Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings are set to usher in a new phase of their IPL journeys on Monday, but the weather in Guwahati threatens to take centre stage even before a ball is bowled.The IPL 2026 opener between the two sides comes with renewed narratives after both teams hit the reset button following bottom-place finishes last season. However, multiple weather forecasts have cast doubt over how much action fans will witness. While BBC Weather has predicted “thundery showers” through the scheduled match hours, Weather.com has also indicated consistent rain from early evening until midnight. AccuWeather, in contrast, offers a more optimistic outlook, suggesting the rain could clear before the toss, although high humidity is expected to persist.Beyond the uncertainty in the skies, the contest marks a significant shift in personnel and leadership. Sanju Samson will turn out for CSK after leading Rajasthan Royals until last season, while Ravindra Jadeja has moved in the opposite direction, returning to the franchise where he began his IPL career in 2008. The trade, which also involved Sam Curran, has reshaped both squads.Riyan Parag will lead Rajasthan Royals in a new role, while Ruturaj Gaikwad takes back the Chennai Super Kings captaincy after his 2025 campaign was cut short by injury. CSK will also be without MS Dhoni for the opening phase due to a calf issue, and Dewald Brevis has been ruled out of the first game.

On paper, Rajasthan Royals appear to have addressed their balance issues. The addition of Jadeja alongside Ravi Bishnoi gives them greater control in the middle overs, while their pace attack, featuring Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger and Adam Milne, offers variety and pace.Chennai Super Kings, however, have questions to answer, particularly with the ball. The absence of Nathan Ellis leaves a gap in the death overs, with the attack largely made up of bowlers who are more effective in the powerplay. Noor Ahmad is expected to handle the middle overs, but the closing stages remain a concern.Also Read: RR vs CSK Live Score

Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings begin IPL 2026 with revamped squads after finishing at the bottom last season. RR have handed captaincy to Riyan Parag, while CSK are led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, who returns after an injury-hit 2025 campaign. Sanju Samson, now part of CSK, is set to open alongside Gaikwad, with MS Dhoni likely to miss the first two weeks due to a calf injury.

The biggest storyline is Ravindra Jadeja’s move to RR. His presence brings balance to a side that struggled with team combination last season. With Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, and Adam Milne in the pace unit and Ravi Bishnoi supporting Jadeja, RR look far more settled.

CSK, however, face bowling concerns after Nathan Ellis’ withdrawal. Matt Henry and Noor Ahmad will be key, but questions remain over death bowling options. The No.3 spot is also undecided, with Ayush Mhatre, Urvil Patel, and Sarfaraz Khan in contention.

With rain forecast in Guwahati and a fresh pitch in play, both teams will look to adapt quickly. Samson’s role at the top and Jadeja’s impact in the middle overs could define the contest.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been on a record-breaking/setting spree over the last year or so and, as he prepares for his second IPL season, expectations are sky-high from the 15-year-old boy wonder. While the jury is still out on whether he can overcome the second-season blues – with teams better prepared to tackle his savagery with the bat – Sooryavanshi is not one to back down or get bogged down. He showed glimpses last season that he can hang with the best in the IPL, scoring 252 runs in seven matches, including a century and a fifty, at a strike rate of 206.56. So, what can we expect from Sooryavanshi in his first full season? A lot – plus these five iconic IPL records, which were once thought unbeatable, could very well fall to the 15-year-old teenager.

Highest individual score – 175 (Chris Gayle)*

The highest individual score in the IPL belongs to the iconic Chris Gayle, when he unleashed a literal hailstorm – or ‘Gaylestorm’, if you want to put it that way – at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, against a hapless Pune Warriors bowling attack with a sensational 175 not out off just 66 deliveries in the 2013 edition. Clobbering 13 fours and 17 sixes, it was a tour de force innings that has not been seen since, and many believe this is one record that could stand the test of time.But with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashing all kinds of records left, right and centre, is that Gayle record finally in danger? It could very well be. Sooryavanshi has a penchant for going really, really big when he gets in. Sample this:His highest score in Youth T20s is 144 off just 42 balls – and he got out in the 15th over. His highest score in Youth ODIs is 175 off 80 balls in the final of the 2026 Under-19 World Cup – and he got out in the 26th over. His next-best 171 came in the Under-19 Asia Cup off just 95 balls, and once again he got out in the 33rd over. And he smashed 190 off 84 balls in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, getting out in the 27th over. Need any proof that this breakout beast can bring down Chris Gayle’s unrivalled record of the highest individual score in the IPL?

