NEW DELHI: Sunrisers Hyderabad batter Heinrich Klaasen has made a striking assessment of Chennai Super Kings, stating that the absence of their charismatic former skipper MS Dhoni “doesn’t really make much of a difference” to the five-time champions in IPL 2026.Speaking after Sunrisers Hyderabad’s mixed start to the season, Klaasen downplayed the impact of Dhoni’s absence as a player, suggesting that CSK’s strength lies beyond one individual.“CSK has got an incredible IPL record. Even with Dhoni not being there, they are not much of a lesser side. They are a very strong side. It’s not going to be an easy game,” Klaasen told the JioStar Press Room.‘Impact more in leadership than batting’While acknowledging Dhoni’s stature, Klaasen emphasised that the veteran’s absence is felt more in leadership than in his on-field contributions with the bat.“Dhoni not being there doesn’t really make much of a difference. It is more about other guys. I don’t think his absence will make such a big impact except for his leadership,” he noted.The South African also pointed out that Dhoni’s recent batting roles have been limited. “He has been coming to bat for just 5-10 balls in the last few years,” Klaasen added, underlining why CSK remain competitive even without their iconic finisher.SRH confident despite slow startKlaasen’s comments come at a time when SRH are looking to bounce back after two defeats in their first three matches. Their only win so far has come against Kolkata Knight Riders, while losses to Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants have exposed gaps.Despite the setbacks, Klaasen remains optimistic. “It’s still early days in the tournament. We are confident we will fire in all departments going forward,” he said.SRH are also dealing with the temporary absence of skipper Pat Cummins, with Ishan Kishan stepping in as captain.Targeting CSK’s batting depthLooking ahead to their clash against CSK, Klaasen stressed the need to apply pressure on a strong batting lineup.“Shivam (Dube) is in good form, their openers are fantastic — we just need to squeeze them a bit more,” he said.Klaasen, known for his aggressive approach, also spoke about his comfort against spin. “I’ve played a lot against spinners. They are coming for me and I am going after them,” he said.With both teams aiming to find consistency, Klaasen’s candid take adds spice to what promises to be a high-stakes encounter.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya (Agency Image)

As Rajasthan Royals take on Mumbai Indians in Guwahati, the contest brings together a side riding early momentum and another eager to bounce back with a full-strength XI. With key match-ups likely to shape the outcome, here are five players who could define the clash. 1. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi The teenage sensation has been at the centre of Rajasthan Royals’ explosive starts this season. But this is his biggest test yet. Having dominated bowlers over the past year, Sooryavanshi now comes up against a completely different challenge in Jasprit Bumrah. If he can counter the MI spearhead, it could once again set the tone for Royals. 2. Jasprit Bumrah Whenever Mumbai Indians need control, Bumrah delivers. His record against several RR batters, including Shimron Hetmyer, makes him a key figure yet again. Whether it is early breakthroughs or death-over precision, Bumrah’s impact could dictate the game. 3. Yashasvi Jaiswal Jaiswal has been crucial at the top but faces a tricky match-up against Hardik Pandya. His struggles against the MI skipper in previous encounters make this a battle to watch. If Jaiswal can overcome that hurdle, RR’s powerplay could once again be dominant. 4. Hardik Pandya Expected to return after missing the last game, Pandya adds balance to the MI lineup. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball, especially against key players like Jaiswal, could prove decisive in shifting momentum. 5. Sandeep Sharma Often underrated, Sandeep holds a strong record against MI’s biggest names. His success against Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav makes him a vital weapon with the new ball. Early wickets from him could put Mumbai on the back foot.With Rajasthan Royals already off to a perfect start, a third straight win would take them to the top of the table and further strengthen their early-season momentum. However, Mumbai Indians, bolstered by the expected return of Hardik Pandya, will be desperate to turn their fortunes around. With conditions in Guwahati offering some early movement but promising runs once set, the contest could swing either way. In what shapes up as a high-scoring clash, these key battles might ultimately decide whether Rajasthan continue their surge or Mumbai mount a strong comeback.

