Sep 24, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders mascot Tuddy takes the field against the Buffalo Bills at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Commanders hired Minnesota Vikings defensive passing game coordinator Daronte Jones to be their next defensive coordinator last week, and based on how the NFL usually works, a handful of purple free agents could follow Jones to the nation’s capital: Eric Wilson, Ivan Pace Jr., and Fabian Moreau.
Washington’s interest looks plausible with Jones in town, so Vikings fans should be prepared for some Commanders’ signings.
Adding those free agents certainly isn’t a foregone conclusion, but add Wilson, Pace Jr., and Moreau as possible Commanders’ free-agent signees in 4.5 weeks.
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Washington Emeres as a Real FA Threat
Free agency is just around the corner, believe it or not.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson goes through pregame warmups at SoFi Stadium, framed ahead of kickoff on Oct 23, 2025, as Minnesota prepared to face the Chargers in Inglewood. The moment captures Wilson’s routine and readiness, highlighting his return to a familiar environment while reestablishing his role within the Vikings’ defensive rotation. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Eric Wilson (LB)
Wilson will turn 32 during the 2026 regular season, and based on his 2025 performance, he may simply reunite in Minnesota. But what if the age scares away the Vikings’ brass? Wilson would need a new NFL home. Jones running the show in Washington makes sense in that example.
Minnesota signed him as depth, a rotational linebacker slotted behind Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. He entered 2025 as a backup and special teamer, barely part of the defensive conversation.
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By December, Wilson was a bona fide starter. He turned into a true disruptor, collapsing offensive lines and appearing behind the line with startling consistency. He finished the season leading all off-ball linebackers in sacks and pressures, hovering near the top of the league in forced fumbles.
The impact reshaped how the defense felt when he wasn’t on the field. At 31, Wilson authored the best season of his career, even if it arrived later than expected.
Now, free agency brings the business side again. Wilson can sign with any NFL team when that process opens on March 9th, and league expectations point toward Minnesota prioritizing a return. Given the breakout and the age curve, a deal in the $5–7 million range makes sense.
If the Commanders pay more than the Vikings, it could be a no-brainer for Wilson.
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CBS Sports‘ David Harrison on Wilson as a Commanders’ free-agent target: “Fans of the team are going to flinch at the idea of the oldest team in the NFL last year adding a 32-year-old linebacker this offseason, but not only should Eric Wilson be a priority target, but he might also be the most important addition of the year if general manager Adam Peters can bring him in.”
“Coming to Washington, Wilson would become an immediate translator between Jones and his new roster of players, and could also play a pivotal role on the defense itself were he thrust into increased action like he was in Minnesota. Even if he is in his 30s.”
Ivan Pace Jr. (LB)
Pace Jr. had a rough year. Let’s just get that out in the open.
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He began the 2025 campaign as a starter, and within six weeks, Wilson snatched his job. As mentioned above, Wilson was too good to sit on the bench. Meanwhile, the timing was flat-out terrible for Pace Jr., as he’ll hit restricted free agency in March. He was supposed to spend all of 2025 as a starter and cash in big with the Vikings or a new team.
Now, Pace Jr. will basically start from scratch, hoping to prove he has the juice of an NFL starter. Missed tackles plagued his first six games, and Minnesota evidently soured on his snap count.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. reacts following a defensive sequence at SoFi Stadium during second-half action on Oct 24, 2024, as Minnesota battled the Rams in Inglewood. The image reflects Pace’s intensity and emotional presence, underscoring his growing influence within the defense during a tightly contested road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
In Washington, the off-ball linebackers aren’t young: Frankie Luvu (29) and Bobby Wagner (35), if Wagner re-signs. Pace Jr., on the other hand, won’t turn 26 until December.
Fabian Moreau (CB)
Minnesota entered the 2025 season with concerns about cornerback depth. Isaiah Rodgers, Byron Murphy Jr., and Jeff Okudah were the only viable starters, while Dwight McGlothern and rookie Zemaiah Vaughn remained on the practice squad. Depth appeared dangerously thin, leaving little room for error.
