Bengaluru

Bengaluru FC and NorthEast United aim to maintain unbeaten ISL starts

The News Mill

Sting video fabricated, circulated to malign individuals in Karnataka: Bengaluru police

Original recording device seized; one arrested in NCR over YouTube upload as police probe possible political links and coordinated dissemination

Bengaluru Techie's Kidnapper Accuses Him Of Rape, Both Arrested

Police arrested 11 people, including a 21-year-old woman, for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping. During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted to conspiring together to kidnap the two men for money, the police said.

Karnataka-Tamil Nadu Rail Link Gets Major Push As 61-Metre Girders Go Up Over NH-44 Near Bengaluru

NorthEast United face Bengaluru FC in battle for top spot

The News Mill

We Went Till Rs 1.05 Crore: RCB Coach Opens Up On Sophie Molineux Auction Battle

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) went up to Rs 1.05 crore in an attempt to bring Australian all-rounder Sophie Molineux back into their squad at the WPL 2027 auction.

Two Arrested for Allegedly Extorting Rs 42.97 Lakh by Threatening False Cases in Udupi

Two Arrested for Allegedly Extorting Rs 42.97 Lakh by Threatening False Cases in Udupi Udupi: Udupi City Police have arrested two people, including a woman, in Bengaluru for allegedly extorting Rs 42.97 lakh from a man she met through a matrimonial app by threatening to implicate him in false cases and damage his reputation. The [] The post Two Arrested for Allegedly Extorting Rs 42.97 Lakh by Threatening False Cases in Udupi appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Kumaraswamy celebrates NDA victory in all four MLC seats, targets Karnataka Cong over cross-voting

Digital Desk | New Delhi/Bengaluru, Oct 29 (IANS) Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, on Thursday celebrated the victory of NDA candidates in all four seats in the MLC elections, taking a swipe at the ruling Congress over cross-voting and asserting that the BJP-JD(S) candidates had secured straight wins. Reacting to the results, Kumaraswamy said the four winning candidates were not among those who had benefited from cross-voting. He said the outcome was an occasion for those involved in cross-voting to introspect. Taking a dig at the Congress, he said that while the ruling party had earlier secured victories through cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha elections, the BJP and JD(S) candidates had recorded straight wins in the MLC polls. Our four winners are not among the candidates who got cross votes. This is the right time for the cross-vote crooks to introspect. Our heroes will face the consequences of cross voting, Kumaraswamy said. He also warned those responsible for cross-voting that they would have to face the consequences, in a pointed message to the ruling Congress amid the political fallout of the election results. It can be noted that the ruling Congress in Karnataka scored a duck in the MLC elections with the NDA taking home four seats, three by the BJP and one by the JD(S). The elections to the Legislative Council seats held on October 23 was seen as a test of coordination between the alliance partners BJP and Janata Dal (S) and the level of support the Congress may have or not have among teachers and graduates. The BJP won the North-East Teachers' constituency, the South-East Graduates' and the West Graduates' constituencies. Its ally JD(S) took the Bengaluru Teachers' constituency. Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka had stated, the NDAs victory in all four Karnataka Legislative Council constituencies signals its prospects of winning the next Assembly elections. He expressed confidence that the BJP-JD(S) alliance would win over 160 seats in the 224-member Assembly if both parties worked together. He said A.P. Ranganaths victory in the Bengaluru Teachers constituency was possible due to coordination between leaders and workers of both parties. He claimed the defeat of Congress-backed candidate Puttanna was a setback for Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. He also advised Congress leaders to introspect after losing all four seats and said the NDA would bring a stable government to Karnataka.

Nvidia backs Indian AI startup Simplismart in $14 million funding round

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 29 (IANS) AI chip giant Nvidia has invested in Bengaluru-based startup Simplismart as part of a $14 million Series B funding round, betting on software that helps enterprises run artificial intelligence models more efficiently and reduce infrastructure costs, a report has said. The funding round was led by Dallas Venture Capital and also saw participation from Accel, Shastra VC and Micromax. The investment values the four-year-old startup at around $100 million, including the fresh capital, according to the TechCrunch report. Founded in 2022 by former Oracle engineer Amritanshu Jain and former Google engineer Devansh Ghatak, Simplismart develops software designed to improve the deployment and operation of AI models. The platform helps enterprises optimise performance, response times and computing costs without requiring significant additional hardware investments. The investment comes at a time when organisations worldwide are increasing spending on graphics processing units (GPUs) to power AI applications, while also seeking ways to improve efficiency and lower operating costs. Simplismart's software sits between AI models and the underlying computing infrastructure, automatically adjusting deployment settings based on customer requirements. The company says its technology can optimise how quickly models respond, how many requests they can process and the amount of computing power they consume, helping businesses maximise utilisation of existing GPU resources. According to Amritanshu Jain, companies are not necessarily looking for the fastest or cheapest AI inference solutions but rather systems that deliver the right balance of speed, performance and cost for their specific use cases. The startup offers tools that allow enterprises to deploy and manage AI models either through its platform or within their existing cloud and on-premises environments. It also provides capabilities such as model fine-tuning, automatic scaling of computing resources and performance monitoring. Simplismart claims its software helped AI video-generation platform InVideo reduce GPU serving costs by 56 per cent. Its customer list also includes AI video firms HeyGen and Higgsfield, as well as enterprise AI startup Ema. Indian cloud provider Yotta uses the company's technology to power the serverless AI inference service on its Shakti Studio platform. The company said its annualised revenue run rate has grown 14-fold over the past six months, driven by rising customer usage. More than half of its revenue currently comes from the United States, despite having a larger customer base in India.

Karnataka IT union objects to Union Minister Piyush Goyals pitch that Indians are willing to work beyond office hours

KITU claimed that such remarks effectively give corporations a free hand to disregard working hour regulations and weekly holidays

11 arrested for kidnapping two techies in Bengaluru; one techie accused of rape

Sting video row: Priyank Kharge accuses Kumaraswamy of targeting Siddaramaiah, Kharge family

Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Oct 29 (IANS)Karnataka Home and IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Union Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy, accusing him of making contradictory statements and attempting to target former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Kharge family politically. Speaking to the media, Kharge quoted the Kannada saying, A tongue without discipline and words without thought, describing it as the most appropriate line to characterise Kumaraswamy. He said Kumaraswamy himself appeared to have no clarity about what he had said yesterday, the day before, what he was saying today, or what he would say tomorrow. Taking Siddaramaiah's issue as a pretext, he points a finger at the Chief Minister on one occasion, at Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan on another, and at the Kharge family on yet another, Kharge said. Accusing Kumaraswamy of exploiting divisions for political gain, Kharge said setting fire to someone else's house to cook one's own meal was known as house-breaking or destructive conduct, adding that he hoped Kumaraswamy understood the meaning of the term. Kharge alleged that Kumaraswamy had been the person who had most humiliated Siddaramaiah and had also prevented him from becoming Chief Minister. He described this as a fact clearly evident in Karnataka's political history. Raising questions over the ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged sting video, Kharge asked Kumaraswamy why members of his IT cell were not appearing for questioning and why he was unable to state confidently that his associates had no role in the video release. He also questioned why Kumaraswamy was not condemning the uploading of the video and asked what conspiracy, if any, had been carried out during his visit to the United States in the name of the Akka Sammelana. Will you speak about it, Kumaranna? Kharge asked, directly challenging Kumaraswamy to respond to the questions. Kharge also alleged that Kumaraswamy could not tolerate even the progress of his own brother's family and questioned whether he could be expected to tolerate others. Kharge advised Kumaraswamy to maintain dignity in his speech, cultivate the habit of speaking the truth and demonstrate greater maturity through his conduct. Union Minister and JDS State President H.D. Kumaraswamy had earlier urged JDS workers not to fear the police officers harassing them. He advised them to note down the names of officials acting illegally and intruding into their homes under political pressure, stating that time will give them the answer. He stated he is well aware of what the police officers are doing and under whose pressure they are acting on a whim. Workers need not be disheartened. At most, it is just one more year. Then we will come to power and settle the accounts. However, give respect to those officers who work for the people without violating the law, he said. Kumaraswamy lashed out at Home Minister Priyank Kharge, saying the Congress's defeat in the four Legislative Council constituencies is a direct answer to his misrule and misuse of power, accusing him of turning the police department into a puppet.

