Aakash Chopra Scrutinizes Rajasthan Royals’ Decision to Host Home Matches in Guwahati
Former India opening batter Aakash Chopra has publicly questioned the Rajasthan Royals franchise regarding their strategy to stage a portion of their home games away from Jaipur. The matches are scheduled for the ACA Stadium in Guwahati during the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, a logistical move Chopra argues lacks strategic and historical logic.
Geographical Disconnect Between Rajasthan and Assam
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra highlighted the extreme geographical separation between the franchise’s home state in western India and Assam in the northeast. The distance between Jaipur and Guwahati spans roughly 1,900 kilometers, creating a travel burden and dividing the traditional local fan base.
“Two teams are getting three games apiece at home. One of them are the Rajasthan Royals, who don’t play at home at all. I have never understood their story to date, as to what their system is. Their home away from home is in Guwahati,” Chopra stated. He emphasized that while franchises like Kolkata Knight Riders have a natural geographic catchment area in the east, Rajasthan’s presence in Assam feels disjointed.
Chopra acknowledged the presence of Riyan Parag, an Assam native and high-performing middle-order batter for the Royals. However, he noted that employing one regional star does not inherently establish a secondary home ground for a franchise based on the opposite side of the country. Fact Check: While early scheduling reports occasionally confuse team leadership, Sanju Samson remains the official captain of the Rajasthan Royals, with Parag serving as a core squad member.
Secondary Home Ground Performance and History
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) permits franchises to request alternate home venues to expand the league’s domestic footprint. The Royals previously utilized the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati during the 2023 and 2024 seasons as part of an initiative to promote cricket in Northeast India.
| IPL Season | Opponent at Guwahati | Match Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Punjab Kings | Lost by 5 runs |
| 2023 | Delhi Capitals | Won by 57 runs |
| 2024 | Punjab Kings | Lost by 5 wickets |
| 2024 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Match Abandoned (Rain) |
Upcoming IPL Scheduling Constraints
As the Indian Premier League prepares for its upcoming season, venue allocation remains heavily scrutinized. The defending IPL 2024 champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, set the standard for regional dominance by maximizing their home advantage at Eden Gardens. Conversely, Rajasthan will begin their campaign by balancing fixtures between the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur and Guwahati.
The strategy to split home games risks neutralizing the traditional home-field advantage. Teams historically build their rosters around the specific pitch conditions of their primary stadium. By dividing their schedule, the Rajasthan Royals must constantly adapt between the large boundaries and spin-friendly surfaces of Jaipur, and the frequently dew-affected, batting-friendly tracks in Guwahati.