Guwahati, April 9 Riding on explosive starts from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Rajasthan Royals will look to extend their dominance, while defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will bank on a rejuvenated Devdutt Padikkal as the two in-form sides clash in an IPL match here on Friday.
RCB have a settled top order under the watchful eye of talismanic Virat Kohli, who has shown no signs of rust despite stepping away from T20 internationals in 2024, while Phil Salt also unleashed his explosive abilities in the previous game.
Batting at number one, Padikkal has seamlessly carried his domestic form into the IPL, signalling a return to his fluent best with an aggressive yet controlled approach.
Padikkal made an immediate impact in his debut IPL season, scoring 473 runs for RCB and establishing himself as a stylish batter. However, subsequent stints with Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants didn't quite yield the desired returns.
His return to Bengaluru last season proved to be a turning point, as he played a key role in the franchise finally clinching their maiden title.
The left-hander has begun this season in a similar vein, scoring consecutive fifties – a 50 off 29 balls against Chennai Super Kings and a 61 off 26 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad – and will look to extend his rich form.
Players like captain Rajat Patidar and big-hitting Australian Tim David provide solidity in the middle order.
However, it is RCB's bowling transformation that has stood out. Once considered their Achilles heel, the attack now looks far more rounded. Jacob Duffy has stepped up in the absence of Josh Hazlewood, delivering incisive spells, while Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma have effectively choked runs in the middle overs.
The Royals, meanwhile, have emerged as one of the most explosive batting units this season, powered by the opening pair of Jaiswal and teenage sensation Sooryavanshi.
The duo has consistently provided flying starts, combining clean hitting with fearless stroke-play to put opposition attacks under early pressure.
Sooryavanshi has particularly grabbed attention with his audacious stroke-making, including a six off the very first ball he faced from Jasprit Bumrah in the previous game, underlining his fearless approach.
While the 15-year-old has dominated headlines, Jaiswal has quietly showcased his class, anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 77 against Mumbai Indians, blending composure with attacking flair.
Their bowling unit too has been on target, operating with clear plans and executing them with precision, whether it is hitting hard lengths or nailing yorkers at the death, making Rajasthan a well-rounded unit.
Teams:
Rajasthan Royals: Riyan Parag (c), Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Aman Perala, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Adam Milne, Brijesh Sharma, Jofra Archer, Kuldeep Sen, Kwena Maphaka, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi and Sandeep Sharma.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (captain), Abhinandan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Swapnil Singh, Virat Kohli, Venkatesh Iyer, Mangesh Yadav, Kanishk Chouhan, Vihaan Malhotra, Vicky Ostwal, Satvik Deswal.
Match starts at 7:30 PM IST.