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A bit of panic set in when Okudah suffered multiple concussions. The Vikings promoted Fabian Moreau from the practice squad, opting for him over McGlothern, and quietly filled a void that could have crippled the secondary. The results then exceeded expectations. Moreau earned a 70.9 PFF grade and allowed a 47.4 passer rating on 19 targets, providing consistent production in a role that was overlooked and deprioritized during Minnesota’s 2025 offseason.
Washington cornerback Fabian Moreau stands on the field during pregame moments at Raymond James Stadium, captured on Aug 31, 2017, as Washington prepared for action in Tampa. The image offers an early-career snapshot of Moreau, highlighting his transition into NFL game settings before settling into a rotational defensive role. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Looking forward for the Vikings, Moreau would be a sensible CB3-CB4 option for 2026, assuming interim general manager Rob Brzezinski acquires a true CB1 through free agency or the draft. While he will turn 32 this offseason, his performance suggests he has another year or two left. In effect, he gave the Vikings what they had hoped to receive from Okudah. It worked out.
Or — Moreau could follow Jones to Washington. Moreau spent his entire rookie contract in Washington, drafted in 2017 as a 3rd-Round pick by Jay Gruden’s Commanders.
Following a major patch release earlier, the developers have added several hotfix updates to Crimson Desert on March 30, 2026. Pearl Abyss has a dedicated space where players can report in-game issues, and it’s commendable that those bugs are being fixed quickly. The latest adjustments fix numerous UI features and in-game interactions.
Here are all of the included hotfixes mentioned in Crimson Desert Patch Notes Version 1.01.01.
All Crimson Desert hotfixes released with patch version 1.01.01
A hotfix with several fixes is going out across all platforms. For the best experience, we recommend receiving this latest patch. Please check the below notice for details and to see if it’s available for download on your platform.
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With Crimson Desert patch 1.01.00 improving plenty of in-game mechanics, and also adding more content to the title, the hotfix patch version 1.01.01 fixes a total of eight bugs. These updates are available for all platforms, including PC, Mac, PlayStation, and Xbox. And as for PC (Steam), the update size is only 208 MB.
With that said, here are the fixes included in patch version 1.01.01:
“Fixed an issue where the “Use” button for the Talisman of the 5 new mounts appeared on Damiane and Oongka.
Fixed an issue where Blackstar remained flying in place after death instead of disappearing.
Fixed an issue where the A.T.A.G was not destroyed even when its Health reached 0.
Fixed an issue where the UI for selecting a tempering target became unavailable in certain conditions.
Fixed an issue where holding down the button to follow NPCs during missions on horseback caused the horse to move abnormally.
Fixed an issue where Sprint could not be used while riding the White Bear.
Fixed an issue where the controls became unavailable while using “Examine” with the Constellation Helm.
Fixed an issue where Refinement of equipment was not possible for Damiane and Oongka.”
The White Bear is one of the legendary mounts that came with patch 1.01.00, and the developers have already included a bug fix around its riding interaction. With all the recent updates, it’s fair to say that if the community raises an issue (that potentially needs fixing), Pearl Abyss might fix it in time.
Consider the Orlando Magic. They have patient, deep-pocketed ownership, smart and experienced management with an eye on the big picture and loads of high-end talent.
They sold off an underwhelming core at the right time and turned the draft capital into one of the best young forwards in the game in Franz Wagner, taken eighth overall in 2021 with one of the picks they got from the Chicago Bulls. They tanked briefly but effectively and ended up with Jalen Suggs, taken No. 5 in 2021, and Paolo Banchero, taken first overall in 2022. Banchero became an all-star in his second season at age 21, and Suggs was all-defence in his third season at 22.
Having made the playoffs two years in a row, the Magic then went for it and cashed in some draft capital (as in four unprotected first-round picks and a pick swap) for Desmond Bane, a tough, two-way wing to bolster their biggest weaknesses: shot creation and three-point shooting.
