Akshay Kumar's upcoming horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla, helmed by Priyadarshan, has cleared the censorship cut days ahead of its release. However, the film was cleared only after making some changes and cutting as much as 10 minutes from the film. The makers, after making the changes, reportedly received their certificate on April 2, after which they went back to the CBFC voluntarily to make additional cuts. Bhooth Bangla list of changes The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has granted the film a U/A 16+ certificate, indicating that children below the age of 16 will need parental guidance to watch it. Before giving the certificate, the CBFC's Examining Committee reportedly flagged several issues in the film and ordered changes to the same. The CBFC objected on multiple fronts before clearing the film for release. According to a Bollywood Hungama report, the board flagged an obscene word used at 26 minutes and ordered it to be replaced. Similarly, another set of obscene words appearing around an hour into the film was also asked to be changed. Towards the end of the film, an obscene word in the subtitles was ordered to be removed entirely. Beyond the objections over obscene words, the CBFC also raised an issue with a denigrating reference to women in the first half of the film. The makers were asked to replace the part with something more appropriate. Additionally, the CBFC directed the makers to add clear disclaimers for all religious and superstitious references made throughout the film. After all these changes were made to the CBFC's satisfaction, the censor certificate was handed over to the makers on April 2, clearing the film ahead of its theatrical release on April 17, 2026. Bhooth Bangla final runtime Even after receiving the certificate, the makers reportedly returned to the CBFC with a fresh set of voluntary cuts a few days later. The CBFC accepted these additional changes on April 11. The makers reportedly trimmed 63 scenes from the film, with most cuts being small. The biggest single cut accounted for 72 seconds, a full 1 minute and 12 seconds, which was a scene in the song O Sundari, which was deleted entirely. Another 27 seconds were also cut from the song O Re O Sawariya. The cuts in these two songs alone accounted for a significant portion of the total runtime decrease. With all the cuts together, the runtime was brought down by 10 minutes and 5 seconds. The final revised runtime of Bhooth Bangla stands at 164.52 minutes, which is 2 hours, 44 minutes and 52 seconds.
13 April,2026 08:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe demise of legendary singer Asha Bhosle on Sunday, April 12, sent the entire nation mourning. Many celebrities from the film as well as music fraternity paid emotional tributes to the late singer on social media. However, Punjabi singer Karan Aujla, who performed in Mumbai on Sunday, paid tribute to legendary singer Asha Bhosle at his concert in a unique and heartwarming way. Karan Aujla pays tribute to Asha Bhosle Aujla paused his concert mid-way and paid tribute to Asha Bhosle by marking a moment of silence followed by a mash-up featuring 15 of her timeless songs, including Piya Tu Ab To Aaja, Dum Maro Dum, Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil, Yeh Mera Dil, O Haseena Zulfonwale, amongst others. Karan Aujla’s tribute to legendary Asha Bhosle in his Mumbai concert last night brought the entire arena to a standstill. 💔💔@GeetanDiMachine #musiculture #india #music #world #lifestyle pic.twitter.com/GTfCKt10R2 — MusiCulture™ (@MusiCultureIn) April 13, 2026 For the unversed, Asha Bhosle last performed on stage at an event in Dubai in 2024, during which she sang Aujla's blockbuster Tauba Tauba, and also recreated the song's viral hook step by Vicky Kaushal. Karan made sure to include the viral clip in his tribute. The tribute ended with the viral video clip of the legendary singer, which moved everyone. The gesture carried a lot of emotional weight as news of her passing at the age of 92 in Mumbai emerged the same day. About Asha Bhosle Born in 1933, Asha Bhosle began her musical journey at a young age and rose to prominence in the 1950s. Over her career spanning decades, she recorded thousands of songs across multiple Indian languages, ranging from classical and ghazals to cabaret, pop, and folk. Her work with leading composers and filmmakers made her one of the most influential voices in Indian cinema. She was honoured with awards, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and the Padma Vibhushan, and was recognised by the Guinness World Records in 2011 as the most-recorded artist in music history. Veteran singer had been dealing with multiple health issues. She died on Sunday due to multiple organ failure. She is survived by her son, Anand, and her grandchildren. (With inputs from ANI)
