Guwahati, March 29: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 kicks off today with a thrilling match between the inaugural season champions, Rajasthan Royals (RR), and the five-time champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The game will take place at the Barsapara cricket Stadium, where both teams are eager to start their campaigns with a win.
All eyes will be on Sanju Samson, who will be playing against the team he once captained. Under his leadership, Rajasthan Royals reached the finals in 2022, but today he dons the CSK jersey. Samson was a key player in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 victory, scoring half-centuries in three consecutive matches against West Indies, England, and New Zealand. On the other hand, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will be seen playing for Rajasthan Royals against his former team.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be absent for at least two weeks due to a calf muscle strain, placing additional responsibility on Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
The Chennai Super Kings will also provide opportunities for emerging players to showcase their talent, including 20-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder Prashant Veer and uncapped player Kartik Sharma, who has made headlines for his power-hitting in domestic cricket.
For Rajasthan, Samson’s departure marks the end of an important chapter and signals the beginning of a new era under the leadership of Riyan Parag, who will captain the team at his home ground. Jadeja’s inclusion will add strength and experience to the squad.
The Royals’ batting will largely revolve around Yashasvi Jaiswal, who will take on a senior role in the top order. He will be supported by promising young player Vaibhav Suryavanshi and the in-form Shimron Hetmyer, both capable of explosive starts.
However, Rajasthan’s bowling unit remains a concern. Despite significant changes made after last year’s struggles, questions about their consistency linger, particularly in the pace department led by Jofra Archer. The spin bowling responsibilities will primarily fall on Jadeja and Ravi Bishnoi.
Rajasthan Royals squad: Riyan Parag (captain), Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira, Luan-Dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Aman Perala, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Dasun Shanaka, Adam Milne, Brijesh Sharma, Jofra Archer, Kuldeep Sen, Quena Mafaka, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi, and Sandeep Sharma.
Chennai Super Kings squad: Sanju Samson, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dubey, Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Ayush Mhatre, Matt Henry, Akil Hussain, Noor Ahmad, Jamie Overton, Matthew Short, Khaleel Ahmed, Jack Foulkes, Anshul Kamboj, Nathan Ellis, Sarfaraz Khan, Rahul Chahar, Kartik Sharma, Urvil Patel, Aman Khan, Ramkrishna Ghosh, Prashant Veer, Shreyas Gopal, Spencer Johnson, Gurjapneet Singh, and Mukesh Choudhary.