The Middle East crisis entered another tense day on Friday with the Strait of Hormuz again at the centre of the standoff between Washington and Tehran.

Trump said the US was in “total control” of the key oil route and would not rush into a deal, while Iranian leaders dismissed his claims of infighting and said the country remained united behind Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei.

Middle East tensions: LIVE updates

India on Thursday slammed US President Donald Trump’s remarks over his “hellhole” remarks on Indians as “uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste.”

In a statement shared on X, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson said that the Ministry has seen Trump’s remarks and the subsequent clarification issued by the US Embassy in response.

The MEA spokesperson further stated that the remarks don’t reflect the India-US relationship, which is based on mutual respect and shared interests.

“We have seen the comments, as also the subsequent statement issued by the US Embassy in response. The remarks are obviously uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste. They certainly do not reflect the reality of the India-US relationship, which has long been based on mutual respect and shared interests,” the statement read.

What Trump said about India?

US President Trump had apparently endorsed American radio host Michael Savage’s racist rant and reposted his letter on Truth Social, which referred to India, China, and other nations as “hellholes”.

“A baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring the entire family in from China or India or some other hellhole on the planet. You don’t have to go too far to see that. English is not spoken here anymore. There is almost no loyalty to this country amongst the immigrant class coming in today, which was not always the case,” read the letter shared by the US President.

As the remarks triggered outrage in India, Trump issued a clarification over his “hellhole” remark on India. In a statement issued by the US Embassy in New Delhi, Trump said that India is a “great country” and called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “very good friend”.

“The President has said, ‘India is a great country with a very good friend of mine at the top’,” a US Embassy spokesperson said.

Women voters in West Bengal outnumbered their male counterparts in the first phase of the West Bengal elections, figures released by the Election Commission of India have revealed.

According to data given out by the ECI, 92.69 per cent of women in the electorate cast their votes on Thursday, surpassing the 90.92 per cent turnout recorded among men. The margin of difference stood at 1.77 percentage.

Meanwhile, turnout among third gender voters was reported at 56.79 per cent, reflecting a comparatively lower but still significant level of engagement.

Women voters have turned out to be decisive factor in Bengal and have swung the results of previously held elections in the state.

The first phase of the elections covered 152 Assembly constituencies across 16 districts in the state.
The overall voter turnout on Thursday, reached a record 92.28 per cent, an ECI official said.

Polling is set to continue with the second phase scheduled for 29 April that will encompass 142 Assembly Constituencies. The counting date for the polls is scheduled on May 4.

Barring stray incidents of poll violence the first phase of polling witnessed no instances of large-scale poll related incidents, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEC) of West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal said on Thursday.

The first phase covered 152 Assembly Constituencies spread across 16 districts of the state.

Addressing a press conference, Agarwal said that people cast their votes without fear and expressed satisfaction with the polling arrangements. He said that the feedback from polling stations suggested voters were largely pleased with how the process was conducted.

“The people of Bengal have voted fearlessly. I received reports that said they were quite happy with the polling arrangements. Incidents of poll-related violence were less this time,” Kumar said.

The second phase of polling, which will cover 142 constituencies, is scheduled for April 29 in West Bengal. The counting of votes is set to take place on May 4.

Amid rising heat and humid conditions in Kerala,the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heat wave warning for several districts in Kerala as of Thursday. Temperatures have crossed 41 degrees C in certain areas, marking the first official heat wave alert in the state since2024.

The IMD has informed that there is a possibility of a heat wave in isolated places in the Kollam, Thrissur, and Palakkad districts on Thursday and Friday. As part of the vigilance, an orange alert has been declared in these districts. The temperature in the Palakkad district may rise to 41 degrees Celsius on Thursday and Friday, the IMD said.

As a safety precaution measure, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has issued a “self-lockdown” advisory for peak hours. The KSDMA has advised the people to stay indoors between 11 am and 3 pm when UV index levels are at their peak. It also asked people to drink plenty of water even if they do not feel thirsty.

