Rajasthan Royals Adjust Pre-Season Schedule, Full Squad Camp Now Begins March 17
The Rajasthan Royals franchise has announced a slight modification to their pre-season preparations for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Originally scheduled to commence on March 15, the official full squad training camp will now kick off on March 17. This significant gathering will be held at the iconic Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Stadium in Jaipur, marking a pivotal moment in the team's build-up.
Comprehensive Camp Agenda Under Kumar Sangakkara's Leadership
Overseeing the proceedings will be head coach and director of cricket, the legendary Kumar Sangakkara. The camp's itinerary is designed to be multifaceted and intensive, with a primary emphasis on fostering robust team bonding among the players. This will be complemented by rigorous training sessions, strategic planning meetings, and dedicated strength and conditioning workouts. The objective is to create a cohesive unit ready to tackle the challenges of the grueling IPL season.
Preparatory Steps and Squad Assembly
Prior to this main camp, the franchise had already initiated preliminary preparations. A select group of players, including spinner Ravi Bishnoi, all-rounder Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, pacer Sandeep Sharma, and the newly acquired star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, participated in a short camp-cum-fitness assessment. This session was conducted at the franchise's state-of-the-art High Performance Centre located in Nagpur.
The Jaipur camp holds special significance as it will be the first official assembly of the complete Rajasthan Royals squad for the 2026 season. This includes high-profile new recruits such as Ravindra Jadeja and the dynamic English all-rounder Sam Curran, integrating them with the existing core of the team.
Upcoming Travel and Initial Fixtures
Following the intensive camp in Jaipur, the Royals are tentatively planning to depart for Guwahati on March 26. Their season opener is set to take place at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, where they will play their first three matches of the tournament:
- March 30: vs Chennai Super Kings
- April 7: vs Mumbai Indians
- April 10: vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
This adjusted schedule provides the team with a structured and focused lead-up to what promises to be an exciting IPL campaign, aiming to build momentum from the very first match.
