IPL 2025: Match 6 – Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Match Preview & Prediction
The Rajasthan Royals (RR) face off against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Match 6 of IPL 2025 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday, March 26.
Match Overview
Rajasthan Royals will be eager to bounce back after suffering a defeat in their opening game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Despite a spirited chase, RR fell short while chasing 286/6, ending at 242/6. Skipper Riyan Parag, along with Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel, fought hard, but an underwhelming bowling and fielding effort cost them the game.
Kolkata Knight Riders, on the other hand, had a disappointing start as well. Batting first, KKR managed 174/8 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), with Ajinkya Rahane scoring a half-century. However, RCB chased the target down comfortably in 16.2 overs with seven wickets to spare. Sunil Narine was the only economical bowler, returning figures of 1/27 in 4 overs.
With both teams looking for their first win of the season, this promises to be an intense clash.
RR vs KKR: Match Detail
- Fixture: Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Match 6, IPL 2025
- Date & Time: Wednesday, March 26, 2025, 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
- Live Broadcast: Sports18/Star Sports Network
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar (app & website)
Pitch Report – Barsapara Cricket Stadium
The Guwahati venue has witnessed four IPL matches, with teams batting first winning twice. The highest total here is 199/4 (RR vs DC, 2023), while the highest successful chase is 145/5 (PBKS vs RR, 2023). The average first-innings score in IPL at this venue is 180, while in T20Is, it’s 192. Expect a batting-friendly surface with some assistance for pacers early on.
Head-to-Head Record: RR vs KKR
- Total Matches Played: 29
- Rajasthan Royals Wins: 14 (including two Super Over wins)
- Kolkata Knight Riders Wins: 14
- Tied: 0
- No Result: 1
- First-Ever Fixture: May 1, 2008
- Most Recent Fixture: May 19, 2024 (Washed Out)
Predicted Playing XIs
Rajasthan Royals (RR):
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag (C), Nitish Rana, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Impact Player: Sandeep Sharma
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR):
Sunil Narine, Quinton De Kock (WK), Ajinkya Rahane (C), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson, Varun Chakravarthy.
Impact Player: Vaibhav Arora
Key Players to Watch
Probable Best Batter – Sanju Samson (RR)
Sanju Samson was in excellent form against SRH, scoring 66 off 37 balls with seven fours and four sixes. He tends to start IPL seasons strongly and could play a crucial role in RR’s batting lineup.
Probable Best Bowler – Sunil Narine (KKR)
Despite KKR’s loss in their opening match, Sunil Narine was the standout bowler with figures of 1/27. His experience and mystery spin could be a game-changer on a track that might assist spinners.
Who Will Win Today’s IPL Match?
Both teams are desperate for a win after losing their opening matches. RR has the home advantage, but KKR’s experienced core, led by Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine, gives them an edge. Expect a close contest, with RR slightly ahead due to their explosive batting lineup.