Meanwhile, a young man died of sunstroke at Pallipoyil near Chakkarakkal in Kannur. The deceased has been identified as M V Sanal Kumar (37), a native of Pallipoyil. Sanal Kumar, a well construction worker, collapsed while working on Wednesday afternoon.His colleagues immediately took him to a private hospital. He died while undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit on Thursday afternoon.

An Anganwadi teacher in Valayam, Kozhikode suffered a sunburn on Thursday. The teacher, Anila, suffered burns on her right wrist while working. She sought treatment at the government hospital in Valayam. A four-year-old child also suffered burns at Vandoor in Malappuram. The child suffered sunburn while playing.

Tata Group-owned Air India is likely to reduce its international flight operations after posting a loss of nearly Rs 20,000 crore in FY26, amidst rising aviation fuel costs, according to senior officials.

According to a travel industry source, a final decision is expected to be taken at a board meeting scheduled for early May. It has been decided to keep travel companies informed about any development in this regard.

Air India is considering a 15% to 20% reduction in its flight schedule, though the overall cut across the Air India Group is expected to be relatively lower, in the range of 10-15%.

If the flight rationalisation proposal is implemented, more than 100 flights could be affected, from roughly 1,100 services operated daily by the Air India Group. Currently, Air India operates more than 700 domestic and international flights every day.

International services are likely to see the deepest cuts, since rising fuel costs, longer flying hours and higher crew expenses have squeezed route profitability and aircraft utilisation on overseas routes.

Air India has been reassessing capacity deployment across its entire network, particularly on long-haul international routes, where extended block hours have eroded productivity and weighed on overall operating economics.

Overseas flight operations to Europe and North America are most likely to form a substantial portion of the proposed reduction, even as the airline is also exploring temporary frequency reductions as well as timetable adjustments to improve cost efficiency without fully exiting key overseas markets.

The exercise is being presented as a network optimisation initiative rather than a rollback of expansion plans. While domestic operations may also see selective changes, the bulk of the impact is expected to fall on international routes, where cost pressures are higher, according to industry sources.

India on Thursday welcomed the announcement on the operationalisation of visa-free transit for Indian nationals transiting through French airports, saying that the decision is a reflection of the enduring partnership between the two nations.

Addressing his weekly media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the removal of the transit requirement was agreed upon during the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai in February, earlier this year.

Jaiswal mentioned that the decision underscores the deepening India-France partnership, recently elevated to a Special Global Strategic Partnership during Macron’s visit.

“We welcome the announcement on the operationalisation of visa-free transit for Indian nationals transiting through French airports. As you may recall, the removal of the requirement of transit visas for Indian passport holders was agreed upon between the Prime Minister and President Macron during their meeting in Mumbai in February this year,” he said.

“The Government of France has now operationalised this agreement, and Indian nationals transiting through mainland France exclusively by air will no longer need a transit visa with effect from 10 April 2026,” Jaiswal said.

“The decision reflects the enduring partnership between India and France, elevated to the level of a special global strategic partnership during the recent visit of President Macron, and further facilitation of smoother movement of people and enhanced people-to-people ties,” he stated.

Later in a statement, the MEA said the visa-free transit for Indian nationals transiting through French airports in the European territory has now been operationalised by the French Government.

“This follows an announcement made by Prime Minister Modi and President Macron during the latter’s visit to India in February 2026,” it said.

“Indian nationals transiting through the European territory of France exclusively by air will no longer require a transit visa, with effect from 10 April, 2026,” the statement said.

“The decision is a reflection of an enduring partnership between India and France and showcases deep commitment by the two leaders to strengthen bilateral relations, including strengthening of people-to-people bonds by facilitation of smoother movement of people between the two countries,” the statement added.

The BJP’s Thrissur district committee has urged the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to investigate the financial sources of Arabic-themed restaurants in Kerala.

BJP Thrissur District Intellectual Cell Convener Prasidh Das on Wednesday filed a complaint with the NIA Director, seeking an investigation into the financial sources of restaurants and its alleged anti-national connections. The complaint also states that an investigation should be conducted into the hotels opened after demonetization.

