The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 saw a controversial moment even before it began. Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman , picked by Kolkata Knight Riders, was barred from playing in the tournament. Though no official reason was given, the political turmoil in Bangladesh was seen as a major factor behind the decision. Arun Dhumal, the current IPL chairman, was asked about the omission in a recent interview in Financial Times . Arun Dhumal was asked: "Politics keeps rearing its head in cricket. Pakistani players have not played in the IPL since 2009, and more recently, Kolkata Knight Riders released Mustafizur Rahman after the BCCI instructed the franchise to do so in January 2026. Is it unrealistic to delink the IPL from politics in the subcontinent?" Dhumal replied: "It is unfortunate, I would say, the way things unfold at times. I do not think the government has any interest in or role to play in running cricket day to day. The government is supportive of cricket at l...
Even as Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar continues its triumphant box-office run, Sriram Raghavan has made it clear that the blockbuster spy thriller sits firmly outside his own creative comfort zone. Speaking to The Hindu ahead of the release of his next film, Ikkis , Raghavan explained why the Ranveer Singh-starrer, despite being well-crafted, represents a cinematic language he would not personally adopt. Why Dhurandhar's Success Does Not Define His Filmmaking Choices Addressing comparisons between Dhurandhar and the kind of spy films he and his brother Shridhar Raghavan have made in the past, Sriram stressed that it is less about quality and more about worldview. "It is a well-made film with terrific performances, but it is not our kind of film. We must understand that we are living in different times. The earlier James Bond films starring Sean Connery and Roger Moore were fun movies. Later on, Bond films started to get serious. Dhurandhar is one movie. It is doing spe...