The 70th game of the IPL 2024 tournament promises an exciting showdown as the Rajasthan Royals (RR) take on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on May 10th. As it stands, the Rajasthan Royals are positioned second on the points table, while the Kolkata Knight Riders occupy the top spot. This matchup is crucial for both teams as they vie for dominance heading into the playoffs.

Throughout this season, the Rajasthan Royals have participated in thirteen matches, securing eight victories. On the other hand, the Kolkata Knight Riders have played thirteen matches as well, emerging victorious in nine. In their most recent encounter, the Rajasthan Royals suffered a setback against the Punjab Kings, losing by five wickets despite Riyan Parag’s valiant effort, scoring 48 runs.

In contrast, the Kolkata Knight Riders’ last game against the Gujarat Titans was abandoned due to rain, leaving them eager to get back on the field and solidify their top position. Historically, these two teams have faced off 29 times in the IPL, with both sides securing 14 wins each. This equal record underscores the competitive nature of their rivalry, promising a thrilling contest.

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The pitch at Barsapara Cricket Stadium has been unpredictable. Contrary to expectations and local trends, the black-soil pitch used in the last match here was low and skiddy, making it challenging for batters to get under the ball and score freely. Additionally, the weather in Guwahati has been wet in the lead-up to this match, which could influence the pitch conditions.

Although a fresh pitch is expected for this game, it might play similarly to the previous one. The weather forecast for match day predicts scattered thunderstorms, adding another layer of uncertainty to the game. However, as with all weather forecasts, conditions can change, and both teams will need to be prepared for any eventuality.

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Scoring higher totals when batting first is a key focus for the Rajasthan Royals (RR). Despite Kumar Sangakkara’s attempt to downplay the issue on the eve of the match, the fact remains that three of their five defeats this season have come when batting first. Their average first-innings score of 172 is the second lowest this season. Sangakkara expressed confidence in the “very, very good” Kohler-Cadmore for the opening slot, despite his underwhelming start to the IPL. However, he also hinted at the possibility of other players stepping up to fill the role if needed.

Probable XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sanju Samson (wk/c), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Rovman Powell, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

KKR are looking for more contributions from their captain, Shreyas Iyer, as they approach the final week of the tournament. Iyer’s strike rate (135.36), boundary percentage (17.9%), and balls per maximum (21.2) are notably lower compared to the other frontline batters in the team. To strengthen their batting lineup, Rahmanullah Gurbaz is expected to replace Phil Salt at the top of the order.

Probable XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rinku Singh, Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy

Fantasy XI Suggestion 1: 

Sanju Samson, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sunil Narine (c), Andre Russell, Riyan Parag (vc), Yuzi Chahal, Sandeep Sharma, Varun Chakravarthy

Fantasy XI Suggestion 2: 

Sanju Samson (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell (vc), Riyan Parag, Varun Chakravarthy, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult