IPL 2026 Match 3 brings one of the most emotionally charged fixtures of the season as Rajasthan Royals (RR) host Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Monday, March 30, 2026, at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.
RR have the edge here: home advantage, stronger recent form (8 wins in the last 9 meetings), and the added motivation of Ravindra Jadeja facing his former team for the first time. CSK counter with Sanju Samson in yellow, a man with a point to prove against the franchise that let him go.
IPL 2026 Match 3 RR vs CSK Match Info
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | Match 3, IPL 2026 (TATA IPL) |
| Teams | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings |
| Date | Monday, March 30, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati |
| Live Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar |
| RR Captain | Riyan Parag |
| CSK Captain | Ruturaj Gaikwad |
| RR Head Coach | Kumar Sangakkara |
| CSK Head Coach | Stephen Fleming |
Both teams finished in the bottom two of the IPL 2025 standings. RR won just 4 games. CSK finished last. This is a rebuilding match for both sides, but the narratives are irresistible.
The Samson-Jadeja swap is the biggest pre-season trade in years. Sanju Samson was traded to CSK in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. Curran, however, has been ruled out of IPL 2026 with a groin injury, leaving RR to bring in Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka as his replacement.
IPL 2026 Match 3 Odds for RR vs CSK
Rajasthan Royals are slight favourites across betting platforms, largely due to their dominant recent record against CSK and home advantage in Guwahati.
| Platform | RR Win Odds | CSK Win Odds | Toss Odds (RR) | Toss Odds (CSK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1xBet | 1.72 | 2.10 | 1.90 | 1.85 |
| Stake | 1.75 | 2.05 | 1.85 | 1.90 |
| 4RABET | 1.70 | 2.15 | 1.85 | 1.85 |
| BetVibe | 1.73 | 2.08 | 1.90 | 1.90 |
The odds reflect a close contest with RR getting the nod. CSK’s reliance on unproven youngsters in key roles (Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer, both uncapped, bought for INR 14.20 crore each) creates uncertainty. RR’s squad balance, particularly with Jadeja and Jofra Archer in the XI, gives bookmakers more confidence.
IPL 2026 Match 3 Toss Prediction for RR vs CSK
Guwahati has hosted a handful of IPL matches, and one pattern has emerged: chasing teams have a slight advantage in evening games. Dew becomes a factor from around the 12th-14th over of the second innings, making it harder for bowlers to grip the ball.
The Barsapara pitch also tends to slow down as the match progresses. Spinners get more grip in the second innings, which actually benefits the team bowling first. That creates a genuine dilemma at the toss.
Expect both Riyan Parag and Ruturaj Gaikwad to lean towards bowling first. The dew factor in an evening game at Guwahati is just too significant to ignore.
Toss Prediction: The toss winner will opt to field first.
RR Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2026 Match 3
Rajasthan Royals enter IPL 2026 as the inaugural champions, seeking their second title after an 18-year drought. New captain Riyan Parag leads a squad that looks significantly stronger than the one that limped to 9th place in 2025.
The return of Kumar Sangakkara as head coach (he guided RR to the 2022 final) adds tactical depth. And playing in Guwahati, Parag’s home city, gives this fixture an emotional edge.
Predicted XI
| Rank | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batter (Opener) |
| 2 | Vaibhav Suryavanshi | Batter (Opener) |
| 3 | Lhuan-dre Pretorius | WK-Batter |
| 4 | Riyan Parag (c) | Batter |
| 5 | Shimron Hetmyer | Batter |
| 6 | Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder |
| 7 | Dhruv Jurel (wk) | WK-Batter |
| 8 | Jofra Archer | Bowler |
| 9 | Sandeep Sharma | Bowler |
| 10 | Ravi Bishnoi | Bowler |
| 11 | Nandre Burger | Bowler |
| 12 (Impact) | Shubham Dubey / Tushar Deshpande | Batter / Bowler |
Key Injury/Absence Update
Sam Curran has been ruled out of the entire IPL 2026 season due to a groin injury. This is a significant blow. Curran was expected to be Jadeja’s partner in the all-rounder department, providing left-arm pace and lower-order hitting. Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka’s T20I captain, has been brought in as his replacement.
The big question is whether Jofra Archer will be fit and firing. When fit, he’s among the best T20 bowlers on the planet. His availability at full tilt transforms this bowling attack from average to elite.
CSK Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2026 Match 3
CSK is in full rebuild mode. The team that finished last in IPL 2025 has undergone a philosophy shift. Gone are the days of backing experience over everything. This CSK squad is one of the youngest in the franchise’s history.
The centrepiece of their rebuild? Sanju Samson, traded from RR in exchange for Jadeja and Curran. He arrives as India’s Player of the Tournament from the T20 World Cup 2026 and gives CSK a genuine match-winner at the top of the order.
Predicted XI
| Rank | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ayush Mhatre | Batter (Opener) |
| 2 | Sanju Samson (wk) | WK-Batter (Opener) |
| 3 | Ruturaj Gaikwad (c) | Batter |
| 4 | Dewald Brevis | Batter |
| 5 | Shivam Dube | All-rounder |
| 6 | Kartik Sharma | WK-Batter |
| 7 | Prashant Veer | All-rounder |
| 8 | MS Dhoni | WK-Batter |
| 9 | Noor Ahmad | Bowler |
| 10 | Khaleel Ahmed | Bowler |
| 11 | Matt Henry | Bowler |
| 12 (Impact) | Jamie Overton / Rahul Chahar | Bowler |
Key Injury/Absence Update
Nathan Ellis is ruled out for the entire IPL 2026 season. The Australian death-over specialist was a key part of CSK’s bowling plans. His absence leaves a significant gap in the backend overs, one that Matt Henry (more of a powerplay bowler) and Jamie Overton will need to fill.
