Devdutt Padikkal of Royal Challengers Bangalore (PTI Photo/Sailendra Bhojak)

New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Devdutt Padikkal is no longer just a brilliant timer of the ball; He is developing into a complete T20 force. Padikkal, who played a blistering 61 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, in an exclusive interview with TOI, opened up about the mental reset behind his aggressive innings, the technical fine-tuning with RCB’s think tank and the clarity of his role in the power-packed lineup. As the IPL 2026 season approaches, his ambitions are firmly set on the India jersey. This season is a battle of fearless talents, giants and giants, and Padikkal is determined to be one of them. Part… Q. 61 off 26 against Sunrisers Hyderabad… did it feel like a continuation of your Vijay Hazare Trophy form, or a conscious change in approach IPL? It is very different when you go to an IPL game. But at the same time, scoring runs is always a confidence booster. And scoring so many runs in the domestic season definitely helped me be more confident and calm when I went out there to bat. But ultimately, when you go to IPL you need to take a very aggressive approach and your mindset definitely changes. Q. You have transformed from being seen as a classic top-order batsman to someone who can change gears explosively. What changed mentally and technically? A lot has changed mentally and technically. First of all, mentally, you obviously need to believe that you are capable of batting at a pace that will make you successful in the IPL, and that’s something I had to work on a lot. I have grown up batting a certain way and it is not that easy to make that change. And, of course, technically, I have worked with andy flowersmo bobat and Dinesh Karthik The last few years have helped me a lot in getting a few things right regarding my balance while batting, position before the ball is released and some other aspects related to batting. I won’t get into the technicalities, but it definitely took a lot to get to where I am now. Q. Royal Challengers Bangalore have many power-hitters, how do you define your role in this batting lineup? It is very clear to me what I have to do when I go there. I have to keep the momentum going. We have some very explosive batsmen in the entire lineup. And when you have that kind of firepower, you have to make sure you don’t break that momentum. That’s what I want to do and keep it simple from there. Q. You have had good IPL seasons in the past and the call-ups from India haven’t come as often as perhaps your numbers would have warranted. Does that still inspire you, or have you made peace with controlling what you can? Of course, playing for India is the ultimate goal! And whenever you score runs, you hope that you are being noticed and you are in the running to play for the country, and it remains like that. But at the end of the day, you can only control what you can, and that’s what I’m trying to do. Hopefully, if I continue to perform well and continue to do the right things, I’ll get there eventually. Q. With a busy international calendar, do you allow yourself to think about the India jersey, or do you deliberately keep this conversation away from your mind? no way! I don’t try to keep it from my mind because it’s a goal I want to achieve, and it’s something that keeps me motivated. It is important that you continue to dream and make sure that those thoughts do not leave you. It’s important that you keep believing that you’re going to achieve it, and having that goal in front of me motivates me even more.

