Stability key for Rajasthan, look to take back top spot: RR’s probable XI vs MI | Cricket
Rajasthan Royals (RR) will take on five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 30. RR will look to get their second consecutive win and move towards the playoffs. The Sanju Samson-led side have so far won five of their eight matches and lost three.
RR dominated their first game of the season against SRH but lost their second game to PBKS by 5 runs. The Royals bounced back from the loss against Punjab Kings to beat Delhi Capitals by 57 runs in Guwahati. Then Rajasthan Royals defeated Chennai Super Kings by 3 runs in a thrilling match played at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. RR made it three consecutive wins by defeating defending champions Gujarat Titans by 3 wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. RR had lost to LSG in their first game in Jaipur this season as they fell 10 runs short of their target of 155. RR then lost to RCB by 7 runs as they could not chase down the target of 190 in Bangalore. Last time out, RR moved to the top of the table with a 32-run win over CSK at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Thursday.
Yashasvi Jaiswal struck again for RR and powered his side with a powerful first innings as the team registered a confidence-boosting win at home. This is his first win in Jaipur this season.
Jos Buttler has scored 271 runs in eight innings so far. Hetmyer has failed to contribute in the last few matches but has been in good form this season scoring 197 runs. Jaiswal is the current top run-scorer for the team with 304 runs and skipper Samson has scored 198 runs so far.
Dhruv Jurel and Ashwin have also contributed well to the team’s batting performance in the lower order.
Devdutt Padikkal has recently returned to form and has now scored 192 runs this season. Riyan Parag has been in poor form this season and has been in and out of the team as a result.
The bowlers have done well as a unit. Chahal has taken twelve wickets with an economy of eight, Ashwin has taken eleven wickets and Boult has taken nine wickets.
Sandeep Sharma has picked up seven wickets and Jason Holder has also picked up some important wickets. Trent Boult missed the game against CSK and Zampa replaced him in the playing XI and took three wickets and now has five wickets this season. Boult is expected to be straight back in the playing XI once he is fit.
Riyan Parag, M Ashwin or Kuldeep Sen could be used as impact players depending on whether RR opt to bat or field first.
Openers: Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Middle order: Dhruv Jurel, Sanju Samson (c) (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Devdutt Padikkal.
All-rounders: Ravichandran Ashwin, Jason Holder.
Bowlers: Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma.
