Weather in Guwahati is looming over the IPL 2026 opener between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings, with rain forecast putting the match in doubt. Both teams, looking for a fresh start after poor seasons, feature significant changes in players and management. Sanju Samson moves to CSK, Ravindra Jadeja to RR and Riyan Parag captains Royals while Ruturaj Gaikwad leads CSK. Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings are set to begin a new phase of their IPL journeys on Monday, but the weather in Guwahati threatens to take center stage even before the ball starts rolling. The IPL 2026 opener between the two sides comes with renewed storylines after both teams hit the reset button after finishing at the lowest places last season. However, many weather forecasts cast doubt on how much action fans will witness. While BBC Weather predicted “thunder showers” during the scheduled hours of the match, Weather.com also indicated consistent rain from early evening until midnight. AccuWeather, on the other hand, offers a more upbeat outlook, suggesting the rain could clear before the sweep, although high humidity is expected to persist. In addition to the uncertainty in the sky, the competition means a significant shift in personnel and management. Sanju Samson will turn out for CSK after leading Rajasthan Royals until last season, while Ravindra Jadeja has gone the other way and returned to the franchise where he started his IPL career in 2008. The trade, which also involved Sam Curran, reshaped both teams. Riyan Parag will lead Rajasthan Royals in a new role, while Ruturaj Gaikwad will take back the captaincy of Chennai Super Kings after his 2025 campaign was cut short by injury. CSK will also be without MS Dhoni in the opening phase due to a calf problem and Dewald Brevis has been ruled out of the first match. On paper, Rajasthan Royals seem to have sorted out their balance issues. The addition of Jadeja alongside Ravi Bishnoi gives them more control in the middle overs, while their pace attack with Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger and Adam Milne offers variety and pace. However, Chennai Super Kings have questions to answer, especially with the ball. The absence of Nathan Ellis leaves a void in the death overs, with the attack largely made up of bowlers who are more effective in the overs. Noor Ahmad is expected to handle the middle operations, but the final stages remain an issue.Also Read: RR vs CSK Live Score
