The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 16, Sunday 10 Aug 2025, Dr. X

ACROSS

1   Handles ball initially, blundering in rush - that's human nature (5,3,5) FLESH AND BLOOD {HANDLES+Ball}* in {FLOOD}

8   Old chip controlling resistance in circuit (5) ORBIT {O}{R}{BIT}

9   Most indecent sot beginning to behave badly outside set (9) OBSCENEST {SOT+Be...e}* over {SCENE}

11 Endurance of rebellious group helping to defend base (10) TOLERATION {LOT<=}{RATION} over {E}

12 Short story by American making money in Samoa (4) TALA {TALe}{A}

14 Weapon in ranch over island, extremely rare (7) FIREARM {F{I}{RarE}ARM}

16 Most stunned by bum going berserk in retreat (7) NUMBEST {N{BUM*}EST}

17 Slapping and scratching, losing head (7) CUFFING sCUFFING

19 Devious reason to invite hot Portuguese lady (7) SENHORA {SEN{H}ORA*}

21 Praised a pioneer introducing revolutionary brand of small computer (4) IPAD [T<=]

22 Drug that is used for raving (10) DISTRAUGHT*

25 Fruit centre in a complex (9) NECTARINE*

26 Lay to rest in train terminus (5) INTER [T]

27 Stab in the belly perhaps and confess (5,4,4) SPILL ONES GUTS [DD]

DOWN

2   Spherical granuloma primarily excised is composed of small, rounded projections (7) LOBULAR gLOBULAR

3   Wild revelry in Australian rave (10) SATURNALIA*

4   Excitedly float in the air (5) ALOFT*

5   Eats after drinking some rum in American city (3,6) DES MOINES {D{SOME*}INES}

6   Fabricated large improvised explosive device (4) LIED {L}{IED}

7   Made a pig of oneself in public, devouring a steak heartily (7) OVERATE {OVER{A}T}{stEak}

8   Not working with unionist, too irritated by disagreement (3,2,6) OUT OF ACTION {U+TOO}*{FACTION} 

10 One sampling sandwiches, oats cooked by member for emcee (11) TOASTMASTER {T{OATS*}{M}ASTER}

13 Correcting errors in endgame, artfully wins tournament finally (10) EMENDATING {IN+ENDGAME}* over {t...nT}

15 No doubt captivated by charming old Venetian nobleman (9) MAGNIFICO {MAG{N}{IF}IC}{O}

18 Headgear and skirt worn by a model on catwalk at premiere (4,3) FLAT CAP {FL{A}{T}{Ca...k}AP}

20 Shouldn't waste time! Ruffian getting trinitrotoluene (7) OUGHTNT {tOUGH}{TNT}

23 Matter of alien revolutionary crossing border (5) THEME {ET<=} over {HEM}

24 Bit of tequila and everyone's high (4) TALL {Te...a}{ALL}

Reference List

Old = O, Resistance = R, Base = E, American = A, Island = I, Hot = H, Large = L, Unionist = U, Member = M, No = N, Model = T, Time = T