IPL 2018, Match 38, KXIP vs RR - Rajasthan Royals Predicted XI

The Rajasthan Royals are in a very precarious position in the points table in IPL 2018. They have lost five matches in the season and are on the brink of being out of the race for the playoffs. Another defeat in the coming games could mean all their remaining fixtures becoming must-win encounters. Amidst this backdrop, they are set to play against the Kings XI Punjab in their upcoming assignment.

The match will be an away game for them as it will be played at Indore. It is worth noting that the Kings have had a poor start to their ‘home’ outing in Indore.They lost against the Mumbai Indians recently at the very same venue. Also, the Kings would know that another couple of defeats could put them under the pump as well.

Hence, the ingredients of a high action game is on the cards for the fans. And to overhaul the spirit of the Kings, the Rajasthan Royals will have to come up with really complete show – something they have lacked throughout the season. They are likely to make a lot of shuffles and changes in the lineup for the game and it will be interesting to see how they make their strategies.

Here is a look at the Rajasthan Royals Predicted XI for the match:

Openers (Ajinkya Rahane, Jos Buttler)

Ajinkya Rahane has been the lone ranger for his team in the tournament this season. While the batsmen around him have largely failed to impress, Rahane has constantly chipped in with crucial runs. He has been the key for the brisk starts that Royals has got this season. Unfortunately, he has not found anyone who could back up his good work.

In all likelihood, the Rajasthan Royals can change their opening pair yet again in the season. Jos Buttler looks like a very fine proposition for the opener along with Rahane. Especially after his whirlwind 18-ball fifty in the previous game, it will only be prudent to let him open the innings yet again.

Middle-Order (Sanju Samson, Rahul Tripathi)

When the season had commenced, the middle-order of the Rajasthan Royals looked very stable with Sanju Samson showing top form. However, as the days have passed by, the form of Samson has been on the fall. And this has made the Royals batting lineup look very fragile.

The case is pretty much similar with Rahul Tripathi. Tripathi has been out of form throughout the season and that is not helping the cause of the Royals one bit. He has been tested as an opener, and has batted in the middle-order, but with little or no success at all. Despite this, he is likely to get another go.

All-rounders (Ben Stokes, K Gowtham, Jofra Archer)

The all-rounders of the Rajasthan Royals have largely disappointed with their inconsistency this season. The inconsistency and poor form of Ben Stokes has been hurting the Royals. The team expects him to be an impact player who can win matches for them but Stokes has looked out of touch thus far.

K Gowtham has been a revelation for the team. He has shown that he can be a very useful option with the bat and the ball. He has tasted success whilst bowling in the powerplay. Also, in the limited opportunities he has had with the bat, he has played handy cameos.

Jofra Archer is a big name in the shortest format of the game. Archer has been very impressive in the handful number of games he has played thus far. He seems to be in good form with the ball and is expected to be a direct starter for the next game as well.

Spinners (Shreyas Gopal, Ish Sodhi)

The Royals have found a very able spinner in Shreyas Gopal. The Karnataka spinner started off his season on a high and was a wicket taker for the side. However, he seems to have lost the plot as the tournament has progressed. Gopal would be hoping to improve his game play against the Kings.

The RR camp is likely to rope in Ish Sodhi in the playing eleven. Sodhi is one of the most successful T20I bowlers and a very economical one. Sodhi has played only one match this season for the Royals and had decent success to his name.

Pace bowlers (Jaydev Unadkat, Dhawal Kulkarni)

The Rajasthan Royals have largely struggled in their pace bowling department. Despite this, they have persisted with the experienced duo of Jaydev Unadkat and Dhawal Kulkarni. The two bowlers have had their moments of brilliance but they have been very short lived.

Jaydev Unadkat, in particular, has been largely disappointing with his wayward line and lengths. Both Unadkat and Kulkarni are still likely to get a go in the game against the Kings XI Punjab. They will hope to turn their fortunes and the fortunes of their team in the matches to follow.

For the latest cricket news, follow CricTracker.