WPL 2027: Choosing Four Overseas Players In Playing XI Will Be Really Hard, Says Klinger

The Ashleigh Gardner: Gujarat Giants (GG) head coach Michael Klinger said picking the four overseas players in the playing eleven will be one of the toughest calls the franchise faces when the 2027 Womens Premier League (WPL) happens from January 14 to February 7. At the auction held in Kochi, GG filled their three vacant slots by signing India wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini (for Rs 40 lakh), Irelands seam-bowling all-rounder Orla Prendergast and talented all-rounder Samaira Raghav, who was a late addition to the auction pool, for Rs 30 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, respectively. GG now have six overseas players: captain Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth and Orla, who became the first Irish cricketer to be picked in the WPL. The four overseas playing spots are going to be really hard to choose with the quality we have. Last year we went with our four batters, or rounders. We have Kim Garth as well, who didnt play last year and is in career best form at the moment. So shes certainly going to be pushing to play matches as well and provides fantastic new ball and death bowling options for us. Along with Orla now, its going to be some really difficult decisions, but thats a good problem to have, Klinger told IANS in an exclusive conversation after the auction on Thursday. The Ashleigh Gardner-led side made the playoffs last season but lost to Delhi Capitals in the Eliminator. In WPL 2027, with the venues yet to be known, GG will be aiming to go one step further and clinch their first-ever title. On the rationale of signing Kamalini, who played last two WPL seasons for the Mumbai Indians, despite already having two keepers in Beth and Yastika Bhatia, Klinger stated the franchise had been prepared to pay more for her and would use her purely as a batter. With Kamalini, we thought there were going to be more bidders for her. So to get her at base price was great. We probably would have bid a little bit high if required. So I think just her versatility in the batting order gives us options both for her and our other batters and for our overseas options as well. In terms of having three keepers, were probably looking for her as a batter only. Initially with Yastika and Beth options to take the gloves, I think theyre probably the ones well go with at the start. But Kamalinis played as a batter only before and were really excited to have her, he added. In terms of Samaira, uncapped finishers are hard to come by in the WPL, and Samaira has shown that ability while turning out for Delhi in the Womens Under-19 T20 Trophy this year, where she made 162 runs at an average of 54 and a strike rate of 216, including being unbeaten four times. In that tournament, Samaira recorded strike rates of 325 against Pondicherry, 308 against Bengal, 275 against Uttarakhand, 221 against Saurashtra and 192 in the semi-final against Haryana. Samaira has a reputation of being a really good middle order batter who finishes innings off really well. Shes done that recently in the under-19 domestic tournament, and we had her at our training camp a few weeks ago in Bengaluru, where in some scenarios and practice matches, she did the same thing, added Klinger. Samaira first caught the attention of WPL scouts while turning out for North Delhi Strikers in the Womens Delhi Premier League (DPL) this year, where she hit a match-winning six when the equation read six runs needed off two balls against the East Delhi Riders at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Samaira has a reputation of being a really good middle order batter who finishes innings off really well. Shes done that recently in the under-19 domestic tournament, and we had her at our training camp a few weeks ago in Bengaluru, where in some scenarios and practice matches, she did the same thing, added Klinger. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

17.78 lakh kg of ration grains seized, 238 FIRs registered in 3 months in Karnataka

Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Oct 29 (IANS) The Karnataka Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Department has seized 17.78 lakh kg of rice and other ration commodities in raids against the illegal diversion and smuggling of foodgrains over the past three months. The department has also filed 238 FIRs in connection with the development, an official statement said on Thursday. On the directions of Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Minister Rizwan Arshad, department officials have been conducting continuous inspections of vehicles transporting ration commodities and raiding private godowns since August 1. The operations have resulted in the seizure of 17.78 lakh kg of ration commodities, including rice, wheat, ragi and other pulses, across various districts of the state. Belagavi district in North Karnataka accounted for more than five lakh kg of seized ration commodities. Similarly, 3.5 lakh kg were seized in Kolar district, while more than one lakh kg of rice and other foodgrains each were confiscated in Bagalkot and Vijayapura districts. A total of 238 FIRs have been registered at various police stations across the state in connection with the raids and inspections, and 215 people have been arrested. As many as 156 vehicles allegedly used for ration commodity smuggling have also been seized. The department has also intensified raids against illegal stockpiling of cooking gas cylinders and petrol and diesel. Over the past three months, officials have seized 14,250 litres of petrol and 1,492 gas cylinders. The total value of the seized ration commodities, gas cylinders and petrol is estimated at around Rs 10 crore. Minister Rizwan Arshad has directed officials to continue raids against networks involved in ration rice smuggling. He said the theft and illegal diversion of rice and other foodgrains earmarked for the poor would not be tolerated under any circumstances. People across the state are facing difficulties amid drought conditions. In such a situation, using rice meant for the poor for commercial purposes and profit is an unforgivable offence. Our government will not allow this, the minister said. With rice prices rising over the past few days, Arshad also warned that the department would take action against those attempting to exploit the situation by illegally hoarding rice or selling it on the black market.

BNU Physical Education Director Recruitment 2026

Bengaluru North University (BNU) has published the Recruitment 2026 notification for the post of Physical Education Director. The offline application process will be conducted from 29 October 2026 to 17 November 2026. For complete details, candidates can visit bnu.karnataka.gov.in.

Bengaluru Metro Pink Line Receives Safety Clearance, PM Modi May Inaugurate On 15 November

We Did The Best We Could To Get Molineux Back: RCB Head Coach Malolan

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) went up to Rs 1.05 crore in an attempt to bring Australian all-rounder Sophie Molineux back into their squad at the WPL 2027 auction, but eventually lost out to UP Warriorz. RCB head coach Malolan Rangarajan explained the franchises approach to the bidding on auction day, while also outlining why the team backed injury-hit Australian all-rounder Jess Jonassen for Rs 40 lakh as it finalised its squad for the upcoming season. Rangarajan acknowledged that RCB had pushed hard to retain Molineuxs services, particularly after her contribution to the franchises championship-winning campaign last season. However, with a purse of Rs 1.15 crore entering the auction, the team had to balance its pursuit of the Australian with other recruitment priorities. When you have Rs 1.15 crores and you go till 1.05 for her, I think we did the best we could to get her back. We also have to recognise that we did win the championship last year. So, we would have loved to have her in our squad, and we tried to demonstrate that. But I wish Sophie the very best when she plays for UP, a gun cricketer. We would have liked her, but again, thats how the auction works, and we had other players also that we were looking at, Rangarajan told JioStar. Despite missing out on Molineux, RCB secured four players to complete their squad, with Jonassen joining South African all-rounder Chloe Tryon, Indian batter Tejal Hasabnis and Indian batter Vrinda Dinesh. The acquisitions cost the franchise Rs 1.10 crore in total, adding depth to its spin attack, all-round resources and Indian batting options. Jonassens availability, however, remains an important consideration ahead of the tournament. The Australian has opted out of the Womens Big Bash League (WBBL) while recovering from an injury, but RCB are working with the expectation that she will be fit in time for the WPL. Rangarajan said the franchise had assessed the risks before committing to the experienced left-arm spinner and had contingency plans in place should her recovery take longer than anticipated. She has opted not to play the WBBL now because she is nursing an injury. The information we have at the moment is that shes going to be fit by the end of December, and shell play a couple of domestic List-A games in Australia and should be fit in time for the WPL. JJ is a very experienced player. Were aware of her current fitness status, but we still wanted her. Similarly with Sophie also. We were very aware of what we were going to sign up for. So, if required, we also have all our backup plans ready. Id like to focus on JJ the player and the way she improves our team. A left-arm spinner who is a powerplay option for us through the middle and death, and more importantly, bats anywhere between four and six. So very, very happy to have JJ in the team, he added. She has opted not to play the WBBL now because she is nursing an injury. The information we have at the moment is that shes going to be fit by the end of December, and shell play a couple of domestic List-A games in Australia and should be fit in time for the WPL. JJ is a very experienced player. Were aware of her current fitness status, but we still wanted her. Similarly with Sophie also. We were very aware of what we were going to sign up for. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Drug Peddling Ring Busted In Bengaluru

Bengaluru police have arrested six individuals, including two from other states, for allegedly selling narcotic substances to the public and college students. The arrests, made in separate operations, led to the seizure of 9.89 kg of ganja and 16 grams of MDMA, valued at Rs 6.52 lakh. The accused confessed to procuring drugs cheaply and selling them at higher prices, and cases have been registered under the NDPS Act as investigations continue to trace suppliers.

