Rajasthan Royals' 'connection with Guwahati' questioned as marquee matches taken out of Jaipur: ‘Never understood story’

Rajasthan Royals will start off with the ACA Stadium as their home ground for three giant clashes against historic, crowd-pulling franchises – but why Guwahati?

Updated on: Mar 14, 2026, 09:17:59 IST

Written by Kartikay Dutta

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

For another IPL season in a row, Rajasthan Royals are set to play a set of their home games away from their traditional home. After having done so in 2025, the Royals will play three of their seven home games at an alternate home venue, and one which is a fair way away from their home base at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur – that being the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati.

Riyan Parag and Yashasvi jaiswal headline RR's team. (AP)

In 2026, not only is Guwahati hosting three of the seven home matches for the Royals, but it’s the opening home stand – the fixtures having been announced thus far. Aakash Chopra, speaking on his YouTube channel, was not happy about this fact.

“Two teams are getting three games apiece at home. One of them are the Rajasthan Royals, who don’t play at home at all,” said Chopra. “I have never understood their story to date, as to what their system is.”

“Their home away from home is in Guwahati. All three of their games are in Guwahati. I am wondering what their connection with Guwahati is,” asked the former Indian cricketer.

'Team has nothing to do with Guwahati'

“The team’s name is Rajasthan Royals. Rajasthan is in the west of India. Guwahati is in the east of India. It’s understandable if Kolkata want to go there, as it’s their catchment area,” explained Chopra. The alternate home for Punjab Kings, for example, takes him to Dharamsala – the northernmost IPL team staying northern.

Not so for the Royals, who trek across the country – and also go to Guwahati to play the biggest matches of the season, playing host to MI, CSK, and RCB, three big-ticket matches for the fans in Guwahati to attend.

“You can still understand the affiliation for Guwahati since Riyan Parag is the captain now, but this team has nothing to do with Guwahati in any way,” admitted Chopra, referencing how the new captain might have something to do with it.

The IPL begins on March 28, and the Rajasthan Royals will need to make their home away from home a fortress.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kartikay Dutta
Kartikay Dutta is a sports writer with the Hindustan Times Sports Desk, having joined in August 2024 to further his professional journey and pursue his long-standing ambition of working in sports media. With a strong interest in cricket, tennis, and football, Kartikay focuses on exploring the deeper layers of sport beyond the immediate action on the field. His work centres on producing insightful long-form and analytical pieces that examine the stories behind performances, teams, and tournaments. He is particularly interested in narratives that intersect with culture, history, and politics, helping readers understand how modern sport evolves within a broader social context. Before joining Hindustan Times, Kartikay worked with leading digital newsrooms in India, where he developed a strong foundation in data-driven storytelling. He is skilled at using statistics, records, and historical trends to uncover patterns and perspectives that add depth to match coverage and sports features. His approach combines research with narrative clarity, allowing complex sporting developments to be presented in an engaging and accessible manner. Kartikay also has a growing passion for multimedia storytelling. He actively explores how photographs, videos, and graphics can enhance sports journalism by illustrating not only what happens during competition but also the preparation, strategy, and operational dynamics behind the scenes. Through this evolving skill set, he aims to contribute to a more immersive and modern form of sports storytelling that connects audiences more closely with the games they follow.Read More

Get live cricket scores, match updates, schedules, results and ICC rankings. Follow the latest news, statistics and performances of top teams and players on Hindustan Times.