Chennai Super Kings recently shared a special video capturing the first interaction between MS Dhoni and Sanju Samson, offering fans a glimpse into a moment that has been years in the making.In the clip, Samson is seen chatting with Dhoni, while his voice plays in the background, reflecting on how much this moment means to him. “After that, we used to meet at the IPL and there used to be a huge crowd in front of the stadium. There were 5-10 people here and 5-10 people there. I used to think that this is not enough. I have to see it alone. I had such a desire. Destiny has got me to come and play with him in one dressing room. Like that couple of months, I am very very excited. Definitely very genuinely excited to meet him and interact with him. Sit, have breakfast with him, practice with him, play match with him, move out. Just thinking about it makes me very happy.”The moment carries added significance as Samson begins a new chapter in his IPL journey. After being the face of Rajasthan Royals for over a decade and representing the franchise across 11 seasons, he has now moved to CSK ahead of IPL 2026. The trade saw the Royals receive Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja in return.Samson’s arrival comes on the back of a remarkable run with the Indian team. He played a key role in India’s triumph at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where he was named Player of the Tournament.His campaign was nothing short of extraordinary. After struggling for form and even being benched earlier in the tournament, Samson returned in the Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe and turned things around in stunning fashion. He followed it up with three successive half-centuries, scoring 97* against West Indies in a virtual quarter-final, 89 against England in the semi-final, and 89 against New Zealand in the final, anchoring India’s innings throughout.In just five innings, Samson amassed 321 runs, surpassing Virat Kohli’s record of 319 runs in the 2014 edition for the most runs by an Indian in a T20 World Cup. He also set a new record for the most sixes in a single World Cup, smashing 24.Along the way, he broke several other milestones, including records for most runs in consecutive innings for India, most runs in T20 World Cup knockout matches, and the highest score by an Indian in both a T20 World Cup final and in a chase.Now, as Samson prepares to share the dressing room with Dhoni in CSK colours, the excitement is evident. What once felt like a distant dream for the cricketer has now turned into reality, setting the stage for one of the most talked-about partnerships of IPL 2026.

HDFC stock price today: Shares of HDFC Bank, the country’s largest private sector lender, dropped a further 2 per cent to hit an intraday low of Rs 781 on the BSE on Friday. The drop followed a similar 2 per cent fall in its American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) listed on the New York Stock Exchange, indicating continued weakness after the stock had already tumbled about 5 per cent in Thursday’s session, briefly erasing nearly Rs 1 lakh crore in market value.With the latest slide, the stock has fallen around 7.5 per cent over the past two trading sessions. The sustained pressure on ADRs points to ongoing investor unease after the sudden resignation of chairman Atanu Chakraborty, despite efforts by the bank’s management and board to reassure stakeholders.

HDFC Bank shares slide after Atanu Chakraborty’s resignation

The sharp selloff on Thursday saw the bank’s market capitalisation shrink by nearly Rs 1 lakh crore at one point. The decline was triggered by Chakraborty’s exit, in which he stated that certain “happenings and practices” within the bank over the past two years were not aligned with his personal values and ethics.In response, chief executive and managing director Sashidhar Jagdishan said the board had urged Chakraborty to reconsider his decision and explain his concerns. He added that “every board member” had attempted to convince him to withdraw his resignation or provide further clarity, but he chose not to do so.The bank moved quickly to ensure continuity, appointing Keki Mistry, former CEO of HDFC, as interim part-time chairman with approval from the Reserve Bank of India. Following the development, the lender also held a conference call to address investor concerns.Speaking to analysts a day after the unexpected resignation, interim chairman Keki Mistry said there was “no power struggle within the bank” and emphasised that the board had not experienced any major differences of opinion during its meetings.“None of us are aware of the issues raised by Chakraborty in [his] letter,” Mistry said, adding that matters related to governance had not been discussed within the board.He reiterated that the leadership team remains aligned and dismissed any notion of internal conflict. The management team continues to function cohesively, he said, again noting that governance concerns had not been a subject of board deliberations.Mistry added, “I would never remain on the board if there were any issues with governance,” while asserting that the institution remains “very very strong on ethics.”

