Rajasthan Royals have opened their IPL 2026 campaign with back-to-back wins, and the early momentum has carried them into a buoyant mood heading toward their second home fixture. First, they delivered a heavy win over Chennai Super Kings, then followed it with a tense, come-from-behind performance to hold their nerve against Gujarat Titans in what was a nervier test of temperament. Riyan Parag, speaking in Guwahati, pointed to the value of “smart cricket” and staying alert to changing conditions, while Tushar Deshpande’s comments carried the confidence of a bowler who believes the surface at the ACA Stadium can suit him. Behind the scenes, Siddhartha Lahiri—now in his seventh year with the franchise—has seen this kind of promising start before, only to watch it fade as the Indian summer deepens. That history is part of why he is urging caution rather than celebration.
Lahiri, the Royals’ performance coach, sounded a clear warning a day before their next home game. He stressed that two wins can flatter perception: “It’s a long season, we can’t get excited. We’re not at all over-excited after the first two games. When we win, it all looks smart; when you lose, it looks unsmart.” Even with the evidence already on the scoreboard—showing both dominance and composure under pressure—Royals will know they are not operating at flawless perfection. Their next challenge comes from Mumbai Indians, a side expected to bring a strong “XII” on paper for Tuesday’s match, setting up a high-stakes contrast between early-season form and the demands of sustained consistency.
For Mumbai Indians, the backdrop is not as straightforward as their reputation alone. Their recent issues have been highlighted by the absence of just one all-rounder during their game against Delhi Capitals, a gap that helped expose some cracks despite the strength they appear to have on paper. Hardik Pandya, who had been unwell and missed that outing, is expected to be available for the next game even though he did not make an appearance at practice on Monday. Yet the bigger concern for the Royals—and the bigger opportunity for them—lies in how Mumbai have travelled. Since 2023, no team has struggled more away from home than MI, giving Rajasthan a chance to strike where the pressure has often been hardest. Still, historical trends rarely guarantee results in T20 cricket, and the Royals may well face the most complete version of MI since their title triumph in 2020.
With two games already in the bag, Lahiri offered the kind of practical reminder that tends to matter most at the start of a season: “The bad news, even here, you have to turn up fresh.”
When: Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 7:30 PM IST
Where: Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians, ACA Stadium, Guwahati
What to expect: Across six IPL matches played in Guwahati, the average first-innings score has been 167, and teams batting first have won three of those contests. The last time a game was staged here, the pitch offered some movement early, which could influence the opening overs. However, if batters survive the initial overs, a high-scoring affair is a realistic expectation. Chasing teams have won exactly as many IPL matches at the venue as teams batting first, so the toss does not carry a meaningful advantage. Tuesday’s forecast includes scattered thunderstorms, and that could lead to interruptions—an element that may tilt captains toward bowling or fielding depending on timing and conditions.
Head to head: Even though Mumbai Indians have been more successful historically, the league’s overall balance is close. Rajasthan hold a slight edge with a 16-14 record in head-to-head meetings. Since 2021, MI have beaten Royals in five of their eight encounters, ensuring that this matchup will not be one-sided despite the early-season headlines.
Team watch
Mumbai Indians
Injuries/Unavailability: Hardik Pandya, who was unwell and missed the game versus Delhi Capitals, has returned to full fitness and is expected to be available for the clash with Rajasthan. However, he was not spotted at practice on Monday.
Tactics & Matchups: Jasprit Bumrah has had a significant impact on Shimron Hetmyer in T20 cricket, dismissing him six times in a 23-ball matchup while conceding only 17 runs in the process. That head-to-head history suggests Bumrah could be central to the early plan, especially if MI look to disrupt Hetmyer’s timing and rhythm.
Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickleton, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Sherfane Rutherford, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Mayank Markande.
Rajasthan Royals
Injuries/Unavailability: No injuries have been reported. Still, Shubham Dubey spent a lengthy period in the nets on Monday, with batting coach Vikram Rathore keeping a close eye on his work.
Tactics & Matchups: Sandeep Sharma might not be the same swing-bowling threat he once was, but he remains important for Rajasthan’s early phases. In T20 cricket, he has dismissed Rohit Sharma five times and Suryakumar Yadav four times, conceding only 71 runs in 76 balls against the duo. If Rajasthan want to dent MI’s top order quickly, Sandeep’s spell could be one of their key levers.
Probable XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi.
Did you know?
– Rajasthan Royals have won the first two games of the season for the eighth time—more than any other franchise.
– Since 2023, Mumbai Indians have managed only 9 wins out of 24 away matches, giving them the weakest win-loss ratio (0.6) among all teams across that span.
– Since 2020, MI have won just 4 games out of 25 when defending a target of 180 or below in IPL.
What they said: Lahiri said, “It’s still very early days for us. We have just played two games. We played two games and we have done well. It’s a long season… We are not at all over-excited with our first two games.” From the MI camp, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey added, “As the practice has evolved in the game and the world, it’s equally important for the bowlers to evolve as well. Two to three years back, you wouldn’t have said that 200 plus or 250 plus are the target. The game is evolving, and bowlers have to evolve as well.”