Cockroach Found in Masala Dosa at Bengalurus Renowned CTR, Hotel Issues Apology

A cockroach discovered in a masala dosa at Bengalurus CTR has raised hygiene concerns, prompting an apology from the restaurant management. Cockroach Found in Masala Dosa at Bengalurus Renowned CTR, Hotel Issues Apology

Karnataka CM, Union Ministers pay tribute to Puneeth Rajkumar on fifth death anniversary

Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Oct 29 (IANS)Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi, H. D. Kumaraswamy, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka, and BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra on Thursday paid tribute to Kannada superstar and Karnataka Ratna awardee Puneeth Rajkumar on his fifth death anniversary. In his tribute, Shivakumar said Puneeth Rajkumar became a beloved member of households across Karnataka through his innocent smile, humility, and talent as an actor. He said Rajkumar continues to live forever in the hearts of millions of Kannadigas. The Chief Minister noted that Puneeth, who won a National Film Award as a child artist, took Kannada cinema to new heights as a leading actor. Despite being a superstar on screen, he led a simple and dignified life off screen, setting an example for others to follow. Union Minister for Education Pralhad Joshi paid tribute to Kannada superstar and Karnataka Ratna awardee Dr Puneeth Rajkumar on his death anniversary, saying the actor had earned a permanent place in the hearts of millions of Kannadigas through his exceptional acting, simplicity, humanity and public service. In his statement, Joshi said Puneeth began his artistic journey as a child actor and grew into a leading star who became a source of pride for the Kannada film industry. He said the actor brought light into the lives of people not only through his performances but also through his philanthropy and contributions to education, healthcare and social service. Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy stated, Even if years roll by, our Puneeth Rajkumar remains forever etched as an unblemished love in millions of hearts. His personality, gentle simplicity, and society-oriented service have immortalized Appu. On this day, I offer my heartfelt salutations in his blessed memory, the jewel of our Kannada land. Leader of the opposition Ashoka said Puneeth Rajkumar, fondly known as Appu, entered the Kannada film industry as a child artist and won the affection and admiration of people across the state. Recalling that five years had passed since his demise, Ashoka called upon people to remember the artistic contributions and public service of the actor on his death anniversary. Karnataka BJP chief Vijayendra also paid heartfelt tributes to Puneeth, describing him as a Karnataka Ratna whom the people would never forget and a beloved figure cherished by Kannadigas. He said Puneeth earned a permanent place in the hearts of millions not merely as an extraordinary, successful and popular actor, but also through his compassion, simplicity and selfless social service. Puneeth Rajkumar, the youngest son of legendary Kannada actor Dr Rajkumar, died on October 29, 2021, at the age of 46. Fondly remembered as Appu, he remains one of the most beloved personalities in Kannada cinema, with his philanthropic contributions inspiring people across Karnataka.

'Was done right here: Karnataka minister Satish Jarkiholi defends SIR

Sanitation workers dump garbage outside woman

Bengaluru: A dispute between a woman and municipal sanitation workers over garbage clearance escalated in Nelamangala, where the workers allegedly dumped a tractor-load of waste outside her house in protest. The incident occurred in Weavers Colony, where a woman identified as Puttamma, a resident of Ward 14, reportedly argued with sanitation worker Ashok Kumar while Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

WPL 2027 Auction: Teams Spend Rs 73.1 Crore as 25 Players Sold; RCB and DC Retain Final Roster Slots

Franchises spent a total of 73.1 crore as 25 out of the 27 available squad slots were filled during the Womens Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction on Wednesday. Only Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Delhi Capitals (DC) concluded the auction with one open slot remaining in their respective rosters, while all other franchises exhausted their [] The post WPL 2027 Auction: Teams Spend Rs 73.1 Crore as 25 Players Sold; RCB and DC Retain Final Roster Slots appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .

Bengaluru man pays Rs 12,500 monthly for 40 months in Rs 5 lakh chit scheme, gets only Rs 20,000; consumer commission orders company to pay Rs 4.07 lakh with interest

JAI - Japan, Australia, India: Rajnath Singh reaffirms close ties with Japan, Australia at meeting with counterparts

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh shared a picture with his Japanese and Australian counterparts, Shinjir Koizumi and Richard Marles, with the caption JAI: Japan, Australia, India, underscoring cooperation among the three Indo-Pacific partners. On the sidelines of the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus in Cebu, Singh held bilateral talks with both leaders to strengthen defence cooperation and coordination. He also invited Marles to attend Aero India 2027 in Bengaluru.

The Madras Warp explores culture and memory through 16 artists at Lalit Kala Akademi

Sixteen artists from Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kerala come together to explore culture, memory, identity, and place through painting, photography, printmaking, mixed media, and installation

Revenue authorities told to examine records in 13-year-old land dispute involving 70 acres of government land in Kalaburagi district

The appeal had been heard 30 times by the Information Commissions benches in Bengaluru and Kalaburagi

After Arunachal, Karnataka's 18% fall second steepest in SIR deletions

SKUAST-K, AIH inaugurates conference on plant physiology, horticulture improvement

Srinagar, Oct 28: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir), in collaboration with the Academy for Indian Horticulture (AIH), Bengaluru, inaugurated a three-day national conference on Applications of Plant Physiology for Crop Improvement, Quality Enhancement and Post-Harvest Management in Horticulture at Nundreshi Convention Centre, Shalimar Campus. The conference organised by Division of Basic Sciences and Humanities, Faculty of Horticulture, brought together scientists, academicians, researchers, industry representatives and students to discuss advances in plant physiology and their applications in crop improvement, quality enhancement and sustainable horticultural production. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, the chief guest, emphasised the role of plant physiology in developing productive, resource-efficient and climate-resilient horticultural systems. He called for science-driven solutions to address climate change, improve crop quality, reduce post-harvest losses and translate research into practical benefits for farmers. He also highlighted the importance of the SKUAST-KashmirAIH collaboration in fostering scientific exchange and research partnerships. The inaugural session was attended by Dr. Surender Kumar Tikoo, President, AIH; Dr. N. K. Krishna Kumar, Secretary, AIH; Prof. Nataraja Karaba, Dean, Postgraduate Studies, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru; and Dr. R. G. Agarwal, Chairman Emeritus, Dhanuka Agritech Limited. Welcoming the delegates, Dr. Javeed Iqbal Ahmad Bhat, Organising Secretary and Professor and Head, Division of Basic Sciences and Humanities, highlighted the importance of plant physiology in addressing climatic variability, environmental stress and post-harvest challenges. Dr. N. K. Krishna Kumar underscored the importance of collaborative research and stronger partnerships between academic institutions, professional academies and industry to address emerging challenges in horticulture. The keynote address was delivered by Prof. R. Uma Shaanker, eminent plant scientist and former Head, Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru. He highlighted the relevance of plant physiological research to crop improvement and sustainable horticultural production. A major highlight was the presentation of the Academy for Indian Horticulture Lifetime Achievement Awards to Dr. Surender Kumar Tikoo and Dr. R. D. Rawal, former Principal Scientist and Head, Division of Plant Pathology, ICARIndian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, in recognition of their contributions to horticultural science. Books, publications and the conference souvenir were also released. Prof. Ashaq Hussain Pandit, Dean, Faculty of Horticulture, SKUAST-Kashmir, delivered the vote of thanks. Scheduled for October 2729, the conference features keynote lectures, invited talks, oral and poster presentations, and technical sessions on climate resilience, stress physiology, plant growth regulation, orchard productivity, precision agriculture, protected cultivation, plant breeding, biotechnology, genomics and post-harvest management.

40% of patients at NIMHANS neurology casualty have stroke; KMCRI in Hubbali treats 120 cases a month

Hub-and-spoke model extends specialised stroke care to northern Karnataka, reducing the need for emergency transfers to Bengaluru. World Stroke Day is observed on October 29.

Bengaluru-based Nature Classrooms releases new butterfly migration game

Aswathi Asokan, who has conceptualised this new game, talks about its genesis, how it is played and how gamification can help drive conservation

'Ballot' jolt for Congress: BJP-JD(S) sweeps all 4 Karnataka MLC seats

Sell across states without an office

A papier-mch seller in Srinagar can reach buyers in Bengaluru through an online marketplace, but stocking goods in the marketplaces Karnataka warehouse has meant taking GST registration there, which in turn demanded a principal place of business of the sellers own in Karnataka. Renting premises in every State merely to register has kept small sellers confined to their home States. The 57th GST Council meeting, held on 8 October 2026, has addressed this by recommending a new Rule 14B in the CGST Rules, 2017, building on the in-principle approval of its 56th meeting. A senior Finance Ministry official has said the facility will go live on the GST portal from 1 November 2026. The scheme is optional. An eligible seller can register in a State or Union Territory where it has no physical presence by declaring an e-commerce operators (ECOs) warehouse there as its Principal Place of Business (PPoB); other ECO warehouses in that State may be added as Additional Places of Business. Three conditions apply. First, the seller must supply only goods, and only through ECOs collecting tax at source under Section 52 of the CGST Act; offline sales cannot be made on this registration. Second, output tax (CGST, SGST/UTGST and IGST together) on supplies to registered persons must not exceed 2.5 lakh a month, excluding stock transfers to the sellers own registrations under the same PAN; in effect, the seller cannot pass on more than 2.5 lakh of input tax credit monthly. Third, the ECO must consent. Only one Rule 14B registration per PAN is allowed in a State. The seller must also hold a regular registration in its home State; one registered there under Rule 14A must first withdraw that option in FORM GST REG-32. The application is filed in FORM GST REG-01, quoting the home-State GSTIN and warehouse details. The ECO must decide within seven working days; without consent, the application is deemed rejected. The home-State jurisdictional officer then completes biometric Aadhaar authentication and verification of documents and of the home-State premises, unless already done. On successful verification, the portal grants registration electronically, and the certificate shows both the warehouse addresses and the home-State PpoB. Books of account for every such registration are kept at the home-State PPoB and produced when the proper officer of the State of registration asks. The certificate and GSTIN need not be displayed at the warehouse. A change of warehouse is made in FORM GST REG-14 with fresh ECO consent. The ECO must appoint an authorised representative in each State to furnish information to tax authorities and report any withdrawal of consent on the portal. The seller then has 30 days to amend, failing which the registration is deemed cancelled in FORM GST REG-38; cancellation of the home-State registration has the same effect. A seller may exit voluntarily through REG-32. Two cautions. Council recommendations are not law; Rule 14B operates only once notified, and the Ministry has said the notification and an explanatory circular will follow shortly, so practitioners should read the notified text before filing. Officers should note that verification rests with the home State, while the warehouse State relies on records called from the home State and on the ECOs representative. For Jammu and Kashmirs sellers, whose products enjoy national demand but limited reach, the scheme opens the national market without a national chain of offices. The author is a JKAS officer, presently posted as State Taxes Officer, Circle Budgam. Views are personal.

