The Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to clash in the sixth match of the IPL 2025 season. Both teams are eager to secure their first win after facing defeats in their opening matches.
Match Details:
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Fixture: Rajasthan Royals vs. Kolkata Knight Riders
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Date & Time: Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 7:30 PM IST
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Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
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Live Broadcast and Streaming: Sports18/Star Sports Network, JioStar
Team Overviews
Rajasthan Royals (RR):
In their season opener, RR’s bowling unit struggled, conceding 286 runs—the second-highest total in IPL history. Jofra Archer had a particularly tough outing, recording the most expensive bowling figures in the league’s history by conceding 76 runs in his 4-over spell. Despite these challenges, the batting lineup showed resilience, posting a commendable 242 runs in response. The team will aim to bolster their bowling and fielding performances to complement their strong batting order.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR):
KKR faced a comprehensive defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their opening match. After being in a promising position, they lost momentum and posted a below-par total. The bowling attack, especially the new-ball bowlers, conceded significant runs during the Powerplay, putting pressure on the spinners to recover in the middle overs. KKR will focus on enhancing their batting consistency and tightening their bowling discipline in the early overs.
Key Players
Rajasthan Royals:
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Yashasvi Jaiswal: A dynamic opener known for his aggressive starts.
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Sanju Samson (C & WK): The captain and wicketkeeper, pivotal in anchoring the innings.
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Jofra Archer: Despite a rough start, his pace and accuracy can be game-changing.
Kolkata Knight Riders:
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Sunil Narine: An all-rounder whose spin bowling and explosive batting can turn matches.
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Quinton de Kock (WK): A seasoned wicketkeeper-batsman capable of providing solid starts.
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Andre Russell: A powerful hitter and effective bowler in the death overs.
Head-to-Head Record
Historically, RR and KKR have had a balanced rivalry in the IPL. As of the 2024 season, both teams had secured 14 wins each out of their 29 encounters, with one match yielding no result. Notably, RR has won both Super Over finishes between the two sides.
Probable Playing XIs
Rajasthan Royals:
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Yashasvi Jaiswal
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Sanju Samson (C & WK)
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Riyan Parag
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Nitish Rana
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Dhruv Jurel
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Shimron Hetmyer
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Shubham Dubey
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Jofra Archer
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Maheesh Theekshana
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Tushar Deshpande
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Fazalhaq Farooqi
Impact Substitute: Sandeep Sharma
Kolkata Knight Riders:
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Sunil Narine
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Quinton de Kock (WK)
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Ajinkya Rahane (C)
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Venkatesh Iyer
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Angkrish Raghuvanshi
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Rinku Singh
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Andre Russell
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Ramandeep Singh
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Harshit Rana
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Spencer Johnson
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Varun Chakravarthy
Impact Substitute: Vaibhav Arora
Pitch Report
The Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati is known for its batting-friendly surface, especially early in the season. Pacers may find some assistance with the new ball, but as the match progresses, the pitch tends to favor batsmen. Spinners can also play a crucial role if they maintain disciplined lines and lengths. Given the conditions, a high-scoring encounter is anticipated.
Weather Forecast
Guwahati is expected to have a hot and hazy day with a high temperature of 34°C (94°F) and a low of 18°C (65°F). Players will need to manage the heat, and conditions may favor fast bowlers early on before the pitch settles for batsmen.
Match Prediction
Both teams are coming off losses and will be determined to register their first win. RR’s formidable batting lineup will be up against KKR’s versatile bowling attack. Considering the batting-friendly conditions at Guwahati, the team that executes its bowling plans more effectively and handles pressure situations better is likely to emerge victorious. Given the balanced head-to-head record, this match promises to be a closely contested affair.
