Rajasthan Royals once again find themselves battling familiar problems as IPL 2026 enters its crucial phase. Just like the 2023 and 2024 seasons, the Royals started strongly before losing momentum midway through the tournament. Now, with the playoff race heating up, they face a massive challenge against Gujarat Titans in Jaipur on Saturday. RR looked unstoppable during the opening weeks of the season. Their aggressive batting and disciplined Powerplay bowling helped them dominate several teams.
However, recent inconsistency has once again exposed concerns around balance and momentum. The timing of their schedule has added further pressure, with the Royals returning after a week-long break and facing another gap after the GT clash. Long breaks can disrupt rhythm, especially in a tournament as intense as the IPL. Rajasthan will be desperate to avoid another slip-up, particularly against a Gujarat side arriving with confidence after winning three consecutive matches.
One of RR’s biggest concerns remains their bowling attack. Despite posting massive totals of over 225 twice in Jaipur this season, they still ended up on the losing side both times. Apart from Jofra Archer, the bowling unit has struggled to consistently control games under pressure.
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There are also questions surrounding Dhruv Jurel at No. 3. While the youngster remains highly talented, RR may need quicker scoring in the middle overs, especially against quality spin attacks.
Meanwhile, the Gujarat Titans appear far more settled. Led by Shubman Gill, GT have followed a successful formula throughout the season — early wickets with the new ball followed by tight middle-over bowling. Their top-heavy batting lineup has then calmly chased manageable targets. However, Jaipur’s batting-friendly conditions could test Gujarat’s approach. The venue has already witnessed multiple 220-plus totals being chased down this season, raising the possibility of another high-scoring thriller.
GT also carry a psychological edge, leading the head-to-head record 6-3 against Rajasthan. Still, RR will take confidence from their dramatic win earlier this season, when Tushar Deshpande defended runs brilliantly in the final over. With playoff qualification on the line, this clash could prove season-defining for both franchises.
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
One of the biggest concerns for RR has been Nandre Burger’s poor form. The left-arm pacer has struggled badly in his last three matches, returning figures of 1 wicket for 150 runs across 11 overs. Along with Ravi Bishnoi’s dip in form, Rajasthan’s bowling attack has looked vulnerable in recent games.
As a result, RR may consider bringing in Adam Milne to partner with Jofra Archer with the new ball. Young South African pacer Kwena Maphaka is also an option. Another possibility is the return of Dasun Shanaka, who can strengthen both the batting and bowling departments. RR could also look at bringing back Shimron Hetmyer to add more firepower to the middle order.
Probable XII: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Donovan Ferreira, Shubham Dubey, Dasun Shanaka/Tushar Deshpande, Jofra Archer, Adam Milne, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh Sharma
Gujarat Titans (GT)
Gujarat Titans are expected to retain their winning combination after handing a debut to Nishant Sindhu in the previous match. Although Manav Suthar conceded 27 runs in a single over against Punjab Kings, he impressed in earlier games and also provides useful batting depth.
GT may also target Dhruv Jurel’s weakness against spin. Jurel has struggled to score freely against slower bowlers recently, striking at just 104.76 against spin in his last six innings. That could encourage Gujarat to use Rashid Khan earlier in the innings instead of waiting for the middle overs.
Probable XII: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Arshad Khan, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Manav Suthar/Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj
