Rajasthan Royals are not out but need to put an unthinkable to make the playoffs. On Monday, they are up against an in-form side that has travelled well in the tournament, Delhi Capitals. Fortunately for Royals, they are playing at their backyard and can play with the advantage of familiar conditions. The change in leadership – from Rahane to Smith – has brought them a favourable result and there would be more belief in the team after a clinical show over a strong Mumbai side.
Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals would not want to be bogged down with the results that have gone their way. There are still four games to go and any complacency can prove to be costly. They’ve found a bit of rhythm coming towards the business end of the competition and would look to build on that.
Pitch report – Sawai Mansingh Stadium is a place where batsmen have to apply themselves to reap rewards. Expect an interesting contest between the bat and ball.
Form Guide (last five fixtures, recent first):
RR – W L W L L
DC – W L W W W
RR Team News – Jos Buttler is not yet available to feature. RR can swap Ashton Turner with Liam Livingstone for this one.
Rajasthan Royals XI – Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson, Steven Smith (c), Ben Stokes, Riyan Parag, Ashton Turner/Liam Livingstone, Stuart Binny, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat, Dhawal Kulkarni
DC Team News – Sherfane Rutherford did not get to show what he is capable of in the last outing, and is likely to keep his place in the XI.
Delhi Capitals – Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rishabh Pant, Colin Ingram, Sherfane Rutherford, Axar Patel, Amit Mishra, Kagiso Rabada, Ishant Sharma, Sandeep Lamichhane
Team 1,2,3,4 Less chosen captains – The likes of Rishabh Pant, Ajinkya Rahane, Colin Ingram, Prithvi Shaw and Stuart Binny are among the less chosen captains. If the favourites fail, who knows they’ll get going.
Wicket-keeper: S Samson (C)
Batsmen: Shikhar Dhawan, C Munro, S Iyer, A Rahane (VC), S Smith
All-rounders: Stuart Binny
Bowlers: K Rabada, S Lamichhane, S Gopal, J Archer
Wicket-keeper: S Samson (VC)
Batsmen: Shikhar Dhawan, C Ingram (C), S Iyer, A Rahane, S Smith
All-rounders: Stuart Binny
Bowlers: K Rabada, S Lamichhane, S Gopal, J Archer
Wicket-keeper: S Samson
Batsmen: Shikhar Dhawan, C Ingram, P Shaw (C), A Rahane, S Smith
All-rounders: Stuart Binny (VC)
Bowlers: K Rabada, S Lamichhane, S Gopal, J Archer
Wicket-keeper: S Samson
Batsmen: Shikhar Dhawan, C Ingram, P Shaw (VC), A Rahane (C), S Smith
All-rounders: Stuart Binny
Bowlers: K Rabada, S Lamichhane, S Gopal, J Archer
Team 5,6 This game could swing one way or the other completely. We are choosing sides with 7 players from one side and 4 from the other side here
Wicket-keeper: Sanju Samson (VC)
Batsmen: Ajinkya Rahane, Steven Smith, C Ingram, S Iyer
All-rounders: S Binny, B Stokes
Bowlers: Dhawal Kulkarni, Jofra Archer (C), K Rabada, S Lamichhane
Wicket-keeper: R Pant
Batsmen: Steven Smith, S Iyer, S Dhawan (VC), P Shaw, C Ingram
All-rounders: S Binny
Bowlers: Shreyas Gopal, Jofra Archer, S Lamichhane, K Rabada (C)