Cricholic
The IPL 2025 mega auction has already shaped the season, with two of last year’s top-three teams, Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), suffering early defeats. KKR lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Eden Gardens, while RR struggled against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Uppal.
Now, both teams look to bounce back as they clash at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. With a 14-14 head-to-head record, this promises to be a competitive battle. Therefore, both sides must address their weaknesses quickly.
IPL 2025: RR vs KKR – KKR’s Tactical Adjustments
KKR’s power-packed middle order struggled against RCB’s spin attack. As a result, their strike rates drop against slower deliveries, requiring a new approach. Captain Ajinkya Rahane has hinted at promoting Rinku Singh up the order. Moreover, Sunil Narine, in good form, might need to bat deeper for stability.
On the bowling side, KKR conceded 80/0 in the powerplay against RCB, their second-highest in IPL history. Consequently, with Spencer Johnson and Vaibhav Arora proving expensive, Anrich Nortje could be an option if fit. Additionally, Varun Chakaravarthy might again bowl in the powerplay, a role he rarely played last season.
IPL 2025: RR vs KKR – RR’s Bowling Concerns
RR’s bowlers had a tough time in Hyderabad, with Jofra Archer conceding 76 runs—the most expensive spell in IPL history. However, Guwahati’s pitch may offer more help for the bowlers.
Therefore, RR could bring in left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya, given KKR’s struggles against spin. Furthermore, pace variations will also be crucial, making yorker execution a key focus.
IPL 2025: RR vs KKR – Match Details
- Match: Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Match 6
- Date & Time: Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 07:30 PM (Local Time)
- Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
- Weather: Hot and humid conditions expected
- Pitch Report: The venue has seen both moderate and high-scoring games. Spin and pace variations have been effective. As a result, teams batting first have won two out of three IPL matches here.
IPL 2025: RR vs KKR – Probable XI
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c/wk), Riyan Parag, Nitish Rana, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson/Anrich Nortje, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora.
IPL 2025: RR vs KKR – Key Stats and Insights
- Anrich Nortje has struggled in India, picking up 26 wickets in 22 matches at an average of 33.65 and an economy of 10.37. In contrast, in the UAE, he has 34 wickets in 24 matches at an economy of 7.65.
- KKR conceded their second-highest powerplay total (80/0) in their last game, raising concerns about their new-ball attack. Hence, improvements in powerplay bowling will be crucial.
- Ajinkya Rahane’s most effective stroke against pace in the IPL since 2023 has been the flick, a shot he used efficiently in the last match.
IPL 2025: RR vs KKR – What They Said
“We could have capitalized better and scored more runs towards the end. Our bowling could also have been tighter. But this team is not dwelling on the past. Instead, we will learn and improve in the next match.” – KKR bowling coach Bharat Arun.
With both teams eager for their first win, expect a thrilling contest in Guwahati. Will RR use their home advantage, or will KKR’s adjustments turn the tide?