13 April,2026 06:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPriya Kapur, the wife of late business tycoon Sunjay Kapur, took to her social media account to remember her husband on their ninth wedding anniversary. This also marks their first anniversary since Sunjay's death. She shared throwback photos from their wedding and posted a photo of a romantic and tender handwritten note Sunjay had written for her. Priya Kapur expresses her love for Sunjay on their anniversary Priya posted a series of glimpses from their traditional Punjabi wedding on Instagram. She was seen wearing an intricate red and gold kurta with heavy jewellery and a dupatta wrapped around her head and shoulders, while Sunjay wore a white kurta-pyjama with a pink pagdi. She wrote, “Happy Anniversary, J (heart emoji) Last year, on our 8th, we celebrated with your Dosco friends. It was loud, warm, full of laughter. You looked at me and said you wanted us to be together for the next 7 lifetimes. I’m holding you to that, J.” Priya also posted the handwritten note Sunjay gave her on their seventh anniversary, writing, “On our 7th, you wrote the most beautiful note for me. The most precious gift. I have carried every word with me. I always will. You were not just my husband. You were my soulmate, my safe place, my heartbeat. With you, I found home. Loving you was the easiest and most beautiful thing I have ever known. You made the ordinary feel magical.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Priya S Kapur (@priyasunjaykapur) She ended her caption on a heartfelt and poignant note. “You are not in my past, my love. You are waiting for me in my future. Our story isn’t over. Happy Anniversary, my forever. Like the quote you found for “US”: ‘This is just the beginning of our time together…7 years of marriage and 7 lives together. And if I could live life again, I would repeat every mistake, so long as it leads me back to you.’ P.S. I love you. Always.” Rani Kapur claims she is scared of Priya Kapur Although it has been months since Sunjay's demise, the legal battle over his estate shows no signs of slowing down. Recently, his mother, Rani Kapur, broke her silence on the ongoing dispute with Priya Kapur, calling it deeply painful. Alleging attempts to take over assets built by her late husband, she questioned her removal from the RK Family Trust and expressed fear over the situation. Rani said, "It's very hurtful for me because my husband made this trust (RK Family Trust) and gave everything to me. This girl (Priya Kapur) tried to take over everything my husband built all his life. We moved from Bombay to Delhi, we built the house. That house I built sitting under a tree. She thinks she's got it. Luckily, I have this house, and I've been away from Delhi since my son died. I've not gone back. I'm scared now. What is she going to do to me?" "She (Priya Kapur) wouldn't have had the guts to have a dispute if Sunjay Kapur had been alive today.” She further suggested that she was extremely close to her son, noting that he rarely made decisions without her involvement.
13 April,2026 06:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe US show Wheel of Fortune holds the Guinness World Records title as the World’s Most Popular TV Game Show, has won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show, and has been recognised by Variety Magazine as the Most-Watched Entertainment Show on American Television. In January 2026, Akshay Kumar made his return to television by stepping in as the host of Wheel of Fortune India. He brought the game show to India in a high-energy avatar, combining quick thinking, banter, high-stakes gameplay, and non-stop entertainment. Is Wheel Of Fortune Going Off-Air? However, since its inception, the show has struggled to gain significant traction among viewers. Now, there are reports that Wheel of Fortune may soon go off-air, raising questions about whether low TRPs are to blame. An article by Telly Express report that said that Akshay Kumar’s hosted show is set to go off-air later this month. According to the reports, the show is being pulled off air by Sony Entertainment Television due to its inability to generate the expected traction. Despite featuring several celebrity guests, Wheel of Fortune reportedly managed to garner only around 0.5–0.7 TRP. Akshay's game show will reportedly be replaced by a different reality game show Tum Ho Naa, which will be hosted by Rajeev Khandelwal. Tum Ho Naa to replace Wheel of Fortune? Earlier, mid-day had reported that actor Rajeev Khandelwal would be making his television comeback with Tum Ho Naa, 14 years after he hosted Sachh ka Saamna. Now, the latest reports suggest that Tum Ho Naa is slated to premiere from April 28 onwards and will air at 9 pm on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV, replacing Wheel of Fortune. Speaking about hosting Tum Ho Naa, Rajeev Khandelwal said, “Over the years, I’ve been offered so many kinds of roles, some experimental, some quite unconventional. But I’ve always chosen to follow my heart and be part of something that genuinely feels meaningful to me. With the show Tum Ho Naa, I am happy to return to television with Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV and bring a beautiful show that is really close to my heart.”
