Rajasthan Royals (RR) kicked off their IPL 2026 campaign in dominant fashion, dismantling Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by eight wickets in Guwahati on March 30. Riding on a blistering half-century from RR's batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the Royals made quick work of a modest 128-run target, coasting to victory with a massive 47 balls to spare.
RR crush CSK by 8 wickets
CSK will next face Punjab Kings on April 3, while RR will take on Gujarat Titans on April 4.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi turned the chase into an absolute masterclass, smashing a blistering 52 off just 17 balls as the Rajasthan Royals hunted down the modest 128-run target. Thanks to his explosive hitting, RR cruised across the finish line with a massive 47 balls to spare. While Anshul Kamboj managed to pick up two wickets for the Chennai Super Kings, the rest of the bowling attack failed to make any real impact after the team's poor showing with the bat.
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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi wreaks havoc with blistering fifty
After RR's bowlers did their job in the first innings, Sooryavanshi ensured there would be no drama in the run chase. He was handed a massive lifeline when CSK fielder Kartik dropped him in the very first over—a mistake the young prodigy made them pay for dearly. Capitalizing on the error, he blasted the second-fastest half-century in Rajasthan Royals' history. He and opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal ruthlessly dismantled the attack, putting on 74 runs in the powerplay to effectively end the contest before it really began. Sooryavanshi reached his fifty in a mere 15 deliveries, punishing the bowlers with five massive sixes and four boundaries.
Kamboj did manage to provide a couple of late breakthroughs for CSK by dismissing both Sooryavanshi for 52 and Dhruv Jurel for 18, but the damage had already been done. Following the two quick wickets, Yashasvi Jaiswal anchored the remainder of the chase with an unbeaten 38, while Riyan Parag chipped in with a quick 14 not out to calmly finish the formalities and seal a dominant victory with nearly eight overs left.
Nandre Burger, Ravindra Jadeja breaks CSK's back
Earlier, RR delivered a masterclass in disciplined bowling to bundle out CSK for a modest 127 runs in 19.4 overs. Playing at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, the Royals' bowling unit fired on all cylinders to completely dismantle the powerhouse CSK batting order.
After winning the toss and opting to field first, RR's tactical decision paid off beautifully on a tricky surface. Facing his former franchise, Ravindra Jadeja turned in a standout performance, returning impressive figures of 2/18 by using his variations to choke the run flow. He was brilliantly supported by Jofra Archer, who claimed 2/19, and Nandre Burger, who struck twice in the powerplay to put CSK on the back foot early. Sandeep Sharma also chipped in with a crucial wicket. The innings came to a dramatic end when Jamie Overton was run out for a fighting 43 off 36 balls following a costly mix-up with Anshul Kamboj.
CSK’s batting lineup faltered right from the start, losing four wickets in the powerplay before Jadeja's spell triggered a middle-order collapse. While Overton’s late resistance, which included a couple of sixes and two boundaries, helped push the score past the 100-run mark, the final total remained well below par. Extras also padded the score, contributing 16 runs to the tally.