Rajasthan Royals (RR) face Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Match 3 of IPL 2026 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati on Monday, March 30, 2026. The match starts at 7:30 PM IST (toss at 7:00 PM IST).
Watch the live telecast on Star Sports Network and live stream on JioHotstar (app and website).
This match is loaded with emotional subplots. Sanju Samson, RR’s former captain, now plays for CSK. Ravindra Jadeja, a CSK legend, now wears RR colours. Both were traded in the pre-season, making this their first encounter against their old franchises.
On top of that, Riyan Parag leads RR as full-time captain for the first time in front of his home crowd in Guwahati. And MS Dhoni is missing from CSK’s lineup, ruled out for two weeks due to a calf strain.
RR vs CSK IPL 2026 Match 3: Quick Details
| Aspect | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | RR vs CSK, IPL 2026 Match 3 |
| Date | Monday, March 30, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST (Toss at 7:00 PM IST) |
| Venue | Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati |
| TV Telecast (India) | Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports 1 Telugu, Star Sports 1 Kannada (+ HD) |
| Live Streaming (India) | JioHotstar (App and Website) |
| Live Streaming (UK) | Sky Sports Cricket / Sky Go / NOW TV |
| Live Streaming (USA) | Willow TV |
| Live Streaming (Australia) | Kayo Sports / Fox Cricket |
How to Watch RR vs CSK Live in India
On TV: The Star Sports Network broadcasts every IPL 2026 match live. Commentary is available in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada across SD and HD channels. Available on Tata Play, Airtel Digital TV, Dish TV, and D2H.
Online Streaming: JioHotstar is the exclusive digital platform. Subscription plans start at ₹79/month (Mobile), ₹149/month (Super), and ₹299/month (Premium). You can also get free JioHotstar access through select Jio, Airtel, and Vi recharge plans.
JioHotstar streams in 12 languages and offers features like MaxView, multi-cam angles (Hero Cam, Stump Cam, Batter Cam), and a vertical live feed for mobile users.
RR vs CSK: Probable Playing XIs and Key Storylines
Rajasthan Royals Probable XI
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Riyan Parag (C), Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Donovan Ferreira, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande.
Sam Curran has been ruled out for the entire season due to injury. Dasun Shanaka replaces him as a last-minute acquisition.
All eyes will be on Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who followed up his record-breaking debut IPL season last year by leading India to the U19 World Cup title in early 2026. The teenager is arguably the most exciting young talent in the tournament.
Chennai Super Kings Probable XI
Sanju Samson (WK), Ayush Mhatre, Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj.
MS Dhoni misses out due to a calf strain and is unavailable for the first two weeks. Nathan Ellis is out for the season with a hamstring injury. Dewald Brevis has also been ruled out of this match due to a side strain. Sarfaraz Khan is the likely replacement.
CSK’s biggest concern is death bowling. Without Dhoni’s tactical nous behind the stumps, Ruturaj Gaikwad will need to manage his bowling options carefully on a batting-friendly Guwahati surface.
Key Player Battles to Watch
Sanju Samson vs Jofra Archer: Samson faces his former franchise for the first time. Archer’s pace and bounce will test Samson’s technique early. This is as much an emotional contest as a cricketing one.
Ravindra Jadeja vs Ruturaj Gaikwad: Jadeja knows CSK’s batting order intimately after 13 years at the franchise. His left-arm spin against Gaikwad could be the game’s defining matchup.
Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Matt Henry: Jaiswal’s aggressive batting against Henry’s swing with the new ball sets up a fascinating powerplay duel. Whoever wins this first 6 overs likely wins the match.
Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
The Barsapara Cricket Stadium serves as RR’s home ground for the early matches of IPL 2026. Captain Riyan Parag is a local hero from Assam, so expect a charged atmosphere.
The pitch offers a batting-friendly surface with consistent bounce. Pacers get some assistance with the new ball, but scoring rates tend to climb after the powerplay. Average T20 scores sit around 160-170.
Dew plays a major role in evening matches here, making the ball come onto the bat faster in the second innings. The toss winner is likely to bowl first.
Weather forecast for March 30 shows slight rain chances in Guwahati, according to AccuWeather. A brief delay before or during the match cannot be ruled out.
Final Thoughts: Watch RR vs CSK Live Action on Star Sports Network and Jio Hotstar
RR vs CSK kicks off both teams’ IPL 2026 campaigns at 7:30 PM IST on Monday, March 30. Watch on Star Sports (TV) or JioHotstar (streaming).
The Samson-Jadeja trade subplot, Parag’s captaincy debut at home, and a Dhoni-less CSK make this one of the most storyline-rich matches of the early season. Do not miss it.