Most sixes in an innings – 17 (Chris Gayle)

Again, the record belongs to Gayle, courtesy the aforementioned innings. Seventeen sixes in a team’s T20 innings itself is an insane feat, but to clobber that all alone is once again beyond comparison. Then again, records are meant to be broken, and if there is someone who can eclipse the Great Gayle, it is the savage Sooryavanshi.Back to the samples: Sooryavanshi hit 15 sixes during his 144-run knock in the Youth T20 game, and again 15 in the Under-19 World Cup final, and 15 more in that innings of 190 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. It should be a fair bet, then, that Sooryavanshi can go three better this IPL.

Most sixes in an edition – 59 (Chris Gayle)

And if we are betting on Sooryavanshi to break the record for most sixes in an innings, let’s take it one notch further and extend that to the most sixes in an IPL season as well. The record, not surprisingly, is held by Gayle, who smoked 59 sixes in the 2012 edition. Andre Russell managed 52 for KKR in the 2019 edition. Only two players have managed to hit more than 50 sixes in a single edition, with Gayle managing it twice (51 in the 2013 season).In his inaugural season, Sooryavanshi clobbered 24 sixes in seven games. So, if he gets a full season of 14 matches, it would be modest to expect him to hit 50 sixes if he gets going.

Highest strike rate in a season – 234.34 (Jake Fraser-McGurk)

Now, this will be a tricky record to break down and would need some kind of a parameter. Taking into consideration that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi plays all 14 games or close to it, and manages to face at least 10 balls each game, we put the marker at a minimum of 100 balls in a season to determine the best strike rate.Going by this, Jake Fraser-McGurk’s whirlwind 2024 season tops the list, with a strike rate of 234.34 in nine matches having faced 141 deliveries in total. And why do we think Sooryavanshi can eclipse this? Well, last season Sooryavanshi came close. He finished with a strike rate of 206.55 in the seven matches he played facing 122 deliveries. So if he has a windfall season this time around, Sooryavanshi has a real possibility to top the charts when it comes to strike rates as well – but the rider here is the considerable number of balls faced.

Six sixes in an over

And finally, a record we have seen set in first-class cricket, List A and T20s – barring the IPL: six sixes in an over. The best in the IPL is five sixes in an over, witnessed five times. Gayle was the first to do it in 2012, hitting Rahul Sharma of Pune Warriors for five sixes. Rahul Tewatia entered IPL folklore by clobbering West Indies international Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in 2020, and Ravindra Jadeja repeated the feat in 2021 against RCB’s Harshal Patel – with a four as well – equalling the most runs scored in an over.Rinku Singh then produced the most thrilling finish ever in IPL history, hitting Yash Dayal for five sixes in the final over to win the match for KKR, and in 2025, Riyan Parag smoked five sixes off KKR’s Moeen Ali. Will Sooryavanshi – not just add his name to this list – but complete the set with six sixes in an over – the first ever in the IPL?

An emotional subplot will headline Monday’s IPL clash as Sanju Samson faces Rajasthan Royals for the first time after leading them for over a decade. Now with Chennai Super Kings, Samson — RR’s former captain and all-time leading run-scorer — returns in top form following a stellar T20 World Cup campaign, where he struck three successive half-centuries.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!His move, part of a high-profile swap that saw Ravindra Jadeja rejoin Rajasthan, adds further intrigue. With MS Dhoni sidelined due to injury, Samson will share leadership duties with Ruturaj Gaikwad at the top.CSK appear in transition, bolstered by emerging talents and a varied bowling attack. Meanwhile, Rajasthan begin a new era under Riyan Parag, with Yashasvi Jaiswal leading the batting alongside Shimron Hetmyer.While RR boast explosive batting options, concerns linger over their bowling consistency. Both sides, coming off underwhelming 2025 campaigns, will view this clash as a chance to reset and rebuild momentum.