New Delhi: In a major boost to India’s “second-strike capability”, the country’s third indigenously developed nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Aridhman, was commissioned into the Navy on Friday, an official source confirmed to TOI.Part of the classified Advanced Technology Vessels project, the commissioning of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) was not announced. However, sources confirmed that INS Aridman was launched at an event in Visakhapatnam, where Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi were present.A cryptic post by Rajnath on X on Friday morning was seen by many as confirmation of this. The minister posted, “It’s not words, it’s power, ‘Aridaman’! (It’s not words, it’s power, ‘Aridaman’!).”INS Aridman has a displacement of 7,000 tonnes (1,000 tonnes more than its predecessors) and is powered by an 83 MW compact light water reactor. The 130 meter long submarine is designed for superior stealth and will boost India’s nuclear triad. Equipped with eight Vertical Launch System tubes (compared to 4 in earlier models), INS Aridman is capable of carrying 24 K-15 Sagarika missiles (750 km range) or eight K-4 missiles (3,500 km range).India’s first indigenous nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, was launched in July 2009 and quietly commissioned in 2016, while SSBN INS Arighat was commissioned in August 2024.In Visakhapatnam, Rajnath also commissioned the indigenously developed 6,670-tonne stealth frigate INS Taragiri, the fourth warship of the Nilgiri class (Project 17A). Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, INS Taragiri represents a generational leap over earlier designs as it has a significantly reduced radar cross-section allowing it to operate with lethal stealth.Rajnath also laid the foundation stone of a Large Cavitation Tunnel (LCT) facility at DRDO’s Naval Science and Technology Laboratory in Visakhapatnam. This facility will significantly enhance India’s naval research and testing capabilities. “It will serve as a fundamental backbone for the design and development of submarines and ships, which will support future advancements in naval engineering and maritime defense systems,” the minister said.Rajnath said that “95% of our trade is through the sea route, energy security also depends on this route. Therefore, a strong navy is not an option but a basic requirement. The commissioning of INS Taragiri reflects India’s growing indigenous power and growing ‘self-reliance’ in the region. He said, “Be it the Persian Gulf or the Strait of Malacca, the Navy remains ready to provide all types of assistance even during humanitarian crises.““There are many sensitive points in the vast expanse of sea, where our Navy has maintained a constant active presence to ensure smooth flow of goods,” Rajnath said. “Whenever tension rises, Indian Navy Steps to guarantee the safety of commercial ships and oil tankers. It is not only protecting India’s national interests, but it is also ready to take every necessary measure to protect our citizens and trade routes around the world. It is this capability that firmly establishes India as a responsible and formidable maritime power,” he said.

Directed by ‘Dhuandahar: The Revenge’ Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh In the Lead, took the box office by storm last week as it officially became the highest-grossing film at the North American box office, surpassing ‘Baahubali 2: The Revenge’. Following the film’s social media handles, the spy-action film was lauded for setting a new benchmark for Indian cinema abroad. Rana DaggubatiThe actor playing the lead role in the film has shared his views. Commenting on the Bollywood film raising the bar at the box office with earnings of US$24.39 million so far, Daggubati welcomed the new achievement at the box office.

‘Dhurandhar 2’ beats ‘Bahubali 2’, Rana Daggubati

Speaking to Variety India, Rana said, “It is good. It’s a decade later, but it’s still pretty cool. I think we’re all still touching the tip of the iceberg.”‘Dhurandhar 2’, with its impressive 2-week collection in the US, surpassed the lifetime collection of ‘Baahubali 2’, which was estimated at US$20.80 million. This film had made a record nine years ago.Looking at the bigger picture, Daggubati shared, “You will have Bahubali, you will have Dhurandhar, you will have all these cinemas, but the cinema that is personal will be able to resonate far.”

Rana Daggubati on local cinema

Advocating local cinema and stories, he said, “I think Korean cinema has done that to a certain extent, where they took something that is very local to their culture and told it. America did it beautifully in its early days, where we know more about American history than Indian history, just because of the cinema they made.”The actor also pointed to the growing global appeal of Indian cinema and stories. Opening up about a Malayalam film about nurses working in Bombay, she shared that although the film did reasonable business in India, it became a global phenomenon. “France’s collection alone will be four times that of India. Therefore, our local stories are resonating in different parts of the world because they have a human understanding,” he said. He said that the time has come for Indian filmmakers to find the best cinematic language and move forward.

‘Dhurandhar 2’ chases ‘Baahubali 2’ globally box office record

‘Dhurandhar 2’ has already crossed the Rs 1,500 crore mark at the global box office. The film, which has entered its third week at the box office, is already on track to break the lifetime box office record of ‘Pushpa 2’ of Rs 1,742 crore and the record of Rs 1,788 crore of ‘Baahubali 2’, as it is on track to become the highest-grossing Indian film of all time. However, it will also have to defeat Aamir Khan starrer ‘Dangal’, which still holds the top spot with a total collection of Rs 2,070 crore.

