Rajasthan Royals will face Chennai Super Kings in Match 3 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Monday.
The two sides were the finalists in the inaugural IPL season in 2008, when RR emerged champions. Since then, both franchises have had a reversal of fortunes, with the Royals reaching the final only once more, when they lost to Gujarat Titans in 2022, while CSK have built a sustained legacy, appearing in 10 finals and winning five titles, most recently in 2023.
Both teams enter this season looking to reset after underwhelming 2025 campaigns. RR and CSK finished with identical records of four wins in 14 matches, occupying the bottom two spots.
That resulted in one of the most high-profile trades in IPL history, with Sanju Samson moving to CSK after over a decade with RR, while Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran joined the Royals. It is a homecoming of sorts for Jadeja, who remains the only active cricketer from RR's 2008 title-winning squad. Samson's move also strengthens CSK's regional connect, which could signal a changing of the guard within the franchise.
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CSK are set to begin the season without MS Dhoni. The 44-year-old is sidelined for the opening phase due to a calf strain, with Samson expected to fill in behind the stumps.
There's change afoot at RR as well, with 24-year-old Riyan Parag appointed full-time captain. Having been part of the setup for several seasons and briefly leading last year, Parag now assumes a central role in shaping the team's direction. How he continues to contribute with the bat while leading a transitioning side will be closely watched.
Royals will play this ‘home' fixture at Guwahati which has generally offered batting-friendly surfaces. The wicket tends to be flat, with limited assistance for both seamers and spinners.
Both teams appear to have stronger batting lineups as compared to their bowling options, which should set up a run-fest. RR will rely on Jofra Archer to lead their attack, while CSK's spin option Noor Ahmad could play a key role in controlling the middle overs.
RR vs CSK, IPL 2026: Date
The Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings match will be played on Monday.
RR vs CSK: Time
The Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings match will start at 7:30 p.m. IST.
RR vs CSK: Venue
The Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings match will be played at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.
How to Watch Live Telecast?
The Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings match will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network channels.
How to Watch Live Streaming?
Fans in India can watch the live streaming of the Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings match on the JioHotstar app and website.
RR vs CSK: Probable Playing XIs
- Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Riyan Parag (C), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Shimron Hetmyer, Dasun Shanaka, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar Deshpande.
- Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Jamie Overton, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry.
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