Guwahati, March 29 (NationPress) The inaugural champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Rajasthan Royals, are poised to begin their IPL 2026 journey on Monday, facing off against the five-time champions Chennai Super Kings at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium. While CSK aims to assert their dominance in pursuit of a sixth title, the Royals are eager to move forward after a disappointing 2025 season.

Adding to the excitement is Sanju Samson’s first match against his former team. Having represented Rajasthan for over a decade as captain and leading run-scorer, he played a pivotal role in their journey to the 2022 final. Now, in CSK colors after a notable player swap that returned Ravindra Jadeja to the Royals, this match carries significant emotional weight.

Samson steps into this season brimming with confidence, following his stellar performances during India’s victorious T20 World Cup campaign, where he scored three consecutive half-centuries against West Indies, England, and New Zealand. At CSK, he is expected to take on a crucial leadership role alongside captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, likely forming a formidable opening partnership.

The absence of MS Dhoni, who is out for at least two weeks due to a calf injury and has not traveled to Guwahati, places additional pressure on Samson and Gaikwad. It also opens doors for emerging talents like 20-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder Prashant Veer and the uncapped power-hitter Kartik Sharma, who has made waves in domestic cricket.

For Rajasthan, Samson’s exit marks the conclusion of a significant era and the start of a new chapter under the captaincy of Riyan Parag, who will lead the team at his home ground. The return of Jadeja brings much-needed depth and experience, although questions linger about his recent form as a finisher.

The Royals’ batting lineup will heavily depend on Yashasvi Jaiswal, who takes on increased responsibility as the senior batsman. He will be backed by promising talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and the explosive Shimron Hetmyer, both known for their ability to provide aggressive starts, an area where RR excelled last season.

However, concerns remain regarding their bowling unit. After a major overhaul post last year's challenges, consistency, particularly in the pace department led by Jofra Archer, is still in question. The spin duties will primarily be handled by Jadeja and Ravi Bishnoi.

Both teams are entering this new season with the goal of redemption after disappointing performances in 2025, with CSK finishing at the bottom of the table and Rajasthan only slightly ahead in ninth place. This opener serves as an early chance for both teams to reset and reestablish their presence.

When: Monday, March 30, 7:30 PM IST

Where: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati

Where to watch: The RR vs CSK match will be available on Star Sports channels, with live streaming on JioHotstar.

Squads:

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, Dasun Shanaka, 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, Spencer Johnson, Gurjapneet Singh and Mukesh Choudhary.