: Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk has replaced Koneru Humpy in the upcoming Candidates Tournament in Cyprus after the Indian Grandmaster withdrew, citing safety concerns due to the host country’s proximity to the ongoing West Asia conflict. The tournament, which will determine the challengers for the world championship titles currently held by D Gukesh (Open) and Ju Wenjun (women), is scheduled to begin in Paphos on Saturday.Humpy, a two-time Women’s World Rapid Champion, pulled out of the event despite assurances from organisers, citing concerns over personal safety.

Earlier this month, a British air base in Cyprus was targeted in a drone attack, heightening security fears in the region.In a statement, FIDE confirmed that Muzychuk had been invited as Humpy’s replacement.“In accordance with the tournament regulations, her (Humpy’s) place was offered to the next highest finisher in the Women’s Events Series 2024–25 who has not yet secured qualification. As a result, Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine) will join the tournament,” FIDE said.Muzychuk is a former Women’s World Rapid champion (2016) and a two-time Women’s World Blitz champion (2014, 2016). She is also a former World Championship finalist and among the few women to have crossed the 2600 rating mark.Earlier, explaining her decision, Humpy said personal safety remained her top priority.“After deep reflection, I have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament,” Humpy said in a statement on ‘X’.“No event, no matter how important, can come before personal safety and well-being. Despite the assurances provided, I do not feel fully secure under the current circumstances. This is a painful but necessary decision, and I stand by it,” she added.Humpy risks a 10,000 Euro fine for her decision, though FIDE is yet to take a call on the matter.Nakamura also expresses concernsThe 38-year-old Indian is not alone in voicing safety concerns despite FIDE’s assurances that there is nothing even “remotely dangerous” to warrant a change of venue.American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, who is understood to have been in the island nation for the past two months in the run up to the tournament, also flagged issues, pointing to recent power outages in parts of Cyprus.“It’s not a good sign when power goes out completely in parts of Cyprus and doesn’t come back for an extended period of time,” the world No. 2 wrote on Sunday.What started with American and Israeli bombing of Iran escalated into a full blown regional war with Iran hitting the Gulf countries, who are seen as American allies. As a result, the air space over the region has been largely shut.Humpy’s withdrawal comes as a setback for India, as she was among the leading contenders in the tournament.The brother-sister duo of R Praggnanandhaa (open section) and R Vaishali (women’s tournament) and World Cup-winner Divya Deshmukh are the other Indians who have qualified for the prestigious event.Cyprus, which is the third largest island on the Mediterranean sea, is situated south of Turkey and is a member of the European Union. PTITranslate Article Publish Article Publish Articlebeta(With inputs from PTI)