Mumbai Indians will be looking to regain momentum when they take on Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday. After a bruising result against Delhi Capitals, the five-time champions enter this contest with bounce-back intent.
So far, MI’s campaign has been uneven. They managed a win over Kolkata Knight Riders, but have struggled to keep their performances consistent across matches.
Quick facts
- Match: Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals
- League: IPL 2026 (13th match)
- Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
- Date: Tuesday
- Rajasthan status: Winners of the inaugural IPL in 2008; won first two matches
- Rajasthan’s recent results: Beat Chennai Super Kings; then edged Gujarat Titans by six runs in Ahmedabad
- MI status: Currently sixth in the table; lost to Delhi Capitals after beating Kolkata Knight Riders
- MI team news: Hardik Pandya is expected to return to the playing XI
- MI squad boost: Mitchell Santner adds depth in spin and improves balance
- MI bowling plan: A three-pronged Indian pace attack alongside Trent Boult
At the moment, Mumbai sit sixth in the standings, and captain Hardik Pandya is expected to be back in the playing XI. With that, MI will aim to steady the tempo and turn their start into something more sustained.
The side’s balance could also be helped by the presence of Mitchell Santner, who strengthens their spin options. That addition gives Mumbai more structure, while Trent Boult anchors their pace group alongside a three-pronged Indian fast-bowling approach.
On paper, the matchup looks finely poised, which sets up a genuinely competitive encounter in Guwahati. Rajasthan will look to keep building on their winning run and push their claim as early frontrunners, while Mumbai will be desperate to regroup and reset their campaign.
How Rajasthan have started
Rajasthan Royals, buoyed by early success, will enter the game after collecting wins in their opening two fixtures. They began with a dominant result against Chennai Super Kings, before following it up with a tight six-run triumph over Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
With the bat, the Royals have a lineup that can shift gears quickly, led by an aggressive opening combination of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal. In the middle order, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel add further options to keep pressure on the opposition.
Rajasthan’s pace resources have also been impactful, with Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger spearheading their attack in the early overs. Their quick-bowling form has helped set strong foundations for the rest of the innings.
Hello and welcome—this is live coverage of the IPL 2026 match between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