NDA Gains Ground In Council Polls, Congress Faces Questions Over Poor Show

The NDA alliance swept all four constituencies, with the BJP retaining the North-East Teachers, West Graduates and South-East Graduates seats, while its ally JD(S) wrested the Bengaluru Teachers constituency from the Congress.

American who moved to India turns $250,000 investment into $23 million food chain in Bengaluru

Rajyotsava celebrations mandatory in Karnatakas schools on Nov 1, a Sunday

Enforcement Directorate reveals Rs 10 crore deal between Sahukar and realtor in Karnataka Public Service Commission scam

Bengaluru supplier ran drug network using dead drops; four arrested in Hyderabad

83,806 voter enrolment requests rejected; only 9 of 361 appeals against deletions heard

GITAM Professor Named Among Worlds Top 2% Scientists

GITAM University Bengaluru associate professor Kadiyala Chandra Babu Naidu has earned recognition among the worlds top 2% of scientists for the seventh consecutive time.

Six dogs die suspiciously inside kennel, animal activist files complaint

Public landmarks to turn pink today

Foreign nationals just 0.007% of SIR deletions

RCB completes squad with four additions at WPL 2027 auction

Royal Challengers Bengaluru has enhanced its roster by signing four new players during the WPL Auction 2027. Among the new additions are Australian all-rounder Jess Jonassen and South African all-rounder Chloe Tryon. The squad also includes Indian batters Tejal Hasabnis and Vrinda Dinesh, adding to their local talent. Head Coach Malolan Rangarajan emphasized the importance of incorporating experienced players and maintaining a competitive edge.

Govt examining demand for more protest venues: Priyank

4 Indian expats strike gold in Abu Dhabi Big Ticket lucky draw

Bengaluru: Four Indian residents of Gulf countries have won 200-gram bars of 24-carat gold in the latest e-draw conducted by Abu Dhabi Big Ticket, with an Udupi native and a Bengaluru-born engineer among the fortunate winners. The draw held during the third week of October awarded a gold bar to each winner. The estimated value Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

WPL 2027 auction: Went in with a clear idea of the squad we wanted, says UPW coach Nayar

Digital Desk | Kochi, Oct 28 (IANS) UP Warriorz (UPW) head coach Abhishek Nayar said the franchise went into the 2027 Womens Premier League (WPL) auction with a clear plan and came away with players who would give the side both quality and flexibility. UPW were the busiest franchise at the auction held on Wednesday, adding eight players to the 10 they had retained. Their headline signing was Australia captain Sophie Molineux, the most expensive buy of Wednesdays auction at Rs 1.10 crore. We went into the auction with a clear idea of the kind of squad we wanted to build. Sophie Molineux was a key addition for us, and we are delighted to have secured her services. Along with Grace Harris, Sneh Rana and the other players we have brought in, she gives us a lot of quality and flexibility. We wanted players who could contribute in different situations and complement the core we already have. We are happy with the group we have assembled and look forward to bringing everyone together ahead of the season, Nayar said in a statement issued by the franchise. Besides Sophie, UPW signed Australian all-rounder Grace Harris, India all-rounder Sneh Rana, leg-spinner Asha Sobhana and wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma for Rs 30 lakh each. Scotland all-rounder Kathryn Bryce and uncapped Indian all-rounders Sahana Pawar and Manali Dakshini came in for Rs 10 lakh each. The franchise had retained a strong core that includes India all-rounder Deepti Sharma, former Australia captain Meg Lanning, England left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone and Australia batter Phoebe Litchfield. Kshemal Waingankar, COO and Director of Cricket at Capri Sports, the franchises owners, said Sophies arrival would strengthen an already potent spin attack. Sophie Molineuxs addition further strengthens our spin attack and puts us in a strong position to explore different combinations. Grace Harris brings power to the middle order, while Sophie offers leadership qualities, exceptional bowling ability and a great presence within the team. We believe the combination of Sophie Molineux and Sophie Ecclestone could be a formidable force for us, while Grace gives us the flexibility to adjust our combinations based on the conditions and match situations, he said. Harris, who began her WPL career with UPW in 2023, returns after winning the 2026 title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Sobhana was bought back for a fraction of the Rs 1.1 crore the franchise paid for her in 2026. UP Warriorz squad for 2027 WPL: Meg Lanning, Deepti Sharma, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Ecclestone, Harleen Deol, Pratika Rawal, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Gaud, Shipra Giri, Simran Shaikh, Sophie Molineux, Grace Harris, Sneh Rana, Asha Sobhana, Sushma Verma, Kathryn Bryce, Manali Dakshini, and Sahana Pawar.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Full Squad After WPL Auction 2027

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) added four players to their squad at the WPL Auction 2027 today, signing Australian all-rounder Jess Jonassen for Rs 40 Lakhs

WPL 2027 Auction: Missed Having Molineux, But Jonassen Will Improve Our Squad, Says Rangarajan

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Malolan Rangarajan admitted the defending champions would have loved to sign Sophie Molineux at the 2027 Womens Premier League (WPL) auction, though he felt that acquiring her fellow Australian left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Jess Jonassen would make the side stronger. RCB pushed the bidding for Sophie, a member of their title-winning squad in 2024, to Rs 1.05 crore before UP Warriorz signed her for Rs 1.10 crore. The champions then waited until the accelerated round to sign Jess at her base price of Rs 40 lakh. I think we bid for five players, got four. But it was pretty simple and clear for us. The intention with which we approached this auction was to try to improve our team. We, I think, for lack of a better phrase, tried to throw the kitchen sink at Sophie Molineux. We would have loved to have her. Everybody knows how good a cricketer she is, Rangarajan said in a post-auction press conference. He also said Jess, who offers similar skills with the ball and depth with the bat, was high on RCBs wish list. But a similar left-arm spinner who also gives us depth with batting was JJ, who was very high on our ranking list also. It just so worked out that JJ came later in the auction. So it worked out. That meant after the second set, all the way down to the 11th set, we just had to sit tight. Our priorities: we already have Prathyoosha as our backup keeper, and we knew we had to pick another Indian batter. Again, the batters that we were looking for went unsold. So we knew we could always circle back to the players we wanted, tick off our initial priority of getting one of the overseas left-arm spinners. Were very glad JJ, who weve landed up with, were very happy with that pick, and Im sure shell improve our squad. RCB also signed South Africas batting all-rounder Chloe Tryon and India batter Tejal Hasabnis for Rs 30 lakh each, and opener Vrinda Dinesh for Rs 10 lakh. Very happy. Chloe Tryon is obviously a very experienced international player. Shes now, I think, playing a lot of franchise leagues, also doing well. She just strengthens our squad currently with somebody who gives us depth with batting at maybe anywhere between four and seven. Also very handy with the left-arm spin. The key thing for us was trying to identify experienced players whove already been in the WPL environment. But very, very happy. Now it seems to be a very good mix of experienced players with a couple of youngsters who have now gone on to play for the country. So very happy with Chloe in our squad, added Rangarajan. RCB also signed South Africas batting all-rounder Chloe Tryon and India batter Tejal Hasabnis for Rs 30 lakh each, and opener Vrinda Dinesh for Rs 10 lakh. Very happy. Chloe Tryon is obviously a very experienced international player. Shes now, I think, playing a lot of franchise leagues, also doing well. She just strengthens our squad currently with somebody who gives us depth with batting at maybe anywhere between four and seven. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Bengaluru Voter Count Plunges 43% After SIR

Of the total 59.08 lakh voters in the city, Bengaluru Urban has 24.01 lakh voters, BBMP (North) has 13.25 lakh, BBMP (South) has 11.13 lakh, BBMP (Central) has 10.67 lakh and Bengaluru Rural has 8.04 lakh.

Karnataka proposes uniform buffer norms for lakes, drains outside Bengaluru

Ashok accuses State Election Commission of printing 90 lakh voter cards after announcement of SIR; SEC denies charge

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok has accused the State Election Commission of violating norms to facilitateirregularities in the proposed GBA pollsby printing 90 lakh voters identity cards in Bengaluru at a cost of 20 croreafter the announcement of Special Intensive Revision by the Election Commission of India

Thieves strike students room, flee with MacBook, gold chain in Bengaluru

Man calls date to friends home in Bengaluru, 2 transgender persons rob 226g gold

Defending champions RCB sign Jess Jonassen for Rs 40 lakh at WPL 2027 auction

Mumbai Indians selected young batter Saanika Chalke for Rs 10 lakh at the Women's Premier League 2027 mini-auction. Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured Jess Jonassen and signed her at her base price of Rs 40 lakh. UP Warriorz added Kathryn Bryce and two other players to their squad for Rs 10 lakh each. Delhi Capitals acquired Uma Kashvi and Kirstie Gordon for Rs 10 lakh each.

