The schedule of the first 20 matches of the IPL 2026 season has been released. Due to waiting for the announcement of assembly election dates, the complete schedule has not been released at present. But there is one special thing in the initial program which has surprised people. This is the venue of Rajasthan Royals matches. In the initial schedule, out of 4 matches of Rajasthan, 3 matches are to be played in Guwahati and one in Ahmedabad. Questions are being raised regarding this as to why Rajasthan Royals are not playing in their home ground Jaipur. An Assam angle is being discussed regarding this but that is not the whole story.
Royals schedule and reason
New ipl season Rajasthan Royals will play their first match against Chennai Super Kings on 30 March. This match will be played in Guwahati. Apart from this, the team will also play its home matches against Mumbai Indians on 7th April and Royal Challengers Bangalore on 10th April at the same venue. An away match will be played against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, which will be organized on 4th April. But after the release of the complete schedule of IPL, the remaining home matches of Royals are also likely to be held in Guwahati.
In such a situation, the question is arising as to why the Royals are not playing at their home ground, Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Does this have to do with the franchise’s Assam connection? This is one of 2-3 different reasons for this. It is true that Rajasthan Royals President Ranjit Barthakur is a businessman from Assam. BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia is also from Assam. Besides, the team’s new captain Riyan Parag also comes from Assam. In such a situation, there is a reason for the franchise matches to be played in Guwahati, but this team has been playing a few matches in Guwahati for the last 3-4 seasons and till that time Saikia was not the BCCI Secretary.
There was turmoil in RCA.
The Assam connection of these personalities is one reason but there are two other reasons, due to which Rajasthan matches are not being held in Jaipur and there is less possibility of them happening in future also in this season. A major reason is the operation of Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). There have been no elections in RCA for the last two years and only an ad-hoc committee is running the association. BCCI had already warned RCA several times to conduct elections on time and as per the Constitution but its officials failed in this. In such a situation, just a few months ago, BCCI gave a last warning saying that if elections are not held on time, then IPL matches will be snatched from Jaipur. The latest situation is that elections have not taken place yet.
poor condition of the stadium
The second important reason is the maintenance of Sawaiman Singh (SMS) Stadium. According to reports, the last renovation or upgradation in this stadium took place in 2006. Since then the condition of the stadium has remained the same. Due to this there is a security threat. Rajasthan Royals have written letters to RCA and BCCI several times regarding their problems regarding proper control of the crowd coming to IPL matches and improving the facilities in the stadium, but their problems have not been resolved yet. In such a situation, keeping in mind that there should be no accident due to negligence of security during any match in the stadium, Royals were looking for a new home ground this season, where the franchise could organize some of its other matches with Guwahati. Now whether its remaining matches will be held in Guwahati or any other ground or whether SMS Stadium will get the last extension, it will become clear in the next few days.