Guwahati, 09 August (HS): Guwahati Royals will aim to hand Dibrugarh Warriors their first defeat of the season when the two sides face off in the Imperial Blue Packaged Drinking Water Assam Premier League 2026 at ACA Stadium, Guwahati, on Monday.

Dibrugarh Warriors currently lead the points table with four wins from four matches, while Guwahati Royals are second with six points from as many games. Ahead of the crucial top-of-the-table clash, Royals captain Rishav Das is confident that the support of the home crowd can give his team an advantage.

Das, one of the Royals’ most consistent performers this season, said the support from the stands has been a special part of their campaign. “The support for the Guwahati Royals is huge. Whenever we play, we see a huge crowd coming into the stands to support us. Especially playing in Guwahati as the home team, we have felt that support from the fans,” he said.

The Royals captain has been in impressive form, scoring 123 runs in four matches at an average of 41 and a strike rate of 124.24. He is also joint-top in the tournament for fours, with 15 boundaries. Das played a key role in the Royals’ five-wicket victory over Nagaon Rangers by scoring a match-winning 60.

For Das, however, his contribution as captain goes beyond individual statistics. “I am really happy to see how we’re doing as a team in this tournament. Whenever the captain scores runs, the dressing room is always charged up. When you lead from the front and win games for your team, there is no better feeling than that,” he said.

A victory on Monday would take Guwahati Royals level with Dibrugarh Warriors on points and provide them with a major boost as the tournament enters its decisive phase. With a strong home crowd expected at the ACA Stadium, the Royals will hope to make the most of home advantage and end the Warriors’ unbeaten run.------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash