[[{“value”:”
The IPL 2026 match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is underway at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati.
RR`s newly appointed skipper Riyan Parag won the toss and elected to bowl first. With the commencement of the match, star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will line up against his former team, CSK.
During the match, the left-handed batsman will be eyeing a new feat in his career. He is just 15 runs shy of completing 4000 runs in T20 cricket. If he manages to score the required runs, he will then complete a unique double which is currently held by only Hardik Pandya among Indian cricketers.
So far in 346 T20s, Jadeja has garnered 3985 runs with an average of 26.39 and a strike rate of over 130. He also has 235 wickets with an average of 30.85.
Currently, only Hardik has managed to complete a unique double of 4000 runs and 200 wickets in T20s. The premier all-rounder has scored 6156 runs in 329 matches and has also claimed 227 wickets with the ball.
Coming to the match, after winning the toss, newly-appointed RR skipper Parag said, “We`re bowling first. There`s been a lot of rain here actually. So even though it is a red soil wicket, it`s going to be a little moisture. So we want to try and extract that in the first few overs and then see how we go back into the game. (On leading RR) It feels nice. It feels very overwhelming. I`ve been with this franchise for eight years now. And then seeing the transition that has happened from me being a 17-year-old to being here as captain, I feel the support has been incredible. All my peers have been really supportive and very helping towards me. So hopefully a good campaign for us. I think the goal is to win the championship. With the trades and the auction, I think what we`ve tried to do is have a lot of smart cricketers, a lot of all-rounders and people who have different skills, so that when we get conditions like this or a flat wicket in Mumbai or a green top in Kolkata, we can adapt and play accordingly. So that`s the plan. Our four overseas are Nandre, Jofra, Donovan and Shimron Hetmyer”.
On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings` captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, said, “It was a no-brainer to bowl first. Nevertheless, we`d like to start positively. You saw how the last year went for us. We went to the auction with some strategy. Let`s hope that they go really well. Our overseas players are Short, Overton, Noor and Matt Henry”.
IPL 2026, Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings: Confirmed Playing XI
Rajasthan Royals: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh Sharma.
Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Ayush Mhatre, Matthew Short, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj, Kahleel Ahmed.
(With ANI Inputs)
“}]]
