Rajasthan and Kolkata will face off in Guwahati seeking their first win. KKR's bowling is weak, Rajasthan's bowlers under pressure. This match will be historic for Riyan Parag.
RR vs KKR: In IPL 2025, Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders, after losing their opening matches, will clash in Guwahati on Wednesday in search of their first win. KKR lost their first match against Royal Challengers Bangalore by seven wickets, while Rajasthan were defeated by Sunrisers Hyderabad by 44 runs. Both teams will now look to address their weaknesses and return to the winning path.
Bowlers' form a cause for concern
Bowling remains a concern for KKR. Except for Sunil Narine, other bowlers have failed to perform effectively. Varun Chakravarthy, in particular, has proven ineffective so far this season. Against RCB, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis easily scored runs against him. Meanwhile, the fitness of fast bowler Anrich Nortje will also be crucial for Kolkata.
If he is fit, he may replace Spencer Johnson in the team.
Middle order needs to show responsibility
KKR's batting also lacked consistency. After Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine were dismissed early, the middle order crumbled. Venkatesh Iyer and Andre Russell lost their wickets playing poor shots. The team will also expect a bigger score from Rinku Singh, who hasn't performed as expected in recent T20 matches.
Rajasthan bowlers need to bounce back
Rajasthan Royals need to improve their bowling. In the previous match, Jofra Archer conceded 76 runs in four overs, while Mahesh Theekshana and Fazalhaq Farooqi also failed to contain the batsmen. If Rajasthan are to register a win, their bowlers will need to deliver a disciplined performance.
A historic moment for Riyan Parag
This match will be very special for Rajasthan Royals' acting captain Riyan Parag, as he is captaining the team in his home ground, Guwahati. Some of his decisions were questioned in the first match, but now he will have to lead the team in the right direction.
Probable Playing XI
Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Rinku Singh, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Anrich Nortje/Spencer Johnson, Harshit Rana.
Rajasthan Royals: Riyan Parag (captain), Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Rana, Jofra Archer, Mahesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Tushar Deshpande, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
