With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 set to take place in Guwahati—the "Gateway to Northeast India" the city is going into overdrive, as cricket's top international event hits town. Local cricket fans are buzzing with excitement after the confirmation that the ACA Stadium at Barsapara will be the Rajasthan Royals' (RR) secondary home ground, and that RR will contest three high-energy matches there.
The 19th season of the IPL kicks off on March 28, and Guwahati will be front and centre for many of the action's fiercest battles in the opening phase of the tournament, as the BCCI has arranged for Guwahati to be part of some of T20 Cricket's most publicized rivalries and to feature many of the world’s biggest T20 Stars.
The Home Hero Returns: Riyan Parag to Lead the Royals
This season, Rajasthan Royals are handing the captain’s armband to Guwahati’s own Riyan Parag. For the first time, he gets to lead his team right at home. You can bet that’ll pack the stadium 40,000 seats, and probably every one filled.
The Royals aren’t just banking on local pride, either. They’ve seriously upgraded their squad for 2026. That blockbuster pre-season trade? It brought in Ravindra Jadeja, a legend in Indian cricket, and Sam Curran from England. Big moves for the Pink City crew.
The Blockbuster Fixtures: Mark Your Calendars
The Guwahati leg is akin to a "Group of Death" for the home team, as they will be up against the three most popular franchises of the league:
March 30: RR vs. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) A grand opening event for the city with MS Dhoni playing the famous "finisher" role, and Ravindra Jadeja making his comeback by facing his former team.
April 7: RR vs. Mumbai Indians (MI) The rivalry continues as the five-time champions arrive in the Northeast.
April 10: RR vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) The reigning champions, coming straight from their 2025 title victory, will bring "Virat Kohli" factor to Barsapara in what is expected to be a Friday night spectacle.
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