LSG pacer Mohsin Khan during a practice session.

LUCKNOW: Lucknow Super Giants left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan, who has made a comeback in IPL after a 14-15 months’ rehabilitation following an injury, said that he could return due to the inspiration of his mother who passed away two months ago.“The long injury layoff pushed me into self-doubt, but my mother kept encouraging me throughout my recovery. When I was unavailable for competitive cricket, and after surgery during rehab, many times negative thoughts came to my mind,” he said.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“I wondered if I would ever play again because I was out for 14-15 months. But my mother always supported me and told me that I would play again,” he said.“My mother’s dream was to see me play IPL and competitive cricket again. I was in the LSG camp and had returned from Bengaluru, and she passed away the same day,” Mohsin said.He said he was close to his mother and used to speak to her a lot on phone calls.“After her death, I was in trauma. I did not practice for a month,” he said.On being retained by LSG despite his injury struggles, Mohsin admitted he did not expect it.He credited LSG physio Vaibhav Daga, trainer Soham, and bowling coach Bharat Arun for helping him regain fitness and rhythm.“I also practised with pacer Mohammed Shami at his farm in Amroha. He has set up a good gym and ground at his farm. We discussed bowling nuances and told me about any shortcomings,” Mohsin explained.

Australia bowler Mitchell Starc has yet to join the Delhi Capitals camp and it’s learnt that the 36-year-old is likely to miss at least three more games for the franchise. Starc is managing a shoulder and elbow injury back home and is highly unlikely to join the squad till April 20. Before that, Delhi are scheduled to play three games – against Gujarat Titans on April 8, CSK on April 11 and RCB on April 18 – and will miss the services of the star bowler.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The DC think tank is optimistic on having Starc with them at some point in the season but timelines are unclear at this stage. In the left-armer’s absence, the Axar Patel-led unit has won both its games against the Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians, and the versatile bowling unit put up a strong show. Mukesh Kumar has been very penetrative with the new ball. Lungi Ngidi and T Narajan have been accurate in the tough overs and the spinners—Axar, Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam—have controlled the middle overs.Starc’s addition will only add significant bite to this potent attack, and the bowler remains in constant touch with the management. In a social media post last month, he revealed the nature of his injury and hit out at the “misinformed opinions of players.”“Despite the opinions and views of certain individuals with their platforms in and through the Indian media, I’m currently rehabbing and managing an injury in my shoulder and elbow, the extent of which I didn’t know during the Australian summer. These individuals have made some strong statements around involvement in the IPL and provided heavily misinformed opinions of players, preached them as facts, and claimed to know my body better than me,” Starc wrote in a statement.The bowler asserted that he is committed to joining the DC squad “as soon as possible”.“With that said, I do acknowledge this injury setback and that the timing is disruptive to the Delhi team, and I apologise for that and to the fans for not being available for the early part of this season. I remain committed to joining DC, am in continual communication with the team, and will continue to do what I can to be available for DC as soon as possible,” he added.Delhi Capitals next take on Gujarat Titans at home on April 8 and will look to continue their unbeaten run in the tournament. Young batter Sameer Rizvi has aced two chases under pressure and the management would now hope the experienced batters around him step up and make substantial contributions. DC are one of the four unbeaten teams in the tournament and a win over GT will take them to top spot in the IPL 2026 points table.

