In a thrilling IPL 2026 encounter at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati, Rajasthan Royals’ captain Riyan Parag won the toss and chose to bowl first against the Chennai Super Kings. After the toss, the young skipper shared his thoughts: “We decided to bowl first due to the rain we’ve had recently. While the wicket is made of red soil, there’s likely to be some moisture, and we hope to take advantage of that in the early overs. As for leading the Royals, it’s a surreal feeling. Having been part of this franchise for eight years, transitioning from a 17-year-old to captain is incredible. The support from my teammates has been phenomenal, and I’m optimistic about our campaign. Our ultimate goal is to clinch the championship. With our trades and auction strategy, we’ve assembled a team of smart cricketers and all-rounders who possess diverse skills, enabling us to adapt to various conditions, whether it’s a flat pitch in Mumbai or a green top in Kolkata. Our overseas players include Nandre, Jofra, Donovan, and Shimron Hetmyer.”
Chennai Super Kings’ captain Ruturaj Gaikwad also expressed his views, stating, “It was an easy decision to bowl first. However, we aim to start on a positive note, especially after last year’s performance. We approached the auction with a clear strategy, and we’re hopeful for great results. Our overseas contingent features Short, Overton, Noor, and Matt Henry.”
The match also highlights the reunion of Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja with their former teams, as Samson, who previously donned the Royals jersey, now plays for Chennai, while Jadeja will represent Rajasthan.
**IPL 2026: Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings — Confirmed Playing XI**
Rajasthan Royals: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh Sharma.
Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Ayush Mhatre, Matthew Short, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj, Kahleel Ahmed.