The eagerly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to commence on March 28, with only the first 20 matches scheduled so far due to state elections. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will face off against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on March 30 at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati. Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan believes that Sanju Samson, recently traded to CSK from RR, will play a pivotal role in this match. He emphasized that CSK will benefit from Samson’s insider knowledge of the Rajasthan Royals. “Samson’s presence will significantly impact CSK, as nobody understands the Rajasthan Royals better than he does. His insights into their gameplay, strategies during powerplays and middle overs, as well as their bowling tactics, will be invaluable,” he stated. Pathan also noted that Samson’s experience and familiarity with Guwahati could be a game changer for Chennai. “The young players in Rajasthan Royals have all played alongside and under Sanju, making him a tremendous asset for CSK. Not only will he bring form from the T20 World Cup, but his local experience will also be beneficial in the opening match. I’m eager to see how CSK performs this season, especially with some exciting new talents on board,” Pathan added. CSK’s Upcoming Matches: March 30 (Mon) vs RR, ACA Stadium, Guwahati, 7:30 pm; April 03 (Fri) vs Punjab Kings, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, 7:30 pm; April 05 (Sun) vs RCB, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, 7:30 pm; April 11 (Sat) vs Delhi Capitals, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, 7:30 pm. CSK’s Squad for IPL 2026 includes: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), MS Dhoni, Sanju Samson, Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, Kartik Sharma, Sarfaraz Khan, Urvil Patel, Anshul Kamboj, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Prashant Veer, Matthew William Short, Aman Khan, Zak Foulkes, Shivam Dube, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Shreyas Gopal, Gurjapneet Singh, Akeal Hosein, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar.
