The IPL 2026 season continues to deliver high-octane drama as the Punjab Kings (PBKS) faced off against the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 4th match of the tournament. Held at the picturesque New Chandigarh stadium on Tuesday, the evening was defined by a tactical chess match between bat and ball. After PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to field, the Gujarat Titans were restricted to a competitive but modest total of 162/6 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to a disciplined bowling performance and one moment of absolute magic in the field.

Xavier Bartlett’s sensational catch cuts short Jos Buttler’s solid innings

The definitive turning point of the first innings arrived in the 16th over, just as the Titans were looking to shift into sixth gear. Jos Buttler, who had been uncharacteristically steady, scoring 38 off 33 balls, decided it was time to take on the veteran leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.

On the fourth delivery of the 15.4 over, Chahal tossed up a tempting delivery outside off. Buttler danced down the track, meeting the ball with a thunderous lofted drive toward the long-on boundary. The crowd held its breath as the ball soared through the night sky, appearing destined for the stands. However, Xavier Bartlett had other plans.

Positioned perfectly on the edge of the rope, Bartlett timed his leap with the precision of an Olympic high jumper. Stretching his tall frame to the absolute limit, he plucked the ball out of thin air over his head while mid-air. Realizing his momentum might carry him over the boundary, he showed incredible presence of mind to maintain his balance, securing the catch just inches inside the cushions. A stunned Buttler could only stare in disbelief before trekking back to the dugout, leaving GT reeling at 129/4.

Here’s the video:

𝗔𝗶𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁! 🚀

🎥 A superbly-timed jump from the @PunjabKingsIPL player to grab a stunner! 🫴

Wicket No. 2⃣ for @yuzi_chahal ☝️

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/75rCxTCOL1#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #PBKSvGT pic.twitter.com/gGxRtVmq5F

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 31, 2026

Also READ: IPL 2026: Here’s why PBKS’ Cooper Connolly won’t bowl against Gujarat Titans in today’s match

GT put up a competitive total against PBKS’ disciplined bowling

Despite the fireworks from individual brilliance, the story of the innings was the relentless pressure applied by the Punjab Kings’ bowling unit. While Shubman Gill provided a solid foundation with a fluent 39 off 27 deliveries, the Titans struggled to maintain a high run rate through the middle overs. The Kings’ Powerplay strategy worked effectively, yielding 54 runs but keeping the dangerous Sai Sudharsan (13) in check before Marco Jansen induced an edge.

The spin of Chahal and the pace of Vijaykumar Vyshak proved to be the undoing of the Titans’ middle order. Chahal finished his masterclass with figures of 2/28, claiming the massive wickets of Gill and Buttler. Meanwhile, Vyshak provided excellent support in the death overs, finishing with 3/34 after removing Glenn Phillips (25) and Washington Sundar (18) just as they looked to accelerate.

The Titans eventually scrapped their way to a total of 162/6. Late cameo from Rahul Tewatia added precious runs in the final over, but the momentum remained with PBKS. With a target of 163 on a New Chandigarh surface that offers a bit of grip for the spinners, the Kings will feel confident, though the Titans’ world-class bowling attack, led by Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada, ensures this contest is far from over.

Also READ: In pics: Meet Tanvi Shah, the glamorous girl in Gujarat Titans for IPL 2026

