The 3rd match of the Indian Premier League 2026 between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Guwahati turned out to be a one-sided contest, with Rajasthan Royals cruising to an emphatic 8-wicket victory.

CSK Collapse Under Early Pressure

After being put in to bat, Chennai Super Kings had a disastrous start. They managed just 41 runs for 4 wickets in the powerplay, putting themselves on the back foot early.

Frequent wickets disrupted CSK’s momentum:

  • Early review drama saw Ayush Mhatre dismissed at 3.1 overs, with the decision upheld.
  • CSK introduced Sarfaraz Khan as an Impact Player soon after.
  • Another failed review went against SN Khan, worsening their situation.

At the first strategic timeout, CSK were struggling at 62/6 in 9 overs, and things only got worse. Despite a fighting effort from Kartik Sharma (15) and Jamie Overton (20), wickets kept falling at regular intervals.

By the 15-over mark, CSK were reeling at 93/8, and eventually got bowled out for just 127 runs in 19.4 overs.

Rajasthan Royals’ Explosive Response

Chasing a modest target of 128, Rajasthan Royals came out with aggressive intent.

  • They smashed 74 runs in the powerplay without losing a wicket
  • Reached 50 in just 4.6 overs
  • The opening stand laid a rock-solid foundation

The highlight of the innings was a breathtaking knock from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who smashed:

  • 50 runs off just 15 balls
  • Including 4 fours and 5 sixes

Alongside him, Yashasvi Jaiswal provided steady support as RR raced past 100 runs in just 8.4 overs.

Even after a couple of wickets, RR remained in complete control.

Comfortable Victory for Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals chased down the target effortlessly:

  • 128/2 in just 12.1 overs
  • Won by 8 wickets
  • 47 balls remaining

This dominant performance highlighted their batting depth and aggressive intent early in the tournament.

Player of the Match

The standout performer was Nandre Burger, who delivered a brilliant bowling spell:

  • 2 wickets for 26 runs
  • Played a key role in restricting CSK to a low total

Match Summary

Chennai Super Kings: 127 all out (19.4 overs)
Rajasthan Royals: 128/2 (12.1 overs)

Result: Rajasthan Royals won by 8 wickets
Player of the Match: Nandre Burger