Pink Line elevated corridor likely to be inaugurated on November 15: CM

In a step closer to the inauguration of the line, the 7.5-km elevated corridor between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere, received clearance from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety

After number of women in electoral rolls increases to 2.29 crore after special intensive revision, Congress works to improve delivery of its guarantee schemes

Where did they vanish? Bengaluru loses 44 lakh voters, govt to trace them

After special intensive revision sees deletion of 99 lakh voters, major political parties in Karnataka unsure who gains and who loses from revised roll

Ward One campaign: Month-long drive to fix civic issues in Bengaluru from Nov 1

Two men pretending to be scrap sellers rob Rs 5,000 from shop owner and daughters bag in east Bengaluru; one caught

Greater Bengaluru Authority can proceed against erring PG centres: HC

Man caught for stealing batteries worth Rs 2 lakh from Bengalurus Byappanahalli railway station

Make use of Kannada mandatory in apartment signboards in Bengaluru, says Kannada Development Authority Chairman

Prof. Bilimale suggests that priority should be given to the use of Kannada in notices, circulars, announcements, and administrative affairs of Residents Welfare Associations

Karnataka, DGFT to host state-level workshop to help exporters leverage FTAs

On October 30, a workshop will be organized by the DGFT, Karnataka government, and FIEO in Bengaluru. The event aims to enhance Karnataka's export competitiveness and awareness of Free Trade Agreements. Nearly 200 participants, including exporters and industry officials, are expected to attend. Technical sessions will cover opportunities in various sectors and policy interventions under new FTAs. Senior officials and the state minister will address attendees at this important event.

Was literally shaking: Woman catches man recording her inside Metro in Bengaluru

UP Warriorz buy Sophie Molineux for Rs 1.1 crore, Delhi Capitals sign Kiran Navgire at WPL 2027 auction

UP Warriorz acquired Australia captain Sophie Molineux and all-rounder Sneh Rana during the mini-auction held in Kochi. Delhi Capitals signed Kiran Navgire while adding several young talents to their roster as well. Gujarat Giants acquired G Kamalini and Orla Prendergast to enhance their squad for upcoming matches. Royal Challengers Bengaluru brought Jess Jonassen on board despite her ongoing recovery from injury.

WPL 2027 Auction: RCB Open Account With Jonassen, MI Pick Saanika, GG Take Samaira

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made their first signing of the 2027Womens Premier League (WPL) auction by landing Australias left-arm spin all-rounder Jess Jonassen for Rs 40 lakh here on Wednesday. Two-time champions Mumbai Indians picked up promising batter Saanika Chalke and Gujarat Giants signed 16-year-old Samaira Raghav as the accelerated round got under way. Jess, who played three seasons for Delhi Capitals, was the first player to go under the hammer in the accelerated round. RCB, who had not bid for anyone until then, got the left-arm spinning all-rounder at her base price. She is currently out of the Womens Big Bash League (WBBL) with a neck injury but is expected to be fit by January. MI bought Saanika, a 20-year-old left-handed top-order batter, for her base price of Rs 10 lakh. A member of Indias 2025 Under-19 T20 World Cup-winning squad, Saanika first made headlines with a double hundred for Mumbai in an Under-19 one-day match against Sikkim in 2022. She was the leading run-getter in the Mumbai T20 league earlier this year with 223 runs from five matches, and struck 85 off 53 balls against Jharkhand in the ongoing Senior Womens T20 Trophy just ahead of the auction. GG used their final slot on 16-year-old Delhi all-rounder Samaira by signing her for Rs 10 lakh. She was one of four players added to the auction list on the eve of the auction. UP Warriorz continued their busy evening by adding three more players: Scotland all-rounder Kathryn Bryce and uncapped India all-rounders Manali Dakshini and Sahana Pawar, each for Rs 10 lakh. Kathryn found a buyer even though her sister, wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Bryce, went unsold earlier in the day. Delhi Capitals signed 15-year-old uncapped all-rounder Uma Kashvi by bidding for her at the last moment, and Scotland left-arm spinner Kirstie Gordon, both for Rs 10 lakh. Gordon played five T20Is and a Test for England, including the 2018 T20 World Cup final, before switching to Scotland, and will now be considered an Associate player. The accelerated round took the number of players sold at the auction so far to 18, leaving nine slots still to be filled across the franchises in the next round. Several players went unsold in the round, including Indias leg-spin bowling all-rounder Devika Vaidya, who recently returned to competitive cricket after motherhood. Kathryn found a buyer even though her sister, wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Bryce, went unsold earlier in the day. Delhi Capitals signed 15-year-old uncapped all-rounder Uma Kashvi by bidding for her at the last moment, and Scotland left-arm spinner Kirstie Gordon, both for Rs 10 lakh. Gordon played five T20Is and a Test for England, including the 2018 T20 World Cup final, before switching to Scotland, and will now be considered an Associate player. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

WPL 2027 full squads: How MI, RCB, DC, GG, UPW stack up after the auction

The five franchises Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz had a total of 27 slots to fill.

Ward-wise voter rolls for Bengaluru civic polls soon

Fortis Healthcare acquires Suguna Hospital in an all-cash 277-crore deal

Commissioned in 2006, Suguna Hospital is a 110-bed facility on Dr Rajkumar Road in Rajajinagar, north-west Bengaluru

No slogans, just look at results: Hardik Patels dig at Congress over MLC results

Digital Desk | Gandhinagar, Oct 28 (IANS) Gujarat BJP MLA Hardik Patel on Wednesday took a swipe at the Congress over its performance in Legislative Council elections across four states, highlighting that the polls were conducted using ballot papers, but the party failed to win a single seat. In a post on social media platform X, Patel wrote: 4 major states. 28 MLC seats. Elections conducted using ballot papers! Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Karnataka. Now, take a guess: how many of these 28 seats did Congress actually win? No slogans. No excuses. Just look at the results! The post came amid counting and the declaration of results for 28 Legislative Council seats across the four states. The Congress failed to secure a victory in the election cycle, with the results providing ammunition for the BJP to question the Opposition partys arguments in favour of ballot papers amid its allegations concerning electronic voting machines (EVMs). The outcome in Karnataka was a particular setback for the Congress, which is in power in the state. The BJP-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance swept the four Legislative Council seats there, including the Bengaluru Teachers constituency previously held by the Congress. In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP won four seats, and the Samajwadi Party secured two, while counting continued in other constituencies. Bihar also witnessed setbacks for established parties. Prashant Kishors Jan Suraaj Party won its first Legislative Council seat after its candidate Suresh Rai defeated former Bihar Congress president Madan Mohan Jha in the Darbhanga Teachers constituency. The Rashtriya Janata Dal also wrested the Patna Teachers seat from five-term BJP MLC Nawal Kishore Yadav. Counting for other constituencies was continuing, while results in Maharashtra were still emerging. Patels intervention carries an added political dimension given his own journey from being a prominent critic of the BJP to becoming one of its legislators in Gujarat. He rose to prominence in 2015 as the face of the Patidar reservation agitation, which challenged the then BJP-led state government. The movement made him a significant political figure ahead of the 2017 Gujarat Assembly elections, when the Congress improved its performance against the BJP. Patel joined the Congress in March 2019 and was appointed working president of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee in July 2020. However, differences with the party leadership grew, and he resigned from the Congress on May 18, 2022, criticising its functioning and leadership. He formally joined the BJP on June 2, 2022, in Gandhinagar, subsequently receiving the partys ticket from Viramgam for the Gujarat Assembly elections. Patel won the seat in December 2022, defeating Aam Aadmi Party candidate Amarsinh Thakor by more than 51,000 votes, and entered the Assembly as a BJP MLA. His latest post continues his criticism of his former party, using the ballot-paper results to challenge the Congresss political messaging on electoral processes.

