Rajasthan Royals are set to face Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati on Monday to begin their IPL 2026 campaign. Both teams will be aiming to reset after disappointing 2025 seasons.
While CSK are chasing a sixth title, Rajasthan will look to move on from a forgettable campaign. The match is scheduled for Monday, March 30.
The highly anticipated clash will begin at 7:30 PM IST, with the toss at 7:00 PM IST.
Samson’s Return and Dhoni’s Absence
The spotlight will be on Sanju Samson, who faces his former franchise for the first time after a decade-long association with the Royals. Samson now dons CSK colours following a high-profile swap that saw Ravindra Jadeja return to Rajasthan.
Samson arrives in strong form after a stellar T20 World Cup, where he struck three consecutive half-centuries. With MS Dhoni sidelined due to a calf injury, he is set to shoulder added responsibility alongside skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, with the duo likely to open the innings.
Parag Leads Rajasthan in Post-Samson Era
For Rajasthan, the post-Samson era begins under Riyan Parag, who leads the side at his home ground. Their batting will revolve around Yashasvi Jaiswal, supported by Shimron Hetmyer and emerging talent, while concerns linger over a revamped bowling attack led by Jofra Archer.
Teams Seek Fresh Start
With both teams seeking a fresh start, the opener presents an early chance to rebuild momentum.
The match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will take place at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.
- The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network.
- Fans in India can stream the match live on the JioHotstar app.
Squad Lists
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.
Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ayush Mhatre, Matt Henry, Akeal Hosein, Noor Ahmad, Jamie Overton, Matthew Short, Khaleel Ahmed, Zak Foulkes, Anshul Khamboj, Nathan Ellis, Sarfaraz Khan, Rahul Chahar, Kartik Sharma, Urvil Patel, Aman Khan, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Prashant Veer, Shreyas Gopal, Gurjapneet Singh and Mukesh Choudhary.
With both teams seeking a fresh start, the opener presents an early chance to rebuild momentum.