File Image: Riyan Parag and Hardik Pandya (Pic credit: IPL)

Mumbai Indians will be banking on the return of skipper Hardik Pandya as they look to bounce back against an in-form Rajasthan Royals in their IPL clash on Tuesday.Pandya missed MI’s previous game due to illness, a setback that proved costly in their six-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals. His absence not only deprived the side of his all-round abilities but also forced a reshuffle in team combination. While Suryakumar Yadav stepped in as stand-in captain, MI struggled to find balance, particularly with the ball.The bowling unit looked unsettled, with Corbin Bosch proving expensive, while Jasprit Bumrah has been economical but is yet to take a wicket this season. Mitchell Santner has been a bright spot in spin, but the attack overall will need to step up significantly.MI face a stiff challenge against a Royals side that has hit the ground running this season. Rajasthan’s top order has been particularly impressive, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi providing explosive starts, while Dhruv Jurel has added solidity in the middle. Skipper Riyan Parag has led astutely, especially in crunch moments.Their bowling unit has also delivered, with Ravi Bishnoi emerging as a key wicket-taker and Tushar Deshpande impressing at the death.

RR vs MI Head-to-Head

RR vs MI: Pitch Report

Guwahati has shown early assistance for fast bowlers this season, particularly under overcast conditions. In the only game here so far, Chennai Super Kings were bowled out for 127, with early moisture aiding seam movement, before Rajasthan Royals chased it down comfortably.With rain forecast in the afternoon and clearer skies later, similar conditions are expected. The new ball could offer swing and seam in the Powerplay, making the initial overs crucial. As the pitch dries, batting should become easier, with dew likely to aid chasing teams under lights.

RR vs MI: Predicted XIs

Rajasthan Royals predicted XI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (capt), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar DeshpandeImpact Sub: Sandeep SharmaMumbai Indians predicted XI: Rohit Sharma, Ryan RIckelton (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Naman Dhir, Hardik Pandya (capt), Sherfane Rutherford, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Trent Boult, Mayank MarkandeImpact Sub: Jasprit Bumrah

RR vs MI: Guwahati Weather Update

Mostly cloudy conditions are expected, with light morning showers followed by thunderstorms in parts during the afternoon. The temperature is likely to peak around 29°C. By evening, skies should turn partly cloudy, although there remains a chance of a late-night thunderstorm, with temperatures dipping to around 19°C.During match hours, conditions look relatively stable, with partly cloudy skies and only around a 10% chance of rain.

RR vs MI: Live Streaming details

The RR vs MI clash will be held at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, with the match set to begin at 7:30 PM IST. The game will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on JioHotstar.

RR vs MI squads

Rajasthan Royals: Riyan Parag (c), Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Aman Perala, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Adam Milne, Brijesh Sharma, Jofra Archer, Kuldeep Sen, Kwena Maphaka, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi and Sandeep Sharma.Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Danish Malewar, Robin Minz (wk), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Atharva Ankolekar, Raj Bawa, Corbin Bosch, Will Jacks, Mayank Rawat, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Tilak Varma, Ashwani Kumar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Deepak Chahar, AM Ghazanfar, Mayank Markande, Mohammad Izhar, Raghu Sharma.

World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura questions FIDE’s safety protocols (Photo by Michal Walusza)

NEW DELHI: The year was 2015. At 55, veteran Grandmaster (GM) Pravin Thipsay hadn’t won any chess tournament in four years. He arrived at the inaugural Dr. Hegdewar Open in Delhi hoping to break the hex, but by the fifth round, he found himself staring at a nightmare.Across from him sat Dhruv Kakar, a 19-year-old engineering student with a modest rating of 1575 on paper. But as the game unfolded, Thipsay watched in disbelief as his pieces were traded away with clinical, engine-like precision.After 87 gruelling moves, the teenager prevailed as the GM sat at the other end of the board with utter disbelief.

