Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to dominate IPL 2026 headlines, while the BCCI's tightening grip on player behaviour and content creation
is reshaping the league off the field. Here's the biggest news from around the tournament.
1. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi breaks another IPL record despite RR collapse vs GT
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued his record-breaking IPL 2026 season by becoming the first player in league history to hit 30 sixes in the powerplay in a single edition.
The 15-year-old smashed 36 off just 16 balls against Gujarat Titans, taking Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada apart early in the chase. The innings also pushed his season tally to 40 sixes, making him only the second Indian batter after Abhishek Sharma to achieve the feat in an IPL season.
However, Gujarat Titans ultimately dominated the contest, bowling Rajasthan Royals out for 152 after posting 229/4, with Rashid Khan starring with four wickets.
2. Mohammed Siraj's yorker leaves Sooryavanshi in visible pain during fiery duel
One of the defining moments of the RR vs GT clash came when Mohammed Siraj struck Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with a sharp yorker that crashed into the youngster's boot near the ankle.
The teenager was left writhing in pain before receiving treatment from the physio, though he continued batting after a brief interruption.
The incident added another layer to an entertaining battle between Siraj and the in-form Rajasthan Royals opener.
3. Mumbai Indians issue fresh Hardik Pandya injury update ahead of RCB clash
Mumbai Indians remain uncertain over Hardik Pandya's availability ahead of their must-win clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
The franchise confirmed that the all-rounder is still being evaluated by the medical team after suffering a back spasm earlier in the week. His absence would be another major setback for a Mumbai side fighting to stay alive in the playoff race.
There was positive news elsewhere for MI, however, as Suryakumar Yadav rejoined the squad after welcoming a baby girl with wife Devisha Shetty.
4. BCCI tightens control after IPL 'reels culture' controversy
The BCCI has reportedly intensified its crackdown on unauthorised content creation and player movement after multiple protocol breaches during IPL 2026.
According to reports, the board became increasingly concerned after players and temporary content creators were allegedly granted access to restricted areas, while private videos from inside team environments surfaced online.
The latest developments follow the BCCI's wider anti-corruption and security advisory issued earlier this week.
5. Arshdeep Singh reportedly told to stop IPL vlogs after Chahal controversy
Punjab Kings pacer Arshdeep Singh has reportedly been instructed to stop filming behind-the-scenes IPL vlogs after a viral clip appeared to show Yuzvendra Chahal mimicking vaping behaviour during a domestic flight.
Though the footage was later removed, the controversy sparked major concern within the BCCI, especially amid the board's stricter stance on player conduct and vaping-related incidents this season.
The move is being viewed as part of the board's broader effort to control dressing-room and travel-related content during the tournament.
6. Fake IPL ticket racket busted after ChatGPT-generated passes used in Lucknow
Police have arrested four men accused of using ChatGPT and graphic design software to create fake IPL tickets for high-profile matches.
Investigators said the group copied genuine ticket layouts from social media before producing counterfeit passes that closely resembled original IPL tickets. The scam was uncovered during a recent match in Lucknow after barcode mismatches were detected at the stadium gates.
Police recovered fake tickets, laptops, smartphones and printing equipment during the arrests.
7. Preity Zinta visits Golden Temple ahead of Punjab Kings clash
Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar, where she offered prayers and performed seva in the langar hall ahead of PBKS' upcoming fixtures.
The actor said "Waheguru Ji has called me," as visuals from her visit quickly circulated across social media.
