Sooryavanshi Achieves Huge Feat, Beats Abhishek, Kishan And Raina In Elite List

Built on incisive new-ball spells from Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, a double-strike from Ravindra Jadeja, and a blistering 52 from teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Rajasthan Royals launched their IPL 2026 campaign with a commanding eight-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings at the ACA Stadium on Monday. Sooryavanshi slammed his half-century in just 15 balls, going past the fastest fifties of IPL stalwarts like Suresh Raina, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Travis Head, whose best is off 16 deliveries. His knock ensured RR chased down the target of 128 in just 12.1 overs.

CSK, missing MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis, were bundled out for just 127 after being rocked early on a red-soil pitch offering swing and seam to Archer and Burger. Jadeja struck twice in his first over and marked a successful return to RR after 17 years, while debutant Brijesh Sharma chipped in with a breakthrough.

Only Jamie Overton showed resistance, counterattacking at number eight to hit 43 off 36 balls to drag CSK past 120 from 84/8 and save them from the ignominy of being bowled out for below 100, though the end total was still below-par. In reply, Sooryavanshi turned the chase into a one-man exhibition.

Dropped for nought, he raced to a 15-ball fifty - the third fastest in IPL history - with four fours and five sixes, powering RR to 74 without loss in the Powerplay. Though he fell soon after for 52, the damage was done. Yashasvi Jaiswal (38 not out) and skipper Riyan Parag (14 not out) calmly finished the chase with 47 balls to spare.

Archer began by swinging the ball both ways to trouble Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the opening over. Nandre Burger then made the first breakthrough by knocking over Samson for 6 with a delivery that shaped away and crashed into the off-stump.

Archer returned to remove Gaikwad in his second over - the CSK skipper backed away to access the off-side but missed a straight ball and was bowled for six. Burger intensified the collapse in the third over as Ayush Mhatre fell for a golden duck - gloving a bouncer to keeper Dhruv Jurel, as RR got the decision in their favour on review.

Sarfaraz Khan came in as the impact substitute and began his resistance by pulling Burger for four and six in successive balls. After debutant Brijesh Sharma impressed by conceding only six runs in the fourth over, Sarfaraz kept counterattacking to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Sandeep Sharma struck immediately in the final over of power-play as Matthew Short, who struggled to get going, chipped a slower ball straight to mid-wicket for two, as CSK closed the power-play at 41/4. Post that, CSK suffered two major blows - Sarfaraz attempted a sweep off ex-CSK stalwart Ravindra Jadeja, but missed it and was trapped lbw for 17, while Shivam Dube holed out to long-off.

CSK's slide continued as Brijesh Sharma beat Kartik's inside edge, and trapped him plumb lbw for 18, while Noor Ahmed edged behind to Jurel off Archer and Ravi Bishnoi took a sharp caught and bowled chance after foxing Matt Henry with a googly. But thanks to Jamie Overton nailing boundaries alongside Anshul Kamboj, CSK were able to cross the 120-mark, before a complete confusion resulted in the former being run-out.

RR had a flying start as Matt Henry's opening over went for 18 runs, with Sooryavanshi pulling and driving for boundaries (including Kartik Sharma dropping him for zero) while Jaiswal glanced him fine for four.

Khaleel Ahmed thought he had Sooryavanshi lbw on the first ball of his spell, but review showed the ball going over leg stump. Jaiswal played watchfully even as Sooryavanshi continued to attack to keep the runs flowing.

Henry's second over was taken apart by Sooryavanshi - slashing a slower ball over backward point for six, while Jaiswal muscled Khaleel straight over mid-off for four. Anshul Kamboj was greeted with three boundaries as Sooryavanshi ramped and tickled him over third man and fine leg before smashing a six over long-on, as RR crossed the fifty-run mark.

Noor Ahmad's introduction did little to stem the flow as Sooryavanshi launched consecutive sixes over long-on to bring up a blistering fifty off just 15 balls, as 19 runs came off the sixth over to take RR to 74/0 at the end of the power-play.

But just after that, Sooryavanshi attempted to flay a length ball over cover but Sarfaraz Khan ran in from the deep and completed a diving catch at deep extra cover to dismiss him for 52.

Dhruv Jurel kept the tempo going with four quick boundaries, before dragging one back onto his stumps off Anshul Kamboj while trying to scoop him off. Parag lofted and reverse-swept to get his four and six, while Jaiswal thumped one over long-off for six before getting the winning single to launch RR's campaign with a thumping win.

