MUMBAI: A day after the charred remains of seafarer Dixit Solanki were brought to Mumbai from Sharjah, his family has refused to perform the last rites, insisting on DNA confirmation to establish his identity. Solanki, who was killed in a suspected missile or drone attack on an oil tanker off the Oman coast during the ongoing West Asia conflict, is believed to be among the first Indian casualties in the maritime tensions. His father, Amratlal Solanki, and sister Mitali received the remains at Mumbai airport early Sunday after securing clearance from Sahar police. Instead of taking the body home to their Kandivli residence, the family transported it directly to JJ Hospital in Byculla, seeking scientific verification. “We want a DNA test and written confirmation,” Mitali said, adding that the family is in touch with authorities.The family’s advocate is expected to move the Bombay high court seeking directions to send samples to the Kalina forensic laboratory, arguing that there is no conclusive proof yet establishing the identity of the remains. Officials from the Directorate General of Shipping and the shipping ministry have maintained that there was only one casualty onboard and identification has already been established. However, the family claims they have not been provided with any documented DNA confirmation. Police said all formalities, including death certificate, embalming certificate and consulate clearances, were completed before the remains were handed over. “The body was released within 30 minutes of arrival after due verification,” an officer said. The case traces back to March 1, when the vessel MT MKD Vyom was hit by an explosive-laden drone boat in the Gulf of Oman. Solanki, who worked as an oiler, died in the blast. The family had earlier approached the high court seeking expeditious repatriation of the remains, citing lack of clarity and delay by authorities. The coffin reached Mumbai within three days of the plea, but the focus has now shifted to confirming identity before the final rites. Adding to the family’s distress, this is the second bereavement in recent months, with Solanki’s mother having passed away just three months ago.

India is stepping up efforts to secure fertiliser supplies, with plans to import 2.5 million metric tonnes of urea as it works to stabilise availability in the domestic market amid tightening conditions linked to the US-Israeli war with Iran.This comes as ongoing tensions in the Middle East have been disrupting global energy flows and shipping routes, creating ripple effects across supply chains. As global markets remain unsettled, the pressure on fertiliser supply chains has increased, prompting India, world’s largest urea importer, to safeguard availability and prevent any shortfall at a critical time.State-owned Indian Potash Ltd (IPL) has floated a tender for the procurement, with 1.5 million tonnes scheduled to be brought in through the west coast and 1 million tonnes through the east coast, according to details published on the company’s website. The shipments are expected to be loaded by June 14, while bids for the tender are due by April 15, Reuters reported.The imports are critical as the country continues to rely on global tenders to meet its urea demand, particularly ahead of the key sowing period that begins in June with the onset of the monsoon. The fertiliser is essential for crops such as rice, maize and soybeans.Agriculture remains a major part of the Indian economy, with the country also importing other key fertilisers including diammonium phosphate (DAP) and muriate of potash, along with liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is used in domestic urea production. The Middle East supplies about half of India’s DAP and urea imports, with Saudi Arabia being the largest supplier of DAP and Oman the leading supplier of urea.Separately, the government has moved to raise gas supply to urea manufacturing plants to around 90% of their average consumption starting Monday, compared with the current level of 70–75 per cent.The increase has been justified on the basis of available inventories and scheduled LNG cargo arrivals. Authorities have also decided to enhance gas allocation to industrial and commercial users, including city gas distribution networks, by an additional 10% from Monday.“All industrial consumers, including fertiliser plants, have been advised to provide their additional requirement on spot basis so that the same may be arranged by the gas marketing companies,” an official statement said.According to the fertiliser ministry, domestic urea production fell to 18 lakh tonnes in March from an earlier average of 24 lakh tonnes, though output is expected to improve with higher LNG availability and more frequent spot purchases.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Devdutt Padikkal, right, with Virat Kohli. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru have begun their IPL 2026 campaign in commanding fashion, and batter Devdutt Padikkal has revealed the tactical shift behind their early success. With two wins in two matches, RCB sit atop the standings, showcasing a refined batting approach that blends caution with calculated aggression.Speaking after their convincing 43-run win over Chennai Super Kings in Bengaluru, Padikkal explained that the team has consciously addressed its past batting frailties. The new strategy revolves around preserving wickets in the first half of the innings before unleashing an all-out assault in the latter stages.‘Keep wickets, then attack’Padikkal highlighted that the change in approach stems from lessons learned last season. “Even last season we had a couple of games early on where we struggled and ended up losing maybe three or four wickets and then it put us on the back foot,” he said.“We had a conversation midway through last year that we needed to make sure that when the wicket is behaving in such a way, you have to ensure you have wickets in hand. Once the ball gets older, it becomes much easier to bat on,” he added.The left-hander stressed that avoiding early collapses has been key. “We had to make sure we are not three or four down by the 10-over mark. Once we were able to do that, we could go hard at every ball. The way the entire unit has been batting since then has been incredible,” he noted.This approach has already paid dividends, with RCB posting big totals and maintaining pressure on opposition bowlers through well-timed acceleration.Padikkal’s evolution and confidence boostPadikkal, who has been in fine form with scores of 61 and 50 in the first two games, credited his improvement in white-ball formats to a conscious shift in mindset and technique.“It’s a lot of hard work and self-belief. It wasn’t easy to make that change because I had to alter the foundation of the kind of cricket I wanted to play growing up,” he admitted.“The change was something I had to make consciously, and RCB’s support staff have been brilliant in guiding me in the right way,” he added, underlining the role of the team environment in his transformation.Power-hitting balance and Tim David factorWhile T20 batting has seen an increasing emphasis on power-hitting, Padikkal believes the evolution is part of a natural progression. “Batting has gone to another level. Everyone is working hard to hit big sixes and fours. It’s now on the bowlers to raise their game as well,” he said, adding that conditions could eventually balance the contest.Padikkal also reserved special praise for teammate Tim David, whose explosive 70 off 25 balls dismantled Chennai’s attack. “We see him do this every day in practice. He’s very clear about which bowler to target and when. That clarity makes a huge difference,” he said.

