‘What’s their connection with Guwahati?’: Former India cricketer questions Rajasthan Royals’ strategy

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has openly questioned Rajasthan Royals’ decision to stage three of their seven designated home fixtures in Guwahati for the upcoming 2026 Indian Premier League season. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said the move defies conventional logic given the franchise’s identity as representatives of Rajasthan.

“Two teams are getting three games apiece at home. One of them are the Rajasthan Royals, who don’t play at home at all,” Chopra observed. “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.”

The cricketer-turned-analyst highlighted the geographical disconnect between the state the franchise is named after and the Assam capital, noting that Rajasthan lies in western India while Guwahati sits in the far east. Chopra conceded that current Royals captain Riyan Parag’s Assam roots offer a “catchment area” rationale, but argued the broader affiliation remains tenuous.

“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. 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,” he added.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India recently released the first-phase schedule for IPL 2026, which gets underway on March 28 when defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru host Sunrisers Hyderabad at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The Royals, meanwhile, will open their campaign against Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati, reinforcing the franchise’s eastward shift for a significant portion of their home advantage.