Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are set to face each other on Sunday at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Both teams will be looking to bounce back after defeats in their previous matches. RCB’s opening pair, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli, will face a tough challenge against RR’s pace spearhead Jofra Archer.
In their last outings, RCB lost to Delhi Capitals by six wickets, while Rajasthan suffered a heavy 58-run defeat against Gujarat Titans. So far, RCB have won three out of five matches and are currently placed fourth in the points table. Rajasthan, on the other hand, have secured two wins from five games and sit at seventh position.
Pitch Report – Sawai Mansingh Stadium
The pitch at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium is considered balanced, offering something for both batters and bowlers. Historically, matches here have been closely contested, and similar competition is expected this time too. Fast bowlers may get some assistance early on, but batting tends to become easier as the match progresses. The boundaries are of average size, allowing for a mix of power-hitting and strategic play.
Jofra Archer’s Comeback
Jofra Archer, who was the most expensive bowler in the early part of this IPL season, has made a strong comeback. His fiery pace has troubled batters in the last two games. Against Punjab Kings, he took three wickets for just 25 runs, including the in-form captain Shreyas Iyer, who was bowled out by a delivery clocking 148.6 km/h. Against Gujarat Titans, he bowled at 152.3 km/h and dismissed captain Shubman Gill with a 147.7 km/h inswinger.
On Sunday, Archer will be up against the aggressive opening duo of Kohli (186 runs) and his England teammate Phil Salt (143 runs), who can snatch the match away within a few overs. To counter this, RR will rely on the Sri Lankan spin duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana to control the middle overs.
Also Read- IPL 2025 Full Schedule- Date, Timing, Matches, Venues
Sawai Mansingh Stadium IPL Stats
- Total Matches: 57
- Matches won batting first: 20
- Matches won batting second: 37
- Average first innings score: 162
- Highest team total: 217/6 (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
- Lowest team total: 59 (Rajasthan Royals)
Weather Report – Jaipur
The weather is expected to be hot in Jaipur, with the temperature ranging between 35°C and 38°C during the match. Humidity levels will be around 20–25%, making conditions quite comfortable for both players and spectators. The sky is expected to be clear with no chances of rain, ensuring an uninterrupted game.
Probable Playing XI
Rajasthan Royals:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (C), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga/Fazalhaq Farooqi, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Kumar Kartikeya.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma.