HDFC Bank shares: What experts feel

Despite the sharp market reaction, some analysts believe the correction may present an opportunity rather than indicate deeper structural concerns.Deven Choksey said the decline has brought the stock into a “deep value” zone, though he acknowledged that recent developments could lead to some valuation discounting.Ishan Tanna of Ashika Capital told ET that the situation as tactical rather than structural, viewing the chairman’s resignation as a potential buy-on-dips opportunity. He added that the bank’s long-standing track record of strong processes provides reassurance.Tanna also pointed to management commentary suggesting the issue stems from differences in value systems rather than regulatory or compliance concerns, indicating that it reflects differing perspectives rather than any underlying regulatory problem.(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)

The United States has struck an Iranian missile manufacturing facility in Karaj as part of its ongoing military campaign, “Operation Epic Fury,” with satellite imagery indicating extensive damage to the site.In a post on X, US centcom said: “Prior to Operation Epic Fury, the Iranian regime used the Karaj Surface-to-Surface Missile Plant to assemble ballistic missiles that threatened Americans, neighboring countries, and commercial shipping. The photo dated March 1, 2026, shows the plant prior to U.S. strikes. The image dated March 11, 2026, shows the same location after U.S. forces struck the facility with precision munitions.”Satellite images released alongside the statement show that structures visible on March 1, including long assembly halls and support buildings at the Karaj plant, were reduced to rubble by March 11, with several buildings collapsing entirely.

The extent of the damage suggests the facility is no longer operational. The strikes appeared to be precisely targeted, with no visible impact beyond the site in the available frames.

The development comes amid a broader US campaign against Iran that includes counter-proliferation strikes, maritime security operations, and cyber and electronic warfare efforts, along with coordination with allies to dismantle Iran’s fighting capabilities. As part of these operations, the US has also deployed B-1 bombers, using 5,000-pound munitions to target threats to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.The strategic waterway, which handles around 20% of global oil shipments, has been affected by the ongoing conflict. Several countries, including the UK, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Japan, have indicated their willingness to support efforts aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation in the region.Military assessments based on open-source data suggest Iran’s missile launch capacity has declined significantly since late February. Estimates indicate cumulative launches of around 1,100 to 1,700 missiles, with an initial surge of over 400 on the first day, followed by a drop of 86–94% by early March to low daily figures, according to Gulf news. Analysts say the reduction points to a “harassment-level” capability, with sporadic missile launches likely constrained by a reduced number of operational launchers and degraded production capacity. Continued US and Israeli air operations are seen as contributing to this decline.However, risks remain. Iran is believed to retain a dispersed network of facilities and capabilities, including proxy forces and cyber tools, which could be used in response below the level of conventional warfare.Meanwhile, Israel launched fresh strikes on Tehran early Friday following overnight missile fire from Iran. The Israeli military said its forces had “begun a wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime across Tehran,” without providing further details, reported AFP.Officials caution that these assessments are based on publicly available information and may be affected by the “fog of war,” meaning actual figures could vary. Nonetheless, current trends indicate a continued degradation in Iran’s missile capabilities unless there is a pause in hostilities.

Gold, Silver Price Today Live: Gold, silver prices under pressure

Gold and silver extended their decline on Thursday, pressured by mounting concerns over global inflation, according to Gaurav Garg, Research Analyst at Lemonn Markets Desk. He noted that escalating geopolitical tensions linked to the ongoing US-Iran conflict have heightened fears of disruptions to oil supplies, which could further intensify inflationary pressures.

