Times of India

Mumbai Indians faced a dismal IPL 2026, plagued by persistent dressing room unrest and damaging leaks of sensitive information. This internal turmoil, escalating since Hardik Pandya's captaincy, has frustrated franchise figures and insiders alike. Management is now prioritising an immediate crackdown on these breaches to restore the team's former glory.

IPL auctions are often won on perception in December, but the real story usually emerges months later. While franchises splashed massive sums on Cameron Green, Matheesha Pathirana and Liam Livingstone, the smartest buys of IPL 2026 quietly came from the Rs 7-9 crore bracket. Jason Holder topped the charts by a distance, Josh Inglis maximised limited opportunities, and Ravi Bishnoi delivered steady returns. Meanwhile, several marquee signings struggled with injuries, poor form and role mismatches, turning auction-night hype into underwhelming seasons.

Rainfall Pegged At 90% Amid El Nino Shadow

Arsenal star midfielder Declan Rice has been with his girlfriend, Lauren Fryer, for over a decade now even as the two have continued to get trolled for their relationship in public for the last few years. While Lauren Fryer has remained pretty private about her life, Declan Rice has often defended her in public as he spoke about how she has changed his life for the better.

A Bengaluru autorickshaw driver died tragically when a private club's compound wall collapsed on his parked vehicle during heavy rain and strong winds. Shivaboraiah was trapped and crushed by the debris. Police are investigating the cause of the wall's collapse.

'Overwhelming Number Of False Cases Overshadowing Genuine Ones'

A Vienna court sentenced a 21-year-old to 15 years for plotting an ISIS-linked terror attack at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concerts in August 2024. The foiled plot involved homemade explosives and knives targeting thousands of fans. This verdict arrives as Swift's wedding to Travis Kelce garners immense global attention, highlighting the persistent security threats she faces.

A US federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to remove President Trump's name from the Kennedy Center. The court ruled that renaming the Washington institution, a memorial to John F. Kennedy, requires congressional approval. The judge mandated the removal of all Trump signage and references within two weeks, following a board decision that faced significant backlash.

University of California faculty are urging the reinstatement of SAT/ACT math requirements for STEM applicants, citing a significant decline in student math skills since the tests were dropped. They argue current admissions practices fail to ensure readiness, forcing instructors to reteach basic math and jeopardizing the quality of STEM education.

French Open 2026 witnessed two huge upsets as Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner crashed out of the tournament. Teenager Joao Fonseca stunned Djokovic in a five-set thriller after coming back from two sets down. Earlier, World No. 1 Sinner collapsed physically in extreme Paris heat and lost to Juan Manuel Cerundolo, ending his 30-match winning streak and opening up the men’s draw.

A 17-year-old boy, Surya Pratap, died after being stabbed multiple times by his friend Asad in Ghaziabad's Khoda Colony. The incident occurred following an argument, with the accused fleeing the scene. Police are investigating the motive and have formed teams to apprehend Asad.

A British Sikh man was convicted of murder using a kirpan, sparking calls to ban the ceremonial dagger in public. Accusations of two-tier policing arose after officers handcuffed the dying victim, believing a false claim of racial abuse. The victim's mother was convicted of aiding the killer. Investigations into police conduct are underway.

Riyan Parag praised Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2026 exit, saying the 15-year-old “doesn't slog” and instead “calculates and plays his shots”. Sooryavanshi smashed 96 off 47 balls, but Gujarat Titans chased down 215 comfortably thanks to Shubman Gill’s 104 and Sai Sudharsan’s 58. Gujarat reached their third IPL final and will face RCB in Ahmedabad.

A Gujarat-origin man residing in the US has pleaded guilty to a multimillion-dollar illegal gambling conspiracy in southwest Missouri. Tushar Patel admitted his role in a racket that generated nearly $9.5 million in illegal proceeds. He faces charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, operate an illegal gambling business, and money laundering.

Security forces are in the seventh day of a relentless hunt for two to three terrorists in Rajouri's dense forests. The joint operation, bolstered by helicopters, drones, and sniffer dogs, intensified with heavy firing and shelling. A terrorist hideout was also discovered and destroyed. Top officers are overseeing the critical anti-terror mission.

Gujarat Titans reached their third IPL final after defeating Rajasthan Royals. Shubman Gill scored a magnificent century to guide Gujarat in their chase. Rajasthan had posted a strong total thanks to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's brilliant knock. Gujarat's opening partnership was key to their success. They will now face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final.

Karnataka's new Congress government, led by DK Shivakumar, faces a critical transition. Key challenges include cabinet formation balancing caste and regional demands, sustaining welfare guarantees amid fiscal strain, and navigating the sensitive Mekedatu reservoir dispute with Tamil Nadu. Shivakumar must also retain the crucial Ahinda support base and ensure development extends beyond Bengaluru to rural areas.

Two food delivery boys faced harrowing experiences overnight. In Jabalpur, a 20-year-old was stabbed and robbed of Rs 800 by three assailants. Meanwhile, in Bhopal, another delivery executive was assaulted and had his mobile phone stolen by three individuals, one of whom was a minor. Police in Bhopal apprehended the suspects with local help.

Sai Sudharsan achieved a remarkable feat in IPL 2026 Qualifier 2, joining Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle by scoring 700+ runs for the second consecutive season. He also equaled David Warner's nine 50-plus scores in a single IPL edition. Sudharsan and Shubman Gill's monumental opening stand set new IPL playoff partnership records.

Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan created T20 history during Gujarat Titans’ IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 clash against Rajasthan Royals by becoming the first men’s pair to register 11 century partnerships. The duo achieved the feat in just 48 innings, surpassing legendary combinations like Chris Gayle-Virat Kohli and Babar Azam-Mohammad Rizwan while chasing 215 in Mullanpur.