The last time Rajasthan Royals (RR) won an IPL game, Delhi Capitals (DC) still had their winning streak intact, Mumbai Indians had not begun their redemption arc, and Jasprit Bumrah had yet to make his return this season. It has been five consecutive losses for RR, and another could slam the door shut on their playoff chances.
But the glass is half full, too. If they want to avoid going home after the group stages, they will need to win all of their remaining games.
It’s easier said than done, though. In their last three matches, RR suffered defeats by painstakingly thin margins. One went to a Super Over, one was lost by two runs, and one by eleven.
Now, they have to face Gujarat Titans (GT), followed by a game against Mumbai. If the path ahead ever looked easy, it certainly doesn’t anymore. Gujarat are nearly guaranteed to proceed to the next phase, and their unscathed win record in Jaipur will give them additional confidence, not that they need any extra.
Team Overview:
The top ten bowlers on the Purple Cap contention list feature as many as three bowlers from Gujarat Titans: Prasidh Krishna, Sai Kishore, and Mohammed Siraj. That is more than half of their bowling attack. Add to that the fact that Rashid Khan boasts the best average amongst all bowlers in IPL history in Jaipur and the picture becomes borderline unfair in GT’s favour. In fact, Rashid was the Man of the Match in both games GT have played in Jaipur.
So, GT come in with a bowling attack that is well-oiled and exceedingly lethal. Not to forget their top three, who have made GT’s case stronger with each match. Jos Buttler, who crossed over from Rajasthan in the recent auction, joined ranks with Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill to induce carnage at the top. Together, they have gone over 10.07 runs per over this season, which is the third-highest for a top three in any season of the IPL.
RR, on the other hand, are witnessing their issues mounting. Their batters have not done quite enough in the name of damage. Barring Yashasvi Jaiswal, none of the RR batters even come in the top twenty batters this season. While Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, and Riyan Parag might be on the right track, they will need to speed up lest it is too late.
Head-to-Head Matches:
Barring one game in the 2023 season, Gujarat Titans have won all encounters against Rajasthan. The current head-to-head record is 6-1 in GT’s favour across seven games.
Weather and Pitch Report:
Jaipur is experiencing high 30s degrees Celsius during the day. By night, the temperature cools off to a more manageable temperature. However, that also brings in dew. The venue is not a very high-scoring ground by reputation. The average score here is 180, and in both games, none of the teams crossed the mark. The surface acts a little two-paced, much to batters’ chagrin. Spinners are known to come in handy here, with legspinners averaging around 27. The toss-winning captain should look to chase under the lights to avoid bowling with plenty of dew around.
Prediction:
It is a no-brainer at this point that GT will end up as the better side, unless cricket decides to play one of its cruel pranks.
Where to Watch:
India: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar
UK: Sky Sports, SkyGo
USA: Willow TV
Australia: Kayo TV, FoxTel Go
Bangladesh: T Sports, Toffee app
New Zealand: Sky Sports NZ
Afghanistan: ATN
South Africa: SuperSport
Sri Lanka: Dialog
MENA: Cricbuzz