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He’s played well this season.
There are more good moves — drafting up-and-coming Anthony Black in the lottery in 2023 and Tristan Da Silva in 2024. Both look like long-term rotation players.
But sometimes things just don’t come together. For the Magic, it’s been most of this snake-bitten season, but it may have culminated Sunday evening at Scotiabank Arena.
In a game with significant Eastern Conference playoff implications, the Magic looked like a team fiddling through the pre-season.
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The Raptors’ 139-87 win doesn’t quite capture the Magic’s capitulation. Over a nearly eight-minute stretch in the first half, the Raptors scored 31 unanswered points, an NBA record for the play-by-play era (since the 1996-97 season, roughly 30 years).
“I actually didn’t know that that was even happening,” said Scottie Barnes, who set a new career-high with 15 assists to go along with 23 points and three steals in 28 minutes. His three steals gave him a career-best 102 on the season, and along with his 109 blocks, make him the only player in the NBA to top 100 of each so far this year. “I think we were all super locked in. Just trying to keep causing turnovers and keep trying as hard as we can on defence that it just helped the lead grow for us.”
Orlando gave up 19 turnovers in the first half, which the Raptors turned into 30 points. It was the second-most turnovers in a half for which there are available statistics. Toronto led 70-43 at halftime.
The Raptors were their typically handsy, pesky selves as they made a season-high 18 steals, but on multiple occasions, the Magic simply made careless passes out of bounds or over their teammates’ heads or through a forest of arms and legs.
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The result was ugly. The 52-point winning margin was the second-largest in Raptors history.
The whole thing was a little weird. For the second time in a month Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic credited a higher power, for his team’s performance, which was one way to explain how his team played their most dominant basketball of the season with Brandon Ingram (heel inflammation), Immanuel Quickley (missed his fourth straight game with plantar fasciitis) and Colin Murray-Boyles (back spasms) all out of the lineup. Jamison Battle (illness) was out, too.
But who can the Magic blame? Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley tried to shoulder the blame, but he’s not passing the ball to the other team.
To their credit, against some adversity, the Raptors rallied.
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“Obviously we dealt with several injuries today and I felt in the locker room before the start of the game there was a lot of determination there. The guys really wanted to go out there and compete,” Rajakovic said.
What was the Magic’s excuse? It’s hard to fathom.
The game represented arguably Orlando’s last best chance to pull itself into contention for a top-six finish and a guaranteed playoff spot in the East. It would have given the Magic a 2-1 edge in the season series with the Raptors and pulled them within one game of Toronto.
Now it’s the Raptors that have the tiebreak, and they are three full games ahead of eighth-place Orlando (39-35) with eight to play. Toronto still has a fight on its hands to stay in the top six. They are 42-32 and a half game up on Atlanta in sixth and one game up on Philadelphia in seventh. But if they slip back into the play-in tournament, it likely won’t be due to the Magic.
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The Raptors aren’t a perfectly constructed team. What would Barnes be able to do if he actually could be something close to a full-time point guard, surrounded by shooters who can stretch the floor in every direction? We’ve never been able to see it in Toronto. Even after converting 13-of-29 threes against Orlando, the Raptors are 25th in made threes this season and 23rd in three-point percentage.
But put the ball in his hands and good things happen. Barnes has 49 assists in the last four games, third in the NBA over that span.
The Raptors do have a collective energy that, for the most part this season, has made them better than the sum of their parts.
It’s allowed a previously unproven Sandro Mamukelashvili to take his first shot at regular playing time and thrive as the first big off the bench. He was +47 on Sunday and finished with 19 points on 13 shots.
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It’s there when RJ Barrett battles through a shoulder injury to put up 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting. It’s there when Alijah Martin and A.J. Lawson, the Raptors’ little-used two-way contract players, step into a crucial game and contribute 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting combined.
Injuries are a huge part of the Magic’s story: their core of Wagner, Banchero, Suggs and Bane have played just 130 minutes together this season. They are +10.1 per 100 possessions when they do.