Saudi Arabia has raised the price of its main crude grade for Asian buyers to a record high, as the Middle East conflict enters its sixth week and continues to disrupt global energy flows worldwide.The kingdom’s oil giant Saudi Aramco has set the cost of its Arab Light crude for May sales to Asia at a premium of $19.50 per barrel over the benchmark. However, even with this hike, the premium is still lower than the $40 per barrel expected by traders and refiners in a Bloomberg survey.The move comes amid escalating tensions in the region, with no immediate signs of de-escalation. Earlier on Saturday, US President Donald Trump had threatened to strike Iranian infrastructure if it does not opens the Strait. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, he said, “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” He later told Fox News there was a “good chance” Iran would agree to a deal on Monday. Iran also hit back sharply, threatening that it will react “in kind,” in case its sites are attacked. “Our armed forces have made it clear that in case Iran’s infrastructure is attacked, we would react in kind,” Esmail Baghaei said.As the crisis continues to boil, oil prices have stayed well above the $100 per barrel cost, jumping to $110. Brent crude prices have risen by more than 50%, with fuel prices also increasing across the US, Europe and Asia.On Monday, West Texas Intermediate rose 1.86% to $113.62 per barrel in early trade, while Brent crude gained 1.16% to $110.30 per barrel, staying above the $100 mark.Markets had already reacted before the weekend. On Thursday, ahead of Good Friday, both oil benchmarks saw sharp gains. WTI rose more than 11%, while Brent climbed nearly 8%, marking their biggest increases since 2020 after signals that attacks on Iran would continue.

Chennai Super Kings (ANI Photo)