The move follows a controversy over Vishu-themed advertisements that featured images of Lord Krishna alongside non-vegetarian dishes, which the BJP claims hurt religious sentiments of the Hindus.

The complaint states that the opening of such establishments across the state, which require a large amount of capital investment in a short period of time, is suspicious. Hence the role of foreign funds in this should be investigated. The complaint also states that it should be investigated whether these restaurants have any links with the banned Popular Front of India.

The complaint explicitly mentions eight specific restaurants or hotel chains. The petition was triggered by promotional posters from these restaurants that depicted young Lord Krishna sitting in front of a plate “Kuzhimanthi” (a meat dish), leading to police cases. Critics have condemned the move as an attempt to “communalise food” and cast unfounded suspicion on a specific business sector based on cuisine.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday defended the maintainability of its petition under Article 32 of the Constitution, telling the Supreme Court about alleged complete breakdown of law and order in West Bengal and claiming that its officers were unable to perform their duties due to interference and obstruction by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The ED has sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the Chief Minister and other state police officers who had accompanied her at the time of the incident at the residence of Pratik Jain, the co-founder of political consultancy firm I-PAC, on January 8.

Appearing for the ED, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a Bench of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice N.V. Anjaria that the agency and its officers were entitled to approach the top court as their fundamental rights had been affected. He argued that the “rule of law” forms part of the right to equality (Article 14 of the constitution) and when it is violated, the Court can intervene.

Referring to the coal smuggling case involving proceeds of crime worth about ₹2,700 crore, Mehta said the ED officers, while discharging statutory duties, were prevented from functioning freely. He submitted that this was not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of interference in investigations carried out by central agencies. “This is my legal submission. I will demonstrate how the rule of law is violated. The ED officers who went there to discharge their duties are seeking protection of their fundamental rights,” he added.

Mehta argued that the distinction between an officer’s official and individual capacity cannot be drawn in such situations, as the consequences of obstruction are faced personally by those discharging official duties. He added that even State governments, including West Bengal, have approached the Supreme Court under Article 32 in the past and cannot now question its maintainability in the case of ED.

The ED has accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of interfering in search operations conducted on January 8, this year at premises of Pratik Jain – the co-founder of the political consultancy firm I-PAC in Kolkata, and has sought a CBI probe into the incident.

During the hearing, the Bench raised concerns about entertaining such petitions under Article 32, noting the wider implications.
“There is inherent danger if we keep on entertaining. This court will be flooded with Article 32 petitions. Not by individuals. By different state governments. As a court, shall we discourage or shall we encourage this?” the Bench asked.

Mehta responded by saying such petitions should generally be discouraged, but insisted that the present case stood on a different footing as it involved individuals whose rights were allegedly affected. He said that such matters should be decided on a fact-to-fact basis.

He maintained that the matter required examination on its own facts, pointing out that ED officers had been subjected to criminal proceedings and obstruction while carrying out their duties, and that approaching local police would not ensure a fair investigation.

When Acharya Balkrishna dropped a simple post on Facebook about a tiny seed called chironji, it didn’t look like breaking news at first glance. But soon enough, this small kitchen ingredient started getting big attention online. This “small but powerful” seed is being linked to a long list of traditional health benefits. That ranges from boosting energy to supporting skin glow and even calming the body.

In his post, the message was simple: chironji may be small in size, but it carries big value for health.

Tiny seed, big buzz on social media

Chironji, often used in sweets and traditional dishes, is being talked about as more than just a festive ingredient. According to the details shared, it may help increase physical strength and also provide energy to the brain.

In simple words, it is seen as a natural “energy booster” in traditional wellness thinking.

Also Read: Just 200 ml water, lemon & rock salt: Acharya Balkrishna’s viral remedy claims to soothe gas and digestive discomfort

It is also said to be helpful during cold and cough. Along with that, it is linked with benefits for skin-related issues too. From acne and pimples to uneven skin tone, chironji seeds, rich in natural oils, are believed to work like a gentle moisturizer for the skin.