13 April,2026 06:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVeteran singer Asha Bhosle died on Sunday at the age of 92, sending her fans, not just in India, but across the globe into mourning. However, amid this, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has reportedly issued a notice to the Pakistani news channels over coverage of her death. PEMRA issues notice to news channels Managing Director of the Pakistani news channel, Geo News, Azhar Abbas, took to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the matter. Unhappy by the notice, he wrote, "PEMRA has issued a show-cause notice to Geo News for airing content related to the legendary subcontinent singer Asha Bhosle. It has always been customary to revisit and celebrate the work of iconic artists when reporting on them. In fact, for an artist of Asha Bhosle’s stature, we should have shared even more of her timeless and memorable songs than we did. Yet, Pakistan’s electronic media regulator, Pemra, has chosen to restrict this." PEMRA has issued a show-cause notice to Geo News for airing content related to the legendary subcontinent singer Asha Bhosle.It has always been customary to revisit and celebrate the work of iconic artists when reporting on them. In fact, for an artist of Asha Bhosle’s stature,… pic.twitter.com/AuhFPyGZCL — Azhar Abbas (@AzharAbbas3) April 13, 2026 He further added that art is a shared heritage of humanity, and it should not be confined by borders. Abbas added, " Asha Bhosle herself admired Pakistan’s legendary singer Noor Jahan, whom she fondly called her “elder sister.” She collaborated with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and brought to life the poetry of great Urdu poets like Nasir Kazmi." "In times of war and conflict, art and artists should not become casualties. Intellectuals, musicians, and creators are often the very voices that stand against hatred and division, and the ones who bring people closer together," Abbas concluded. Pakistani journalist Rauf Klasra reacted to the tweet and questioned how PEMRA could issue a notice for showing content about the veteran singer. He wrote, "She has entertained many generations of the subcontinent with her melodious voice. She deserves respect (sic)." Check out the tweet below... Many netizens reacted strongly to the move, expressing their disappointment with what the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has done. About Asha Bhosle's death Legendary singer Asha Bhosle died on Sunday afternoon at the age of 92. The doctors at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, where she died, confirmed that the singer passed away due to multiple organ failure. Her last rites were performed at Shivaji Park in Dadar, where she was cremated with full tate honours.
13 April,2026 05:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSinger Shreya Ghoshal paid tribute to late Asha Bhosle during her London concert by singing legend's hit tracks including Dum Maro Dum and Do Lafzon Ki Hai Dil Ki Kahani. The Indian singer performed on the eve of Bhosle's death and honoured her memory by singing some of her biggest hits. She got the audience nostalgic as she beautifully sang the tracks made iconic by Bhosle. Shreya Ghoshal pays tribute to Asha Bhosle Bhosle died on Sunday due to multiple organ failure at the age of 92. She was admitted to Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital on Saturday following chest infection and exhaustion. Ghoshal had her concert at London O2 Arena on Sunday. During her performance, the singer went on to remember Bhosle by singing her songs. In the videos circulating online, Ghoshal is performing in front of the large crowd with the audience singing along. "Asha Tai can you hear us," she is heard saying as she starts singing her song. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Martha 🌹 (@_worldofmartha_) Shreya's Instagram tribute for Asha Bhosle Shreya also mourned the death of the legendary singer and penned an emotional note on Instagram remembering her. She shared a picture with Asha Bhosle and wrote, "Today, we lost a voice that defined generations… a spirit that redefined music itself. Asha Bhosle ji wasn’t just legendary, she was limitless. I grew up listening to her, learning from her, being in awe of her effortless versatility… The way she could make every note feel alive, every emotion feel personal. From the most playful melodies to the deepest ghazals to her extraordinary virtuosity in her songs in Marathi, Bangla and innumerable languages, she did it all, like only she could." Bhosle recorded over 12,000 songs across 20 languages in her career spanning eight decades. She was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008. She has been the voice of several notable tracks, which continue to resonate with the audience, including Yeh Mera Dil, Rangeela Re and Dil Cheez Kya Hai, among others. Asha Bhosle's mortal remains were kept for final darshan at her Mumbai residence in Lower Parel on Monday morning. The singer was cremated at Shivaji Park, Dadar in the city.
