Evening News wrap: BJP vs Congress over Afridi's remarks; Tejashwi says CM face to be named at 'right time' & more

Over the last 24 hours, India witnessed a flurry of developments across politics and sports. Among the most talked-about topics was the India–Pakistan Asia Cup clash, after which Shahid Afridi praised Rahul Gandhi — drawing sharp criticism from the BJP while Congress stepped in to defend him. Meanwhile, Jaish-e-Mohammad commander Masood Ilyas Kashmiri admitted in a video that India’s Operation Sindoor had severely affected Maulana Masood Azhar’s family. In other updates, Puja Khedkar’s case saw new twists, and Apollo Tyres bagged Team India’s jersey sponsorship till 2027.
Here are top 5 stories:

Asia Cup row: BJP targets Rahul Gandhi over Shahid Afridi remarks; Congress hits back with old pic

The BJP on Tuesday attacked Rahul Gandhi after ex-Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi praised him as a leader with a “positive mindset” amid a row over India skipping a handshake at the Asia Cup. Union minister Kiren Rijiju called Gandhi “Pakistan’s darling,” while Amit Malviya accused him of aligning with “India-haters.” Congress hit back by sharing a photo of minister Anurag Thakur with Afridi at an earlier match. Read more

'No confusion': Tejashwi says CM face to be named at 'right time'; cites 'people's mandate'

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav launched his “Bihar Adhikar Yatra” on Tuesday, asserting there is “no confusion” over the Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial face and that it will be announced at the right time. Urging voters to back him in all 243 seats, he vowed to “take Bihar forward” and accused the Nitish Kumar government of being a “copycat” that borrows his ideas. “Original CM chahiye ki duplicate?” he asked at a rally in Ara. The opposition alliance now includes JMM and LJP (Paras), intensifying seat-sharing talks, with Congress seeking at least 70 seats and other allies pressing for larger quotas. Read more

Road rage kidnapping: Puja Khedkar's dad was in SUV, FIR on mom

Police probing a Navi Mumbai road-rage abduction said ex-IAS officer Puja Khedkar’s father Dilip, a retired state official, was in the SUV that allegedly kidnapped a truck helper. The victim was rescued Sunday from Khedkar’s Pune bungalow. Puja’s mother faces a case for blocking police entry and letting a dog loose on an officer. Read more
'Masood Azhar's family torn into pieces': JeM's top commander's big admission on Operation Sindoor

Jaish-e-Mohammad commander Masood Ilyas Kashmiri admitted in a video that India's Operation Sindoor severely impacted Maulana Masood Azhar's family. The strike on May 7 targeted terror infrastructure in Bahawalpur, JeM's headquarters, following the deadly Pahalgam attack where 26 civilians were killed. India retaliated by destroying major terror hubs and air infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Read more

Apollo Tyres to be Indian cricket team's new jersey sponsor

Apollo Tyres has secured the Indian cricket team's jersey sponsorship until 2027, committing approximately Rs 4.5 crores per game, surpassing Dream11's previous rate. The deal encompasses around 130 fixtures. Canva and JK Cement were also in contention, while Birla Optus Paints showed interest but avoided bidding. Dream11's exit was triggered by the government's online gaming regulations. Read more