Rajasthan Royals (RR) will take on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Match No. 3 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Baraspara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on March 30.
RR had a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign, finishing ninth in the standings. Heading into this season, they have strengthened their squad by bringing in Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. However, Curran has been ruled out due to injury, with Dasun Shanaka named as his replacement. Rajasthan will be eager to begin their campaign on a strong note, especially in front of their home crowd, and secure an early two points.
Meanwhile, CSK also endured a difficult IPL 2025 season, finishing at the bottom of the points table. The five-time champions will be without MS Dhoni, who is unavailable, and Sanju Samson is expected to take over wicketkeeping duties. Chennai will be determined to put last season behind them and start the new edition on a positive note by registering a win.
RR vs CSK: Match Details
| Match | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings, Match 03, IPL 2026 |
| Venue | Baraspara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati |
| Date & Time | Monday, March 30, 7:30 PM (IST) |
| Live Broadcasting & Streaming Details | JioStar Network Channels, JioHotstar (App & Website) |
Pitch Report: Baraspara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
The Baraspara Cricket Stadium tends to favour teams bowling first, as chasing becomes easier under lights due to the presence of dew. The surface is expected to offer decent support for batters across both innings. That said, bowlers must maintain disciplined line and length, as even slight errors are likely to be punished on this batting-friendly pitch.
RR vs CSK: Head-to-Head record
| Matches Played | 32 |
| Won by RR | 16 |
| Won by CSK | 16 |
| Tie/NR | 0 |
| First-ever fixture | May 04, 2008 (RR Won) |
| Most recent fixture | May 20, 2025 (RR Won) |
RR vs CSK: Predicted Playing XI
Rajasthan Royals (RR):
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Riyan Parag (C), Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Adam Milne
Impact Player: Aman Rao Perala
Chennai Super Kings (CSK):
Sanju Samson (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, Jamie Overton, Anshul Kamboj, Rahul Chahar, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed
Impact Player: Kartik Sharma
RR vs CSK: Probable Best Performers of the Match
Probable Best Batter: Ruturaj Gaikwad
CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad could be a key batter in this clash. He missed the previous season due to injury but has since recovered well and shown good form in domestic cricket. The right-handed opener has been one of the most consistent performers for the five-time champions in recent years and will be keen to carry that momentum into IPL 2026.
Probable Best Bowler: Ravindra Jadeja
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja could be a key bowler in this clash. Having been traded from CSK, he brings valuable experience and familiarity with several Chennai batters. Jadeja has settled well into the RR setup and will look to use his variations, control, and understanding of opposition players to his advantage. His ability to extract turns and maintain tight lines could play a crucial role in picking up important wickets.
