A Royal Challenge awaits Rajasthan as IPL 2024 reaches its climax

Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) started off their respective Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign in contrasting fashions. When RR were on the cusp of qualifying for the playoffs, RCB were tottering at the bottom of the table, playing for nothing but pride. 

Fast-forward to about 40 days later: RR have lost four in a row, while RCB are going through one of their best phases, having won six in a row. Both teams are just three more wins away from putting an end to years of agony and disappointment.

The question is - will it be RR or RCB who will take the first step towards it?

RR vs RCB Head-to-Head

Overall: Matches 30 | RR 13 | RCB 15 | NR 2

Since 2022: Matches 6 | RR 3 | RCB 3

Playoffs: Matches 2 | RR 1 | RCB 1

Venue Details and Weather Conditions

Almost 70% of the wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, this season have been picked up by the pacers, and they have struck once every 18.6 deliveries, 28.8 runs apart. The corresponding numbers for the spinners have been 27.7 and 41.7, respectively.

The average first-innings total here this season has been 175/6, and the chasing team have won four of the six matches so far. Don't be surprised if the captain winning the toss elects to bowl here again.

Expect a hot day in Ahmedabad with temperatures soaring to 40°C. The temperature is expected to go down to 37°C in the closing stages of the game, but there will be very little relief for the players as the humidity will shoot up.

Things to watch out for

Can Jaiswal find his touch again?

It has been a stop-start season of sorts for Yashasvi Jaiswal. In his first seven games, he failed to convert any of his starts to something substantial but hit a fifty and a century in the next three games before his form dipped again. 

He has fared a lot better when RR have chased this season—averaging 38.1 and a strike rate of 162. Moreover, he has been dismissed by pacers in all the matches—struggling more against left-arm pacers (Ave 16.5, SR 138). He is yet to hit a fifty against RCB in six innings, striking at 126 and averaging 17.2—his second lowest against any IPL side.

Can RCB bowlers continue their path to redemption?

RCB have really stepped up their powerplay game in the last eight matches, which is head and shoulders much better than what they delivered in the first six.

Among the bowlers who have turned their fortunes around is Mohammed Siraj, who has picked up nine wickets at an economy rate of 8.4, along with Yash Dayal, who is having his best IPL season, with 15 scalps, conceding at under nine. They will once again be crucial if RCB are to continue their winning run in IPL 2024.

Probable XIs

RR: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Rovman Powell, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal, Nandre Burger; Avesh Khan/SHubham Dubey (IP)

RCB: Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Rajat Patidar, Cameron Green, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Karn Sharma, Yash Dayal, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Siraj; Swapnil Singh/ Vijaykumar Vyshak (IP)

TV and streaming details

The match will begin at 7:30 PM and will be streamed and telecasted on Jio Cinema and Star Sports respectively.

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