13 April,2026 05:36 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAfter stunning audiences with his stellar Bollywood debut, actor Ahaan Panday is set to surprise audiences by taking on a drastically different role in his second feature film. The young actor, who played a rockstar in the romantic drama Saiyaara, will reportedly take on the role of a gangster in the upcoming action-romance directed by Ali Abbas Zafar. Ahaan Panday to play a gangster in Ali Abbas Zafar's next The film is being backed by Yash Raj Films and promises to be a high-energy action entertainer. As per a report by Variety India, Ahaan will essay the role of a gangster. The role marks a major departure from his role as a troubled musician in his debut film. As per the report, Ahaan has undergone rigorous physical training to prepare for the demanding part. This includes learning hand-to-hand combat and weapon handling. His character in the film is described as someone who is “locked in a fierce battle for love,” suggesting the film will be a mix of intense action and emotional drama. While the makers have kept the storyline tightly under wraps, the project is expected to carry the stylish and large-scale action elements often associated with both Ali Abbas Zafar and YRF's films. Ali Abbas Zafar calls Ahaan Panday an 'old-school romantic hero' Ali feels Ahaan has an old-school romantic hero charm that no one else has from his generation of actors. He says, “What I love about Ahaan is his sincerity. In today’s time, when everything can feel performative and an act, he brings a kind of old-school honesty to his performances, like the romantic heroes we have grown up watching and loving. The camera picks up on that. You can’t act vulnerable on screen; it doesn’t land, and he isn’t afraid to be vulnerable, which is incredible." The Tiger Zinda Hai director adds, “Audiences have connected with Ahaan because he’s not trying to impress them. He’s simply present in the moment. There’s a softness to him, but also strength. That balance is what makes people root for him, especially in love stories. I genuinely believe he has the potential to become one of those rare romantic heroes who make you feel something long after the film ends."
13 April,2026 05:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSeveral celebrities and dignitaries arrived at Asha Bhosle's residence on Monday morning to pay thier last respects to the legendary singer. Among them was veteran actor Jackie Shroff, who seemed deeply saddened by the demise of the legendary singer. However, he seemed to be getting miffed by the questions of the paparazzi stationed outside and lost his cool before eventually schooling them. Jackie Shroff loses cool at paps Upon his arrival, the paps began questioning Jackie about how he feels after the legendary singer's passing. This question left the actor furious, and he blasted at them for such insensitive behaviour. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Snehkumar Zala (@sneyhzala) When asked to react to Asha Bhosle’s death, Jackie Shroff said, “Kasa vatnar, konachi aai geli tar? Aamchi aai geli hai. Kasa vatel manje, tera bolne ka matlab hai, kesa lagta hai maa kisi ki gayi to kesa lagta hai. (How would it feel if someone’s mother passes away? Our mother is gone. What do you mean by asking how it feels, how does it feel when someone loses their mother?)" The paparazzi reacted, saying, “Bura hi lagta hai." To this, Jackie further added, “Bas, khatam ho gaya baat. Hi time nahi re bolaycha, rahu de dada, ghari jaa. (That’s it, the matter ends there. This is not the time to say such things, let it be, brother, go home.)" About Asha Bhosle death Asha Bhosle died in Mumbai at the age of 92. According to doctors treating her at Breach Candy Hospital, Asha died due to multiple-organ failure. Her demise has prompted widespread tributes and mourning from across the film and music fraternity, as well as from fans. Asha Bhosle’s mortal remains were kept for final darshan at her residence in Casa Grande, Lower Parel, on Monday morning, allowing fans, well-wishers, and members of the industry to pay their last respects. The singer was bestowed with the Guard of Honour in the presence of fans, family, and well-wishers at her home. Her last rites will take place today, April 13, at Shivaji Park crematorium at 4 pm, where she is expected to be cremated with full state honours. Meanwhile, heavy security arrangements have been made at the venue, since several political leaders and film personalities are expected to be present.