Top 5 players to watch in RR vs CSK clash

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (15 years old)The Rajasthan Royals opener enters his second IPL season carrying significant expectations after a sensational debut year. At just 14, he scripted history by becoming the youngest centurion in men’s T20 cricket, hammering 101 off 38 balls against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025. His century came off just 35 deliveries, making it the second-fastest in IPL history. Across seven matches, he piled up 252 runs at a staggering strike rate of 206.55, underlining his fearless approach at the top. Against Chennai Super Kings last season, he scored a brisk 57 off 33 balls, including four sixes and four fours. His explosive powerplay batting makes him a key figure for RR once again.Riyan Parag (24 years old)Riyan Parag begins his first full season as Rajasthan Royals captain following Sanju Samson’s exit, taking charge at his home ground. One of the youngest captains in IPL history, Parag has steadily grown into a central figure for the franchise since his debut in 2019. In IPL 2025, he led the side in eight matches and scored 393 runs, emerging as RR’s second-highest run-getter with a strike rate of 166.52. His breakthrough came in 2024 when he amassed 573 runs in 16 matches at an average of 52.09. Overall, Parag has 1566 runs from 84 games at a strike rate of 141.84. Against CSK, he has scored 122 runs in eight matches, with a highest score of 47.Sanju Samson (31 years old)Sanju Samson will be in the spotlight as he turns out in Chennai Super Kings colours for the first time after being the face of Rajasthan Royals for over a decade. Having played 11 seasons with RR, he remains their all-time leading run-scorer with over 4000 runs. Overall, Samson has accumulated 4704 runs in 177 IPL matches at an average of 30.94 and a strike rate of 139.04, including three centuries and 26 fifties. He comes into the season in excellent touch after a Player-of-the-Tournament performance in the T20 World Cup 2026. His first outing against RR adds emotional weight, making him one of the biggest attractions in this contest.Kartik Sharma (19 years old)Kartik Sharma is a young wicketkeeper-batter, known for his power-hitting abilities. He became the joint-most expensive uncapped Indian player in IPL auction history when Chennai Super Kings signed him for Rs 14.2 crore. After being part of CSK’s wider squad in IPL 2025, he has now broken into the main squad for the 2026 season. If included in the playing XI, Sharma could make his debut, bringing with him the reputation of an aggressive young finisher.Ayush Mhatre (18 years old)Ayush Mhatre, another exciting young talent, enters his second IPL season after making a strong impression in 2025. He scored 240 runs in seven matches at an average of 34.28 and a remarkable strike rate of 188.97, including a high score of 94. Initially unsold at the IPL 2025 auction, Mhatre earned a mid-season call-up to Chennai Super Kings due to an injury to Ruturaj Gaikwad and made an immediate impact. Against Rajasthan Royals, he struck 43 off 20 at a strike rate of 215, showcasing his aggressive batting style.