Dallas Mavericks Cooper Flagg (Image via Getty)

dallas mavericks Ready to face the Orlando Magic 3 April 2026At the American Airlines Center. Before the game, many fans wanted to know whether cooper flag will be availableEspecially after he missed some time earlier this season.The latest update is clear. Cooper Flagg is active and expected to play tonight. He is not listed as out or questionable on the injury report, so there are no current concerns about his availability for this game.

The form and role of the Cooper Flag in 2026

Cooper Flagg, the top pick in the 2025 draft, has become a key player for Dallas this season. He averages about 20.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.He missed eight games early in the season with a medial left hamstring sprain. Since coming back he has been playing regularly and playing a big role in the attack. In the last game against Orlando on March 5, he scored 18 points and six assists in 26 minutes. That game showed that he was fully fit again.There have been no new injury updates since then, so expect Dallas to start him again tonight.

Dallas Mavericks vs. Magic: Game Context and Expectations

The Orlando Magic come into this game with a 40-36 record and are striving for a better position in the East. The Mavericks are 24-52 and are focused on building around Flagg.Dallas now has players like Klay Thompson, PJ Washington, Najee Marshall, Max Christie and Derek Lively II on the roster. Following the February trade, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Dante Exum and Jaden Hardee are no longer with the team.Orlando will rely on Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. in the frontcourt. They can make things difficult for Flagg, especially on rebounds and defense.

Injury Report Snapshot (April 3, 2026)

Cooper Flagg is not listed on the injury report, meaning he is fully available. Betting lines also include him at a normal level, which usually means how much a player is expected to play.Players who were sold are not part of this report and should not be considered for this game.

Why does this game matter to the flag?

This game is another chance for Cooper Flagg to make his Rookie of the Year case. He has been one of the most consistent new players this season.Against Orlando, he’s likely to attack the basket, draw fouls and take open shots. His playing time should be in the mid-20s to mid-30s unless the score gets out of hand.In short, Cooper Flagg is playing tonight and will be a key player for Dallas again in this matchup.

A man has been charged with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Birinder Singh, a 22-year-old international student from India during the incident on a daytime highway near Leduc, just south of Edmonton, Canada.Singh was shot on March 14 while driving on Highway 2 near Township Road 490. He died later that day. Investigators say the shooting occurred when someone in a passing pickup truck opened fire on Singh’s vehicle.On Wednesday, Alberta RCMP confirmed that 23-year-old Deon Libeskal has been charged with second-degree murder and accessory to murder in connection with Singh’s death. Libeskal was already in police custody on unrelated charges.The charges follow the earlier arrest of Jimmy Gassner, 18, of Lloydminster, Alberta, who was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the same incident. According to RCMP, Gassner was arrested near Canoe Lake, Saskatchewan.Investigators believe all suspects connected to the shooting have now been identified and charged. Both Gassner and Libeskal have “some criminal history” and were known to police. Court records show Libeskal previously faced charges of obstructing a peace officer and failure to provide information to a peace officer.Investigators believe the shooting was an accidental incident and that neither Gassner nor Libeskal knew Singh or the two other people in his vehicle at the time.The World Sikh Organization of Canada, which works to protect the rights of Sikhs in the country, has called on police to investigate Singh’s murder as a hate crime. The organization cited concerns about a rise in anti-Sikh sentiment across Canada.However, RCMP said there is currently no evidence the shooting was racially motivated, or related to a robbery, gang-initiated, road rage or hate crime. He also said investigators had not ruled out the possibility of mistaken identity or gang affiliation.Alberta RCMP Cpl. Matthew Howell said it was a “very rare example.” He said people can still feel safe driving on the province’s roads.