13 April,2026 05:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentLegendary singer Asha Bhosle passed away on Sunday, April 12, at the age of 92. She breathed her last at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital. After her demise, several artists took to social media to pay tribute to the legendary singer. On Monday, Amitabh Bachchan expressed his "immense grief" in his latest blog. Amitabh Bachchan expresses sorrow on Asha Bhosle's death The Bollywood stalwart penned a heartfelt obituary for the late singer, saying, "Sorrow and grief ..An entire era .. an incredible .. a phenominal, astounding, prodigious , presence … lost yesterday .. the iconic, legendary Asha Bhosle ji , has left us ..In immense grief ..(sic)" Praising the craft of the celebrated singer, Big B went on to write, "Her versatility in giving life to every song she gave voice to .. gone to the heavens .. and has left us an entire encyclopedia of eternal music ..The body has left us .. but her soul shall remain forever with us ..Her voice - the soul, shall ever be immortalised ..In immense grief." He even visited the legendary singer's Mumbai residence to pay his last respects to the deceased. More about Asha Bhosle On Monday, the mortal remains of Asha Bhosle were kept at her Mumbai residence so that those close to her could pay their last respects to the late singer. She received state honours with the soldiers wrapping her casket in tricolour. People lined the streets, gathered on rooftops and windows and hundreds walked along the cortege winding its slow way from Lower Parel to Shivaji Park where Asha Bhosle, India's singer nonpareil and Mumbai's very own Asha Tai, would be given a final farewell. A giant photograph of Bhosle, radiant in a red sari with her trademark bindi and an ornate nose ring, was placed on the flower bedecked bier. Chants of "Asha Tai amar rahe" went up in the crowds gathered for a last glimpse of the music legend who ruled our playlists -- and perhaps our hearts -- for eight decades. The funeral procession of arguably one of India's most popular singers started from her residence in Lower Parel to Shivaji Park in Dadar, about five kilometres away. Her last rites were performed at 4 PM at the Shivaji Park crematorium in Dadar. Asha Bhosle sang her first song as a playback for the 1943 Marathi drama ‘Majha Bal’. Later, she shifted her focus towards Hindi songs, and went on to deliverer many memorable numbers such as ‘Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko’, ‘Do Lafzon Ki Hai Dil Ki Kahani’, ‘Kya Ghazab Karte Ho Ji’, ‘O Haseena Zulfonwale Jane Jahan’, and ‘Ye Ladka Hay Allah Kaisa Hai Diwana’, during her tenure spanning 8 decades.
13 April,2026 05:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRajpal Yadav is back to the movies after a tough start to the year. The actor spent some time in Tihar Jail in a cheque bounce case. Now, he is looking forward to his upcoming releases, with Priyadarshan’s Bhooth Bangla being a major one. The film, co-starring Akshay Kumar, will be released in theatres on April 17. Rajpal Yadav on Om Shaanti Om Ahead of the release of Bhooth Bangla, Rajpal Yadav spoke about the roles he regretted missing out on. He revealed that he lost out on a role in Om Shanti Om due to a misunderstanding with lead actor Shah Rukh Khan. He added that he only learned about the issue when Billu went on floors. The Priyadarshan directorial starred Irrfan Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. Rajpal revealed that he was supposed to play the titular character in the film, but the role eventually went to Irrfan Khan. In an interaction with Zoom, Rajpal said, "Billu Barber ka pura production dekhte the Juhi Chawla ke brother. Voh shaam ko bethe the hum toh mujhe gale mile aur bole bhai (SRK) se mil lena. Bhai aapko bahut pyaar karte hain. Jab hum Kal Ho Naa Ho main kaam kiya, toh Shah Rukh bhai ne bola tha kabhi ek lamba, koi badiya track karenge kyunki ek scene main itna maza aaya. Maine kaha main toh dupehr main hi mila tha, Unhone kaha thoda kuch confusion hai. Toh maine kaha kya? Bole voh role likhwaya tha unhone aapke liye aur voh aapne mana kardiya keh ke time nahi hai (The entire production of Billu Barber was being handled by Juhi Chawla’s brother. One evening, he met me, hugged me, and said, 'You should meet bhai. He loves you a lot. When we had worked together in Kal Ho Naa Ho, Shah Rukh Khan had told me that someday we would do a longer, substantial track together because he had enjoyed doing that one scene