RR vs CSK is Match 3 of IPL 2026 — and one of the most emotionally charged clashes of the entire season. Rajasthan Royals face Chennai Super Kings at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Monday, March 30 at 7:30 PM IST. This match is loaded with storylines — most importantly, Sanju Samson returns to face his former franchise RR for the first time, now wearing CSK yellow. Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja faces his beloved CSK for the first time in RR colours after the blockbuster trade that sent shockwaves through Indian cricket.
See the full IPL 2026 Phase 1 Schedule, the RR IPL 2026 Squad and the CSK IPL 2026 Squad. Read the full Jadeja-Samson trade analysis.
Match Details
| Match | IPL 2026 Match 3 — RR vs CSK |
| Date | Monday, March 30, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati |
| Live TV | Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar (free in India) |
The Big Storyline: Sanju Samson Returns
Sanju Samson — the T20 World Cup 2026 Player of the Series — was traded to CSK in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. This is the first time since the blockbuster trade that Samson faces RR, the franchise he captained and served with distinction for years. He will be wearing yellow for the first time in his IPL career, playing against a team and fans who absolutely adored him. Expect a thunderous reception — and an emotionally charged game.
Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja faces his former club CSK — a team where he was a legend for over a decade. The Guwahati crowd will be enthralled by both reunions.
RR — Young, Hungry and Transformed
Under new captain Riyan Parag (22 years old) and Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara, RR have been transformed by the Jadeja trade. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi (India’s teenage batting prodigy), Jofra Archer and Ravi Bishnoi (₹7.20 crore) give RR one of the most exciting squads in the tournament. Guwahati is one of RR’s home grounds this season (they play 3 home games there).
CSK — Samson’s Debut, Jadeja’s Shadow
CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad leads a side that has been massively reshaped. Samson at the top of the order with Gaikwad gives CSK one of the most explosive opening combinations in the tournament. Coach Stephen Fleming has two record-breaking uncapped buys in Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma (both ₹14.20 crore) waiting to prove their worth. The question is whether CSK can fill the Jadeja-shaped hole in their all-round balance.
Head-to-Head: RR vs CSK
| Stat | RR | CSK |
|---|---|---|
| Total matches | 32 | |
| Wins | 14 | 18 |
| Last 5 IPL meetings | 2 wins | 3 wins |
Barsapara Stadium Pitch Report
Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati is a relatively new IPL venue and tends to produce competitive pitch conditions. The ground is surrounded by hills and the humidity in Guwahati can be significant. Spinners tend to do well here as the pitch tends to slow down from ball to ball. Average T20 scores here are around 155-170. The team batting first has a reasonable record here.
RR Predicted Playing XI
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Vaibhav Suryavanshi
- Riyan Parag (C)
- Dhruv Jurel (wk)
- Sam Curran
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Jofra Archer
- Nandre Burger
- Tushar Deshpande
Impact Player: Shubham Dubey or Adam Milne
CSK Predicted Playing XI
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (C)
- Sanju Samson (wk)
- Ayush Mhatre
- Dewald Brevis
- Shivam Dube
- MS Dhoni
- Prashant Veer / Kartik Sharma
- Noor Ahmad
- Rahul Chahar
- Khaleel Ahmed
- Anshul Kamboj
Impact Player: Prashant Veer or Kartik Sharma (whichever doesn’t start)
Key Battles
- Sanju Samson vs Jofra Archer — Samson’s return to face RR, and Archer’s express pace against the T20 WC Player of the Series. The game within the game.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Noor Ahmad — India’s best young opener vs RCB’s crafty Afghan wrist-spinner. A fascinating technical battle in the powerplay.
- Ravindra Jadeja vs MS Dhoni — Former teammates now on opposing sides. Jadeja bowling at his old franchise’s most iconic player.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Ravi Bishnoi — CSK’s captain vs RR’s ₹7.20 crore leg-spinner. Bishnoi’s variations will be key to restricting CSK’s opening partnership.
- Riyan Parag’s captaincy debut — The 22-year-old leads RR in his first competitive match as captain. The pressure and occasion will define his leadership credentials early.
Match Prediction: RR vs CSK
This is genuinely too close to call. Guwahati is RR’s home — and their batting with Jaiswal, Suryavanshi, Jadeja and Hetmyer is explosive. But CSK with Samson, Gaikwad and Dhoni have the big-game experience that no other franchise can match. Prediction: RR to edge it on home soil — but Samson will have a point to prove against his old team.
How to Watch RR vs CSK Live
Live on Star Sports and free on JioHotstar in India. See our complete How to Watch IPL 2026 Live guide. Follow live updates on the IPL 2026 Points Table.