NEW DELHI: Pakistan cricket has been rocked by a ball-tampering scandal in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The major controversy erupted during the match between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings, putting captain Shaheen Afridi, opener Fakhar Zaman and fast bowler Haris Rauf under the scanner.The incident occurred in the final over of the match, with Karachi Kings needing 14 runs off six balls.Haris Rauf was set to bowl the last over, and just before it began, Afridi and Fakhar joined him for a brief discussion to chalk out a plan.What raised eyebrows was Fakhar appearing to be caught on camera altering the ball.On-field umpire Faisal Afridi then called for the ball, inspected it, and held a lengthy discussion with fellow umpire Sharfuddoula of Bangladesh.After deliberation, the umpires concluded that the ball had been deliberately altered and awarded five penalty runs to Karachi Kings, reducing the target to nine runs off six balls. The ball was also changed.Lahore Qalandars eventually lost the match by four wickets.‘UMPIRES NE BOLA SIDE MEIN HO JAAYEIN’After the game, Lahore Qalandars sent their overseas player Sikandar Raza to address the media in the post-match press conference, where questions around the controversy were inevitable.“Umpires ne hume bola tha ki aap side mein ho jaayein because they were talking with the third umpire. Exact reason toh unhi ke paas hoga. Agar aapko clear answer chahiye, you’ll have to ask the umpires jinke paas walkie-talkie thi ya phir third umpire se pooch sakte hain. Unhone bas itna hi kaha tha ki aap side mein ho jaayein. Humse sirf itni request ki gayi thi ki aap log apni field positions par khade rahein, aur captain ko bhi yahi bola gaya tha,” Raza said.“I can only speak for myself — meri taraf se kabhi bhi ball ki condition change karne ka koi intention nahi tha, not even to try. I remember I was trying to shine the ball ya thoda dry karne ki koshish kar raha tha, especially boundary ropes ke paas jahan thodi dew thi. Main long-on pe tha aur wahan thodi si dew thi, toh bas yeh kaha gaya tha ki ball ko shirt ke andar dry karne ki koshish na karein. So we started doing it with the sleeves,” he said.“Ab jo clips chal rahe hain aur jo allegations lag rahe hain, jab tak proper proof nahi aata, I think it’s a big decision to say something like this. Main abhi changing room mein gaya hoon, aur main yeh guarantee de sakta hoon ki mujhe kisi enquiry ke liye nahi bulaya gaya hai,” Raza added.FAKHAR DENIES BALL-TAMPERING CHARGESStar opener Fakhar Zaman was charged on Sunday by match referee Roshan Mahanama with a Level 3 offence under Article 2.14 of the PSL Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. He was found to have violated Article 41.3 of the PSL playing conditions, which prohibits any action that alters the condition of the ball.Appearing before the former Sri Lankan cricketer, Zaman denied the charges against him.The match referee is expected to hold another hearing within the next 48 hours before delivering a verdict.If the offence is confirmed, Zaman — and potentially the Lahore Qalandars as a team — could face serious penalties.

NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane has brushed aside the constant chatter surrounding his career, insisting he is focused on personal growth rather than proving his talent to critics.Rahane’s composed 67 off 40 balls against Mumbai Indians in their IPL clash on Sunday once again brought him into the spotlight, but the veteran batter made it clear that external opinions hold little relevance to him.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Let people talk about me. They have been talking about me since like what, 20 years now. Let them talk,” Rahane said when asked if his innings was a statement knock. “I am not here to show anyone how talented I am and what’s my game. People are watching. Let them watch. Let them talk.”The 37-year-old, who last played for India in 2023, has faced persistent scrutiny, especially after stepping down from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy captaincy and skipping leadership roles in domestic white-ball tournaments. Yet, Rahane underlined that his focus remains firmly on evolving as a cricketer.“I am really happy, in the last 2-3 years, the way I have improved my game in white-ball formats. It’s important to grow as a cricketer and that’s what I am trying to do. People will keep talking and let them talk,” he added.‘Bumrah made the difference’Despite Rahane’s effort, Kolkata fell short as Mumbai chased down 221 with ease. The skipper revealed he was hampered by cramps in the latter half of the game.“I was just cramping. It’s a very bad feeling to sit outside with cramps… but first I’m really happy with the way I batted,” he said.Rahane also acknowledged the impact of Jasprit Bumrah, whose late overs restricted Kolkata from pushing towards a bigger total.“We thought 220 was a good total, we were on track for 235-240, but those two overs from Bumrah made a lot of difference. That’s why he’s such a great bowler,” Rahane noted.He admitted that KKRs relatively inexperienced bowling attack will take time to settle, especially with injuries affecting team balance. “It is challenging because our bowlers are inexperienced and some are injured, but it’s also an opportunity for others to step up and make a name,” he said.Backing under-fire spinner Varun Chakravarthy, Rahane urged patience. “Every player goes through this phase… he should not think too much about what is happening,” he added.