But if the flesh is weak, the spirit doesn’t seem much better.
They were only missing Wagner on Sunday and they completely no-showed. It was their seventh loss in eight games, their only win coming over the lowly Sacramento Kings.
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The Raptors haven’t done everything right over the past three years. A talent sell-off and four years out of the playoffs have hardly yielded a bucket full of top lottery picks. Who the future star is that will ride alongside Barnes is still very much to be determined.
But they have played together and they have committed to playing a high-energy style of defence. They pass the ball.
They have a very good chance at making the playoffs; teams a lot further along the talent acquisition curve — the Magic just being one of them — are in danger of missing them.
Credit where credit is due.
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Georgia on their minds: Mamukelashvili and Orlando Magic centre Goga Bitadze had a lengthy catch-up at centre court before the game started. The two big men are the only Georgian players in the NBA and represented the national team this past summer at EuroBasket. They have known each other forever. “Me and Goga played each other when I was like, six or seven years old, and he was tall and he was the only person able to block my shot and I really hated it. I was thinking, ‘Who is this tall guy?’ I was the tallest and he was the tallest. He was always a physically gifted and strong guy. I feel like he was the first player or second player against who I really had to adjust. [But] I’m so happy for him and hopefully he gets better. But I’m super happy to play him and I think he’s representing the country amazingly.”
To dunk or not do dunk: When you’re six-foot-one, dunking can be stressful. The outcome is not guaranteed. But every once in a while, Jamal Shead (12 points, 10 assists, three steals) will decide it’s time. “Whenever I’m actually open, I’ll try,” said Shead. “I need the time to get my legs under me. I don’t like dunking. It’s scary. It’s a long way for me.” But the stars aligned early in the fourth quarter with the Raptors leading by 51 points. Shead shot the gap, was off on a breakaway and loaded up. It was his third dunk of the season (on three attempts) and the sixth of his career (on nine attempts).
Yes, they follow the standings: “I think everyone goes home and checks it,” said Mamukelashvili. “We’re right there. We fought through the whole year to kind of get ourselves in a good position. We slipped up, we came back. Now we know that everything is so stacked, the margin of error is so small, I feel you got to be aware of it. I watch other games, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta — all the teams that are right there with us, what they’re doing and how they’re doing it and make sure we stay on top.”
Aryna Sabalenka holds the Butch Buchholz championship trophy after defeating Coco Gauff of the United States on Day 12 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on March 28, 2026. (Photo by Mauricio Paiz/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Aryna Sabalenka defeated Coco Gauff in three sets to win the Miami Open final, holding her nerve in a match that could have easily slipped either way.
After the win, Sabalenka said:
“I was trying to remind myself I’m strong enough to handle that,” she said, talking about the pressure in the third set.
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She also opened up about the work she’s been doing behind the scenes with her team.
“We were chatting a lot, trying to dig deep and find the reason why I’m letting these finals get too much in my head… mentally we found a way to improve.”
Even after losing chances in the second set, she said her focus was simple: stay positive and reset.
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“I lost a couple of opportunities in that second set, but I was just trying to stay mentally positive.”
In the end, that shift in mindset made the difference, as she stayed composed and closed out the match, something she admitted had been a challenge for her in past finals.
Shaheen Afridi Ball Tampering Controversy: A stalwart of Pakistan cricket and skipper of the PSL franchise Lahore Qalandars, Shaheen Afridi found himself under the spotlight for a major controversy in the final phase of the match against Karachi Kings on Sunday. The incident unfolded just before Lahore pacer Haris Rauf was set to bowl the final over. In a video that surfaced on social media, the trio of Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, and Fakhar Zaman appeared to be doing something with the ball while engaged in discussion.
The umpires concluded that the ball had been tampered with and imposed a five-run penalty on the Lahore franchise. Karachi Kings capitalised on the situation and wrapped up the chase within the first three balls of the 20th over.