with me so much. I said I had met him only that afternoon. Then he said there seemed to be some confusion. I asked what happened. He told me that he had specifically asked for a role to be written for me, but apparently I had declined it saying I did not have the time).” How Rajpal sorted things with SRK Rajpal recalled that he immediately called his manager to find out if anything like that had happened. He said, "Unhe bhi pata nahi tha. aur mujhe bhi nahi pata tha. Pata laga ki vahan pe kisi ne bitching karke aur Om Shanti Om ke liye meri tasveer dusri pesh kardi. Pata bhi nahi SRK ko aur mujhe bhi pata nahi. Toh yeh Bollywood hai ismein aise 10-20 kisse ho jaate hain. Aur main aur Shah Rukh Khan gale mile uske baad jaise koi lafda hi nahi (He did not know about it, and neither did I. It turned out that someone had been bi**hing there, and I was presented negatively in front of Shah Rukh bhai for Om Shanti Om. Neither Shah Rukh Khan knew about it, nor did I. So this is Bollywood, 10 to 20 such incidents happen here. After that, Shah Rukh Khan and I hugged it out as if there had never been any issue at all)." Meanwhile, Rajpal Yadav’s next is Bhooth Bangla with Akshay Kumar, Tabu, Paresh Rawal, and Wamiqa Gabbi. Rajpal has acted in several films directed by Priyadarshan and has played some of the most memorable characters of his career in these films.
13 April,2026 04:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentOn Sunday, 13 April, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru faced each other at the Wankhede Stadium. Several celebrities were seen in attendance for the match, including Kareena Kapoor and her family. RCB posted a total of 240 runs, defeating MI. A user on X posted a video of a dejected Kareena leaving the stadium and heading towards her car after the match had ended. The user was quick to notice that Kareena had removed the MI jersey that she was wearing earlier after the team's defeat. However, the clip also showed Ibrahim Ali Khan, Taimur and Saif walking behind her, all of whom were still sporting their MI jerseys. Kareena Kapoor came to the stadium wearing MI jersey, but after MI lost to RCB, she removed it out of embarrassment. RCB literally cooked whole Mumbai 🤣😭 pic.twitter.com/DHMNebuEpJ — Suprvirat (@Mostlykohli) April 12, 2026 She wrote, "Kareena Kapoor came to the stadium wearing MI jersey, but after MI lost to RCB, she removed it out of embarrassment. RCB literally cooked whole Mumbai (laughing emoji)." Celebs at the MI vs RCB match Anushka Sharma was seen cheering for her husband Virat Kohli's team, RCB. She looked stunning in a black t-shirt and white pants for the match night. She was seen with Ananya Birla at the stands. Varun Dhawan was seen at the stadium in a simple white t-shirt and denim. The actor was accompanied by Pooja Hegde, the co-star of his upcoming film Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. Varun later sat beside former cricketer Harbhajan Singh. Pooja was seen enjoying the game dressed in a white tank top and denims. Popular YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia was present with his girlfriend. Hardik Pandya's girlfriend, Mahieka Sharma, was also captured at the Wankhede Stadium, animatedly cheering him on. RCB's batting highlights Phil Salt was at his attacking best at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday night, taking RCB way past the 200-mark (240-4) against MI. Put in to bat, Salt (36-ball 78, 6x4, 6x6) was fearless. He took only 10 singles and four doubles during his knock, while as many as 60 runs came through fours and sixes. Salt's half-century came in a mere 25 balls, through a cracking four off spinner Mayank Markande, between long-on and deep mid-wicket. Salt and opening partner Virat Kohli’s partnership was worth 71 after just six overs. Shardul Thakur eventually broke the 120-run opening stand, dismissing Salt through MI captain Hardik Pandya at covers. Kohli (38-ball 50, 5x4, 1x6) and skipper Rajat Patidar (20-ball 53, 4x4, 5x6) also helped themselves to half-centuries. Kohli, who was beaten on the very first ball he faced while trying to flick Boult, showcased some exemplary wrist work and footwork to hit the pacer for a couple of boundaries. Kohli reached his second 50 of this IPL in 37 balls. Earlier, players from both MI and RCB teams wore black armbands and observed a minute’s silence to pay tribute to legendary singer Asha Bhosle, who passed away on Sunday.
13 April,2026 01:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