WPL 2027 auction: New signings give us more options, says GG head coach Klinger

Digital Desk | Kochi, Oct 28 (IANS) Gujarat Giants (GG) head coach Michael Klinger said that picking G Kamalini, Orla Prendergast and Samaira Raghav at the 2027 Womens Premier League (WPL) auction had given the franchise more options, as it completed its 18-member squad for the new season. The franchise went into the auction with 15 retained players, having spent Rs 13.75 crore on retentions, and Rs 1.25 crore left in their purse to fill three slots, one of them for an overseas player. GG bought Tamil Nadus left-handed top-order wicketkeeper-batter Kamalini, a member of Indias 2025 ICC Womens Under-19 T20 World Cup winning team, for Rs 40 lakh. Irelands seam-bowling all-rounder Orla was signed for Rs 30 lakh. Samaira, a 16-year-old all-rounder, came in at her base price of Rs 10 lakh. The players did well last season and gave us a strong foundation to build on. Our preseason camp in Bengaluru helped us assess the squad and identify the areas we needed to strengthen. Kamalini gives us an aggressive option throughout the batting order, Orla brings real all-round quality as a wicket-taking medium pacer, and Samaira adds explosive power in the middle order. The new signings complement our retained players and give us more options. We are pleased with how the squad has come together and look forward to the season ahead, Klinger said in a statement by the franchise at the conclusion of the auction. Sanjay Adesara, Chief Business Officer of Adani Sportsline, which owns the franchise, said the signings reflected GGs commitment to finding and developing young talent. We entered the auction with a strong retained core and a clear idea of what the squad needed. We are pleased with the players we have brought in. G. Kamalini, Orla Prendergast and Samaira Raghav each add something specific, whether it is aggression at the top, all-round quality or fearless hitting in the middle order. Our belief is in unearthing young talents and nurturing them. Kashvee Gautam, Anushka Sharma and Happy Kumari reflect the strength of our scouting programme, and we are hopeful that 16-year-old like Samaira is the next in line. The aim is to build a team that plays fearless cricket and contributes to the growth of the game for women in Gujarat and across the country, he said. GG finished second in the group stage of WPL 2026, winning five of their eight matches, before going out in the Eliminator after losing to Delhi Capitals. The 2027 WPL season will be played from January 14 to February 7. Gujarat Giants squad: Ashleigh Gardner (captain), Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, Yastika Bhatia, Anushka Sharma, Bharti Fulmali, Happy Kumari, Jintimani Kalita, Kanika Ahuja, Kashvee Gautam, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh, Tanuja Kanwer, G Kamalini, Orla Prendergast, Samaira Raghav.

RSM US Integrated Services India expands Bengaluru presence with new office

RSM US Integrated Services India Private Limited is a subsidiary of RSM US LLP (RSM), the U.S. member firm of RSM International, a global network of independent assurance, tax and consulting firms

WPL 2027 Auction: Molineux Most Expensive Buy At Rs 1.10 Cr As UPW Dominate; RCB Make Late Signings (ld)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Australia captain Sophie Molineux was the most expensive buy at the 2027 Womens Premier League (WPL) auction, going to UP Warriorz (UPW) for Rs 1.10 crore in Kochi on Wednesday. In all, 25 players were sold in a quick mini auction that needed less than an hour of active bidding. UPW were the busiest franchise of the evening with eight signings, while defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) did all their business in the accelerated rounds after losing out on Sophie early in the day. Sophie, who was part of RCBs title-winning squad in 2024 and missed WPL 2026, entered the auction at a base price of Rs 50 lakh. RCB, her former side, pushed UPW all the way to Rs 1.05 crore before dropping out, having started the day with only Rs 1.15 crore in their purse. The left-arm spin bowling all-rounder, who captained Australia to 2026 Womens T20 World Cup triumph in England, recently returned to international cricket after recovering from a hip injury. Delhi Capitals made the second-biggest buy by signing big-hitting India batter Kiran Navgire for Rs 75 lakh after a bidding contest with Mumbai Indians, who pulled out at Rs 70 lakh. Gujarat Giants landed young wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini for her base price of Rs 40 lakh, with no other franchise bidding for the 2025 Under-19 World Cup winner who recently won the Asia Cup and Asian Games gold medal with the senior team. Apart from Sophie, UPW brought back Australian all-rounder Grace Harris, who began her WPL career with them in 2023 and won the 2026 title with RCB. They also signed Indias off-spin bowling all-rounder Sneh Rana, joining her fourth franchise in five seasons, and veteran wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma, all for Rs 30 lakh each. UPW also added Scotland all-rounder Kathryn Bryce and uncapped all-rounders Manali Dakshini and Sahana Pawar for Rs 10 lakh each. They brought back leg-spinner Asha Sobhana for Rs 30 lakh, at a fraction of the Rs 1.1 crore they had paid for her in the 2026 auction. UPWs shopping has, however, left them with a selection puzzle. With Meg Lanning set to lead the side and Phoebe Litchfield an automatic pick at the top of the order, Sophie, Grace and Englands left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone could end up competing for the remaining two overseas spots. UPW may well field an all-Australian overseas quartet on a regular basis. RCB, who had not bid for anyone until the accelerated round, opened their account with Australias left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Jess Jonassen for her base price of Rs 40 lakh. They then added India batter Tejal Hasabnis, who had gone unsold in the opening round, and South Africa all-rounder Chloe Tryon for Rs 30 lakh each, and Bengaluru-based batter Vrinda Dinesh for Rs 10 lakh. The defending champions were under little pressure to buy, and the signings of Jess and Chloe add depth to their overseas options. Georgia Voll, Ellyse Perry, Nadine de Klerk and Lauren Bell, all central to RCBs title run in 2026, look set to fill the four overseas slots, making it hard to see both newcomers getting regular game time. Mumbai Indians (MI) went towards buying youngsters by picking up six uncapped players. Vidarbha teammates Disha Kasat and Latika Inamdar, who had played key roles in a Senior Womens T20 Trophy chase against Punjab only a day earlier, were signed for Rs 10 lakh each. Other MI signings include Delhis left-arm spinner Bharti Rawal, 2025 Under-19 World Cup winner Saanika Chalke and 19-year-old all-rounder Akshita Bhagat, a winner of the WPL Speed Queen U-23 competition and recently played for India. Delhi batter and 2023 U-19 World Cup winner Shweta Sehrawat, who was UPWs lone retention in 2026, went to MI for Rs 20 lakh, double her base price, after a brief tussle with Delhi Capitals. Disha, Latika and Shweta give the franchise plenty of batting cover. With Kamalini no longer in their ranks, Disha or Latika could get an early chance to play. Gujarat Giants (GG), who needed only three players, also signed Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast for Rs 30 lakh, making her the first Irish cricketer picked in the WPL. They used their final slot on 16-year-old Delhi all-rounder Samaira Raghav, a late addition to the auction pool, for Rs 10 lakh. Spending Rs 40 lakh on Kamalini, who was tipped to get a big payday, might look odd for a side that already has two wicketkeepers in Yastika Bhatia and Beth Mooney. GG, however, made it clear they see her as a valuable addition purely for her batting. Orlas signing also made history, as she became the first Irish cricketer to be picked in the WPL. Delhi Capitals (DC), the four-time runners-up, added 15-year-old Karnataka all-rounder Uma Kashvi, Scotland left-arm spinner Kirstie Gordon, a former England international who will now count as an Associate player, and uncapped Delhi all-rounder Nazma Khan, each for Rs 10 lakh. DCs most surprising decision, though, was not buying a wicketkeeper. Having released Taniya Bhatia and Lizelle Lee, the franchise is now relying entirely on 23-year-old Mamatha Madiwala behind the stumps, with no back-up keeper in the squad. Hyderabad-based Mamatha played a handful of matches for DC in 2025 before an injury ruled her out of the 2026 season. The franchise will, however, be allowed to sign replacements if Deeya Yadav and Uma Kashvi are picked for the 2027 Under-19 Womens T20 World Cup. Several established names went unsold. These included Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, England batter Sophia Dunkley and India wicketkeepers Taniya Bhatia, Uma Chetry and Nuzhat Parween. India spinners Saika Ishaque and Priya Mishra, pacer Titas Sadhu and all-rounder Devika Vaidya also went unsold, as did Australias Tayla Vlaeminck, South Africas Nonkululeko Mlaba and UAE captain Esha Oza. The 2027 WPL season will be played from January 14 to February 7, with venues yet to be known. Players picked by franchises in the WPL 2027 player auction: Delhi Capitals: Kiran Navgire, Nazma Khan, Kirstie Gordon, and Uma Kashvi Gujarat Giants: G Kamalini, Orla Prendergast, and Samaira Raghav Mumbai Indians: Disha Kasat, Bharti Rawal, Latika Inamdar, Akshita Bhagat, Shweta Sehrawat, and Saanika Chalke Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Jess Jonassen, Tejal Hasabnis, Chloe Tryon, and Vrinda Dinesh Mumbai Indians: Disha Kasat, Bharti Rawal, Latika Inamdar, Akshita Bhagat, Shweta Sehrawat, and Saanika Chalke Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

WPL 2027 Auction: RCB Sign Hasabnis, Tryon And Vrinda; UPW Get Back Sobhana As Proceedings End

