The Sawai Mansingh Stadium is set to sizzle as the red-hot Rajasthan Royals  clash with the struggling Royal Challengers Bengaluru   in a battle for supremacy today.RR are on a tear, boasting an unblemished 3-0 record. Their bowling attack, a miserly metronome led by Boult and Chahal, has been a revelation. Explosive batting from Parag and skipper Samson's experience provide the firepower. But all eyes are on the silent giants – Buttler and Jaiswal. A big knock from either could send shivers down RCB's spine.RCB, on the other hand, are desperate to turn things around. With a solitary win in four, their campaign is riddled with inconsistency, especially from their star-studded batting line-up. 

This clash promises a fascinating battle between contrasting bowling attacks. However, RR's  bowling mastery, currently the best in the IPL, could be RCB's lower order's undoing. The explosive Shimron Hetmyer, often used as a late-innings finisher by RR, could be the game-changer. If he unleashes his six-hitting prowess against RCB's leaky death bowling, it could be curtains for the Challengers. Jaipur has been a happy hunting ground for RR, with two wins coming at home. RCB, on the other hand, haven't fared well here. Can they overcome these hurdles and steal a victory away from the in-form Royals?

Head-To-Head in IPL:

Stats At Sawai Mansingh Stadium: 

MILESTONE ALERT 

3- Sanju Samson (3997) needs three runs to complete 4000 runs in IPL

1- Yashasvi Jaiswal (49) needs one six to complete 50 sixes in IPL

4- Faf du Plessis (146) needs four sixes to complete 150 sixes in IPL. 
 

Pitch Report:| Deep Dasgupta and WV Raman :

Dasgupta "We're at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, gearing up for a royal clash. Previously, this pitch has seen scores around 180. It's a large ground, with boundaries at 69 meters on the right and 63 meters on the left, while straight down the ground it stretches to 76 meters. So, the pitch must be the high-scoring enabler. Joining me is WV Raman. WV, your insights on this pitch?"

Raman: "This pitch mirrors the typical conditions found here—hard with a hint of grass. It's well-maintained, promising high-scoring affairs. Fast bowlers can look forward to some extra bounce with the new ball, yet it's not all challenging for the spinners. This surface, in particular, offers more turn, around 2.2 degrees, more than the usual 1.8 degrees on other pitches at this venue."

Dasgupta: "WV points this out because upon close inspection, the grass is quite patchy. There are spots completely devoid of grass, and then there are grassy patches."
Raman: "Indeed, and despite the dry patches, the spinners can be heartened by the bigger boundaries compared to other venues, giving them a unique advantage."

PLAYER BATTLES TO LOOK OUT FOR 

Virat Kohli vs Sandeep Sharma

Jos Buttler vs Mohammed Siraj

Glenn Maxwell vs Yuzvendra Chahal 

TOSS UPDATE:   WON THE TOSS AND ELECTED TO FIELD   
 

Sanju Samson |  Skipper : "We've decided to bowl first on this pitch. Our decision factors in both the opposition and the current conditions. We're on a fresh wicket today, which should assist our seamers early on and we anticipate some dew later on.

It's encouraging to see our team members stepping up and taking charge, especially in closing games. While we have several potential match-winners, not every day will be theirs. We're sticking with the same squad for today's match, though Sandeep Sharma won't be available." 

 

Faf du Plessis |   Skipper: "We were on the fence about our decision, but this wicket looks promising and should play consistently throughout the game.To add some firepower to our lineup, we're making a change by adding an extra batsman. Our batting hasn't quite fired yet, so we're hoping this tweak will spark something. We know we haven't played up to our potential yet, but it's all about making minor adjustments. If we can bring our best game, we'll be formidable opponents. Today presents another chance for us to turn things around.
Finding the right roles for our players is crucial. We want them to feel confident about their positions and believe they're batting where they're most effective. So far, our batting hasn't clicked, but we're working on it."