Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings Preview & Tips - Super Kings to hand Royals opening defeat in the IPL

By Site Editor

27 Mar 2026

Site Editor 27 Mar 2026

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CSK won two of their final three 2025 IPL matches (L1)
The Royals won just four of their 14 IPL matches in 2025 (L10)
Preview, stats & head to head

MS Dhoni of Chennai Super Kings (Getty Images)

Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings Preview & Tips
Head To Head
Rajasthan Royals Form
Chennai Super Kings Form

Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings Preview & Tips

The Rajasthan Royals were spared bottom of the standings in the 2025 IPL by a slightly superior run rate to the similarly disappointing Chennai Super Kings.

Things cannot get worse for the Chennai Super Kings in 2026 after they were left to prop up the table in last season's competition.

RR lost three of their last four IPL matches (W1)
CSK won two of their last three T20 games (L1)

Head To Head

CSK have won two of their last 10 against RR, with the latter winning the other eight matches.

Rajasthan Royals Form

The Rajasthan Royals were hugely disappointing last season as they finished 11 points short of Punjab Kings at the summit, while they were eight behind Mumbai Indians in fourth.

With just four wins coming from their 14 outings across the season, RR were nowhere near good enough as they struggled with bat and ball. Their six-wicket win over CSK in their final match of the season put an end to a run of three consecutive defeats, with their 100-run loss to Mumbai Indians particularly galling.

This season, I predict that RR will struggle once again. The other teams have continued to build, but I question RR's match-winning options, and I back them to slip to a defeat in their opener.

Chennai Super Kings Form

The Chennai Super Kings suffered an epic collapse last season as they went from missing out on the playoffs via their inferior net run rate to Royal Challengers in 2024 to propping up the standings with just eight points from four wins in 14.

This season, the Super Kings will focus on closing the gap between themselves and the playoff spots. Since 2022, fourth place has been taken by a side on 16 points three times and 14 points once. This means that CSK will likely need to double the four wins they secured in 2025 if they are to battle in the post-season.

While CSK will likely struggle to consistently match the best sides, I back them to defeat RR in their opener. The pair are pretty well-matched and so this could simply come down to a few loose overs with the ball or a cluster of wickets. With this in mind, I back CSK to bounce back from their woeful campaign in 2025 with a win in their first match of 2026.

Verdict

CSK v RR

I am backing CSK to secure a victory in their opening match as they defeat RR in the battle of the two worst teams from 2025.

CSK

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