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) went on a late spending spree by signing India batter Tejal Hasabnis, South Africas left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Chloe Tryon and uncapped batter Vrinda Dinesh in the final accelerated round, as the 2027 Womens Premier League (WPL) auction came to a close here on Wednesday. All five franchises completed their squads in what turned out to be a brisk mini auction, with less than an hour of active bidding. Tejal, a member of India's recent 3-0 ODI series win over Zimbabwe, went unsold in the opening round. In the second accelerated round, she was bought by RCB at her base price of Rs 30 lakh. RCB then picked Chloe for Rs 30 lakh. The South African all-rounder spent two seasons with Mumbai Indians without playing a match before moving to UP Warriorz. She produced a match-winning display against India in the group stage of last years ODI World Cup. Vrinda, who previously played for UP Warriorz, will now play for her home franchise after RCB signed her for Rs 10 lakh. UPW, meanwhile, brought back leg-spinner Asha Sobhana for her base price of Rs 30 lakh, a steep drop from the Rs 1.1 crore they had paid for her in 2026 auction. The franchise had released her ahead of this auction to free up funds, only to buy her back at a fraction of the cost. Mumbai Indians added two uncapped players - Shweta Sehrawat, who was UPWs lone retention in 2026. After going unsold before, Shweta sparked a brief bidding contest between MI and Delhi Capitals before the two-time champions got her for Rs 20 lakh, double her base price. MI also signed all-rounder Akshita Bhagat for Rs 10 lakh. Akshita had won the U-23 event of WPL Speed Queen with a top speed of 105kph and recently turned out for India A in their series against Australia A in Mohali. Delhi Capitals made their final signing by picking uncapped all-rounder Nazma Khan for Rs 10 lakh, after she had gone unsold earlier in the evening. Uncapped batters Humaira Kazi and Pranavi Chandra and pacer Shraddha Pokharkar went unsold for the second time, while left-arm wrist-spin bowling all-rounder Amandeep Kaur also failed to attract a bid. Akshita had won the U-23 event of WPL Speed Queen with a top speed of 105kph and recently turned out for India A in their series against Australia A in Mohali. Delhi Capitals made their final signing by picking uncapped all-rounder Nazma Khan for Rs 10 lakh, after she had gone unsold earlier in the evening. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

GBA plans stricter safety norms for PG accommodations

The SOP is being drafted with several parameters, including fire safety, structural norms, requirements for smaller structures, fire exits, food hygiene, surveillance, and periodic audits

SWISS launches direct Bengaluru-Zurich flight service

Anti-SIR coalition urges Karnataka government to reject final SIR voter list, calls for social audit and public hearings

Anti-SIR coalition urges Karnataka government to reject final SIR voter list, calls for social audit and public hearings

WPL 2027 Auction: Got Kamalini Cheaper Than We Thought, Says GG Coach Klinger

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Gujarat Giants head coach Michael Klinger said the franchise was pretty much sorted after acquiring G Kamalini and Orla Prendergast at the 2027 Womens Premier League (WPL) auction, adding that both signings had come cheaper than expected. GG signed Kamalini, who previously played for Mumbai Indians, for her base price of Rs 40 lakh and Irelands seam-bowling all-rounder Prendergast for Rs 30 lakh. In all, four teams have managed to pick just 10 players so far, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru yet to sign a player. Were pretty much sorted. The two selections so far, we probably got cheaper than we thought, to be honest. We felt Kamalini was the best batter in the auction, the most talented batter. We were looking for an all-rounder to complement our squad. With the overseas selection and all of Prendergast as a medium pace all-rounder gives us plenty of options during the season. I was lucky enough to work with her at the Welsh Fire in the Hundred this year. Shes a leading player for Ireland, also has good leadership qualities, and will be fantastic around the group, Klinger told reporters after six sets of the auction were completed on Wednesday. The former Australia batter said Orlas all-round skills made her a valuable addition for GG, as she becomes the first Ireland player to be a part of the five-team tournament. It was for what we needed in terms of the purse we had left and the versatility she can give us in our squad. Whether theres an injury, whether we want to go for another overseas medium pace option, who can bat in the top six or seven. So she gives us a lot of versatility. As I said, Ive worked with her before and shes a world-class all-rounder. So itll be great to have her amongst the squad. Klinger added that the franchises planning had been fairly straightforward, as they needed only a couple of players and had a healthy purse to work with. GG have Rs 55 lakh remaining in their purse, with one slot left to fill and all overseas spots filled. Our planning was not too difficult this time around. Other than the new players, we feel we had the second most in terms of purse because we only really needed to get one player if we had to as well. So given we got Kamalini a little bit cheaper than we thought we might, it opened up that overseas spot for a few options. Klinger added that the franchises planning had been fairly straightforward, as they needed only a couple of players and had a healthy purse to work with. GG have Rs 55 lakh remaining in their purse, with one slot left to fill and all overseas spots filled. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

WPL 2027 Auction: Mumbai Indians Sign Disha, Latika And Bharti For 10 Lakh Each

Kasat, an uncapped batter, previously represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), joined Mumbai Indians at her base price of Rs 10 lakh

A Hundred Hands brings river edit to Bengaluru this weekend

The highlight of this edition of The Festival of Handmade is its river-themed collection

WPL 2027 Auction: At Any Cost Is The Right Answer, Says UPWs Waingankar On Landing Molineux

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: UP Warriorz (UPW) were determined to sign Sophie Molineux at any cost, said Kshemal Waingankar, the franchises COO and Director of, after the Australia captain was bought for Rs 1.10 crore at the Womens Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction. UPW edged competition from defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru to get the left-arm spin bowling all-rounder in their team for the 2027 season. Waingankar added that pairing her with Englands left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone could make for a lethal combination. UPW also have off-spin bowling options in Deepti Sharma and recently acquired Sneh Rana. At any cost is the right answer. I think that just puts us in a good position, whether thats Sophie and Grace combined, to tweak our combinations and decide which combination works best. Grace brings power to the middle order. Sophie Molineux, obviously, leadership qualities, an exceptional bowler and obviously fantastic with the team in general. So our thought was her and Sophie Ecclestone together would be a lethal force. Again, like I said, with Grace, we have the option of switching and seeing how things work, Waingankar told reporters in the press conference on Wednesday. UPW also brought back Australian all-rounder Grace Harris for her base price of Rs 30 lakh and Waingankar agreed that the deal was a steal. Grace returns to UPW after winning the 2026 WPL title with RCB. I would agree, yes. I definitely agree (that Grace was a steal buy at Rs 30 lakh). But its good to have her back. I think shes been with us from season one. Our first game, I remember, when we had Grace Harris - 51 runs needed off 17 balls. She won us the game and set WPL alight. We were on the other end of the stick last year with her. But shes someone I think that we were very happy to bring back. Not a bad problem to have, he said, referring to the selection headache UPW now face in picking their spin bowling combination in the playing eleven. With four slots, including one overseas spot, still to fill and Rs 1.75 crore left in their purse, Waingankar said UPW were happy with the experience already in the squad, but would look to cover their remaining gaps in the squad. We still have a few spots to fill. Having said that, someone like a Grace Harris does come in and solve a few things for us, whether she can bat up the top, can bat through the middle as well, gives us that power. With four slots, including one overseas spot, still to fill and Rs 1.75 crore left in their purse, Waingankar said UPW were happy with the experience already in the squad, but would look to cover their remaining gaps in the squad. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

WPL 2027 auction: Molineux most expensive player; joins UPW for Rs 1.1cr

Molineux has previously featured in the WPL 2024 and 2025 seasons, playing 10 games for Royal Challengers Bengaluru

WPL 2027 Auction: UP Warriorz Secure Sophie Molineux And Sneh Rana

Molineux, who was part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) title-winning campaign in 2024, attracted a bidding contest between UP Warriorz and RCB

MLC results show Rahul Gandhi has little reason to celebrate as face of anti-BJP bloc

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 28 (IANS) The Congress partys ambitious aim of launching Rahul Gandhi in a new, aggressive leadership role and as the face of a united Opposition has suffered a serious setback after failing to win a single seat in the biennial Legislative Council (MLC) elections across four states Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. Though the general public as a whole is not directly involved in choosing MLC representatives, specific sections of society do share their preferences. These elections were limited franchise contests involving graduates and teachers rather than the broader electorate, yet are often viewed as indicators of organisational strength, cadre mobilisation and political influence among politically aware sections. And on all three counts, the Congress has little reason to celebrate. The outcome of achieving a zero across all 28 seats contested would thus serve as a rough bump on its road to political recovery, with warning bells sounding particularly loudly in Karnataka where it is in power. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Karnataka, with Janata Dal (Secular) a constituent, secured a clear 4-0 sweep in the state, leaving the ruling Congress in a quandary. The BJP retained the North-East Teachers, South-East Graduates and West Graduates constituencies, while the JD(S) captured the Bengaluru Teachers' seat from the Congress. This outcome is especially significant since the party had hoped to project its state government as a model for a broader national resurgence. Instead, the results suggest that even where Congress holds power, regional dynamics and opposition alliances remain capable of limiting its influence. JD(S), though diminished in Assembly politics, demonstrated that regional players continue to possess pockets of durable support. Results elsewhere also delivered an uncomfortable political message for the Congress. Far from signalling a revival of the party's mass appeal, the elections have underlined its continued inability to build up anti-BJP sentiment or establish itself as the undisputed leader of a united Opposition. In Uttar Pradesh, the principal contest was between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party (SP), where the former secured victories in multiple constituencies, while the latter won key teachers seats and remained the primary Opposition force. Bihar offered a similar sobering picture, with the Congress suffering a symbolic defeat in Darbhanga Teachers' constituency, where Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) candidate Suresh Prasad Rai defeated sitting Congress MLC Madan Mohan Jha. The states overall results reflected a fragmented Opposition landscape, with the BJP and its ally Janata Dal (United) winning several seats, the RJD registering a victory, JSP opening its account, and independents securing wins. Thus, Tejashwi Yadav's RJD continues to command the central anti-BJP role in the state, while Prashant Kishors JSP is seen attempting to build an alternative space, and Congress increasingly appearing squeezed between stronger regional actors. In Maharashtra, counting trends indicated a mixed battle between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), with candidates from both camps leading in different constituencies. Yet here too, the dominant opposition faces were regional leaders from the Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar) camps rather than the Congress. The results reinforce a reality that has come to define Opposition politics of late: regional satraps continue to carry greater electoral weight than the grand old party of India in most states. Though MLC results do not determine future Assembly or Lok Sabha outcomes, they do reflect the current balance of political influence. And that balance again suggests that India's opposition space remains decentralised, state-driven and heavily dependent on regional leaders. For the BJP, these elections provided evidence that Congress national narrative is yet to translate into strength on the ground. For the Opposition, the Congress may still be an essential component of any anti-BJP coalition, but these elections indicate Rahul Gandhi is far from becoming the blocs unquestioned leader.

