Rajasthan Royals take on Chennai Super Kings in Match 3 of IPL 2026 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on March 30. This is one of the most anticipated clashes of the early IPL season — CSK debut their new captain Sanju Samson against his former franchise RR. Here is our complete Dream11 team prediction.
RR vs CSK Dream11 Team — Best XI
Wicket-keeper: Sanju Samson (CSK) ₹10cr
Batters: Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR) ₹11cr, Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK) ₹9.5cr, Riyan Parag (RR) ₹9.5cr
All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja (RR) ₹9cr, Shivam Dube (CSK) ₹9cr, Shimron Hetmyer (RR) ₹8.5cr
Bowlers: Yuzvendra Chahal (RR) ₹8.5cr, Maheesh Theekshana (CSK) ₹8.5cr, Deepak Chahar (CSK) ₹8.5cr, Sandeep Sharma (RR) ₹8cr
Total credits: 100cr
Captain and Vice-Captain Picks
Captain: Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR) — Jaiswal is in extraordinary T20 form heading into IPL 2026. The left-hander has scored at a strike rate above 165 in T20 cricket over the last 12 months. At Guwahati, which has a small ground and fast outfield, he is the safest captain pick in this match. His ability to dominate both pace and spin makes him lethal at a venue that will suit his aggressive style.
Vice-Captain: Sanju Samson (CSK) — Samson makes his CSK debut and will be fired up to perform against his former team. He has a superb record at Guwahati, having played multiple matches there for RR in previous seasons. Expect Samson to come out all guns blazing to prove himself in his new colours.
Key Players to Watch
Ravindra Jadeja (RR): Jadeja's debut for Rajasthan Royals after 12 seasons at CSK will be one of the most emotional moments of IPL 2026. He will be desperate to prove CSK wrong by performing brilliantly against them. He bowls 4 crucial overs and bats in the middle order — a genuine match-winner on any surface.
Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK): The CSK captain is one of the most consistent openers in IPL. He averages over 34 in IPL and scores at a strike rate of 140+. He will anchor CSK's innings and is a reliable fantasy pick with a high floor.
Differential Pick — Shimron Hetmyer (RR)
Hetmyer is one of the most dangerous death-over batters in world cricket. He is expected to have low ownership (under 15%) in fantasy contests because more glamorous names will dominate the selections. But at Guwahati, with its small boundaries, Hetmyer's six-hitting ability in the death overs could produce a match-winning 30-40 run cameo. At ₹8.5cr he is excellent value for the risk.
Players to Avoid
- MS Dhoni — if playing, he will bat very low and may not bowl. Low fantasy ceiling.
- Any lower-order specialist batting below number 8 without a bowling role.
Fantasy Tips Summary
- Load up on RR batters — Jaiswal and Parag have excellent records at this venue
- Jadeja is a must-pick — batting and bowling contribution guaranteed
- Toss is crucial — team batting first generally wins at Guwahati (less dew impact than coastal venues)
- If CSK win toss and choose to bat, upgrade Ruturaj Gaikwad to vice-captain
For live playing XI updates, check our RR vs CSK playing XI page.