Brief Scores: Chennai Super Kings 127 in 19.4 overs (Jamie Overton 43, Kartik Sharma 18; Ravindra Jadeja 2-18, Jofra Archer 2-19) lost to Rajasthan Royals 128/2 in 12.1 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 52, Yashasvi Jaiswal 38 not out; Anshul Kamboj 2-27) by eight wickets

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Oil Terminal, 90% Crude Exports: What Trump Could Get From Kharg Island

A scrubby island in the Gulf that is roughly one third the size of Manhattan, Kharg Island is the nerve centre of the Iranian oil industry -- and at the heart of US President Donald Trump's latest efforts to pressure Tehran.

On Monday Trump vowed that a failure by Iran to agree a deal to end the war could see the United States "completely obliterating" the export hub. 

A day earlier, he had said the United States could take the island, eyed by the Pentagon for ground operations, "very easily".

So what are Trump's options, and how might Iran react if he presses on this pressure point?

What Is Kharg Island? 

It may be a mere scrap of land, but Kharg  handles around 90 per cent of Iran's crude exports, according to a report by US bank JP Morgan.

Located in the north of the Gulf, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Iranian coast and more than 500 kilometres from the Strait of Hormuz, it has no oil wells.

But it has Iran's largest oil terminal, oil pipelines, storage tanks and related infrastructure.

It also has military facilities, some of which have already been hit by Israeli-US strikes.

On March 13, "US forces executed a large-scale precision strike on Kharg Island", Centcom, the US military command for the region, said.

"The strike destroyed naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers and multiple other military sites. US forces successfully struck more than 90 Iranian military targets on Kharg Island, while preserving the oil infrastructure."

Sources close to US intelligence services told US broadcaster CNN Iran had deployed additional troops and defence systems to the area in recent weeks, including MANPAD-type surface-to-air missiles and mines.

Trump's Options? 

There appear to be three routes for US forces wishing to seize the island -- an airborne attack; an amphibious operation; or a combination of the two.

The Pentagon is currently moving US paratroopers and Marines into the area.

"(The) US combat force build-up sets the stage for (a) potential ground offensive in Iran," said US think tank Soufan.

Centcom former commander General Joseph Votel told The War Zone website this month it would not take that many soldiers to seize Kharg.

"On a small island like Kharg, I imagine you'd need a battalion of Marines. We are therefore talking about a force of 800 to 1,000 men, perhaps a little fewer, certainly not much more," he said.

But taking Kharg and holding onto it "are two different things", stressed Professor Phillips O'Brien of the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

He said the US military would struggle to retain the island within range of Iranian missiles and drones.

Just 60 kilometres away is the city of Bushehr, an important military centre "from which the Iranians defend the entire northern part of the Gulf, including Kharg", noted Pierre Razoux of French research centre FMES.

Why Do It?

Trump's war goals remain hazy. It is unclear whether he primarily wants to force Iran to reopen shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz; force regime change in Tehran; coerce the Iranians into concessions on their nuclear or ballistic missile programmes.

In the short term, capturing Kharg could give Washington leverage to force Iran to negotiate -- presumably on Trump's terms, given the country's dependence on oil revenue, the Soufan Center said.

It might not have much effect in reopening the Gulf to shipping, however, because Iran controls a string of other islands in the Strait of Hormuz.

And if the Iranians choose not to cede to Trump's demands, "What does the US do?", O'Brien wondered.

"Does the US then, out of spite, level all the economic facilities on Kharg?

"That could easily boomerang back in American faces. It means oil prices skyrocket even more and stay high for much longer," he said.

"It also means Iran will be incentivised to shut down the traffic in the Straits for even longer. If they cannot get their own oil out, why let anyone else's?"

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Which State Is Known As The Rice Capital Of India?

Rice is more than just a staple in India. It's comfort food, tradition and identity rolled into one. From steaming bowls of plain chawal paired with dal to elaborate dishes like pulao, khichdi and regional curries, rice forms the backbone of everyday meals across the country. But have you ever wondered where most of this rice actually comes from? Behind India's vast consumption lies a region that has built its agricultural identity around paddy cultivation. With sprawling fields, diverse varieties and generations of farming expertise, one state has consistently stood out for its contribution to India's rice production.

Also Read: Which City Is Known As The 'Biryani Capital of India'?

The Rice Capital Of India Is West Bengal

West Bengal holds this title because it is one of the largest producers of rice in the country. Thanks to its fertile alluvial soil, abundant rainfall, and favourable climate, rice is cultivated here extensively across multiple seasons.

