Rajasthan Royals (RR) won the toss and decided to bowl first in their opening match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season at Guwahati’s Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Monday. Captain Riyan Parag highlighted the recent rain, which resulted in wet conditions, as a significant factor in the decision to field first.

Captain’s Remarks

Following the toss, Parag expressed his enthusiasm for leading the team and acknowledged the strong support from fans. He stated, “We are bowling first. There’s been a lot of rain. There’s going to be some moisture. It feels nice to be captaining; the support has been incredible. Hopefully, a good campaign for us. The goal is to win the championship. We tried to have a lot of smart cricketers.” His sentiment reflects the Royals’ ambition for a successful season ahead.

Team Changes and Strategies

In a notable pre-season trade, the Rajasthan Royals transferred Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings in exchange for prominent players Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. This marked a significant shift for the team, as Parag takes the reins following the departure of longtime player Samson. With home ground advantage, he aims to lead the Royals towards a better performance than last season’s ninth-place finish.

Chennai Super Kings’ Objectives

Chennai Super Kings, the five-time champions, entered the season looking to reverse their fortunes after finishing at the bottom of the table in 2025. Under the captaincy of Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK is targeting a strong start to the season, aiming for their sixth IPL title while building on the experience of their roster.

Playing Elevens for Both Teams

The playing eleven for Rajasthan Royals includes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, and Brijesh Sharma. The team also has several impact substitutes, including Donovan Ferreira, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Sushant Mishra, and Tushar Deshpande.

For Chennai Super Kings, the playing eleven comprises Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ayush Mhatre, Matthew Short, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj, and Khaleel Ahmed. CSK’s impact substitutes include Sarfaraz Khan, Prashanth Veer, Rahul Chahar, Gurjapneet Singh, and Ramakrishna Ghosh.

Looking Ahead

With both teams aiming to establish a strong foundation for the season, this matchup between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings promises to be an exciting start to IPL 2026. Each squad brings a mix of experience and youthful talent, setting the stage for an engaging contest in Guwahati.

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