Rajasthan Royals Eye First Win with Possible Hasaranga Inclusion, While KKR Stick to Their Guns
A Crucial Clash in Guwahati
Rajasthan Royals (RR) have called Guwahati home for select games since 2023, but success here has been elusive. With two losses in three matches and one washed-out fixture, the Royals have struggled to establish dominance. However, this Wednesday’s game brings a unique occasion—local hero Riyan Parag will captain RR for the first time, making it a historic day for Assam cricket.
Parag’s captaincy debut comes at a challenging time. In their previous encounter, RR nearly conceded the highest total in IPL history against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). While their batting unit—led by Sanju Samson, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, and an impressive debut from Shubham Dubey—provided fireworks, the bowling department lacked answers. Parag, listed as an all-rounder, didn’t bowl in that match, relying instead on Nitish Rana’s occasional off-spin.
The lack of a proper all-rounder could prove costly for RR. On good days, they can rely on their top-heavy batting and specialist bowlers, but when things go south, their options shrink. A potential solution could be including Wanindu Hasaranga or Parag stepping up with the ball.
KKR’s Middle-Order Dilemma
Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) enter this match after a heavy opening-game defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Despite their deep roster of all-rounders, their middle and lower-middle order—comprising Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, and Ramandeep Singh—failed to fire. While one off-day isn’t alarming, back-to-back failures could put them in a tough spot, especially with a crucial game against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede looming next.
Wednesday’s clash will be all about both teams addressing their weaknesses and securing their first points of the season.
Key Focus Areas
Jofra Archer’s Redemption
Jofra Archer had a nightmare outing against SRH, conceding a record 76 runs in his four overs—the most expensive spell in IPL history. RR is unlikely to drop him yet, but they might consider bringing in Akash Madhwal for his ability to bowl effective yorkers at the death.
New Team, New Role: Nitish Rana
After six seasons with KKR, where he amassed 2199 runs and even served as vice-captain, Nitish Rana is now donning RR colors. Picked for INR 4.20 crore, he will be eager to make an impact against his former team.
Predicted XIs: Will RR Shuffle Their Pack?
Rajasthan Royals
- Sanju Samson
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Riyan Parag (capt)
- Nitish Rana
- Dhruv Jurel (wk)
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Shubham Dubey
- Jofra Archer
- Maheesh Theekshana/Wanindu Hasaranga
- Sandeep Sharma
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
- Tushar Deshpande/Akash Madhwal
RR could look at replacing Theekshana with Hasaranga if they need an extra all-rounder to balance the side.
Kolkata Knight Riders
- Quinton de Kock (wk)
- Sunil Narine
- Ajinkya Rahane (capt)
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi
- Rinku Singh
- Andre Russell
- Ramandeep Singh
- Harshit Rana
- Spencer Johnson/Anrich Nortje
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Vaibhav Arora
KKR’s bowling coach Bharat Arun has backed his pace attack despite their inexperience. However, Anrich Nortje could be drafted in if KKR opts for extra pace and short-pitched bowling over swing.
Spotlight Players: Dhruv Jurel & Quinton de Kock
Dhruv Jurel showed his prowess with a 35-ball 70 against SRH, justifying why RR trusted him as a retained player. His role at No. 5 is crucial as RR seeks better stability between their top and lower-order hitters. While he has a stunning strike rate of 162.56 against pace, his performance against spin remains a work in progress (strike rate: 123.76). Facing KKR’s spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy will be his biggest challenge.
Quinton de Kock needs to deliver for KKR. After a below-par IPL 2024 (average of 22.72 in 11 games) and a disappointing SA20 campaign, the South African left-hander must justify his selection over Rahmanullah Gurbaz. With Sunil Narine as a high-risk opener at the other end, KKR needs stability from de Kock.
Key Stats to Watch
- Jofra Archer’s Struggles: Archer enters IPL 2025 on a poor run of form. His recent bowling numbers—average of 34.75 and an economy rate of 9.26—suggest that if he’s not taking wickets, he’s leaking runs.
- Guwahati’s High-Scoring Pitch: The average first-innings IPL total at Barsapara Stadium is 180. India once posted 237/3 here, and South Africa chased with 221/3, hinting that a 200+ total could be on the cards.
- Parag’s Historic Captaincy: At 23 years and 133 days, Riyan Parag is the fourth-youngest IPL captain. Only Virat Kohli, Steven Smith, and Suresh Raina were younger when they first led their respective teams.
- Narine vs RR Bowlers: Sunil Narine has an explosive strike rate of 191.30 against Sandeep Sharma but has struggled against Archer (9 off 13) and Farooqi (3 off 8, one dismissal).
- Hasaranga’s Potential Impact: Since 2022, Andre Russell averages just 9.25 against googlies and strikes at only 115.63. Hasaranga’s deceptive wrong’un could be a key weapon for RR.
Pitch & Conditions
Guwahati’s Barsapara Stadium has traditionally been a paradise for batters, with multiple scores touching the 190s in IPL games. With no rain forecast for Wednesday, expect a run-fest.
Upcoming Fixtures
- RR’s next games: vs CSK (March 30, Guwahati), vs PBKS (April 5, Mullanpur), vs GT (April 9, Ahmedabad)
- KKR’s next games: vs MI (March 31, Mumbai), vs SRH (April 3, Kolkata), vs LSG (April 6, Kolkata)
Quotes from the Camps
Riyan Parag on Captaincy: “It’s been a journey. I was here when I was 17 years old. The trust that the management has shown in me is what I value the most. Leading the team and making my own decisions is a huge responsibility.”
Bharat Arun on Andre Russell: “Sport is about failing. You fail more often than you succeed. But for a champion like Russ, it must be on his mind that he failed last game. He’s out to prove himself every single match, and we expect him to come good.”
With both teams eager to get their first win, this promises to be an exciting contest. Can RR break their home jinx, or will KKR bounce back in style?
