The sixth match of IPL 2025 promises an exciting showdown as Rajasthan Royals face Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26 at 7:30 PM IST at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Both teams are eager to secure their first win of the season after starting with disappointing defeats. Rajasthan Royals currently sit sixth on the points table, following a 33-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Despite the setback, Dhruv Jurel and Sanju Samson displayed grit, scoring 70 and 66 runs, respectively, showcasing their form and determination. Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders, placed fifth, also seek redemption after a seven-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore, where Ajinkya Rahane’s 51-run effort stood out.
This clash presents an intriguing battle between two evenly matched sides with balanced line-ups. Historically, both teams share a neck-and-neck rivalry, each winning 14 matches out of their 28 encounters in IPL history.
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With a chance to break the deadlock, the upcoming match offers an opportunity for one side to take a decisive lead in their head-to-head tally. As both teams aim to find momentum early in the tournament, fans can expect a thrilling contest filled with fierce competition and unforgettable moments.
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Sanju Samson, still recovering from finger surgery, will continue to play as an Impact Player for Rajasthan Royals (RR). Meanwhile, Riyan Parag, despite a rough start as captain, will lead the side again. There’s speculation if left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya might get a chance, given his recent form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he finished as the second-highest wicket-taker. His addition could be a strategy to exploit Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) vulnerability against spin, exposed by Krunal Pandya in their previous match.
Probable XII: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson , Riyan Parag(c), Nitish Rana, Dhruv Jurel(wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
KKR’s bowling unit faces a tough challenge against RR’s batting lineup, which is generally solid against spin, apart from Shimron Hetmyer. Their pace attack, featuring Spencer Johnson and Vaibhav Arora, struggled against Royal Challengers Bangalore, making Varun Chakaravarthy bowl in the powerplay—a role he rarely played last season. KKR will need to address these issues quickly to prevent RR from dominating with the bat.
Probable XII: Quinton de Kock (w), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson/Anrich Nortje, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora
Fantasy XI Suggestion 1:
Sanju Samson, Quinton de Kock, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal (vc), Ajinkya Rahane, Sunil Narine (c), Andre Russell, Riyan Parag, Varun Chakravarthy, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande
Fantasy XI Suggestion 2:
Sanju Samson (c), Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Riyan Parag, Varun Chakravarthy, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande
