Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings will kick-start their IPL 2026 campaign on Monday by taking on Rajasthan Royals in their second home ground in Guwahati. CSK, who finished at the rock bottom of the points table for the first time in the history of the league in 2025, will be aiming to get off to a winning start. The team has made several modifications by releasing Jadeja and Curran for Sanju Samson, and boast of a young line-up. With MS Dhoni unavailable for the first six games, it remains to be seen what CSK’s playing XI will look like.
RR, on the other hand, had a disappointing season in IPL 2025 as well, finishing nearly at the bottom of the table. Under a new captain in the form of Riyan Parag, the one-time champions will be aiming to turn around the fortunes in IPL 2026.
RR vs CSK Match Details
- Match: Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2026 Match 3
- Date: Monday, March 30, 2026
- Time: 7:30 PM IST (Toss at 7:00 PM)
- Venue: ACA Stadium, Barsapara, Guwahati
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar app and website
- TV Telecast: Star Sports Network
RR vs CSK Head-to-Head Record
The rivalry is dead even historically, but recent years tell a different story.
- Total Matches Played: 32
- Rajasthan Royals Won: 16
- Chennai Super Kings Won: 16
- Recent Trend: RR has dominated lately, winning 8 of the last 11 encounters against the Men in Yellow.
RR vs CSK Pitch Report
The Barsapara Stadium is a certified “Batting Paradise.” With short boundaries and a flat surface, fans can expect a high-scoring thriller.
- Early Help: Fast bowlers like Jofra Archer might find some carry and swing in the first 3-4 overs due to the Guwahati humidity.
- The Dew Factor: Significant dew is expected in the second innings. This makes the ball skid onto the bat, making it a nightmare for spinners and a dream for chasing teams.
- Toss Prediction: The captain winning the toss will almost certainly choose to bowl first.
RR vs CSK Predicted Playing XIs
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Sandeep Sharma, Nandre Burger.
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Ayush Mhatre, Matthew Short, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj.
Key Matchups to Watch
- Sanju Samson vs Ravindra Jadeja: The swapped icons. Jadeja knows Samson’s triggers better than anyone, and this middle-over battle could decide the game.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Matt Henry: Jaiswal will look to exploit the Powerplay, while Henry will be CSK’s primary weapon to find early movement.
- Riyan Parag vs The Pressure: Playing in front of his home crowd as a full-time captain, Parag’s tactical calls in the absence of MS Dhoni’s “on-field guidance” for CSK will be tested.
RR vs CSK Match Prediction: Who will win?
Chennai Super Kings enter this match significantly weakened by injuries. With MS Dhoni (calf strain) and Dewald Brevis (side strain) ruled out, the middle order looks vulnerable.
On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals look balanced with the return of Jofra Archer and the addition of Ravindra Jadeja. Given RR’s recent dominance over CSK and the home advantage for Riyan Parag, the Royals start as favorites.
Prediction: Rajasthan Royals (RR) to win Match 3 of IPL 2026.