Just like MS Dhoni did all those years ago, the Kerala cricketer is making a grand entrance to the franchise following his heroics in the T20 World Cup. His first task, however, will be to revive Chennai’s fortunes by being consistent with the bat.It was the game against Zimbabwe in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup. Sanju Samson, who had just made a comeback in India’s playing XI at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, was asked after the match about his “new home”. The reference, of course, was to the wicketkeeperbatter’s transfer to Chennai Super Kings from Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“I’m really excited about it, but right now I have other priorities. When the time comes, I’ll be looking forward to it,” Sanju said.Following that game, Samson went on to play three match-winning knocks for India in the next three games, winning the player of the tournament award as India won the World Cup. Now, he comes to Chennai as the toast of the nation as another IPL season beckons.

It is similar to the way MS Dhoni made a grand arrival in Chennai as CSK captain all those years ago after leading India to the 2007 T20 World Cup title. That time too, the franchise bosses hadn’t missed a chance to cash in on Dhoni’s growing popularity. It was a move that shaped the history of CSK and IPL.Now, as the sun is about to set on Dhoni’s long career, there’s a new hero emerging. No, Sanju isn’t the new CSK skipper. He doesn’t even have the responsibility of establishing the franchise as a brand. But there’s another challenge for the Rajinikath fan from Kerala — to reestablish the supremacy of CSK as a powerhouse in the IPL.The last couple of years have been wretched for the five-time champions. They’ve been unable to make the lastfour stage of the tournament. Though the fans still troop to Chepauk on match day just to catch a glimpse of Dhoni hitting a couple of sixes or showing his skill with the gloves, there’s been a growing sense of frustration about the team’s performance.

The move to draft Sanju in was, in fact, a little bit of a desperate move to get CSK’s house in order. They had flirted with a couple of other established Indian names as Dhoni’s longterm wicketkeeper batter replacement in the past years, but those moves hadn’t exactly materialised. Once it was clear after last season that Sanju wanted to leave RR, CSK didn’t want to miss the chance.The Super Kings have been missing the firepower at the top of the order and Samson does solve a few riddles. As per indications, Sanju will open the batting with Ayush Mhatre while skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad will come in at No. 3. The right-hander, whose best year in IPL for Rajasthan Royals was in 2024 when he scored 531 runs at a strike-rate of 153.46, will look to recreate similar magic in his first year for his new franchise.What may just work for Sanju in Chennai is the fact that he will be coming to this IPL as a man free of any burden. For years, he has been trying to prove himself as an international cricketer. In the past, it has always been at the back of his mind that a poor IPL might curtail his India dreams.After the recent heroics in the T20 World Cup, though, those fears would have eased. Sanju has nothing left to prove to cement his India place. Given the nature of his free-flowing batting style, that easing of pressure can give him the freedom to express himself and give CSK those rollicking starts day in and day out.While that’s one part of the deal, the 31-year-old has to take care of the wicketkeeping responsibilities as well. It’s almost an open secret that this will be Dhoni’s last year. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan has indicated that the legend may not be playing all the games.In all probability, Sanju will keep wickets in most of the games, unless of course the team needs Dhoni’s onfield tactical acumen to wriggle out of a tough corner. Sanju, on his part, has already spoken to Dhoni about how to go about the job.“I’ve spoken to Mahi bhai over the phone and interacted with him. Playing with him as part of a team will be great. I see it as an opportunity to learn from him,” Samson told reporters after the World Cup triumph. “Whenever he calls or we meet, there is always something positive to take away. But being with him in a team for two months and seeing first-hand how he approaches cricket and prepares for games will be a huge benefit for me,” Sanju added.Taking over from Dhoni the icon, especially in Chennai, entails going beyond the cricket field. The 42-yearold, over the last two decades, has become a cultural beacon, ‘Thala’ to his legions of fans . To Sanju’s advantage, he already has a strong fan base in the city, courtesy a big Malayali population in Chennai.Many of them used to be Rajasthan Royals fans but have started shifting allegiance now. The fact that Sanju speaks the local language and has been coming to the city since he was kid will help him grow an immediate connection with the Tamil population. But then, to win them over and create an aura that comes close to Dhoni’s will need one crucial component — performance.After the World Cup, there’s a growing belief in Chennai that the mild-mannered cricketer will deliver as expected. The ball is well and truly in Sanju’s court.