The IPL playoff race is hotter than a tandoor, and tonight's clash between the Rajasthan Royals  and Punjab Kings  in Guwahati promises to be a scorcher! The Royals might have already secured their playoff spot, but that doesn't mean they're taking their foot off the gas. This match is all about grabbing that coveted top-two finish and some serious bragging rights.

The Royals were cruising like a maharaja on a camel, but three straight losses had them looking a little dusty. The biggest culprit? The departure of their batting main course, Jos Buttler, for the T20 World Cup. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson, the spotlight is on you! Can you step up and fill those giant gloves? They'll need some fiery support from Riyan Parag, the season's breakout star, and the ever-reliable Dhruv Jurel. Don't forget the bowling attack! Trent Boult and Sandeep Sharma are still the strike bowlers, but Yuzvendra Chahal needs to stop leaking runs like a punctured water balloon.

 Don't underestimate the wounded Kings! They may be IPL's bottom dwellers, but they've shown flashes of brilliance with stunning knocks and nail-biting finishes. With their overseas stars, Jonny Bairstow and Sam Curran, getting ready for international duty, it's time for the domestic talent to shine. Keep an eye on the explosive batting of Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh, while Arshdeep Singh needs to sharpen his death bowling skills like a diamond cutter. While technically playing away, the familiar atmosphere of Guwahati, thanks to some smart local branding by the Royals, might give them a slight home advantage. But for Punjab, this is a chance to play spoiler and potentially shake up the Royals' playoff position.

Will the Royals rediscover their winning ways and secure that top spot, or will the Kings pull off a mighty upset and send shockwaves through the playoff race? The tension is thicker than a mango lassi! Get ready for a Guwahati showdown

Head-To-Head In IPL:


 

Milestones Alert  :

1 - Shikhar Dhawan (99) needs one catch to complete 100 catches in IPL

3 - Yuzvendra Chahal (63) needs three wickets to become the leading wicket-taker for RR in IPL.

4 - Sanju Samson (296) needs four fours to complete 300 fours for RR in IPL

50 - Yashasvi Jaiswal is all set to play his 50th IPL Match  

50 - Jonny Bairstow is all set to play his 50th IPL Match  

Players Battles To Watch Out For:

  

 

Pitch Report | Deep Dasgupta and WV Raman:

Deep: "Welcome to the 13th venue of this IPL season, the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. Traditionally, this is a good batting surface. The dimensions are 63m to my left, 60m to my right, and 70m straight down the ground. The shortest hit for the day is the third man pocket at 54m. The average score here has been on the higher side, around 199. I'm joined by WV Raman."

Raman: "This pitch is made of black soil and is nicely rolled. The curator has had ample time to prepare it as this is the first game here today. We can expect the batters to score heavily and perform well."

Deep: "The pitch might appear cracked, but having covered many games at Barsapara, I can assure you it plays much better than it looks. Don't be deceived by its appearance. Last season, both games here were won by the team batting first."

Raman: "While setting a total and defending it is possible, remember that India vs Australia T20I here saw Australia chasing a big score successfully in the final over. So, chasing could be a viable strategy."

Deep: "Ultimately, whether you bat first or second might not matter as much. The real question is, will the captain be brave enough to bat first on this surface?" 




TOSS:  Won the Toss and Elected to Bat  


 

Sanju Samson   Skipper: "We would like to bat first. This feels like a second home for us. We've had some of our guys here for the past few days checking for dew, and the information is that there's very little or none later in the game. So, we're choosing to bat first.The team has been performing exceptionally well. Both our batting and bowling units are strong, and the team environment is excellent. Everyone is relaxed and focused. We understand every game in the IPL is essentially a knockout, and the pressure is constant. But we are determined to stick together and deliver a great performance tonight.We'll be missing Jos (Buttler) for this game, with TKC stepping in to replace him. Donovan Ferreira might join us as our impact sub later on." 
 

Sam Curran  Skipper : "Yes, it's a big game against a very good team. We hope to spoil their party and finish on a high. It's been a tough campaign for us.We've lost some close games, which made the difference. We were good in patches, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. We want to end well and win this game and the next one.I'm desperate to win this game and get two points. We've made a few changes: Nathan Ellis gets his first game this season, Harpreet Brar returns, and there are other changes as well. Thank you."