Rajasthan Royals registered a 8-run win over Chennai Super Kings in their IPL 2026 opener on Monday at the Baraspara Stadium as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s whirlwind knock helped RR complete the chase of 128
runs in just 12.1 overs.
RR won the toss and skipper Riyan Parag opted to field first, a decision that paid off as they quickly removed Sanju, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ayush Mhatre cheaply.
“I got lucky with the toss, but I think the way we executed it, we had like a couple of days’ practice, I think, before CSK arrived, and it was a red-soil wicket, but then it was a lot of rain as well, so we knew the moisture was going to play a part. And yeah, I think everyone executed plans really nicely,” Parag said following the win.
Parag was named the skipper of the side following Sanju Samson’s departure from the franchise to join Chennai with Ravindra Jadeja coming in on the trade.
“A lot of preparation has gone into this. I know me being captain is one part which I should be happy about and I should thank the franchise for it, but then the goal this year is to win the trophy, and we’ve put in a lot of time towards planning, strategizing.”
“I’ve said this in an interview before that we want to be a team that plays smart cricket. We want to assess conditions really well and adapt to it. And I think that we did that pretty well today.”
Chennai Super Kings were bundled out for 127 runs as Jamie Overton’s lone-ranger innings of 43 runs proved to be the highlight as the Royals ripped through the CSK batting order.
“Everyone who came in, Jof and Nandre, we expect that from them every single time, they were rapid. Sandy bhaiya doing his job. Jaddu bhaiya coming in, I think Guwahati suited him a little bit more. And then Brijesh, the youngster, I think him coming in first game against CSK with the packed crowd, what he did was insane, so I’m really looking forward to the season.
Sooryavanshi blazed to his half-century in just 15 deliveries, the third quickest in the history of the tournament before falling to Anshul Kamboj.
“What I tell him is that you’re going to play 14 games and regardless of what goes on in the game, it shouldn’t bother you. What goes around in the media shouldn’t bother you. You just go out there. He loves to bat. I’ve made sure I’ve told the coaches that he gets as much batting as he wants.”
“And he goes and does some things like that. So I think me and Dhruv, when we were sitting there till the fourth over, we were just in awe. Like, what is happening? Like, how is he doing this? But then I’m really happy to have him in my team.”
Parag also touched upon the riches on batting in the Jaipur-based team’s ranks and the possibilities for the preferred left-right combination with the bat.
“Yes, that is what we’ve been planning on. Dhruv comes in at three, Hettie (Hetmyer) bats at five, because I think we need that lefty-righty in the later half of the innings as well. So hopefully this sticks and we win a few games with this batting line-up,” he concluded.
