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RR vs CSK: Dhoni & Ellis Out, RR's Curran Injured
30 Mar
Summary
- CSK loses Nathan Ellis and MS Dhoni to injuries before their IPL campaign opener.
- Rajasthan Royals' Sam Curran is ruled out for the entire IPL 2026 season due to injury.
- The RR vs CSK match is scheduled for March 30 at Guwahati's Barsapara Cricket Stadium.

The Indian Premier League 2026 season commences with match 3 between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 30th in Guwahati. This encounter is particularly significant as both teams finished at the bottom last season and have undergone substantial squad changes. Notably, RR traded their former captain Sanju Samson to CSK.
Both franchises are grappling with significant injury concerns. CSK will be without death-over specialist pacer Nathan Ellis for the season and their veteran player MS Dhoni for at least two weeks due to a calf strain. Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, have lost Sam Curran for the entire tournament because of an injury.
Despite these challenges, both teams boast strong lineups. CSK features a formidable top three of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, and Ayush Mhatre. RR's batting will be led by Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, and captain Riyan Parag, supported by bowlers like Jofra Archer and Sandeep Sharma. The match is set to be an intriguing contest, with CSK potentially experimenting with their bowling due to Dhoni's absence.