Why West Bengal Leads In Rice Production

Several natural and agricultural factors give West Bengal an edge:

• Rich alluvial soil deposited by rivers like the Ganga
• High rainfall and humid climate, ideal for paddy cultivation
• Multiple cropping seasons (Aman, Aus and Boro)
• Strong farming traditions and widespread rural cultivation

These conditions allow farmers to grow rice almost year-round, ensuring a steady supply.

Popular Rice Varieties From West Bengal

West Bengal is known for its diverse and flavourful rice varieties, such as:

• Gobindobhog – Short-grain, aromatic rice used in traditional dishes
• Tulaipanji – Fragrant and soft, often compared to basmati
• Swarna and IR varieties – Commonly grown for large-scale consumption

Each variety differs in aroma, texture and cooking style.

Also Read: Which Indian State Is Known As The Fruit Bowl Of India?

Rice In Bengali Food Culture

In West Bengal, a meal without rice is almost unthinkable. It is central to both everyday eating and festive cuisine. Some classic pairings include:

• Rice with fish curry (maach-bhaat)
• Khichuri during festivals and monsoons
• Sweet dishes like payesh (rice pudding)

Rice here is not just filling - it defines the structure of the meal.

While states like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh also produce significant quantities of rice, West Bengal consistently ranks among the top contributors. Its scale, diversity and cultural connection to rice give it a distinct identity!

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Virat Kohli Drops Rare Catch For RCB vs SRH, Anushka Sharma Reacts. Watch

Virat Kohli, apart from being a great batter, is also a terrific fielder. However, in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL 2026 opener, Kohli dropped an easy catch. The incident occurred in the 18th over bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. SRH's Aniket Verma miscued a shot on the third ball as Kohli came running in from long-on. The ball brushed his palms before landing on his thigh. Kohli looked surprised by the miss. In the stands, actor Anushka Sharma, Kohli's wife, could not help but laugh.

Virat Kohli drops a catch and Anushka was literally laughing pic.twitter.com/OzfMPFydTQ

— TAUKIR (@iitaukir) March 28, 2026

Kohli dropping catch and his wife is laughing
Peak cinema#rcbvssrh #rcbvsrh #klassen royal challengers bengaluru virat kohli anushka sharma ishan kishan fixers abhishek sharma jacob duffey travis headpic.twitter.com/JSrHb5kRzr

— Vikas Agarwal (@VikasAg55263788) March 28, 2026

Anushka Sharma's Reaction when Virat dropped it. pic.twitter.com/6jGh8d0yTB

— BC 18 (@StumpAndScreen) March 28, 2026

Later on, however, Kohli took Aniket's catch.

aniket wicket virat kohli takes the catch anushka sharma reaction#rcbvssrh #viratkohli #RCBRuns #ipl2026 pic.twitter.com/wQ7jzxBsZE

— (@ThecoolMahi) March 28, 2026

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Saturday honoured fans who lost their lives in the 2025 stampede by reserving 11 seats at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru ahead of their first Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Notably, these seats will remain permanently unoccupied during all IPL and international matches.

Ahead of the IPL 2026 opener, players from both RCB and SRH also observed a one-minute silence to pay tribute to the fans who lost their lives in 2025.

For the unversed, 11 fans died and several others were injured in a stampede that occurred outside the stadium during the victory celebrations following RCB's first IPL title win. Cricket at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium had been suspended since June 2025.

During the season opener against the Hyderabad-based franchise, the defending champions RCB also wore black armbands as a mark of respect.

A statement from RCB read: "Royal Challengers Bengaluru will pay tribute to the eleven members of the RCB family who tragically lost their lives in the unfortunate incident on June 4.

"As a mark of respect, players will wear practice jerseys bearing the number 11 during the warm-up, followed by black armbands during the match.

"In a lasting gesture of remembrance, eleven seats at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will remain unoccupied, serving as a permanent tribute to the fans whose unwavering support will always be a part of the RCB family," the statement concluded.

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2 India-Bound LPG Tankers Cross Strait Of Hormuz

Two liquefied petroleum gas tankers, BW Elm and BW Tyr, are crossing the Strait of Hormuz bound for India, according to ship tracking data from LSEG and Kpler.

The US-Israeli war against Iran has all but halted shipping through the strait, but Iran said this week that "non-hostile vessels" may transit the waterway if they coordinate with Iranian authorities.

