Rajasthan Royals will try to maintain their lead, while the reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will rely on a revitalized Devdutt Padikkal in Friday’s IPL match in Guwahati.
Under the leadership of the legendary Virat Kohli, who hasn’t shown any symptoms of rust since leaving T20 internationals in 2024, RCB boasts a stable top order. Phil Salt also showed off his explosive skills in the previous match.
Padikkal, batting one down, has carried his home form into the IPL with ease, indicating a return to his fluid best with a controlled yet aggressive style.
In his first IPL season, Padikkal made an instant impression by scoring 473 runs for RCB and proving to be a fashionable hitter. Subsequent appearances with the Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals, however, failed to provide the expected results.
By his own admission, his return to RCB last season was a game-changer, as he was instrumental in the team’s eventual championship. The left-hander has started this season in a similar manner, hitting consecutive fifties (a 26-ball 61 against Sunrisers Hyderabad and a 29-ball 50 against Chennai Super Kings), and he will try to continue his impressive run of form. Solidity in the middle is provided by players like big-hitting Australian Tim David and captain Rajat Patidar.
But what has really struck out is RCB’s bowling makeover. The offensive, which was once thought to be their weakness, now appears to be much more comprehensive. In Josh Hazlewood’s absence, Jacob Duffy has filled in with sharp spells, and Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma have successfully choked runs in the middle overs.
With Jaiswal and teenage phenom Sooryavanshi leading the way, the Royals have become one of the most potent batting teams this season.
The duo has regularly produced explosive openings by mixing bold stroke-play with clean hitting to put early pressure on rival attacks. Sooryavanshi’s daring stroke-making, which included a six off the first ball he encountered from Jasprit Bumrah in the previous game, has drawn special attention.
Jaiswal has quietly demonstrated his class, leading the innings with an undefeated 77 against the Mumbai Indians while fusing poise with attacking flair, while the 15-year-old has grabbed headlines.
Rajasthan is a well-rounded team because their bowling unit has also been on the money, functioning with clear plans and carrying them out with precision, whether it is striking hard lengths or nailing yorkers at the last minute.
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Riyan Parag (c), Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Nandre Burger
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Probable XI: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jacob Bethell, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Jacob Duffy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Dar
