Rajasthan Royals have opened their IPL 2026 campaign with back-to-back wins, beginning with a dominant performance against Chennai Super Kings and followed by a tense comeback defence against Gujarat Titans. The early results have lifted spirits within the camp. Riyan Parag highlighted the importance of “smart cricket” and “assessing conditions” in Guwahati, while Tushar Deshpande made his presence felt in Ahmedabad.
However, Siddhartha Lahiri, who has been part of the Royals set-up for seven years, remains measured. Having seen similar promising starts fade over the course of the tournament in previous seasons, he stressed the importance of staying grounded.
“It’s a long season, we can’t get excited.” Lahiri, the performance coach of the Royals, cautioned ahead of their second home fixture. “We are not at all over-excited with our first two games… When we win, it all looks smart. When you lose, it looks unsmart.”
Despite showing both authority and composure under pressure, Rajasthan Royals are aware there is room for improvement. Their next challenge comes in the form of Mumbai Indians — a side that appears to have assembled a strong XII for this season.
Mumbai Indians Look to Address Away Struggles
Mumbai Indians, five-time champions, have already shown some vulnerability. Their recent defeat to Delhi Capitals exposed issues that were highlighted by the absence of an all-rounder. Hardik Pandya, who missed that game due to illness, is expected to return for this clash, although he did not take part in Monday’s practice session.
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Their concerns, however, extend beyond personnel. Since 2023, Mumbai Indians have struggled significantly in away matches, with no team faring worse on the road during this period.
Rajasthan Royals will look to capitalise on that weakness, though they will also recognise that past records offer no guarantees. Mumbai Indians are likely to field one of their strongest line-ups since their 2020 title-winning campaign.
Summing up the situation, Lahiri noted: “The bad news, even here, you have to turn up fresh.”
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Match Details
- When: Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 7:30 PM IST
- Where: Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians, ACA Stadium, Guwahati
What to Expect
Guwahati has hosted six IPL matches so far, with an average first-innings score of 167. Teams batting first have won three times. The surface previously offered some early movement, but once batters get through that phase, conditions tend to favour high scores.
Results at the venue suggest no clear advantage at the toss, with chasing and defending sides enjoying equal success. Weather forecasts indicate a chance of scattered thunderstorms on Tuesday, which could influence captains’ decisions, potentially making fielding first a more attractive option.
Head-to-Head
Mumbai Indians hold a slight edge in the overall record, leading Rajasthan Royals 16-14. Since 2021, they have won five of the eight meetings between the sides.
Team Watch
Mumbai Indians
Injuries/Unavailability:
Hardik Pandya has recovered from illness and is expected to be available, although he did not attend training on Monday.
Tactics & Matchups:
Jasprit Bumrah has dismissed Shimron Hetmyer six times in T20s, conceding just 17 runs across 23 balls in that contest.
Probable XII:
Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickleton, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Sherfane Rutherford, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Mayank Markande
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Rajasthan Royals
Injuries/Unavailability:
No injuries have been reported. Shubham Dubey spent extended time in the nets on Monday under the watch of batting coach Vikram Rathore.
Tactics & Matchups:
Sandeep Sharma could play a key role with the new ball. He has dismissed Rohit Sharma five times and Suryakumar Yadav four times in T20s, conceding 71 runs in 76 deliveries against the pair.
Probable XII:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi
Quotes and Numbers
- This is the eighth instance of Rajasthan Royals winning their opening two matches of a season — the most by any team.
- Mumbai Indians have won 9 of their 24 away matches since 2023, recording the lowest win-loss ratio (0.6) among all teams in that period.
- Since 2020, Mumbai Indians have secured only 4 wins in 25 matches while defending targets of 180 or less in the IPL.
“It’s still very early days for us. We have just played two games. We played two games, we have done well. It’s a long season… We are not at all over excited with our first two games” – Siddhartha Lahiri, Performance Coach, Rajasthan Royals.
“As the practice has evolved in the game and the world, it’s equally important for the bowlers to evolve as well… Two-three years back, you wouldn’t have said that 200 plus or 250 plus are the target. The game is evolving. The bowlers have to evolve as well” – Paras Mhambrey, Mumbai Indians bowling coach.