Chennai Super Kings’ poor start to IPL 2026 continued with a heavy defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and former star Ravichandran Ashwin did not hold back while reflecting on the team’s struggles and his own difficult final season. CSK slumped to their third straight loss after being outplayed at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. RCB piled up a massive 250/3, powered by explosive knocks from Tim David (70* off 25), Rajat Patidar (48* off 19) and Devdutt Padikkal (50 off 29). In response, CSK never quite recovered from early blows despite resistance from Sarfaraz Khan and Prashant Veer, eventually getting bowled out for 207. As the defeat exposed deeper issues within the side, Ashwin reflected on his own decision to step away from the IPL, admitting that he could have continued but was mentally drained after a disappointing campaign. “Any suggestions for sad songs? I am watching the match from a neutral point of view, but remember that I recently spent a disappointing season with CSK, it was a disappointing season for me personally as well. Honestly, in my mind, I could have played more, because emotionally, I just did not have the bandwidth to play,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. When asked to revisit that phase, Ashwin made it clear that it remains a sensitive subject for him. “I don’t want to go there, it’s mentally disturbing. It was very painful for me. I don’t want to go there. I discussed a little then I said, I started in Chennai, I am finishing in my hometown, it’s fine. I decided to retire myself as it would not have created a headache for them (the management) over whether to retain me or release. They would also save Rs 10 crore if I go. I am still disappointed. I had expectations, I had hope,” he added. Despite predicting an RCB win, Ashwin admitted he expected a stronger showing from CSK, especially after signs of improvement in their previous outing. “I had expectations from today. I know, I picked RCB to win, because they have strength. But, I banked on the improvement that CSK showed in the last game. I had a little faith on the fact that RCB were coming into this match after a break. The way RCB played, they warned everyone,” he said. CSK’s current approach has also come under scrutiny, particularly their shift towards a younger squad. Ashwin questioned how effectively these players are being nurtured in a high-pressure environment. “These young boys, you have to give them good practice, you have to give them intensity, you have to give them atmosphere from here on. How are they going to do this?” he remarked. The veteran spinner was also critical of certain tactical calls, especially how bowlers are being utilised. He pointed out that some players are being asked to execute skills that may not suit their strengths. “You can watch SA20 to plan against. Jamie Overton isn’t good at bowling yorkers. You are making him do that. You have to play according to the bowler’s strengths. You are making him bowl wide yorkers from around the stumps. Tim David smashed them hard,” he said. With results going against them and questions mounting over both strategy and execution, CSK now face an early-season challenge to regroup and find direction before the campaign slips further away.

Why are bond yields rising?Bond yields are climbing due to a combination of rising crude oil prices and a weakening rupee, both of which add to inflationary pressures. India’s 10-year benchmark yield has risen to around 7% from 6.68% a month ago. Crude oil prices have surged to $115–$120 per barrel, and with India importing nearly 85% of its oil needs, higher prices feed directly into domestic inflation through increased transportation and production costs. At the same time, the rupee has depreciated to around 95 against the US dollar, making imports more expensive. In such an environment, investors demand higher yields to compensate for inflation and currency risks. Tightening liquidity conditions and expectations of higher interest rates further push bond prices lower and yields higher. When bond prices fall, yields rise and vice versa.Impact of rising yields on debt MFsThe impact varies depending on the type of fund and the maturity of securities it holds. Long-duration funds, such as gilt and long-term bond funds, are the most affected. These funds invest in bonds with longer maturities, making them more sensitive to interest rate movements. Even a small rise in yields can lead to sharper price declines, resulting in noticeable short-term losses. Short-duration funds, such as liquid, ultra-short, and low-duration funds, are far less impacted. Since they invest in short-maturity instruments, price fluctuations are limited. As older securities mature, these funds are able to invest in newer bonds offering higher interest rates, which gradually improves their returns. According to Value Research data, values of long-duration funds have shrunk about 2.5% over the past three months. Gilt funds are down around 1.4%, while dynamic bond funds have seen relatively limited declines of about 0.4% over the same period.What should investors do?Investors in long duration or gilt funds should avoid panic selling if their investment horizon is 3–5 years. Over time, accrual income and potential yield softening can help offset interim losses. For investors with a shorter time horizon, such as less than a year, liquid and ultra-short duration funds are more suitable. These funds carry lower interest rate risk and offer relatively stable returns. Investors looking to benefit from potential capital appreciation in gilt funds should wait for clearer signs of stability in crude oil prices.