The two India-flagged vessels have crossed the Gulf area and are in the eastern Strait of Hormuz, the data showed.

India is gradually moving its stranded LPG cargoes out from the strait, with four LPG tankers moved so far - Shivalik, Nanda Devi, Pine Gas, and Jag Vasant.

As of Friday, 20 Indian-flagged ships including five LPG carriers were stranded in the Gulf, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the federal shipping ministry, said.

LPG carriers Jag Vikram, Green Asha and Green Sanvi are still in the western Strait of Hormuz, LSEG data show.

India, the world's second-largest LPG importer, is battling its worst gas crisis in decades, with the government cutting supplies for industries to shield households from any shortage of cooking gas.

The country consumed 33.15 million metric tons of LPG, or cooking gas, last year, with imports accounting for about 60% of demand. About 90% of those imports came from the Middle East.

India is also loading LPG onto its empty vessels stranded in the Gulf.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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'Bibi Really Sold It': A Rebuke In Vance-Netanyahu Tense Call Amid Iran War

US Vice President JD Vance had a tense phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week, during which he told the premier off for what he viewed as overly rosy assumptions about the war in Iran, Axios reported.

According to the outlet, Vance pressed Netanyahu on his confidence regarding the likelihood of regime change. One US official told Axios that "Before the war, Bibi really sold it to the president as being easy, as regime change being a lot likelier than it was. And the VP was clear-eyed about some of those statements", referring to Netanyahu by his nickname.

After the call, a US official claimed Israel was actively undermining Vance, who has emerged as a central figure in ceasefire talks with the Islamic Republic. A long-time critic of open-ended foreign interventions, Vance is participating in negotiations alongside US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

The same official alleged that Israel was responsible for reports suggesting Iran preferred negotiating with Vance because he might be more receptive to a deal to end the conflict. "It's an Israeli op against JD," the official told Axios.

Another senior US official told Axios that, in their view, Vance remained the most viable path to a negotiated end to the war. "If the Iranians can't strike a deal with Vance, they don't get a deal. He's the best they're gonna get," the official said.

Vance Treads Iran Tightrope

For a man with his eye on the White House in 2028, US Vice President JD Vance has kept a low profile since the start of the Iran war.

The former US marine, who served in Iraq, built a political brand as a non-interventionist who wanted to keep America out of any more long, foreign wars.

Even Trump admitted they had their differences on "Operation Epic Fury."

"He was, I would say, philosophically a little bit different than me," Trump said on Monday of Vance. "I think he was maybe less enthusiastic about going -- but he was quite enthusiastic."

While he has publicly backed Trump's Iran operation, Vance has only given one television interview since it started, in which he stressed it would not be another American "forever war."

However, Vance earlier this month downplayed the differences and said, "I think one big difference is...we have a smart president whereas in the past, we've had dumb presidents and I trust President Trump to get the job done, to do a good job for the American people, and to make sure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated," said Vance, standing alongside Trump during an Oval Office event.

(With inputs from agencies)

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'Harassed By Wife, In-Laws': Pune Man, 20, Poisons Himself, Records Video

Driven to the edge by alleged harassment and mental torture by his wife and in-laws, a 20-year-old man has died by suicide after consuming rat poison in Pune. Before taking the step, the man recorded a video detailing the ordeal he was subjected to and sent it to a friend.

Police have filed a case of abetment to suicide against seven people, including the wife.

Mohammed Saad Asif Sayyad (20), who was originally from Malegaon in Nashik district, lived in the Jambhulwadi area of Pune. Officials said Saad had a dispute with his wife, Karimunnisha aka Nisha Khan, and she and his in-laws had subjected him to constant harassment.

On Thursday, Saad recorded a video on his phone in which he detailed the harassment and named seven people, including Nisha. He sent the video to a friend in Malegaon and then consumed rat poison.

"A case of abetment to suicide was registered on Friday. The accused who have been named in the FIR are Nisha, Sarwar alias Kaif Khan, Reshma Kamrukhan, Shama Javed Sheikh, Javed Sheikh, Atharva Kale, and Ishita. Sayyad's mobile phone has been seized to facilitate a forensic examination of the video," an official said.

(With inputs from Yashpal Sonkamble)

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Gujarat Man Kills Widow Who Used To Tie Him Rakhi, Then Joins Search For Her

A case of murder and deception has shaken up the Defence Colony area of Gujarat's Jamnagar after a missing widow was found dead in the home of a neighbour she considered her brother. The suspect, who allegedly strangled the woman, had joined her grieving sons in the search before his crime was uncovered.

