A new season, a fresh combination and yet a familiar script for Chennai Super Kings. After the Rajasthan Royals bowlers used the useful overhead conditions to perfection, it was youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi who turned the evening into a spectacle, his fearless power guiding RR to an impressive eight-wicket win in their opening match of IPL 2026 at Guwahati’s Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Monday.
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Sooryavanshi not only chased down a modest target but smashed it with a ferocity that left Chennai scrambling for answers once again. The 15-year-old’s innings had a bit of luck at the start. Matt Henry’s very first ball sparked a chance, but debutant Kartik spilled it at mid-wicket and inadvertently helped him race to the boundary. The response was immediate. The next ball sailed over midwicket for a six and Yashasvi Jaiswal ended the 18-run opening with a boundary.
There was no slowdown. Sooryavanshi raced to 38 off just 13 balls, sprinkling the boundary with four fours and three sixes. A standout moment came in the third break when he carved a well-disguised slower ball over deep point to Henry, turning a good delivery into a statement. Two more sixes from Noor Ahmad brought up a breathtaking 15-ball half-century and effectively sealed the chase within the powerplay.
CSK finally found the breakthrough when Sarfaraz Khan sprinted from deep cover to complete a low catch to end Sooryavanshi’s blistering 52 off 17 balls. But by then the damage was already done. RR needed just 53 more with plenty of overs and wickets in hand and the result was never in doubt. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Parag calmly completed the formalities and wrapped up the chase with almost 8 overs to spare.
Earlier, the Guwahati pitch offered much more resistance. Having spent considerable time under the covers on the eve of the match and on the day of the match, he helped the seamers early on and RR took full advantage after opting to bowl.
Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger bowled probing, Test lengths to remove CSK’s top order. Burger struck early to eliminate Sanja Samson for 6, the right-hander lost for one, straightening just enough to clip the off stump against his former side. Archer ensured there was no escape when Ruturaj Gaikwad exposed his stumps in an attempt to break free.
Burger kept up the pressure and unsettled Ayush Mhatre with a crisp bouncer that poked his glove all the way to the keeper. The top order of the CSK was not rebuilt, it was dismantled.
Then came the decisive blow from Ravindra Jadeja, back in Rajasthan colors after 17 years. In his first over, he removed Sarfaraz and Shivam Dube in quick succession to reduce CSK to 57 for 6 in eight overs.
The shift drifted from there. Jamie Overton’s 43 off 36 balls along with a late 33-run stand with Anshul Kamboj took CSK past 120 but the recovery was only cosmetic.
The Rajasthan bowlers remained disciplined throughout. Archer, Burger and Jadeja took two wickets each while Brijesh Sharma chipped in on debut. It was a performance built on clarity and execution, perfectly matched to the conditions.
In the end, Sooryavanshi’s onslaught ensured there was no room for drama. One missed chance, one explosive blast, and complete control.
For CSK, questions arise again soon. New squad, new season, but the same familiar fragility at the top. One match doesn’t define a campaign, but this start didn’t suggest that old issues had been resolved.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
30 March 2026 22:48 IST
