IPL 2018, Match 40, RR vs KXIP - Rajasthan Royals Predicted XI

The Rajasthan Royals and the Kings XI Punjab are all set to lock horns for the second time in the span of two day in the 2018 edition of the IPL. The Royals will host the Kings in Jaipur. A couple of days ago, the Kings had managed to beat the Royals in a low scoring game in Indore. Now, in the reverse fixture, the onus will be on the hosts to come back strong with an answer.

Also, it is worth noting that the Rajasthan Royals will be the more desperate side in the match. They are in a very precarious state in the IPL this season. They need to win all their remaining games to ensure that they stay alive in the race for the playoffs. Hence, every game is like a knockout one for them, and the first of those is against the mighty Kings.

In order to overhaul the spirit of the Kings XI Punjab, the Royals will have to make some bold moves in the match. They cannot stick to the combinations they have been playing with since it is not yielding results. They need to put forth their best combinations to ensure they beat the Kings and stay afloat in the competition.

Here is the Rajasthan Royals Predicted XI for the match:

Openers (Jos Buttler, Ajinkya Rahane)

The Rajasthan Royals have finally got it right in one aspect of the game. They decided to let Jos Buttler open the innings and that has worked wonders for them. In fact, in the last couple of games, Buttler has been the only player scoring for them. He has two consecutive fifties to his name.

While Buttler played well in the previous game, D Arcy Short failed to make an impact yet again. Short’s poor run of form continued and that sets things up for Ajinkya Rahane to come back to the opening slot. Rahane has succeeded as the opener in the tournament.

Middle-Order (Sanju Samson, Rahul Tripathi)

The middle-order for the Royals has been on shaky grounds. Sanju Samson started off on a very good note this season. However, as the tournament has progressed, he seems to have lost his consistency. He needs to step up and take more responsibility for his side in the days to come.

Rahul Tripathi was a revelation last season in the IPL. This year, he has only been a shadow of what he had promised to be. Tripathi has looked out of touch and has failed to get going. Despite his poor show, he is likely to retain his place in the side.

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

In the all-rounders department, the team has largely been let down with the bat. The likes of Ben Stokes need to perform with the bat to keep the Rajasthan Royals alive in the competition. Stokes has got a couple of decent starts this season, but a big knock is still due to come from his willow.

Jofra Archer has been very impressive with the ball. Archer has managed to pick wickets, or create opportunities every time he has been introduced in to the attack. However, his might with the willow in hand is still to be seen by the Indian fans.

K Gowtham has been very successful for the Royals this season. He has constantly bowled well in the powerplays and has kept things tight when needed. Also, he has played some lusty shots with the bat and looks like a set member of the team.

Spinners (Ish Sodhi, Ankit Sharma)

It is high time for the Rajasthan Royals to try and take control of the middle overs in the game. And to do so, they need some international experience with the ball. Ish Sodhi is a very capable bowler to doing so. Sodhi has played just one match this season and in all likelihood, could play his second in Jaipur now.

Meanwhile, Shreyas Gopal could actually be rested for the game. Having two bowlers of similar kind might not fancy the team management. In this situation, someone like Ankit Sharma could get a look in. Ankit has had decent success in the IPL over the last couple of years and could get his first game this season in Jaipur.

Pace bowlers (Anureet Singh, Dhawal Kulkarni)

In the pace bowling department, the Rajasthan Royals need to get a serious makeover. While the likes of Jofra Archer are chipping in with wickets, the Indian pacers are lacking some serious penetration. If the Royals wish to turn their fortunes, they need to take bold calls.

And in all likelihood, they could drop Jaydev Unadkat from the next game. Unadkat’s form has been poor this season. Dhawal Kulkarni can fill in for Unadkat in the game. On the other hand, Anureet Singh is likely to retain his place in the side for one more game after a decent outing in Indore.

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