Riyan Parag and Ruturaj Gaikwad

Sanju Samson is set for an emotional reunion as he faces Rajasthan Royals for the first time since joining Chennai Super Kings, adding a compelling subplot to Monday’s IPL clash in Guwahati. Having been the face of RR for over a decade, leading them to the 2022 final and becoming their all-time leading run-scorer, Samson’s switch marks the end of an era for the Royals.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Now in CSK colours, Sanju Samson arrives in top form after a standout T20 World Cup campaign, including three crucial half-centuries. With MS Dhoni sidelined due to injury, Samson is expected to play a key leadership role alongside skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad at the top of the order.The match also sees Ravindra Jadeja facing his former CSK teammates after moving back to RR. Chennai appear to be entering a transition phase, with young talents stepping up and a balanced bowling attack offering depth.For Rajasthan, Samson’s departure signals a fresh start under new captain Riyan Parag. Their batting will hinge on Yashasvi Jaiswal, supported by Shimron Hetmyer, while concerns remain over their bowling consistency.Both teams, coming off disappointing seasons, will look to reset and begin their campaigns on a strong note.

A fresh pitch is set to be used for Monday’s clash, though rain on the eve of the match forced it under covers. Showers are forecast for the afternoon, but conditions are expected to improve by evening, raising hopes of a full game. The weather has already disrupted preparations, with Rajasthan Royals’ practice session curtailed. Early moisture could assist bowlers before conditions ease under lights.

Rajasthan Royals predicted XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Riyan Parag (c), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Donnovan Ferreira, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Impact Sub: Nandre Burger/Adam MilneChennai Super Kings predicted XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Ayush Mhatre, Matt Short, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed, Impact Sub: Anshul Kamboj/Gurjapneet Singh

Conditions are expected to remain mostly cloudy with a passing shower during the day. The evening is likely to stay humid with lingering cloud cover and a couple of late showers possible. Temperatures will range between 27°C and 19°C. Encouragingly, the probability of rain is expected to drop to around 20% during match hours, improving the chances of uninterrupted play.

The RR vs CSK match will be played at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. The match will start at 7:30 pm. The match will be telecasted on Star Sports Network and live streaming will be on JioHotstar.RR vs CSK squadsRajasthan Royals: Riyan Parag (c), Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Aman Perala, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Dasun Shanaka, Adam Milne, Brijesh Sharma, Jofra Archer, Kuldeep Sen, Kwena Maphaka, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi and Sandeep Sharma.Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ayush Mhatre, Matt Henry, Akeal Hosein, Noor Ahmad, Jamie Overton, Matthew Short, Khaleel Ahmed, Zak Foulkes, Anshul Khamboj, Nathan Ellis, Sarfaraz Khan, Rahul Chahar, Kartik Sharma, Urvil Patel, Aman Khan, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Prashant Veer, Shreyas Gopal, Spencer Johnson, Gurjapneet Singh and Mukesh Choudhary.