WPL 2027 auction: Sneh excited to play under Lanning, Sushma thanks UPW for trust in her abilities

Digital Desk | Kochi, Oct 28 (IANS) India all-rounder Sneh Rana said she was excited to play under Meg Lanning after being snapped up by UP Warriorz at the Womens Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction here on Wednesday. Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma, also picked by the franchise, thanked the franchise for placing their faith in her. Both players were bought for their base price of Rs 30 lakh each in the ongoing auction in Kochi. I am very excited. I have always seen her on TV. Even now when she leads UP, it feels very good. Seeing her captaincy and the changes she makes, it feels very good. So very excited to play under her. Mei aa rahi hoon guys (I am coming, guys), said Sneh to broadcasters Star Sports and JioStar. Sneh, who has previously captained Gujarat Giants and was part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru as a replacement player, had turned out for Delhi Capitals in WPL 2026. First of all, I would like to thank the UP Warriorz for picking me and I am very excited for this opportunity. Like I always say, I will go to any team whenever I get an opportunity. Now that I am in UP, I would like to do my best for them and thank you so much to the management, she added. Sneh added that she was looking forward to linking up with India teammate Deepti Sharma and England left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone in what promises to be a strong spin bowling attack for UPW. It is very strong, as you said, Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma will be with me, with whom I have always played for India. Now that I have also come to UP, so I know their strength. So we will keep talking to each other and it is going to be a lot of fun. Sushma, who last played for India in T20Is a decade ago and was with Gujarat Giants in 2023, returns to the WPL via UPW, a side whose trials she attended. She credited the franchise for showing faith in her. A player is working hard, and everyone works hard and then you perform as well. But a lot of times, especially in franchise cricket, that slot doesnt get made for you. In the last two auctions, it was on the edge. But I was very hopeful that one day my hard work and all these things would come that one day everything will feel good, everything will sync together. So, I am feeling good today. A big thanks to UP Warriorz for showing that trust in me. Although I wasnt expecting that it would happen or not, I was not thinking about it. But when you have played so much cricket, with experience, you learn what work you have to do throughout the day and you get focused on that and then what is next? So, I was always looking forward to the next day and the next tournament. So, it kept on going on its own and the way I have been doing my routines and hard work, I am sure it is the journey of every player. But eventually, when you get the result, when you get the opportunity, it feels really good, she concluded.

WPL 2027 auction: UPW pick Sushma Verma, MI get Disha Kasat as Bhatia, Sobhana, Saika go unsold

Digital Desk | Kochi, Oct 28 (IANS) UP Warriorz (UPW) signed veteran India wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma for Rs 30 lakh, and Mumbai Indians picked up uncapped batter Disha Kasat for Rs 10 lakh, in an otherwise quiet phase of the Womens Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction here on Wednesday. It was a phase where a string of India internationals went unsold. UPW continued to be the busiest franchise at the table by landing Sushma at her base price. She last played a T20I for India in December 2016, but was with Gujarat Giants in WPL 2023, and now returns to the league via UPW, a side whose trials she did attend before the auction happened. Disha, formerly with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their title winning season in 2024, was the only uncapped batter to find a buyer via Mumbai Indians. Taniyaa Bhatia, Asha Sobhana and Saika Ishaque were among the big names who failed to attract bids. Sushma was the only one of the four capped wicketkeepers to be picked. Uma Chetry, part of Indias ODI World Cup-winning squad and the first cricketer from Assam to represent India, went unsold, so did Taniyaa, who was released by Delhi Capitals and Nuzhat Parween. Though Taniyaas glovework is highly rated, but franchises have been wary of her batting. Fast bowlers had a lean round too. Indias Saima Thakor and Titas Sadhu, Australias Tayla Vlaeminck, Sri Lankas 19-year-old Mithali Ayodhya and New Zealands Rosemary Mair all went unsold at their base prices. Titas, an Under-19 World Cup winner in 2023 who has played for Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Giants, has had injury concerns. Rosemary was part of New Zealands T20 World Cup-winning squad in 2024. The capped spinners fared no better. Leg-spinner Priya Mishra, who made her India debut in 2024 and has played for Gujarat Giants, did not attract a bid. Left-arm spinner Saika, who made a strong impression in her debut WPL season with Mumbai Indians in 2023 before going on to play for India, did not get a buyer. South Africas Nonkululeko Mlaba, the first player from her country to go under the hammer on the day, was unsold. The most notable of them going unsold was Asha Sobhana, who was part of RCBs title-winning side in 2024, and missed the 2025 season through injury and was then bought by UP Warriorz for Rs 1.1 crore in 2026 after a fierce bidding war. This time, veteran leg-spinner Asha found no takers at Rs 30 lakh. Purvaja Verlekar, former UP Warriorz batter Vrinda Dinesh, former RCB player Gautami Naik, former Mumbai Indians batter Humaira Kazi and Shweta Sehrawat, who was UP Warriorzs lone retention ahead of 2026 WPL auction, all went unsold. Unsold players could still be picked up in the accelerated rounds later in the auction

WPL 2027 Auction: Molineux Fetches Rs 1.10 Crore From UPW, Kamalini Goes To GG For Rs 40 Lakh

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Australia captain Sophie Molineux was the biggest buy in the opening phase of the Womens Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction, when UP Warriorz acquired her for Rs 1.10 crore here on Wednesday. Gujarat Giants picked up young India wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini for her base price of Rs 40 lakh. Sophie, who was part of Royal Challengers Bengalurus title-winning squad in 2024 and missed WPL 2026, had listed herself at a base price of Rs 50 lakh. UPW opened the bidding, but RCB stayed in the contest, and the price climbed to Rs 95 lakh in under a minute. UPW pushed it to Rs 1 crore, and RCB responded with Rs 1.05 crore. Finally, UPW sealed the deal with a bid of Rs 1.10 crore. The left-arm spin bowling all-rounder recently returned to international cricket in the T20I series against New Zealand after recovering from a hip injury. Kamalini, released by Mumbai Indians ahead of the auction and widely tipped to have a big payday after not being in the mix for the 2027 U19 Womens T20 World Cup, went to GG with minimal fuss as no other franchise bid for her. Although her WPL record for Mumbai Indians has been modest, Kamalini, a member of the 2025 U19 World Cup-winning team, has been in the India A and Tamil Nadu teams, apart from being in the senior team. GG also added Irelands seam-bowling all-rounder Orla Prendergast for Rs 30 lakh. Delhi Capitals made their first signing of the auction by securing India batter Kiran Navgire for Rs 75 lakh. Mumbai Indians opened the bidding at Rs 40 lakh and pushed the former UPW players price to Rs 70 lakh, before DC went to Rs 75 lakh. With only Rs 90 lakh in their purse, MI pulled out. UPW also brought in Indias off-spin bowling all-rounder Sneh Rana and Australias hard-hitting all-rounder Grace Harris for their base price of Rs 30 lakh each. Sneh, a former Gujarat Giants captain who was part of RCB as a replacement player, drew no other bids, including from her former team DC. Grace returns to UPW after a productive season with RCB, who won the WPL title in 2026. RCB released her with Ellyse Perry set to return, and she is likely to compete for an opening slot in UPW alongside Meg Lanning or Pratika Rawal. Several others also went unsold in the early rounds. Raghvi Bist, who has played two T20Is for India and was the first player to go under the hammer, attracted no bids at her base price of Rs 30 lakh. Maharashtras big-hitting middle-order batter Tejal Hasabnis, currently part of Indias ODI squad for the series against Zimbabwe, also went unsold. So did Ayushi Soni, who has played one T20I and one WPL match for GG. Several others also went unsold in the early rounds. Raghvi Bist, who has played two T20Is for India and was the first player to go under the hammer, attracted no bids at her base price of Rs 30 lakh. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS