IPL 2026 comes up with a fresh twist as the Rajasthan Royals (RR) host the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a high-octane Match 3 of the 2026 season. Set in the humid heart of Guwahati, this encounter isn’t just a battle for early points, it’s a narrative-rich showdown featuring traded icons and hometown heroes.
The biggest talking point heading into this clash is the blockbuster trade that reshaped both franchises. Sanju Samson, the long-standing face of RR, now dons the Yellow jersey. In return, the Royals secured the legendary Ravindra Jadeja, who returns to the nursery where his IPL journey began under Shane Warne in 2008.
Adding to the drama, Riyan Parag takes over as the full-time captain for RR, leading his side in front of his home crowd in Guwahati. On the other side, Ruturaj Gaikwad returns fully fit to lead a rebuilt CSK squad hungry to move past a disappointing 2025 season.
RR vs CSK, IPL 2026: Match details
- Date and Time: March 30; 7:30 pm IST / 2 pm GMT
- Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
RR vs CSK, Head-to-Head Record in IPL
Matches played: 31 | CSK won: 16 | RR won: 15 | No result/Tied: 0
Barsapara Cricket Stadium
The surface at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati is traditionally a batter’s dream, characterized by its true bounce and a lack of lateral movement once the initial shine of the new ball fades. The pitch is historically hard and flat, allowing for consistent stroke play and high-scoring encounters. However, the defining factor tomorrow will be the heavy evening dew, which often renders the outfield lightning-fast and makes the ball incredibly difficult for spinners to grip in the second innings. Expect a high-scoring thriller where any target feels unsafe, making the toss crucial—captains will undoubtedly look to bowl first.
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Squads
Rajasthan Royals: Riyan Parag (captain), Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Aman Rao, Dhruv Jurel, Ravi Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Yudhvir Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Yash Raj Punja, Vignesh Puthur, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Sushant Mishra, Kuldeep Sen, Brijesh Sharma, Jofra Archer*, Lhuan-dre Pretorius*, Donovan Ferreira*, Kwena Maphaka*, Nandre Burger*, Adam Milne*, Shimron Hetmyer*, Dasun Shanaka*
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Sanju Samson, Urvil Patel, Kartik Sharma, Shivam Dube, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Aman Khan, Prashant Veer, Rahul Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurjapneet Singh, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Jamie Overton*, Dewald Brevis*, Matt Short*, Spencer Johnson*, Zak Foulkes*, Matt Henry*, Noor Ahmad*, Akeal Hosein*, MS Dhoni
RR vs CSK, IPL 2026: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- RR wins the toss and bowls first
- CSK’s powerplay score: 50-60
- CSK’s total score: 180-190
Case 2:
- CSK wins the toss and bowls first
- RR’s powerplay score: 60-70
- RR’s total score: 190-200
Match result: Team bowling first to win the contest
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