The Rajasthan Royals (RR) will face the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Match 3 of IPL 2026 at the Baraspara Cricket Stadium on Monday, March 30.
Match Preview
Rajasthan Royals come into IPL 2026 after a disappointing 2025 season, where they finished ninth. Determined to bounce back, RR have strengthened their squad with experienced additions like Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. However, Curran’s injury is a setback, with Dasun Shanaka stepping in as his replacement. Playing in Guwahati, RR will look to capitalize on familiar conditions and secure an early win.
Chennai Super Kings also had a forgettable IPL 2025, finishing at the bottom of the table. The five-time champions are entering a transition phase, especially with the absence of MS Dhoni. Under the leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK will aim for a fresh start and a stronger showing this season.
Match Details
- Match: RR vs CSK, Match 3, IPL 2026
- Date & Time: March 30, 2026, 7:30 PM (IST)
- Venue: Baraspara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
- Broadcast: JioStar Network, JioHotstar
Pitch Report – Guwahati
The Baraspara Cricket Stadium generally favors chasing teams, mainly due to dew in the second innings. The pitch offers good support for batters, making it a high-scoring venue if conditions remain consistent.
Bowlers will need to be disciplined, as even small errors can be heavily punished on this surface.
Head-to-Head Record
- Matches Played: 32
- RR Wins: 16
- CSK Wins: 16
This evenly balanced rivalry adds extra excitement to the contest.
Predicted Playing XIs
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, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, Jamie Overton, Anshul Kamboj, Rahul Chahar, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed
Impact Player: Kartik Sharma
Probable Best Performers
Best Batter: Ruturaj Gaikwad
The CSK skipper is expected to play a crucial role at the top. After recovering from injury, he has shown strong form and remains one of the most consistent performers for Chennai.
Best Bowler: Ravindra Jadeja
Facing his former team, Jadeja’s experience and familiarity with CSK batters could prove decisive. His control and ability to extract turn make him a key threat.
Match Prediction – Who Will Win?
With conditions likely to favor chasing and both teams evenly matched, the toss could play a crucial role in determining the outcome.
Rajasthan Royals may have a slight edge due to their balanced squad and stronger bowling attack, but CSK’s experience keeps them firmly in contention.
Prediction:
Chasing team to win Match 3 of IPL 2026
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