NEW DELHI: Many parts of the country may not be hotter than usual during April-June summer season due to normal to ‘below normal’ maximum (day) temperatures but most parts in east, northeast and coastal Peninsular India are likely to get two to eight days of extended heatwave duration, the IMD said on Tuesday.“Above-normal heatwave days are expected over Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Coastal Tamil Nadu and northern parts of Karnataka during April to June,” said IMD’s chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra while releasing seasonal outlook for the three-month period.The forecast map, released by the Met department, shows additional heatwave days even in Delhi-NCR but the occurrence is most likely to be confined in May-June as April in many parts of India, including northwest, may experience above-normal rainfall due to prevailing and predicted western disturbances.Heatwave is considered if the maximum temperature of a weather station reaches at least 40 degree Celsius or more for plains and at least 30 degree C or more for hilly regions. Many parts of plains normally get three to five days of heatwave during April-June period.The most parts of the country which may get below normal temperatures during the days are, however, likely to have warmer nights. “During the season (April-June), above-normal minimum (night) temperatures are likely over most parts of the country except some regions of Maharashtra and Telangana where normal to below normal minimum temperatures are likely,” said Mohapatra.Though the IMD chief preferred not to say anything about the monsoon season at this juncture, the latest forecasts from the Monsoon Mission Climate Forecast System (MMCFS) suggest that El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) neutral conditions are most likely to continue during April to June.“Thereafter, the probability of development of El Niño conditions increases gradually,” said IMD — an indication that its adverse impact on rainfall may hit later part of monsoon season during Aug-Sept. IMD is expected to come out with its first stage forecast on this year’s monsoon rainfall sometime around mid-April.IMD data shows as many as 45 human deaths due to extreme weather events across many states in March. Lightning caused the maximum 32 deaths in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Kerala.Speaking about March, Mohapatra said eight Western Disturbances (WDs) impacted India during the month, against the normal of 5-6.Six WDs impacted northwest India during March 11-31, causing light to moderate rains with thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and hailstorm over northwest & adjoining central parts of the country.The large-scale thunderstorm activity occurred in many parts of the country mainly during the second half of the month and it led to reduction in maximum temperatures over most parts of India.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Tuesday said that Iran will take part in the upcoming World Cup despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.“Iran will be at the World Cup… That’s why we’re here. We’re delighted because they’re a very, very strong team, I’m very happy,” Infantino said at half-time during Iran’s friendly against Costa Rica in Turkey, as cited by news agency AFP.Infantino went on to stress that Iran’s “matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw”.Earlier, in an interview with N+, the FIFA president had said, “Iran represents its people, those who live in Iran and those who live abroad. They qualified for this World Cup on the field; they were a team that qualified very early. It’‘No Plan B, C or D’:s a football-mad country. We want them to play; they will play in the World Cup, and there are no plans B, C, or D; it’s plan A. We live in the real world and we know what the situation is, which is very complicated, but we are working and we are going to make sure that Iran plays this World Cup in the best conditions.“The Iranian Football Federation had earlier said it is “negotiating” with FIFA to shift its World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico due to the war involving the US and Israel with Iran.Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also said Mexico is ready to host Iran’s first-round matches if needed.The World Cup, to be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, will begin on June 11. Iran are scheduled to play their first Group G match against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.Infantino had earlier said that Donald Trump assured that Iran’s team would be allowed to participate. The team is set to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt in Seattle.However, Trump later said Iran’s team should not travel to the tournament “for their own life and safety”.Iran responded to this by saying, “no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup”.Infantino attended Tuesday’s match near Antalya, although his visit was not announced in advance and media were kept away from the area where he was seated.Iran had also played a friendly against Nigeria in Belek last Friday. During that match, players wore black armbands and carried school bags during the national anthem to remember those killed in a strike on a primary school in Iran on the first day of the war.The airstrike, which took place in the southern city of Minab on February 28, killed at least 170 people, including students and teachers.

The Indian-flagged LPG tanker Pine Gas had to wait nearly three weeks before it could safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran began allowing ships through the narrow waterway only selectively. The vessel had loaded cargo at the United Arab Emirates’ Ruwais port on February 28, a day before attacks on Iran by Israel and the United States. It was expected to reach India within a week, but the journey took much longer.Chief Officer Sohan Lal said the ship’s 27 Indian crew had seen missiles and drones flying overhead every day while waiting. In a video reviewed, at least five projectiles could be seen streaking through the night sky above the vessel.Indian officials had asked the crew to be on standby to set sail around March 11. However, with the conflict escalating, the ship was only cleared to move on March 23, but not through the normal Hormuz shipping lanes.Instead, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) instructed the tanker to navigate a narrow channel north of Larak Island off Iran’s coast.“They needed a yes or a no from all crew,” Lal said. “Everyone onboard agreed.” He added that the Larak route, not generally used by shipping, was recommended by the IRGC as the regular passage through Hormuz was mined.Lal said the Indian Navy guided the ship during the transit, and four Indian warships then escorted it for nearly 20 hours from the Gulf of Oman to the Arabian Sea. He added that they did not pay a fee for the passage and that the IRGC did not board the vessel at any time.The Indian Navy confirmed it was escorting Indian-flagged ships after they crossed the strait. The foreign ministry said this month that the Indian Navy has been present in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea for years to secure sea lanes for Indian and other ships.India relies heavily on seaborne imports of liquefied petroleum gas, with hundreds of millions of households using it for cooking. The Pine Gas, carrying 45,000 metric tons of LPG, was originally scheduled to unload at the west coast port of Mangalore, but Indian authorities directed it to discharge equal volumes at the eastern ports of Visakhapatnam and Haldia.Iran has said it has permitted “friendly nations” including China, Russia, India, Iraq and Pakistan passage through the Strait of Hormuz. While six Indian ships have exited the strait, 18 Indian-flagged vessels carrying around 485 Indian seafarers remain in the Persian Gulf.

