“One team, two homes. Born in Rajasthan, celebrated in Assam.” With this slogan, Rajasthan Royals, who will play two home matches of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) in Guwahati, are set to offer a new experience to cricket fans in Assam and the Northeast. In a special move, the inaugural IPL champions will allow cricket enthusiasts to watch their practice sessions live from the stadium.
On February 21, Rajasthan Royals will hold a practice session at Barsapara’s ACA Stadium from 7 PM to 11 PM, which fans can watch from the gallery. This marks the first time that people in Assam will have the opportunity to witness a team’s practice session live from the stands at ACA Stadium. No tickets are required, as the practice session will be open to the public.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals have already started their training at ACA Stadium from Tuesday. The team held two practice sessions – from 10 AM to 3 PM and 7 PM to 11 PM. On the first day of training, Assam’s own Riyan Parag, along with Nitish Rana, Dhruv Jurel, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Ashok Sharma, Akash Madhwal, and Sandeep Sharma, participated in the session. Head coach Rahul Dravid and spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule were also present during the practice. This special camp will continue until February 22.
It is noteworthy that, apart from playing matches in Guwahati, Rajasthan Royals have also decided to hold their training camp at ACA Cricket Stadium, making it their second home. Additionally, Rajasthan Royals will kick off their IPL home campaign from Guwahati itself. The 2008 IPL champions will play their first home match against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26 and their second home match against Chennai Super Kings on March 30, both at ACA Stadium under floodlights.
However, before arriving in Guwahati, Rajasthan Royals will begin their IPL 2024 journey with an away match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23. The team will head into the new season after training in Guwahati. Notably, this marks the third consecutive season that Rajasthan Royals have chosen Guwahati as their home venue. The team has returned to Guwahati, drawn by the unwavering love and support of the people of Assam and the Northeast over the past two seasons.