Kamal Ghorui
Aakash Chopra has raised questions over Rajasthan Royals staging three of their seven home matches away from Jaipur in Guwahati during the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League. The former India opener said he finds it difficult to understand the logic behind the franchise shifting a large portion of their home fixtures to a venue that, in his view, has little historical connection with the team.Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra pointed out the geographical distance between Rajasthan and Assam, arguing that the two regions lie on opposite sides of the country. He suggested that the move feels unusual for a team that represents Rajasthan, although he acknowledged that current captain Riyan Parag hails from Assam.“Two teams are getting three games apiece at home. One of them are the Rajasthan Royals, who don’t play at home at all. I have never understood their story to date, as to what their system is. Their home away from home is in Guwahati. All three of their games are in Guwahati. I am wondering what their connection with Guwahati is,” said Chopra on his YouTube channel.“The team’s name is Rajasthan Royals. Rajasthan is in the west of India. Guwahati is in the east of India. It’s understandable if Kolkata want to go there, as it’s their catchment area. You can still understand the affiliation for Guwahati since Riyan Parag is the captain now, but this team has nothing to do with Guwahati in any way,” he added.Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently unveiled the first-phase schedule for the 2026 IPL season. The tournament will begin on March 28 with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.The second fixture will see Mumbai Indians take on Kolkata Knight Riders. As for the Royals, their campaign will begin against Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati.
Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026 schedule – first phase
| Date | Day | Match | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Mar | Mon | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 4 Apr | Sat | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 7 Apr | Tue | Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 10 Apr | Fri | Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
