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Rajasthan Royals (RR) will start their IPL 2026 campaign against the mighty Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on March 30. The clash will be crucial for the home side to get off to a winning start, especially after a disappointing season last year.

After being involved in one of the most high-profile trade exchanges before the IPL 2026 auction, RR now have a completely different setup.

The franchise brought in Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in exchange for Sanju Samson, which changes the balance of the side quite a bit. Led by a young Riyan Parag, the inaugural champions will be keen to make a strong impact this season.

Rajasthan Royals' record in Guwahati

Ever since IPL 2023, Rajasthan Royals have played a part of their home games away from Jaipur at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. The idea behind this move was to take the league to different regions and make it more inclusive, giving fans in the northeast a chance to experience IPL action up close.

However, the results at this venue have not really gone their way so far. RR have struggled to find consistency and will be hoping things change this season.

  • Matches played: 6
  • Wins: 2
  • Losses: 3
  • No result: 1

The numbers clearly show that it hasn’t been the happiest hunting ground for them.

Key performers at this venue

Riyan Parag, the current skipper of Rajasthan Royals, has been the standout performer for RR in Guwahati. He is the highest run scorer for the side at this venue with 137 runs, showing his comfort on this surface.

With the ball, former RR leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has been the most effective, picking up six wickets and leading the charts for RR here.

Team combination and new look squad

Rajasthan Royals will once again rely on a mix of youth and experience this season. One of the exciting names is Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who impressed in the previous season and has continued to perform well at the junior level over the past year.

The team will be expecting him to step up alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top, especially in the absence of Sanju Samson.

The addition of Ravindra Jadeja gives the side a big boost. His experience and ability to contribute in all three departments adds balance and depth, something RR lacked at times.

However, there is a setback as well. In a massive blow, Sam Curran has been ruled out due to injury. He is one of the finest T20 all-rounders going around, known for delivering crucial overs and contributing with the bat in pressure situations. His absence will definitely be felt.

Looking at the bowling unit, it still feels a bit light in terms of depth. Jofra Archer will lead the pace attack, with support around him, while Ravi Bishnoi will handle the spin duties.

Overall, Rajasthan Royals have a new look side with plenty of changes. Now it’s about how quickly they settle and whether they can finally make Guwahati a stronger home venue.

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