IPL 2018: Match 6, RR vs DD, Preview - Hurt Daredevils aim to spoil Royal's homecoming

Royals have a great chance to get back to the winning ways at their fortress.

Published - 10 Apr 2018, 17:25 IST | Updated - 10 Apr 2018, 17:25 IST

View : 8.8K

4 Min Read

The juggernaut of the Indian Premier League (IPL) now moves on to Jaipur as Rajasthan Royals (RR) will celebrate their homecoming. After a lot of speculations, Sawai Mansingh Stadium is also all set to host the matches of the tournament this year. They will face Delhi Daredevils in their second game, as both the teams are coming off a crushing defeat in their respective opening games. However, it will be important for them to cover lost ground and hit the straps soon in order to gain the winning momentum.

Royals put up an absolutely lacklustre show against Sunrisers Hyderabad the other day as they were handed a nine-wicket loss by the home team. They have some of the most talented players in their ranks and it is only a matter of time until they start winning games on their own. The skipper Ajinkya Rahane would also love to end on the winning side as he starts to get settled into the new role. Moreover, Royals will be boosted by the home support as the fans would be itching to watch their favourite players live at the Stadium.

Daredevils, on the other hand, have been undone a bit by the schedule as they will be playing their first 5 matches away from home. Gautam Gambhir-led side has no option but to get acclimatised to the conditions and put up a strong show in order to get better of the hosts. The teams look solid this time and they will have to hunt in packs to get better of the Royals. The Men in Red were hurt after KL Rahul launched an assault and would be eager to prove everyone wrong in this game.

Sawai Mansingh Stadium is hosting its first IPL game in four years and the teams might be unknown of the nature of the pitch. Naturally, it is known to dish out flat wickets with an early assistance to the pace but the captains would look to bowl first to be on the safer side.

Playing Combinations

Rajasthan Royals

It is unlikely that Royals will make any changes to their line-up after losing only a single game as they had fielded their best available XI in the last match. Jofra Archer is yet to recover from an injury he sustained while playing in the PSL. Ben Stokes might come down to bat at 5 where is more suited to play as they can promote Rahul Tripathi to open where he was immensely successful last year. The bowling attack needs to perform to its potential though as they looked toothless the other night.

Probable XI: Ajinkya Rahane (c), D’Arcy Short, Sanju Samson, Rahul Tripathi, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk), Krishnappa Gowtham, Shreyas Gopal, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jaydev Unadkat, Ben Laughlin

Delhi Daredevils

The delighting news for the team is that Glenn Maxwell has arrived and should walk into the XI straight away. Daniel Christian is likely to make way for him. Maxwell should provide a huge boost to their batting line-up. He will have to bat at 4 or 5 so that the Australian will get settled and tonk the ball at the death. The remainder of the team is likely to be same and it would be unfair on the players to be dropped only after one game.

Probable XI: Colin Munro, Gautam Gambhir (c), Shreyas Iyer, Glenn Maxwell, Rishabh Pant (wk), Vijay Shankar, Chris Morris, Rahul Tewatia, Amit Mishra, Trent Boult, Mohammed Shami

Focus will be on

Ben Stokes (Rajasthan Royals)

Ben Stokes looked jaded in the opening game and would’ve to make his presence felt in this game. It is understandable that the all-rounder is taking time to settle but for Royals to do well in this tournament he has to fire and also prove his worth after becoming the most expensive pick in the mega-auction. His bowling also was wayward as he conceded 21 runs in his two overs. If he strikes form at the right time, Royals will start to look a completely different unit much like Rising Pune Supergiant looked last year.

Colin Munro (Delhi Daredevils)

Colin Munro has to fire at the top for Delhi at any cost if they have to post a good total on the board or chase. he is the only batsman in the lineup for them who can take the attack to the opposition after which the middle-order can pounce on. But if the Kiwi player gets out early like the last game, it becomes an issue for the team as Gambhir then has to play even more cautiously. Munro is one of the dangerous batsmen in the shortest format of the game and he would be eyeing this game to make up for his poor show in the first game.

Head to Head

Played- 16 Rajasthan Royals – 10 Delhi Daredevils 6 NR/Tie – 0

Stat Attack

12 – Rajasthan Royals have won their last 12 matches at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. They won 8 in IPL 2013 and 4 in Champions League T20 in the same year.

150 – Gautam Gambhir will play his 150th IPL match when he will walk out on the field.