“The quality of moves was not matching his rating,” Thipsay told TimesofIndia.com, recalling the incident. “There was a consistency of time taken by him irrespective of whether the move was obvious or not.”The suspicion was immediate. In a scene resembling a thriller, the youngster was taken to a private room afterwards. Authorities then conducted a body search on Kakar and found him strapped with several mobile phones across his body and wearing an earphone so tiny it had to be removed with a magnet.The veteran eventually went on to win the tournament, his first in four years, but the victory was stained by the realisation of how easily the soul of the game could be sold for a digital signal.Fast forward to 2026, and the shadows of 2015 have grown into a global obsession. At the ongoing FIDE Candidates, the pinnacle of the sport, the atmosphere is less like a quiet library and more like a high-security black site.It was this tension that prompted World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura to launch a sarcastic verbal gambit that has since gone viral.“They scan us before the game. They scan us after the game. They have metal detectors and a variety of other scanners,” Nakamura scoffed on his YouTube channel. “I mean, who are we? Are we like Mossad agents inside Iran or something? Come on, we’re chess players! Let’s be real.”For Nakamura, the measures are “complete nonsense”, a theatrical overreaction to a threat he believes is managed through sheer hardware saturation. Yet, FIDE stands firm.Andy Howie, FIDE’s Fair Play Officer, defended the protocols as a necessary shield for a World Championship qualifier. “We have to make sure the players are in a safe environment,” he said on video on FIDE’s YouTube channel.The debate has split the chess world down the middle. Is FIDE protecting the integrity of the game, or have they turned a battle of wits into a TSA checkpoint?The Indian perspectiveRight after the Nakaumra rant, Koneru Humpy, India’s legendary female GM, was one of the first Indian GMs to take to X (formerly Twitter) to voice her support for the strictness.“In today’s era of rapid technological advancement, strong anti-cheating measures are essential,” she noted. “They may feel demanding, but they ensure games are decided by skill. There have been times of doubt during games, but existing rules make it difficult to speak openly.”Humpy’s sentiment is echoed by GM Shyam Sundar M, though he acknowledges the friction Nakamura describes.“It (having proper safety measures) is an absolute must because these days so many technologies keep coming up,” Shyam told this website. “I know how annoying it is. Before the game, players are usually focused only on the board. A long queue for ten minutes or more can be frustrating.”“What annoys a player even more than the waiting time is if someone cheats and never gets caught,” Shyam added. “So, for the benefit of the game, I think, uh, it is essential. Like in the airport, the security check is for our own safety. Once this is done, we know whether we are playing human players or ‘meta-humans.'”Is broadcasting the real problem?While Nakamura rails against the scanners, Pravin Thipsay offers a radical alternative that could render the metal detectors obsolete. Kill the live feed.“Cheating is a major threat. Any Tom, Dick, and Harry with the help of an engine could beat the world champion,” Thipsay explained.“I think live chess is not a necessity. If the games are delayed by one hour, it’s not going to affect the popularity of chess. It’s not like a cricket match where people want to see the match live. People look at these games at their convenience.”

Pravin Thipsay

Thipsay argues that FIDE is “mistaken” in thinking that popularity depends on instant data.He points out the logistical nightmare the current rules create for travelling pros.“When we go abroad, we don’t know where to leave our phones. You need a mobile to reach the location, but you can’t leave it with the organisers, and you can’t take it to the hall. It’s a serious inconvenience,” he further added.His solution, thus, lies in delaying the broadcast by 30 to 60 minutes. “In that case, the cheating chances are almost zero. Players are happy to see even 100-year-old games. The priority should be that nobody has the privilege of showing the games while they are in progress.”A price for the greater good?For younger GMs like Abhimanyu Puranik, the “Mossad agent” treatment is simply the cost of doing business at the highest level.“Anti-cheating measures are of paramount importance nowadays,” Puranik, who recently turned 26, told TimesofIndia.com. “While obviously nothing suspect is going on in events like the Candidates, these events set an example for the quality of anti-cheating that tournaments around the world should aspire to.”

Puranik feels the process can be a hassle, but he also feels: “It is a small price to pay for the greater good of the game.”Nakamura might feel like a spy in a foreign land, but for many Indian players, the memory of the “average player” playing god-like moves is a ghost they aren’t ready to stop hunting.For now, the scanners aren’t going anywhere. And as long as that threat exists, Grandmasters will have to keep acting like secret agents.