Ever since ‘Dhurandhar 2’ was released, this film has remained a topic of discussion. While people were still not over ‘Dhurandhar’, the sequel released on March 19 and became a hit at the box office. Let us tell you that every character is being talked about on the internet and one of them is Arshad Pappu. actor Ashwin DharKnown for his work in films like ‘D-Day’ and ‘Padmaavat’, he has played this role. In a recent interview, Ashwin spoke in detail about the film and praised it Aditya Dhar the way he made Ranveer Singh Star. The actor said in an interview with India TV, “He started by considering the ambiguity of the research when it came to real-life personalities. “There are two things about the research. I don’t know about him, maybe he knew [Dawood Ibrahim]…Whatever research might have been done, it would probably be in such a situation. (Whatever research might have been done, probably he was in such situations.) The second thing is that when the director is writing the script, although the situations and characters are real, but to weave it into a film and then to make the narrative of that film interesting and how to present it to the people, that is the job of the writer (Weaving it into a film and making the narrative attractive and how it is presented to the audience, that is the job of the writer) which is Aditya Dhar himself has written the film (Aditya Dhar himself The film has been written).”Ashwin highlighted that even though the film is composed of real-world elements, the final narrative is shaped by creative interpretation. He said, “It’s his brilliance that he has shown it. How true he is to the character, I don’t know. (It’s his brilliance that he has shown it. How true he has been to the character, I don’t know.) That may or may not be true from the research, because at the end of the day it is a fiction. (This may be true due to research, or it may not, because at the end of the day, it is fiction.) There is also fiction, reality mixed with fiction and a fantasy. (It is fictional, a mixture of reality and imagination.) But one thing is for sure that all the characters are placed in a very real world. (But one thing is certain that all the characters have been kept in the real world.) So Dawood has also been kept in the real world… (So Dawood has also been kept in the real world).”He further explained that the intention was to avoid exaggeration and instead present the characters in a grounded, believable manner. “Leave it Dawood, be it a gangster or anyone else, be it a big man… brother, when he is in his own space, he is real. He will not talk to others, he will not talk to his people. (He will not talk in an exaggerated manner at home or with his people.) So Aditya had kept that zone by telling everyone ‘Bhai, all this is real, real world hai’. (Aditya had clearly explained to everyone that all this is real, this is the real world.) What is imaginary, whatever the story is, it is fine. (The story is fictional, that’s fine.) So he presented David in the same way, showing how insecure a man can be. (Accordingly, he has presented David in a way that shows how vulnerable a person can be.) He has kept that vulnerability in mind. (She has retained that vulnerability.) So woh pratibha hai (She is talent.)”

Srinagar: The weather department has predicted widespread rainfall, gusty winds and snowfall at some places in Jammu and Kashmir in the next 36 hours due to a strong western disturbance, while heavy rains left roads waterlogged in Srinagar on Friday.Authorities have issued an advisory urging residents to avoid non-essential travel and follow safety precautions, especially in Srinagar.Fresh snowfall occurred in higher reaches of Kashmir, including Mughal Road in Shopian and Sadhna Top in Kupwara on Friday, while Srinagar and other districts received heavy rains, leaving roads waterlogged, making movement of people and vehicles difficult. Officials said five road accidents were recorded due to slippery roads.The weather department’s forecast said “irregular weather conditions” are likely to continue till April 10.The weather on April 4 is expected to be cloudy with moderate to heavy rain in the plains and snowfall in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir. Although it will be cloudy on April 5 and April 6, there is a possibility of light rain at isolated places.The district administration in Srinagar has issued a public advisory, warning of inclement weather and wind speed of 40-50 km per hour till the evening of April 4. “The general public of district Srinagar is advised to avoid unnecessary movement on the roads except in cases of extreme necessity,” the advisory said.“Tourists, local shikara operators and other people around Dal Lake, Jhelum River and other water bodies are strictly advised not to venture out or operate without confirming the prevailing conditions and safety situation,” the advisory said.The administration also asked miners and others working near water bodies to exercise caution and avoid risk-prone activities near water bodies. Officials have urged people to remain alert, take necessary precautions and cooperate with authorities to ensure safety during the adverse weather.