In traditional descriptions, chironji is also associated with balancing the body’s internal energies, especially Pitta and Vata, which are often mentioned in Ayurveda while explaining common health issues like digestion problems and skin flare-ups.

From skin glow to stress relief

One of the most talked-about points is chironji’s possible role in skin care. The oil extracted from its seeds is often described as helpful in reducing dryness, itching, redness, and even dandruff caused by dry scalp. Some traditional references even suggest it may help with grey hair and nourish the scalp when used regularly.

The leaves of the chironji tree are also mentioned in traditional use. A paste made from dried leaves is believed to support healing of wounds, cuts, ulcers, and other skin irritations. It is described as having a cooling effect on the skin.

Beyond beauty care, chironji is also linked with deeper health claims. It is said to possibly help in anaemia by supporting blood production. Some studies on extracts of the seeds suggest they may increase red blood cells, white blood cells, haemoglobin levels, and overall blood volume in experimental settings.

There is also mention of its possible role in reducing stress and tiredness. Because chironji contains proteins, dietary fibre, and is low in calories, it is often described as something that may support stamina, reduce fatigue, and improve overall immunity in traditional usage narratives.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday issued a clarification over his “hellhole” remark on India. In a statement issued by the US Embassy in New Delhi, Trump said that India is a “great country” and called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “very good friend”

“The President has said, ‘India is a great country with a very good friend of mine at the top’,” a US Embassy spokesperson said.

The clarification came shortly after a reaction from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. The MEA spokesperson said that he has “seen some reports” about Trump’s remarks and “that’s where I leave it.”

Trump’s clarification and the MEA response came after the US President apparently endorsed American radio host Michael Savage’s racist rant and reposted his letter on Truth Social, which referred to India, China, and other nations as “hellholes”.

What the letter Trump reposted said about India?

In the letter calling for amendments to the United States’ Birthright Citizenship law, Savage alleged that people from India, China, and other “helllholes” come to the US in the ninth month of their pregnancy and give birth to a child who becomes an instant citizen.

“A baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring the entire family in from China or India or some other hellhole on the planet. You don’t have to go too far to see that. English is not spoken here anymore. That there’s almost no loyalty to this country amongst the immigrant class coming in today, which was not always the case,” Savage wrote in the letter reposted by the US President.

Referring to a Supreme Court hearing where a Chinese-American attorney was arguing in favour of what he called “flooding America with illegal aliens,” Savage alleged that the US is being overrun with Chinese and Indians coming here just to “drop a baby on our shores” and then bring in the entire family.

He said that these immigrants are “destroying our national identity” and want to turn America into a colony of China and India.

Voter turnout in the Baramati assembly by-election reached 40.36% by 3 pm on Thursday, April 23, according to official data released by the Maharashtra State Election Commission.

Significantly, Sharad Pawar, the founder of the undivided NCP, could not cast his vote due to ill health.

Baramati’s voter turnout data was officially certified by Assistant Returning Officer Swapnil Rawade. Earlier reports were signed by Returning Officer Uttam Dighe. Authorities continue to monitor polling across booths in the constituency.

Officials expect voter turnout to rise significantly as the evening progresses, with the contest being seen as a politically important test in one of Maharashtra’s most closely watched constituencies, especially since the byelection is widely expected to send Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar to the Legislative Assembly.

The by-election to the Baramati assembly seat in the Pune district was necessitated by the death of late Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar in an air crash on January 28. His wife, Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Sunetra Pawar, and 22 other candidates are in the fray.

There is no candidate in the fray from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) against Sunetra Pawar, who cast her vote early in the morning on Thursday. Initially, the Congress had fielded Akash More against Sunetra Pawar but withdrew his candidature at the last moment.

Election authorities said polling remained peaceful, with security arrangements tightened across sensitive booths to ensure smooth conduct of the Baramati byelection.

According to official data, out of a total of 3,84,579 registered voters, as many as 1,55,199 people had cast their votes by mid-afternoon.

This includes 1,93,871 male voters, 1,90,684 female voters, as well as 24 third-gender voters on the electoral rolls.

