IPL 2026 | Bowlers on target as Royals knock over Super Kings

After the skies threatened to open up, Rajasthan Royals produced a downpour of wickets as Chennai Super Kings was consigned to a disastrous start in the season opener at the ACA-Barsapara Stadium here on Monday (March 30, 2026). The relentless display from the hosts’ bowlers knocked out the visitors for 127.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashed a 17-ball 52, with five towering sixes and four crisp fours, as the Riyan Parag-led outfit romped to an eight-wicket win with 47 balls to spare.

Royals drew first blood after opting to bowl. Opener Sanju Samson’s much-anticipated debut ended in a brief stay as he was castled by a peach of a delivery from left-arm seamer Nandre Burger in the second over.

Jofra Archer made it worse for Super Kings when he sent back skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad with a full delivery that crashed into the stumps. Ayush Mhatre fell for a golden duck as a searing short ball from Burger kissed the glove. Super Kings was reeling at 19 for three at that stage.

Impact Player Sarfaraz Khan counterattacked, pulling Burger for a boundary through mid-wicket and lofting a length ball over deep-midwicket.

The introduction of the ever-reliable Sandeep Sharma ended Mathew Short’s stay as he misjudged a loopy delivery and was caught at mid-wicket, leaving Super Kings precariously placed at 41 for four in the PowerPlay.

Debutant Kartik Sharma, who joined Sarfaraz, dispatched leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi over deep square-leg for a maximum. Just as the duo looked to rebuild, Ravindra Jadeja, playing in pink, struck. The left-arm spinner trapped Sarfaraz in front and forced Shivam Dube to mishit to long-off.

Brijesh Sharma, making his debut for Rajasthan, had Kartik leg-before with a full-length delivery. Jamie Overton’s determined knock — 43 (36b, 2×4, 2×6) — pushed Super Kings past the 120-run mark. Once Suryavanshi emerged from the dugout, the result was never in doubt.