RR vs CSK Match Preview IPL 2026: Playing XI, Pitch Report, Key Players & Head-to-Head

The third match of IPL 2026 will feature an exciting clash between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on Monday.

Match Detials

Date: 30 March, Monday

Time: 7:30 PM IST

Venue: ACA Stadium, Guwahati (Assam)

Head-to-Head Record

Total Matches: 31

CSK Wins: 16

RR Wins: 15

The rivalry between the two teams has been closely contested, with CSK holding a slight edge.

Pitch Report – ACA Stadium, Guwahati

The Barsapara Cricket Stadium is known for being a batting-friendly, high-scoring venue:

• Good pace and bounce

• Even surface with red and black soil

• Short boundaries favor aggressive batting

• Early movement for pacers

Scores above 200 are common, but with slight rain expected, bowlers might get some additional assistance, especially early in the innings.

Match Overview

Rajasthan Royals will be playing at one of their home venues in Guwahati, and the spotlight will be on their new captain Riyan Parag, who hails from Assam. He will be eager to lead from the front in front of his home crowd.

RR have strengthened their squad with key additions like Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, which should help address their middle-order concerns from last season.

RR’s batting looks explosive at the top with Yashasvi Jaiswal and rising star Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The middle order featuring Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, and Shimron Hetmyer provides stability and finishing ability.

Their bowling attack is well-balanced with Jofra Archer leading the pace unit, supported by Ravi Bishnoi in spin. The addition of experienced players strengthens their all-round depth.

Chennai Super Kings, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, will look to bounce back after finishing at the bottom of the points table last season. However, they have suffered an early setback with MS Dhoni ruled out for two weeks due to a calf strain.

CSK will rely on their strong batting lineup featuring Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and young sensation Ayush Mhatre. The middle-order responsibility will largely depend on Shivam Dube, especially against spin. Shivam Dube will be crucial in the middle overs.

Their bowling unit, however, appears slightly vulnerable, especially in the death overs. While Khaleel Ahmed and Jamie Overton can provide early breakthroughs, the lack of a specialist death bowler could be a concern.

Key Players to Watch

Vaibhav Suryavanshi :- A standout performer in the U19 World Cup 2026, Suryavanshi scored 439 runs at an impressive strike rate. His aggressive approach can give RR explosive starts.

Sanju Samson:- The Player of the Tournament in the 2026 T20 World Cup, Samson is in red-hot form and will be key to CSK’s batting success.

Jofra Archer:-  Despite a quiet T20 World Cup, Archer remains a lethal bowler and will be eager to make a strong comeback.

Ayush Mhatre:- The U19 World Cup-winning captain, Mhatre has shown great leadership and batting ability, making him one to watch.

Proble Playing XI

RR	CSK
Vaibhav Suryavanshi	Ayush Mhatre
Yashasvi Jaiswal	Sanju Samson (WK)
Riyan Parag (C)	Ruturaj Gaikwad (C)
Shimron Hetmyer	Urvil Patel
Dhruv Jurel (WK)	Jamie Overton
Ravindra Jadeja	Shivam Dube
Dasun Shanaka	Prashant Veer
Jofra Archer	Anshul Kamboj
Sandeep Sharma	Noor Ahmad
Ravi Bishnoi	Khaleel Ahmed
Adam Milne	Rahul Chahar