The steady rise in turnout reflects consistent voter participation throughout the day.

In the early hours, only 8.01% turnout was recorded between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM, with 30,798 votes cast, according to official data.

This increased to 20.59% by 11:00 AM with 79,178 voters and further climbed to 31.91% by 1:00 PM, when 1,22,737 people had voted.

Officials said the polling trend shows gradual momentum as the day progresses, with more voters stepping out in the later hours.

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said he will not cast his vote for the first time in a Baramati election.

“Since the first election I contested in 1967, I have continuously exercised my right to vote in the Baramati constituency. Now, in 2026, this by-election in the Baramati Assembly constituency is being held against the tragic backdrop of the unfortunate and accidental demise of Maharashtra’s beloved and popular leader, the late Ajit Pawar.

Earlier, Sharad Pawar told media persons, “In keeping with my long-standing tradition, I had decided to come to Baramati to cast my vote in this byelection. Unfortunately, due to a sudden deterioration in my health, I had to be admitted to a hospital in Mumbai. Doctors have prohibited me from travelling outside Mumbai for treatment and mandatory rest. Therefore, it is with a heavy heart and deep regret that I must inform you that, under unavoidable circumstances, I am being deprived of exercising my right to vote. I am certain that the citizens, voters, and workers of Baramati, who have shown me relentless love and trust, will understand my situation”.

“I also explored and inquired about various alternative voting options provided by the Election Commission since I could not be physically present. However, the State Election Officials informed me that those options were not available. Finally, with a very painful and heavy heart, I had to make the decision to stay away from voting,” Sharad Pawar said.

Jharkhand BJP president Aditya Sahu accused Chief Minister Hemant Soren of misleading voters over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise is being politicised to protect “ineligible voters”.

Sahu claimed that the Chief Minister was creating confusion among voters by suggesting that the revision process could deprive tribals, backward communities and other beneficiaries of their voting rights and welfare entitlements. He described such assertions as “misleading and baseless”.

The BJP leader said the Special Intensive Revision is a routine exercise carried out by the Election Commission of India to ensure that all eligible citizens are included in the electoral rolls while removing ineligible entries. He added that the process involves standard procedures such as Form 6 for inclusion of new voters, Form 7 for deletion of names and Form 8 for corrections.

Sahu further claimed that similar revisions have been conducted multiple times in the past as part of electoral reforms, and questioned why objections were being raised now. He emphasised that the exercise is conducted independently by the Election Commission and does not involve political interference.

Alleging irregularities, the BJP leader said the ruling dispensation was concerned about the identification of what he described as “fake voters”. He cited figures to claim that the growth in the number of voters in Jharkhand between 2019 and 2024 was higher than the national average, suggesting that this warranted scrutiny.

Sahu also cited instances from East Singhbhum district to support his allegations, claiming discrepancies in beneficiary data and voter records.

The state government has earlier expressed concerns that the revision process could adversely impact genuine voters, particularly from tribal and marginalised communities.

The exchange marks a fresh escalation in the political tussle between the BJP and the ruling coalition in Jharkhand, with electoral roll revision emerging as a key point of contention ahead of upcoming political developments.

Senior Congress leader Ajay Tharayil has also entered into the public debate taking place in Kerala over the Chief Ministerial post.

Ajith Tharayil, in a Facebook post titled “The Congress Chief Minister of My Dreams” on Thursday, outlined specific criteria the future Congress chief minister he believes should meet, emphasizing a background in grassroots struggle and activism.

According to him, a truly deserving CM should have a history of active participation in student and youth movements. No name was specifically mentioned for the post of Chief Minister in the post.

His specific requirements include that the Congress CM should have spent at least a day in jail as part of political struggle. The leader must have been hit by water from a water cannon at least once during a protest. “The leader must be a person who has come through youth struggles. He must have faced police harassment and oppression during the protests. He must have spent at least one day in jail, and he must have had at least one drop of water from a water cannon fall on his clothes during the protests,” Tharayil wrote in his post.