Bhabanipur, long seen as Mamata Banerjee’s safest political ground, is beginning to stir uneasy comparisons with Nandigram. In the 2021 assembly elections, her decision to contest from Nandigram ended in a dramatic setback, with Suvendu Adhikari defeating her in a high-stakes battle that reshaped the narrative of the polls and marked a symbolic leap for the Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal. Five years on, the BJP appears to be attempting a similar strategy, this time in Bhabanipur, turning what was once considered a safe seat into a potential battleground.By fielding Adhikari in Bhabanipur, the BJP has effectively redrawn the battle lines, transforming what was once a comfortable stronghold into a high-pressure contest. The move is not just electoral but deeply symbolic, aimed at challenging Banerjee’s authority at the very seat that has repeatedly secured her political survival. For the chief minister, Bhabanipur is more than just another constituency, it is where she rebuilt her mandate after Nandigram. Now, it risks becoming a stage for history to repeat itself.The parallels are hard to ignore. Just as Nandigram became a referendum on Banerjee’s leadership in 2021, Bhabanipur is shaping up as a test of her enduring grip over urban Bengal. The question looming over the contest is whether the BJP has managed to recreate a similar political trap, or whether Banerjee can once again turn a moment of vulnerability into a decisive comeback.

From fortress to frontline

Bhabanipur’s transformation from a TMC bastion to a competitive seat reflects shifting political currents. In the 2021 bypoll, Banerjee secured over 71 per cent of the vote, defeating BJP’s Priyanka Tibrewal by a margin exceeding 58,000 votes. Yet, recent trends suggest cracks in that dominance.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the TMC’s lead in the segment narrowed to around 6,500 votes, while the BJP made gains across several municipal wards. Internal party meetings now reflect a sense of urgency. TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has set an ambitious target—winning Bhabanipur by over 60,000 votes—and warned cadres against complacency.The constituency’s evolving demographics add complexity. With roughly 76 per cent Hindu voters (split between Bengali and non-Bengali communities) and 24 per cent minorities, Bhabanipur reflects a microcosm of urban Kolkata. Migrant populations from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha further shape electoral behaviour, making outcomes less predictable than before.

SIR row and shifting voter base

A key flashpoint in the current contest is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. According to party sources, over 40,000 names have been deleted, with thousands more under adjudication. This has triggered a political storm.Banerjee has accused the Centre, led by Narendra Modi, of interference in the state’s electoral process, warning that administrative changes could affect poll fairness. She has also promised legal support to voters whose names may have been removed.The data suggests a complex picture: while a large share of deleted voters are non-minorities, a significant proportion of those under scrutiny belong to minority communities. Combined, the figures point to an almost even split, fuelling competing narratives from both sides.Adding to the uncertainty is Ward 77, once considered a TMC stronghold due to its minority voter base. Political observers now describe it as “fluid”, indicating that even traditional vote banks may not be entirely secure.

A seat steeped in political history

Bhabanipur’s importance goes beyond current electoral arithmetic. Once a Congress bastion represented by leaders like Siddhartha Shankar Ray, the constituency has mirrored Bengal’s political evolution over decades.After disappearing from the electoral map in 1972 due to delimitation, it was revived in 2011—the same year Banerjee ended the Left Front’s 34-year rule. Since then, the seat has been closely tied to her political journey. From her bypoll victory that year to her return in 2021 after the Nandigram defeat, Bhabanipur has repeatedly served as her fallback and fortress.Yet, the BJP’s decision to field Adhikari here marks a turning point. Fresh from filing nominations in Nandigram and projecting confidence of victory, he has framed the contest as part of a broader push for a “corruption-free” government in the state.As West Bengal heads into a two-phase election in April, with counting scheduled for May 4, Bhabanipur stands at the centre of the political storm. What was once a safe seat is now a test of resilience for Banerjee, and a potential launchpad for the BJP’s ambitions in Kolkata.

Vir Vikram Yadv (Image credit: ministry of environment, forest and climate change website)

NEW DELHI: Senior bureaucrat Vir Vikram Yadav has been appointed Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), replacing Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, according to an official order issued on Tuesday, cited by PTI. Yadav, a 1996-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre, is currently serving as additional secretary in the ministry of environment, forest and climate change. Kidwai, who headed the aviation safety regulator for a little over a year, has been appointed additional secretary in the department of personnel and training. The leadership change comes at a time when the DGCA is dealing with multiple challenges, including safety concerns, operational disruptions and the impact of ongoing tensions in West Asia on airline operations. During Kidwai’s tenure, the regulator faced scrutiny following widespread disruptions at IndiGo in December 2025, lapses at various airlines, accidents involving non-scheduled operators, and a fatal crash involving an Air India aircraft in June last year. The DGCA had taken enforcement actions, including penalties against IndiGo. Airline operations are also under pressure due to airspace restrictions linked to the Middle East conflict, leading to longer routes and higher fuel costs. At the same time, India’s aviation sector continues to see strong growth in passenger demand, even as airlines grapple with aircraft shortages. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu recently said deliveries of about 1,700 ordered aircraft could take up to 15 years due to global supply chain issues. The DGCA has also introduced several passenger-friendly measures, including new norms on seat allocation and ticket cancellations, though airlines have raised concerns over potential revenue impact.