During the post-match presentation, Pakistan legend Ramiz Raja pressed Shaheen, the Lahore skipper, about what had transpired before the final over. The pacer fumbled multiple times while attempting to answer and claimed he was unaware of what had happened.
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“I don’t know about this, and we’ll see if it’s there in the camera and discuss what it is. Actually, five runs were taken and we can’t do anything,” Shaheen said at the presentation.
Ramiz Raja to Shaheen Afridi:
“The ball was taken from you at the end because of the ball tempering so what are your thoughts on that?”
Shaheen Afridi:
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“I don’t know about this. We will see that in cameras. We will discuss who did that.” pic.twitter.com/j2f8ofri3y
Ramiz, however, refused to let the matter slide and continued to probe Shaheen on the ball-tampering allegations.
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“You have to ask the umpires why they changed the ball. When we asked them why they changed the ball, they told us to go away. When they were making the decision, the umpires requested us, even the captain, to return to our fielding positions,” Ramiz explained.
In a statement after the match, Lahore star Sikandar Raza said: “I can only speak for myself. There was never any attempt on my part to change the condition of the ball, or even to try. All I remember is that when I was trying to dry the ball and make it shine, the umpires asked us not to dry it under the shirt. Who they are accusing, unless we see the proof, I think it’s a big decision. I have not been called for an enquiry.”
The Miami Marlins turned back the clock on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies and presented fans with a throwback uniform to kick start Teal Sundays.
The nostalgic look of the uniform may have been the lucky charm they needed to get a win over the Rockies. Owen Caissie came up to the plate with one on and two outs. He took a Victor Vodnik pitch deep to right field for the walk-off home run.
Miami Marlins’ Owen Caissie, second from right, poses with his teammates after hitting a walk-off two run home run to defeat the Colorado Rockies in a baseball game, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
The Marlins announced the organization would be hosting Teal Sundays for their home games during the season. The jersey featured the old teal uniforms with the original Florida Marlins logo stitched in.
“This jersey is so much more than just a uniform,” a message on their website read. “It’s an ode to those moments where fans fell in love with the team. It honors the Fightin’ Fish who started it all and the players who carry that legacy into the next era of Marlins baseball.”
Miami Marlins pitcher Max Meyer (23) meets on the mound during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Miami.(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
The Marlins were established as an MLB franchise with the Rockies in 1993. While Miami has had their share of teardowns and rebuilds, the team won World Series titles in 1997 and 2003.
Miami will look to get back to the playoffs this season under second-year manager Clayton McCullough. The Marlins haven’t made the postseason since 2023.
Miami Marlins’ Owen Caissie runs after hitting a walk-off two run home run during the ninth inning to defeat the Colorado Rockies in a baseball game, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Successfully completing the first pair of objectives in a three-phase roadmap, rising star colt Southend now aims to cap it off with a tilt at the Group 1 Champagne Stakes.
Securing the Paul Perry (1300m) at Newcastle on his first start, Southend then ventured to Rosehill on Saturday where he lifted the Group 3 Baillieu (1400m) to qualify for the Championships.
“That has always been the plan. To go to Newcastle, here today, then if he looks as though he’s had enough we’ll stop him, and if not he’ll go to the Champagne in three weeks,” co-trainer Gerald Ryan said.
“He’s a very good horse, I think.”
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Southend descends from the accomplished former English miler-sprinter Palace Pier, taker of five Group 1 victories, via a So You Think three-quarter sister of Ryan’s previous sharp galloper Peltzer.
Nevertheless, that family connection did not sway Ryan and partner trainer Sterling Alexiou when selecting Southend at the yearling sales.
“That wasn’t the reason I bought him,” Ryan said.
“The week before the sales, Sterling had gone home for a few days and when he came back I said, ‘I reckon I found one for you’. I took him down to Mill Park (Stud’s barn), there were five horses there we looked at, and I never told him which one it was.
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“This horse came out and Sterling, goes, ‘he’s a classic’ and I said, ‘I know. This is the one I want you to like’.”
