Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) etched their name in history books on Tuesday night by winning their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title, defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a thrilling final at the Narendra Modi Stadium. After posting a total of 190 for 9, RCB held their nerve in the death overs to bowl out Punjab for 161 and secure a 29-run win.

PBKS, chasing 191, found themselves under immense pressure after regular setbacks despite resistance from Shashank Singh and Nehal Wadhera. The turning point came in the 17th over, when Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up two crucial wickets, including that of Marcus Stoinis and Wadhera, dashing Punjab’s hopes of a comeback.

Earlier, Arshdeep Singh starred with the ball for Punjab, finishing with figures of 3 for 40. His fiery spell in the final over helped restrict RCB to 190, despite a 43-run contribution from Virat Kohli and brief cameos by the middle order. However, the target ultimately proved enough for Bengaluru’s disciplined bowling unit.

Kyle Jamieson picked three wickets but was expensive, conceding 48 runs in four overs. RCB’s bowling attack, led by Krunal Pandya (2 wickets) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2 for 24), maintained pressure throughout the innings. Josh Hazlewood also contributed with a key wicket in the powerplay.

With this win, RCB have finally ended their long wait for an IPL trophy, a moment celebrated with emotional scenes on the field and in the stands.

As the final winning confirmed, RCB sealed their historic IPL title, an emotional Virat Kohli was seen with tears in his eyes, overwhelmed by the long-awaited triumph. Having spent over a decade with the franchise, the win marked a deeply personal milestone for Kohli, who soaked in the atmosphere amid thunderous cheers from the Bengaluru fans. It was a moment of redemption, relief, and raw joy, reflecting the years of dedication he poured into the team.

The Congress on Tuesday described India’s apparent exclusion from the G7 summit in Canada as “yet another significant diplomatic misstep,” compounding the “error” of permitting US mediation in India-Pakistan relations.

The summit, scheduled for 15–17 June in Alberta, Canada, is set to address global challenges, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and West Asia tensions.

Reports indicate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is unlikely to attend the G7 summit in Kananaskis, marking his first absence in six years.

Ottawa has reportedly not extended an invitation to Modi, though insiders suggest he would have declined regardless, given the strained India-Canada relations, which would necessitate extensive preparatory work.

Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, highlighted the summit’s attendees, including the leaders of the US, France, UK, Japan, Italy, Germany, and Canada, alongside invited presidents of Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, and Ukraine, and Australia’s prime minister.

In a post on X, Ramesh recalled, “Before 2014, the G7 was the G8, including Russia. Dr. Manmohan Singh was a regular invitee to G8 summits, where his contributions, like the Singh-Merkel climate change formula unveiled in Germany in June 2007, were valued.”

Ramesh noted that the tradition of inviting Indian prime ministers persisted post-2014, but Modi’s absence from the Canada summit represents a break.

He stated, “Despite any spin, this is a major diplomatic blunder, following the folly of allowing the US to reverse decades of Indian foreign policy by mediating between India and Pakistan and endorsing talks at a ‘neutral site’.”

Ties between India and Canada deteriorated sharply after former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 2023 allegations of potential Indian involvement in the killing of pro-Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, further complicating bilateral relations and contributing to the current diplomatic standoff.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for not removing his shoes while paying tribute to a statue of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, describing the act as contrary to Indian cultural values.

Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, visited Bhopal on a one-day trip. Upon arriving, the former Congress president offered floral tributes at a life-size statue of Indira Gandhi, his grandmother, located outside the state party headquarters.

A video of the event, widely circulated on social media, showed Gandhi wearing shoes during the tribute, prompting backlash.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting at the state BJP office, Chief Minister Yadav remarked, “The Leader of Opposition is welcome in our state—it’s a democracy, and everyone has the right to visit. However, offering floral tributes to his Dadi ji (grandmother) without removing his shoes was inappropriate. This goes against our sanskar (culture). He should be mindful of this.”

Yadav added, “We are sensitive to our cultural values, and such gestures evoke emotion. Still, there’s no issue with his visit, as people from all parties should engage in democratic activities.”

Gandhi’s visit included attending several meetings and launching the Congress’s ‘Sangathan Srujan Abhiyan’ (Organisation Rejuvenation Campaign), aimed at bolstering the party’s grassroots presence ahead of the 2028 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections.

In a post on X, Congress leader KC Venugopal said, “After Gujarat, it is time for Madhya Pradesh! Under INC President Sh. Mallikarjun @kharge ji and LOP Sh. @RahulGandhi ji’s leadership, we are embarking on the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan in MP today.”

“Rahul ji offered tributes to Former PM Indira Gandhi ji in Bhopal, and then we began our 1-day programme with the MP Political Affairs Committee at Indira Bhavan,” he added.