Cricket Australia have been forced to put out a clarification on why Australian allrounder Cameron Green is not allowed to bowl for his franchise Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026, after skipper Ajinkya Rahane took a swipe at the Australian board when asked about Green’s abstinence from bowling duties during KKR’s opening fixture against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Sunday.KKR failed to defend a total of 220, with Rahane blaming it on the inexperienced bowling unit and the true nature of the Wankhede track – the same strip which saw nearly 500 runs being scored in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal between India and England earlier this month.KKR have been grappling with injuries, and Rahane conceded that the non-availability of Green as a bowler dented the team’s balance.“I think when hopefully Green starts to bowl soon, the combination will be slightly different,” said Rahane during the post-match interaction. “At the moment, we have to see the balance and who can bowl well for us. Batting-wise, as I said, we batted really well, but finding that balance with the ball is really important. So, hopefully, Green starts to bowl soon, then we can find out whether the combination will be okay.“And when asked why the 26-year-old was not bowling, he shot back, saying, “That question you need to ask Cricket Australia,” leaving the on-air commentators Ravi Shastri and Kevin Pietersen speechless for a bit.However, Cricket Australia responded to Rahane’s remarks, stating that Green is suffering from a lower back injury and KKR were made fully aware of the situation beforehand.“Cameron has a lower back injury which is being managed but requires him to abstain from bowling for a short period,” a CA spokesperson said, as quoted by FOX Sports.“Cameron is currently rebuilding his bowling loads in India with a view to return in around 10–12 days’ time. KKR has been communicated with and is fully aware of this information,” the report further stated, attributing it to the spokesperson.Green, the most expensive buy of the IPL 2026 auction at INR 25.20 Cr, came out to bat at one-down, scoring 18 off 10 balls, but was not pressed into action with the ball as Mumbai Indians batters made merry against an inexperienced KKR bowling unit. Every KKR bowler was taken to the cleaners by Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton of Mumbai Indians, who combined for an opening stand of 148 in just 11.1 overs.Vaibhav Arora was taken for 52 runs in his four overs, while Blessing Muzarabani leaked 34 runs in his three overs. Kartik Tyagi, the impact sub, returned figures of 4-0-43-1. But the biggest letdown for KKR were their spin twins — Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy — who proved ineffective on the Wankhede track, giving away 78 runs between them in seven overs.

Pakistan star batter Fakhar Zaman was allegedly caught red-handed on live television for tampering with the ball during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) clash between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings at the Gaddafi Stadium. He appeared to be caught on camera, prompting on-field umpires to intervene, speak to captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, and eventually change the ball. Fakhar was also criticised by former Pakistan cricketers.Despite the uproar, Fakhar has denied the ball-tampering charges. Appearing before former Sri Lankan cricketer and match referee Roshan Mahanama, he rejected the allegations.

The 35-year-old opener was charged on Sunday by Mahanama with a Level 3 offence under Article 2.14 of the PSL Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.He was found to have violated Article 41.3 of the PSL playing conditions, which prohibits any action that alters the condition of the ball.The charge relates to an incident just before the final over of Karachi Kings’ innings, when they needed 14 runs to win. Fakhar was seen in discussion with Haris Rauf and captain Shaheen Afridi before the over.Shortly thereafter, umpire Faisal Afridi took the ball into his custody and inspected it. After consulting with the other on-field umpire, it was determined that the ball’s condition had been altered.The match referee is expected to hold another hearing within the next 48 hours before delivering a verdict.The umpires penalised Lahore Qalandars five runs for altering the condition of the ball and subsequently replaced it. This left Karachi Kings needing nine runs in the final over, which they successfully chased down.All-rounder Abbas Afridi sealed the victory by hitting Rauf for a four and a six after the bowler had delivered a wide.If the match referee confirms the offence, Fakhar — and potentially the Lahore Qalandars as a team — could face serious penalties.