Travel-happy RCB look to reset in Jaipur against stop-start RR

The IPL's arrival in Jaipur may be a bit delayed, but it couldn't have come at a better time for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. A change of venue might offer some relief from a home ground that's offered little of late. With two more losses added to their tally at the Chinnaswamy this season, the team now holds the unwanted record for most defeats at a single venue.

The Sawai Mansingh Stadium gives RCB a chance to once again pick up their campaign, which has looked far more impressive away from the Bengaluru air. Wins in Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai were iconic in their own right, coming on the back of impressive performances of their middle order that's long been a weak link.

Hosts Rajasthan Royals have had a stop-start run too, with two wins on the bounce followed by a heavy hammering in their last outing. But maybe it's not the worst thing that they haven't started too well, given their recent habit of flying out of the blocks and then fading away. In IPL 2024, they won eight of their first nine games, only to lose four in a row before their final league match was washed out. The same pattern showed up in 2023: four wins in their first five, followed by just three in their next nine.

RCB might not need to rely on home comforts as much if they keep winning on the road. But first, they'll need their bowling to regroup after the defeat to Delhi Capitals. And then there's the small matter of Jofra Archer charging in against a batting unit that doesn't mind pace.

When: Match 28, IPL 2025, Sunday April 13, at 03:30 PM local

Where: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Head to head: RR 14 – 15 RCB

Injuries/Availability:

• There are concerns around the availability of Wanindu Hasaranga, who pulled out of the last match due to personal reasons.
• The entire RCB squad is available to pick from.

Probable XII:

• Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson(c), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga/ Fazalhaq Farooqi, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Kumar Kartikeya
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Liam Livingstone/ Jacob Bethell, Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma

"I see myself as captain when I'm on the field, but when I'm batting, I don't feel the pressure of being a captain. I focus on my strengths with the bat and avoid feeling like I have to do something different just because I am leading the team. Even in domestic cricket, I try to stay in the moment and do my best for the team." – Rajat Patidaron how he has taken the role of captain so far