The Chief Minister of his dreams should show respect to grassroots-level party workers and maintain consistent political stances and should speak to the hearts of the people rather than just being a “voice on social media”. “He should not be a voice on social media, but one who speaks to the hearts of the people. He should be someone who treats the grassroots workers with respect. He should be consistent in his stances. My dream is to have such a Congress Chief Minister,” Tharayil wrote on Facebook.

Though no name was specifically mentioned for the post of Chief Minister in the post, Tharayil is considered a leader on the side of K C Venugopal.

Discussions about who would become the Chief Minister were active in the Congress from the day after the voting. The CM discussions were initiated by the Ernakulam district Congress President Muhammed Shias, a confidant of Opposition Leader VD. Satheesan. Shias’s remark that a Chief Minister should be from Ernakulam raised suspicions among other factions in Congress.

Following this,former KPCC President K Sudhakaran MP has openly stated that he wants Ramesh Chennithala to become the Chief Minister, if the UDF comes to power. Earlier, senior Congress leader P J Kurien also publicly stated that Ramesh Chennithala will become the Chief Minister, if the UDF gets the majority in the Assembly.

Meanwhile, taking a ‘U-turn’ on his earlier stance, K Sudhakaran later publicly backed AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal for the Kerala Chief Minister’s post.

As public discussions over the post of Chief Minister in the Congress went beyond the limits, the high command had issued orders banning such discussions.

Nuwan Thushara has withdrawn his lawsuit against Sri Lanka Cricket, just a few weeks after filing it over being denied a no-objection certificate (NOC) to feature in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Thushara is part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who are yet to name a replacement for the 31-year-old fast bowler.

According to a report in ESPNCricinfo, Thushara informed the Colombo District Court that he wanted to withdraw the case since a large part of the IPL season had already passed. It is also understood that he sent a written apology to SLC last week, indicating his intention to step back from the legal dispute.

In his original petition, Thushara had expressed a desire to retire from international cricket. It is not yet clear whether that decision still stands. In any case, under SLC’s current fitness rules, he would not be eligible for selection unless he meets the required standards.

SLC had refused to grant him the NOC because he did not meet their fitness criteria. Thushara had argued that his fitness levels were similar to previous years, during which he had not faced such restrictions.

During this standoff, Thushara had signalled his intention to retire and soon after filed the lawsuit. He claimed that enforcing fitness-based NOC requirements in this manner was unreasonable and affected his livelihood.

The timing of the case, filed on April 2, also drew attention as it coincided with the Easter court holidays, making a quick resolution unlikely. The matter was taken up again on April 9, when SLC said it would file its objections. It was finally heard on Thursday, when the case was dismissed following Thushara’s withdrawal.

Thushara has played 30 international matches for Sri Lanka, all in T20Is. He was part of Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024 before moving to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025.

A new chapter for cricket in the United States began on Wednesday, as the groundbreaking ceremony for the Knight Riders Cricket Ground was held in Pomona, California, with ICC chief executive Sanjog Gupta describing the venue as “cricket’s home for LA28.” The venue is expected to play a key role in the lead-up to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where cricket will return after 128 years.

The event took place just over a month after it was confirmed that the Los Angeles Knight Riders will use the ground as their home venue for the 2026 Major League Cricket (MLC) season. According to a statement from the Knight Riders, the development represents “a landmark moment for cricket in the United States” and highlights Los Angeles as an emerging hub for the sport.

International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah described the occasion as an important milestone in cricket’s global journey.

“These are very exciting times for the game of cricket as it makes giant strides in establishing itself as a global sport. Our focus has been on expanding the footprint of cricket and being part of the Olympic movement is something that brings both pride and dreams with it,” Shah said in a statement.

“The groundbreaking marks an important milestone in cricket’s return to the Olympics and is a proud moment for all ICC members and stakeholders worldwide. We’re confident this venue will take centre stage during the Games and leave a legacy for cricket in the USA,” he added.

Initially, the venue at Fairplex will host matches for LAKR in the upcoming MLC season, with a total of seven games scheduled, including the team’s first three home fixtures between July 1 and July 5.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who is a co-owner of Knight Riders Sports, said the project goes beyond just building a stadium.

