Guwahati: Rajasthan Royals Aim to End Losing Streak and Secure Top-Two Finish Against Kolkata Knight Riders
Rajasthan Royals will be eager to break their four-match losing streak and secure a top-two finish as they face the table-toppers, Kolkata Knight Riders, in a crucial IPL match on Sunday.
Rajasthan Royals’ Struggles
Having secured a playoff spot with 16 points, the Royals have faltered towards the end of the tournament, losing four consecutive matches. Their batting performance has significantly declined, failing to cross the 150-run mark in their last two games. The departure of their star opener, Jos Buttler, for national duty has left a substantial gap in their lineup.
To overcome these challenges, top-order batsmen Yashasvi Jaiswal, captain Sanju Samson, and local favorite Riyan Parag will need to step up and shoulder additional responsibilities. Securing a top-two finish would provide the Royals with two opportunities to reach the final.
Kolkata Knight Riders’ Confidence
Kolkata Knight Riders, with 19 points, have already secured the top position on the table. Their previous match against Gujarat Titans ended in a washout, granting them an additional point. While their confidence is high, they must remain vigilant against complacency.
KKR’s Batting Dynamics
KKR has also lost their in-form opener, Phil Salt, the season’s second-leading run-scorer, who has returned to England for a series against Pakistan in preparation for the T20 World Cup. Salt, alongside Narine, has been instrumental in KKR’s journey to their first playoffs since 2021, amassing 897 runs with seven fifties and one century between them at strike rates exceeding 182.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz is set to replace Salt, but expecting immediate results from him may be unrealistic. The Afghan wicketkeeper-batter, who played 11 matches in 2023, has not yet featured this season and last played on March 18 in a T20I against Ireland.
To maintain their rhythm, KKR will rely on the contributions of captain Shreyas Iyer, along with finishers Rinku Singh and Andre Russell.
Weather Conditions
Rain is forecast, potentially leading to slower playing conditions. In the last match between Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings, the ball appeared to hold up on the pitch.
Teams
Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (c), KS Bharat (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sherfane Rutherford, Manish Pandey, Andre Russell, Nitish Rana, Venkatesh Iyer, Anukul Roy, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Vaibhav Arora, Chetan Sakariya, Harshit Rana, Suyash Sharma, Mitchell Starc, Dushmantha Chameera, Sakib Hussain, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Gus Atkinson, Allah Ghazanfar.
Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (c), Abid Mushtaq, Avesh Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira, Kuldeep Sen, Kunal Singh Rathore, Nandre Burger, Navdeep Saini, Ravichandran Ashwin, Riyan Parag, Sandeep Sharma, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Rovman Powell, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Trent Boult, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yuzvendra Chahal, Tanush Kotian.
Match starts at 7:30 PM.