Under Dylan Gibbons, Southend ($7.50) accelerated from the midway point of the straight and stormed home to pip Persian Wonder ($2.90 fav) by 1-1/4 lengths, while Nomadic ($81) was a nose behind in third place.
Gibbons remarked that Southend’s win came via innate ability and he will improve markedly with seasoning.
“The thing I loved most is that last furlong, he was just looking for some challengers. God help him when he learns what his job is,” Gibbons said.
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“I’m sure he will eat up and bounce out of the run, and we’ll have a crack at the big one (Champagne Stakes). If he can take any natural improvement again, it’s scary to see where he can get to.”
Head to betting sites for racing betting markets on the Champagne Stakes showdown.
Bayern Munich are wary of Saudi Pro League clubs targeting Harry Kane, Bernardo Silva is set to leave Manchester City and Inter Miami start talks with Manchester United‘s Casemiro.
Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness is wary of the Saudi Pro League trying to tempt England striker Harry Kane as the German club continue talks with the 32-year-old over a new deal beyond summer 2027. (Kicker – in German), external
Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva, 31, has told Manchester City that he will be leaving the club when his contract runs out in the summer. (Caught Offside), external
Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay is not talking to Saudi Pro League clubs as the 29-year-old’s focus remains in Italy with Napoli.(Fabrizio Romano), external
Barcelona will offer 37-year-old Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, whose contract at the club runs out in the summer, a new one-year deal which includes a significant pay cut and more performance-related bonuses. (Sport – in Spanish), external
Juventus are looking at the prospect of adding Lewandowski and 27-year-old France forward Randal Kolo Muani, who is on loan at Tottenham from Paris St-Germain, to their ranks. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external
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Chelsea and France defender Malo Gusto, 22, says Liam Rosenior is a “top manager” despite criticism following their recent poor form. (ESPN), external
Inter Miami have started talks with Brazil midfielder Casemiro’s camp about signing the 34-year-old, who will leave Manchester United in the summer, but the Major League soccer side face competition from other teams in Europe and Saudi Arabia. (Fabrizio Romano), external
GUWAHATI: With Rajasthan Royals hosting a few Indian Premier League matches in their adopted home of Guwahati over the past seasons, top-flight cricket is no novelty to the Assam capital. But with an additional fixture scheduled at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium this year — amid the buzz of the April 9 state assembly elections — the excitement has risen quite a few notches.As fans gear up for the Royals’ clash with Super Kings on Monday, weather remains the only concern. Intermittent drizzle over the past week and forecasts of rain and thunderstorms on match day threaten to disrupt proceedings.On the field, both teams are desperate for a reset after disappointing IPL 2025 campaigns. Chennai Super Kings finished at the bottom of the table for the first time in their history, while Rajasthan Royals ended just above them.
Samson swaps pink for yellowSanju Samson will be the biggest attraction, arriving in Guwahati on the back of a stellar T20 World Cup-winning campaign with India. The Kerala wicketkeeper-batter will now turn out for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals — a franchise he represented and led for over a decade.Young India U19 World Cup-winning captain Ayush Mhatre adds firepower to the top-order for CSK, while Shivam Dube will look to carry his T20 World Cup form into the IPL and add muscle to the middle. Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed and Noor Ahmad form the bowling core.Riyan Parag begins his first full season as Rajasthan Royals captain after handling leadership duties briefly last year during Samson’s injury-forced absence. The Assam all-rounder now shoulders the responsibility of leading a franchise seeking a fresh identity.Ravindra Jadeja, part of the Samson swap deal, will don pink this season and spearhead the spin attack alongside Ravi Bishnoi, while Jofra Archer leads the pace unit. With Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel forming the batting core, Royals will hope for a more consistent showing.NUMBERS GAME6 – Rajasthan Royals have won six out of the last seven games against Chennai Super Kings between Oct 2021 and May 2025. Their only defeat was by five wickets at Chepauk on May 12, 2024.
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