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Kolkata Knight Riders’ captain Ajinkya Rahane (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

With Kolkata Knight Riders enduring a tough start to IPL 2026, Ajinkya Rahane has found himself under increasing scrutiny following defeats to Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Rahane began the season on a positive note with a fluent 67 off 40 balls against Mumbai Indians, but his effort came in a losing cause as KKR failed to defend a strong total. In the next game, which also marked his 200th IPL appearance, he struggled for rhythm during a chase, managing just 8 off 10 balls against SRH. The criticism around his captaincy has also been fuelled by off-field moments, including his remark on Cameron Green not bowling, where he said the question should be directed to Cricket Australia. Rahane later pushed back at critics, defending his intent and pointing to his improved strike rate in recent seasons. Amid the noise, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has stepped in to back Rahane, offering a strong endorsement of his leadership. “Honestly, I was reading a lot about Ajinkya Rahane, but he is a very good person, a very good human being. I have played under his captaincy and I am telling you, no bowler will get a more supportive captain. He is very supportive and a very calm captain. If he cannot get the best out of a bowler, then I don’t know who can.” While defending Rahane, Ashwin made it clear that KKR’s struggles are not solely down to captaincy. Instead, he pointed to tactical limitations, particularly in the bowling department. “He can maybe do one thing — use Sunil Narine in the powerplay and give Varun Chakravarthy a break, then bring him after the powerplay. If he does well, then confidence will come back. But that’s all he can do. What else can he do? He cannot go and bowl himself.” Ashwin also highlighted the complications around match-ups, especially against left-handers, suggesting that avoiding certain bowlers could create further imbalance. “He can also maybe avoid giving him the ball against left-handers. But if you avoid him against left-handers, then who will bowl? Sunil Narine will bowl from one end, but who will bowl from the other? So there are a lot of problems in KKR.” He added that if Cameron Green starts contributing with the ball, it could ease some of the burden on the attack. With two defeats in their opening matches, KKR are already under pressure early in the season. Ashwin’s comments underline that while Rahane remains under the spotlight, the issues within the side run deeper than just leadership concerns.

Rupee stood firm on Monday, gaining 33 paise to reach 92.85 against the US dollar in early trade. This follows intervention by the Reserve Bank of India, as the bank stepped in to support the currency. The RBI tightened norms to curb speculative positions and capped banks’ net open positions at $100 million, even as global developments continued to pose risks. The currency opened weak in the interbank foreign exchange market, at 93.13 against the greenback but strengthened as trading progressed, touching 92.85. The gain comes after a strong showing in the previous session on Thursday, when the currency surged 152 paise to close at 93.18, one of its sharpest single-day rises in recent years, following a series of steps by the central bank to tighten rules in the onshore forward market. Markets were shut on Friday for Good Friday. The RBI’s decision to cap banks’ net open positions at $100 million is seen as part of a broader effort to limit speculative bets, with traders indicating that the impact of these measures is beginning to reflect in the rupee’s movement. Despite the uptick, underlying pressures remain. Forex market participants pointed to continued foreign capital outflows, a strengthening US dollar, and firm crude oil prices as factors weighing on the domestic currency. Heightened geopolitical uncertainty has added to the cautious sentiment. Tensions on the global front intensified after US President Donald Trump issued a warning to Iran, setting a deadline until Tuesday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and cautioning that non-compliance could trigger attacks on its power infrastructure. Offering a near-term outlook, CR Forex Advisors MD Amit Pabari said, “On one side, RBI’s actions are clearly working. As banks continue to unwind dollar positions ahead of the April 10 deadline, the rupee may strengthen further toward the 91.50–92.00 range.” He also flagged the risks ahead, saying that persistent geopolitical tensions and elevated oil prices could once again strain India’s macroeconomic indicators. “In that scenario, the rupee may find it difficult to sustain gains and could move back toward the 94.00 levels after stabilizing at lower levels. But the bigger picture remains clear volatility is here to stay,” he said. Elsewhere, the dollar index, which tracks the US currency against a basket of six major currencies, edged up 0.14 per cent to 100.17. Brent crude futures were also higher, rising 0.66% to $109.75 per barrel. Domestic equity markets opened on a weak note, with the Sensex down 270.13 points at 73,049.42, while the Nifty slipped 93.60 points to 22,619.50. Data from the exchanges showed that foreign institutional investors remained net sellers on Thursday, offloading equities worth Rs 9,931.13 crore.