MS Dhoni is expected to play the full season, but at 44, he’s likely to bat lower down the order as a pinch-hitter or finisher. With Samson behind the stumps, Dhoni’s keeping duties are no longer essential.
Barsapara Cricket Stadium Pitch Report IPL 2026
The Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati serves as the Rajasthan Royals’ secondary home ground. It’s a compact venue that has produced some entertaining IPL encounters.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Stadium | Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati |
| Capacity | ~39,000 |
| Pitch Type | Balanced; slight assistance for batters |
| Average 1st Innings Score (IPL) | 150-170 runs |
| Boundary Size | ~65m straight, ~68m square |
| Best Strategy | Bat second (dew factor in evening games) |
What to expect from the surface on March 30:
The pitch offers good bounce and carry early on. Pace bowlers can extract movement with the new ball, especially in the first 3-4 overs. Jofra Archer and Matt Henry should enjoy these conditions.
Spinners come into play as the match progresses. The surface starts to slow down and grip, making leg spinners and wrist spinners particularly effective. Ravi Bishnoi and Noor Ahmad will be crucial in the middle overs.
Short boundaries mean mishits carry. With straight boundaries at approximately 65 metres and square boundaries at 68 metres, there’s always a chance for batters to score even off edges and top-edges.
Dew will play a role in the evening. As a 7:30 PM start, expect dew from around the 12th over of the second innings. This makes bowling second harder and chasing easier.
Expected score range: 165-185 per innings. This is not a 200+ ground. Smart batting and rotating strike will be more valuable than mindless slogging.
Guwahati Weather Report, March 30, 2026
Good conditions for cricket. No rain concerns for this evening’s fixture.
| Weather Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Condition | Partly cloudy, no rain forecast |
| Temperature | 24°C – 28°C (evening) |
| Humidity | Moderate (~55-65%) |
| Wind Speed | Light winds, 8-12 km/h |
| Dew Factor | Expected from ~12th over of 2nd innings onward |
| Rain Probability | Less than 5% during match hours |
| Match Interruption Risk | Very Low |
RR vs CSK Head-to-Head Last 5 Matches
Overall Head-to-Head (IPL History):
| Matches Played | RR Wins | CSK Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 15 | 16 | 0 |
CSK holds the slightest of edges overall. But the recent scoreline tells a completely different story: RR have won 4 of the last 5 meetings and 8 of the last 9 since IPL 2020. That’s a staggering turnaround for a rivalry CSK once controlled 14-4.
Last 5 Matches:
| Match | Date | Winner | Margin | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL 2025 | May 20, 2025 | RR | 6 wickets | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| IPL 2025 | Mar 30, 2025 | RR | 6 runs | Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati |
| IPL 2024 | May 12, 2024 | CSK | 5 wickets | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| IPL 2024 | Mar 31, 2024 | RR | 32 runs | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
| IPL 2023 | May 3, 2023 | RR | 3 runs | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
Rivalry Highlights Worth Knowing
The 2008 IPL Final was contested between these two teams. RR won by 3 wickets off the last ball to clinch the inaugural IPL title, with Yusuf Pathan starring with both bat (56) and ball (3/22).
Ravindra Jadeja is the all-time leading wicket-taker in this fixture with 20+ wickets. He played for RR (2008-2009) and CSK (2012-2025). Now, for IPL 2026, he’s back in RR colours. The highest wicket-taker in this rivalry will bowl against the team he spent 13 years with.
Sohail Tanvir’s 6/14 in the very first CSK vs RR match in 2008 at Jaipur remains the best bowling figures by any RR bowler in IPL history.
RR won the Guwahati meeting last season (IPL 2025, March 30) by 6 runs, with Nitish Rana’s 81 off 36 balls proving decisive. The same venue, nearly the exact same date, one year later. Cricket loves its symmetry.
Our Prediction: RR Have Better Chances to Win Against CSK in IPL 2026 Match 3
Bottom line up front: Rajasthan Royals win
Here is why this leans RR’s way.
RR’s Advantages Are Clear
Home ground, home crowd, home captain. Riyan Parag playing in his home city of Guwahati is a narrative too strong to ignore. The Barsapara crowd will be firmly behind RR, and familiarity with the conditions will matter.
RR has won 8 of the last 9 meetings. At some point, recent form stops being a coincidence and starts being a pattern. RR has CSK’s number right now, and that psychological edge carries weight.
Jadeja’s motivation is genuine. He spent 13 years at CSK. He was traded. Whether he sees this as a betrayal or a fresh start, the desire to perform against his former team will be immense. Jadeja, on fire with both bat and ball, could single-handedly decide this game.
Jofra Archer changes everything. If fit, he gives RR a genuine match-winning pace option that CSK simply cannot replicate. His bounce and pace on the Guwahati surface will trouble every CSK batter.
Why CSK Could Pull Off an Upset
Don’t count CSK out. Sanju Samson, facing his former franchise, is box-office material. He arrives as India’s T20 World Cup Player of the Tournament and is in the form of his life. If he fires in the powerplay, CSK’s total could be more than competitive.
Ayush Mhatre scored at a strike rate of 188.97 in IPL 2025 (240 runs in 7 matches) and backed it up with half-centuries in the U-19 World Cup semi-final and final. At 18, he’s fearless. And fearless openers at Guwahati can be devastating.
Noor Ahmad’s left-arm wrist spin is awkward to read on surfaces that offer grip. If Guwahati’s pitch slows down as expected, the Afghan spinner could be CSK’s trump card in the middle overs.
This prediction is based on publicly available squad data, injury reports, venue stats, and historical records as of March 27, 2026. Official playing XIs will be confirmed at the toss.