Rinkidevi Bantu Singh Katheriya, a native of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, had been building a life for her three children in Jamnagar following her husband's death from a heart attack in 2021. Employed at a pharmaceutical factory in Naghedi village, Rinkidevi was the sole breadwinner for her children - Rohit (19), Nitin (17) and Anjali (6).

The alarm was raised two days ago when she failed to return home. Her eldest son, Rohit, filed a missing person's report with the local police, sparking a search that involved both the authorities and close family friends.

During the investigation, police traced Rinkidevi's last-known movements to the residence of Vijay Odich, who lived in the house below the Katheriyas. Rinkidevi shared a deep bond with Odich and even tied a rakhi on his wrist every year.

To avoid suspicion, Odich also participated in the search efforts alongside the victim's sons, pretending to be a concerned family friend while her body lay hidden in his own home.

"He treated us like nephews and we saw him as an uncle," Rohit said. "We never imagined the person helping us look for our mother was the one who took her from us."

'Investigating Motive'

Upon discovering the body, Jamnagar police immediately secured the scene and sent the remains for a post-mortem examination. Initial findings suggest the cause of death was strangulation.

Officials said Odich has been taken into custody. "We are investigating the motive behind this heinous act," said Jayvirsinh Jhala, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Jamnagar. "The victim and the accused had a long-standing social connection, which makes the circumstances of this murder particularly grave."

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A "Lousy Fighters" Jibe From Trump As Iran Calls US Proposal "One-Sided"

US President Donald Trump characterised Iranian leaders as "great negotiators" but said their country had "lousy fighters" during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday. 

"They're lousy fighters, but they're great negotiators, and they are begging to work out a deal," Trump said at the White House alongside top officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth.

Trump suggested that a deal might not ultimately come together.

"I don't know if we'll be able to do that," he said of the prospects for a deal. I don't know if we're willing to do that."

Earlier in the day, in a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that Iran had been "begging" for a deal but has publicly maintained that they are just "looking at our proposal".

Meanwhile, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that the US proposal to end the war was "one-sided and unfair". 

"In brief, the proposal suggests that Iran would relinquish its ability to defend itself in exchange for a vague plan to lift sanctions. It is one-sided and unfair, serving only US and Israeli interests", the official said.

He called Iranian negotiators "strange" and warned them to start taking things seriously before "it is too late".

Read | Trump's "Better Get Serious, No Turning Back" Warning For War-Hit Iran

"The Iranian negotiators are very different and "strange." They are "begging" us to make a deal, which they should be doing since they have been militarily obliterated, with zero chance of a comeback, and yet they publicly state that they are only "looking at our proposal." WRONG!!! They better get serious soon, before it is too late, because once that happens, there is NO TURNING BACK, and it won't be pretty! President DJT," Trump wrote.

Trump's comments come after he claimed Iran was desperate to make a deal to end nearly four weeks of fighting, contradicting the Iranian foreign minister who said his country was reviewing a US proposal but had ​no intention of holding talks to wind down the conflict.

Trump has accused Tehran officials of covering up ongoing talks for fear of becoming assassination targets following the killing of supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Trump's warning came as Israel said it had killed the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' navy, calling him "directly responsible" for throttling the Strait of Hormuz since the war's outbreak.

But Pakistan confirmed Thursday it was indeed facilitating "US-Iran indirect talks" by relaying messages and that a 15-point American plan was being "deliberated upon" by Tehran.

The White House has declined to identify the "top person" it is speaking with in Iran -- beyond saying it is not the late leader's son Mojtaba Khamenei, who is believed to be injured and has not been seen since succeeding his father.
 

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NASA Plans Nuclear-Powered Spacecraft for Skyfall Mission to Mars

NASA’s Skyfall mission will test nuclear electric propulsion with the Space Reactor-1 Freedom spacecraft. Launching in 2028, it will deploy helicopter swarms on Mars to scout landing sites and search for water, potentially cutting travel time by 25%.

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Bhutan Moves 519 Bitcoin to Multiple Wallets, Including QCP Capital Link

Bhutan has moved 519.7 Bitcoin worth about $36.75 million from its sovereign holdings to multiple wallets, including one linked to QCP Capital. The transfer, identified through on-chain data, has raised speculation about potential selling activity. The move follows a similar transaction earlier this month, highlighting the country’s active approach to managing its crypto reserves.

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