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Rajasthan Royals
Chennai Super Kings
Rajasthan Royals will face Chennai Super Kings in the third match of IPL 2026 at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. CSK will continue to be led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, while RR will begin a new phase under Riyan Parag. Sanju Samson will play against his former side, RR, after moving to CSK, while Ravindra Jadeja will face CSK for the first time after his switch.
CSK will rely on the opening pair of Gaikwad and Samson, which will add stability at the top. RR will depend on a young core featuring Parag, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi to deliver better results after finishing ninth last season.
RR have dominated recent head-to-head results, winning 4 of the last 5 matches. All 3 of their recent wins against CSK have come while defending totals, which will highlight their strength in setting targets.
Noor Ahmad took 24 wickets in 14 matches last season and will bowl in the middle overs, where RRβs middle order has shown inconsistency, increasing his chances of taking 2 or more wickets.
The betting tip is...
Noor Ahmad - Over 1.5 wickets
69 %
31 %
Rajasthan RoyalsChennai Super KingsRajasthan Royals had brought in Dasun Shanaka as a replacement for Sam Curran ahead of this match. The opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will remain a key focus, with Sooryavanshi showing strong growth and potential since last season.
Shimron Hetmyer and Riyan Parag will take the role of anchors in the middle order, although Paragβs batting form had remained under pressure with added captaincy responsibility.
The team will rely on experience in the spin department, with Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Bishnoi forming the core. The pace attack had been led by Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger and Sandeep Sharma. Young overseas players like Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka had added depth to the squad. Among Indian pacers, Tushar Deshpande and Kuldeep Sen provide additional options.
Archer, Jadeja and Sandeep are the key bowlers.
Predicted Lineup: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag (c), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Shubham Dubey (Impact Player)
Chennai Super Kings have signed Spencer Johnson as a replacement for Nathan Ellis ahead of the season. The opening pair of Ayush Mhatre and Sanju Samson will be a key area of focus, combining youth and experience at the top.
Urvil Patel had impressed with his six-hitting ability last season, while Sarfaraz Khan and Matthew Short add depth to the batting unit. Among overseas players, Dewald Brevis and Noor Ahmad look certain starters, while Jamie Overton also remains in contention.
CSK have built a strong spin attack with Noor Ahmad, Rahul Chahar, Shreyas Gopal, and Akeal Hosein, with Noor Ahmad performing consistently last season. The pace unit also has competition, with only one of Matt Henry or Spencer Johnson getting a spot alongside Indian pacers Anshul Kambhoj, Khaleel Ahmed and Mukesh Choudhary.
Khaleel, Noor and Kambhoj are the key bowlers.
Predicted Lineup: Ayush Mhatre, Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni (wk), Jamie Overton, Anshul Kambhoj, Khaleel Ahmed, Matt Henry, Noor Ahmad, Urvil Patel (Impact Player)
Chennai Super Kings will start as slight favourites in this match due to a stronger and more balanced bowling unit. Their spin attack will play a key role in Guwahati conditions, especially during the middle overs, where run control will be crucial.
Noor Ahmad had picked up 24 wickets in 14 matches last season and maintained an economy of 8.16, showing his consistency as a wicket-taking option.
Rajasthan Royals will depend on their top order, but their middle order has shown inconsistency. CSKβs spinners, led by Noor Ahmad, will create pressure and force mistakes. He will remain a major threat and is expected to pick multiple wickets again. CSK will have the edge if their bowlers dominate the middle phase.