“Today isn’t just about breaking ground, but about beginning a dream – bringing cricket, the second most-watched sport in the world, into the heart of Los Angeles’ sporting identity,” he said.

“Through our long-term partnership with Fairplex, we aim to create not just a cricket ground, but a space of energy, community, and belonging.”

Knight Riders Sports CEO Venky Mysore called it a defining moment for the franchise and the sport in the country.

“This is a defining moment, not just for the Knight Riders, but for cricket in America. We see strong potential to grow the game and connect with the community in Southern California to lead this next phase of cricket’s growth in the US,” Mysore said.

Sanjog Gupta, who was also present at the ceremony, highlighted the broader significance of the project in the context of the Olympics.

“The journey over the next two years will see many such milestones which enhance the sense of occasion, culture and community, as cricket’s home for LA28 is built in Pomona. With the inclusion in the Olympic Games and other regional multi-sport events, cricket has already stepped into a new era of global growth powered by improved accessibility, elevated visibility and stronger institutional support.”

Pomona mayor Tim Sandoval and LA28 vice-president of sports Niccolo Campriani were also present at the ceremony.

Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag admitted that he is going through a difficult phase in the first half of IPL 2026, but made it clear that he will not change his natural style of play just to score safer runs.

Parag has managed 81 runs in seven innings so far, averaging 13.50, and scored 20 in the match against Lucknow Super Giants at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Wednesday.

“Everyone has been very supportive. I’ve been going through a phase as well. Right before the IPL, I had gone through something, and even now I’m going through something, and everyone understands that. Everyone respects that, and I thank them for that,” Parag said after Wednesday’s match against Lucknow Super Giants.

“I feel the way I’m batting, (a big) innings is not too far away. But, as I’ve been saying, if I go in tomorrow and I play another game, it’s going to be what the team needs. It’s not me not scoring runs and taking my time, getting 40 off 30, that’s not going to happen. I go out there, assess conditions; if they want me to go to 200 from ball one, I do that,” he added.

At the time of Parag’s dismissal, Rajasthan Royals were struggling at 62 for 4. They slipped further to 110 for 6 before Ravindra Jadeja steadied the innings and took them to 159 with support from the lower middle order. Despite the eventual win, Parag felt the team fell short with the bat.

“Firstly, I feel we were really short with the bat. The way the wicket was playing when me and Hetty (Shimron Hetmyer) were batting, I think we’ve got to be better,” he said.

“I thought, honestly, even with the situation we had, we were close to getting 180, and that would have been a really good score because I knew it was going to be slowing down later. But yeah, the bowlers, they did pretty well,” he added.

The bowlers then stepped up to defend the total, with Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger leading the effort in the powerplay. Both bowled three overs each early on and returned identical figures of 1 for 15. A crucial run-out of Ayush Badoni by substitute fielder Ravi Singh also helped shift momentum, resulting in what Parag described as an “impressive” fielding display.

“For two bowlers to bowl three in the powerplay at this stage of the game or how T20 cricket is evolving, I think it’s just commendable,” Parag said.

“The wicket was helping a little more to the seamers in the first innings, but then the second innings we knew it would swing, but the lengths they bowled, the lines they bowled, and the way we fielded… impressive,” he added.

In the end, Rajasthan Royals registered a 40-run win over Lucknow Super Giants, marking their fifth victory in seven matches and moving them up to second place in the points table. They will now return to Jaipur to face Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 25.

Burger penalised for conduct breach

Rajasthan Royals pacer Nandre Burger has been fined 10 per cent of his match fees and handed one demerit point for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct. Burger was found guilty of using a send-off gesture after dismissing LSG captain Rishabh Pant. The act was deemed to be in violation of Article 2.5 of the IPL Code of Conduct, which relates to using language or gestures that could provoke an aggressive reaction from an opponent.

The left-arm pacer admitted to the Level 1 offence and accepted the sanction imposed by the match referee. As per IPL regulations, decisions for Level 1 breaches are final and binding, leaving no room for appeal.