Aakash Chopra Questions Rajasthan Royals' Decision to Play Home Games in Guwahati
Former India opener Aakash Chopra has publicly raised concerns over the Rajasthan Royals' scheduling strategy for the upcoming Indian Premier League season. The franchise has decided to stage three of their seven designated home matches away from their traditional base in Jaipur, opting instead for Guwahati in Assam.
Geographical and Historical Disconnect
Speaking on his popular YouTube channel, Chopra expressed confusion about the logic behind this decision. He highlighted the significant geographical distance between Rajasthan in western India and Assam in the northeast, describing them as being on opposite sides of the country.
"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 stated. "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."
The cricket analyst acknowledged that current captain Riyan Parag hails from Assam, which might explain some affinity for the region. However, he maintained that this connection alone doesn't justify shifting such a substantial portion of home fixtures.
"The team's name is Rajasthan Royals. Rajasthan is in the west of India. Guwahati is in the east of India," Chopra elaborated. "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."
IPL 2026 Schedule Details
Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has released the first-phase schedule for the 2026 IPL season. The tournament will commence on March 28 with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad at Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The second fixture will feature Mumbai Indians taking on Kolkata Knight Riders. For the Rajasthan Royals, their campaign will begin with a match against Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati on March 30.
Here is the complete first-phase schedule for Rajasthan Royals:
- March 30, Monday: Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati at 7:30 PM
- April 4, Saturday: Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad at 7:30 PM
- April 7, Tuesday: Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians in Guwahati at 7:30 PM
- April 10, Friday: Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati at 7:30 PM
The scheduling decision means that three of Rajasthan Royals' first four matches will be played in Guwahati, with only one away game in Ahmedabad against Gujarat Titans during this initial phase.
Broader Implications for IPL Franchises
This move by Rajasthan Royals represents a significant departure from traditional home-away patterns in the IPL. While franchises have occasionally played matches at alternative venues, allocating nearly half of home games to a geographically distant location sets a new precedent.
Cricket analysts suggest this could be part of a broader strategy to expand the team's fan base beyond its traditional Rajasthan stronghold. However, as Chopra's comments indicate, such decisions risk alienating local supporters who expect to see their team play in their home state.
The debate raises important questions about franchise identity in the IPL and how teams balance commercial expansion with maintaining regional connections that form the foundation of their fan support.
