Match Summary: Rajasthan Royals (128/2 in 12.1 overs) claimed victory over Chennai Super Kings (127 in 19.4 overs) by 8 wickets in Guwahati. RR vs CSK, IPL 2026: Match Highlights | Scorecard
Chennai Super Kings faced a familiar outcome in their IPL 2026 opener against Rajasthan Royals, as RR’s bowlers dominated the match before Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s aggressive batting led his team to a convincing eight-wicket win at Guwahati’s Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
Rajasthan Royals, led by Riyan Parag in his debut as full-time captain, put up a strong bowling display, restricting CSK to 127 runs with each bowler contributing by taking wickets. The pitch conditions favored the bowlers, and Rajasthan’s disciplined performance kept Chennai in check throughout their innings.
In the chase, Rajasthan Royals quickly took charge with Yashasvi Jaiswal providing a steady start while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s aggressive approach dominated the CSK bowlers. Sooryavanshi’s rapid 15-ball fifty set the tone for Rajasthan’s comfortable chase, with more than half the target achieved by the end of the Powerplay without losing any wickets.
Despite an early chance missed by CSK fielders, Sooryavanshi continued his onslaught, reaching 38 off 13 balls with ease. His attacking shots, including a remarkable six off Matt Henry’s deceptive slower ball, propelled Rajasthan towards victory. Although CSK managed to dismiss Sooryavanshi for a quickfire 52 off 17 balls, Rajasthan’s victory was inevitable. Jaiswal and Parag calmly finished the chase with ample overs to spare.
Both Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings, who finished at the bottom of the table last season, made significant squad changes, including the exchange of star players Ravindra Jadeja and Sanju Samson. Jadeja made an impactful return for RR by taking two crucial wickets in his opening over, while Samson had a subdued debut for CSK.
Rajasthan’s dominant performance against Chennai continued their impressive record, winning nine out of the last 11 encounters. However, CSK faced challenges with Henry’s expensive bowling spell and struggling to contain Rajasthan’s batsmen. Despite a few positives like Kamboj’s wickets and Ahmed’s economical bowling, CSK will need to regroup for upcoming matches.
While defending a low total was always going to be a challenge for CSK, their fielding lapses and ineffective bowling strategies added to their woes. The team,