No 14841, Thursday 09 Jul 2026, Vidwan

Solution to 3D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Drop 'breather' into sports period (6) PLUNGE {P{LUNG}E}

4   Setting one inside 1760 yards to run naked (6) MILIEU {MIL{1}E}{rUn}

9   Good service! Unending determination! (4) GRIT {G}{RITe}

10 Feature shaped inch by inch, possibly? (6,4) DOUBLE CHIN {INCH}*{INCH}*

11 Miner tailed shepherd dog (6) COLLIE COLLIEr

12 Most open taunt! King shows reserve beyond normal limit! (8) OVERBOOK {OVERt}{BOO}{K}

13 Church official reportedly gives media a short speech? (9) PRESSBYTER {(~press biter)PRESBYTER}

15 Flabbergast, unnerve a bit (4) STUN [T] Flabbergast on double duty?

16 Following experienced founder (4) FOLD {F}{OLD}

17 India field after playing spin like role models (9) INSPIRING {I}{RING}<=>{SPIN}*

21 Ace American coach, one promoted for a European (8) AUSTRIAN {A}{US}{TR(+i)IA(-i)N}

22 Metal most of our country bums internally (6) INDIUM {INDIa}{bUMs}

24 Maharaja in Baroda, rejected recipe for special cake ingredient (6,4) BAKING SODA {KING} in {BA(-r+s)SODA}

25 Pile of woody in poppy resort (4) PYRE [T]

26 Smart doctor gets sloppy, loses face (6) DRESSY {DR}{mESSY}

27 Build-up about hot, new mark (6) HYPHEN {HYP{H}E}{N}

DOWN

1   Standard large court, out of bounds establishment (7) PARLOUR {PAR}{L}{cOURt}

2   Before some transeunt illegality (5) UNTIL [T]

3   Wander to find your head fixated on devices (7) G?D?E?Y ()

5   Substitute Scot could be licentious (2,4) IN LIEU {IN+LIEU+SCOT}*=LICENTIOUS [CA]

6   Popular Caribbean state hill where culture can be developed (9) INCUBATOR {IN}{CUBA}{TOR}

7   Set symbol of purity possibly for centurions (7) UNICORN {UNICORN+SET}*=CENTURIONS [CA]

8   A continental organisation's feud internally on expansion (8,5) EUROPEAN UNION {fEUd} EU=European Union

14 Very high style gem, essentially (9) SOLITAIRE {SO}{LIT}{AIR}{gEm} &lit

16 Bad, kind of rad fabric (7) FOULARD {FOUL}{RAD}*

18 Toilet embodying a cold isolation (7) PRIVACY {PRIV{A}{C}Y}

19 Brain cell charged by source of the atomic particle (7) NEUTRON {NEU{The}RON}

20 Nothing breaks grave like methane from manure (6) BIOGAS {BI{O}G}{AS}

23 Intensity of passing advanced, overwhelmed by quiet (5) DEPTH DE(-a+p)PTH

Reference List

Sports period = PE, 1760 yards = MILE, Good = G, King = K, Following = F, India = I, Ace = A, Recipe = R, Special = S, Hot = H, New = N, Standard = PAR, Large = L, Popular = IN, Hill = TOR, Very = SO, High = LIT, Toilet = PRIVY, Cold = C, Advanced = A, Quiet = P