Guwahati, March 30 (NationPress) The Rajasthan Royals have emerged victorious in the toss and opted to bowl first against the Chennai Super Kings during the third match of IPL 2026, held at the Barsapara Cricket Ground on Monday. A slight drizzle caused a five-minute delay in the toss, with the pitch covers being removed at 6:42 PM.

This marks the first encounter between RR and CSK in the IPL since the trade of Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja, while Riyan Parag embarks on his journey as the full-time captain of RR. Following the toss, Parag mentioned that their overseas players include Nandre Burger, Jofra Archer, Donovan Ferreira (listed as Impact Substitutes), and Shimron Hetmyer, with their decision to bowl first being influenced by the rain and cloudy conditions.

Additionally, RR has provided a debut opportunity to Bengal pacer Brijesh Sharma, who caught the attention of scouts during last year's Bengal T20 league. “There’s been quite a bit of rain here, so despite it being a red soil wicket, some moisture will be present. We aim to make use of that in the initial overs and then adjust our strategy as we progress. It’s a joyful yet overwhelming experience to captain RR,” he stated.

“Having been with this franchise for eight years, witnessing my growth from a 17-year-old to now leading the team has been incredible. The support from my teammates has been invaluable, and I am hopeful for a successful campaign.”

“Our goal is to clinch the championship. With the trades and auction strategies, we’ve focused on acquiring smart cricketers and all-rounders with diverse skill sets, enabling us to adapt to various conditions, whether it’s a flat wicket in Mumbai or a green top in Kolkata. That’s our strategy moving forward,” he added.

On the other hand, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad shared that their overseas players for this match include Matthew Short, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmed, and Matt Henry, with Kartik Sharma making his IPL debut. “Choosing to bowl first was a straightforward decision since the wicket has been covered for a significant time, coupled with the overcast weather. Our aim is to start positively,” he stated.

“While this wasn’t the initial plan at the start of the cycle, last year’s outcomes shaped our auction strategy. We sought the best available options to integrate into the team and culture, hoping for a positive outcome.”

“We are beginning with seven batters and hope to make a strong start; perhaps an impact substitute will come into play later on,” he concluded.

Playing XIs:

Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Ayush Mhatre, Matthew Short, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj, and Khaleel Ahmed

Impact Substitutes: Sarfaraz Khan, Prashant Veer, Rahul Chahar, Gurjapneet Singh, and Ramakrishna Ghosh

Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Riyan Parag (captain), Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, and Brijesh Sharma

Impact Substitutes: Donovan Ferreira, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Sushant Mishra, and Tushar Deshpande