Guwahati, March 25, 2025 – The Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set for an intense showdown at the Barsapara Stadium, both aiming for their first victory in IPL 2025. For RR, this match holds special significance as local star Riyan Parag leads the team in his home state of Assam, while KKR looks to recover from an early setback.
RR’s Struggle with Balance
RR’s bowling unit faced a major challenge in their previous encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), conceding a staggering 277 runs—just shy of the highest IPL total ever. Despite being an all-rounder, Parag did not bowl, raising concerns about the team’s balance. The inclusion of Wanindu Hasaranga could add depth, but it would require changes to the playing XI.
KKR’s Middle-Order Woes
KKR started strong in their opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) but failed to capitalize as their middle order collapsed. Key batters Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh failed to deliver, leaving KKR with a subpar total. Sticking to their IPL 2024 strategy might work, but consistency remains a major challenge as they prepare for their upcoming match against Mumbai Indians.
Key Player Battles to Watch
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Jofra Archer vs KKR’s batters – Archer had a disastrous outing against SRH, conceding 76 runs in four overs, marking the worst bowling figures in IPL history. RR will need him to bounce back.
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Sunil Narine vs RR pacers – Narine has performed well against Sandeep Sharma but has struggled against Archer and Fazalhaq Farooqi in the past.
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Andre Russell vs Wanindu Hasaranga – If Hasaranga is included, his googlies could trouble Russell, who averages just 9.25 against leg-spinners in the IPL.
Pitch Report and Expected Conditions
The Barsapara Stadium is known as a batting paradise, with three past IPL scores touching the 190s. A high-scoring encounter is likely, and Guwahati could witness its first-ever 200+ IPL total.
Predicted Playing XIs
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
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Sanju Samson (c & wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Nitish Rana, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana/Wanindu Hasaranga, Sandeep Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Tushar Deshpande/Akash Madhwal.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
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Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Mitchell Johnson/Anrich Nortje, Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora.
With both teams eager to secure their first IPL 2025 win, the clash in Guwahati promises an action-packed thriller. Will Riyan Parag make a statement on his home turf, or will KKR bounce back stronger? Cricket fans can expect a night full of fireworks as the IPL season heats up!
