At one point of time in the IPL 2024, Rajasthan Royals had a six-point lead over other teams. However, they soon slipped to a gut-wrenching one-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad. Since then, they have been on a downhill path, having lost four in a row. It is true that RR have already qualified for the playoffs stage. Just that, if RR lose their final game of the league phase against Kolkata Knight Riders, they are in danger of having to chart their way to the top via the Eliminator route.
So, what has gone wrong for RR after such a strong start? One of them is certainly their misfiring batting line-up. Jos Buttler has left the IPL due to national commitments. Tom-Kohler Cadmore, his replacement, looked quite nervy at the crease while playing Punjab Kings on a slow deck. He has a penchant for power-hitting and has showcased his skills in T10 cricket. Probably, he needs a little more pace on the ball to execute his game plan.
Meanwhile, Dhruv Jurel and Rovman Powell have largely struggled to make an impact. Even Sanju Samson, the in-form batter, has had a couple of ordinary outings recently. Riyan Parag, however, continued to showcase his temperament by top-scoring for the franchise in their defeats versus Chennai Super Kings and PBKS.
On a slightly positive note, Shimron Hetmyer, their finisher, has been passed fit and is all set to take the field for the crucial match. On the bowling side of things, after a great start to the season, Yuzvendra Chahal has found it rather difficult to make inroads. To make matters worse, their Net Run-Rate of .273 is below that of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s NRR. If SRH go on to win their final league game, then RR have no other option but to defeat KKR in order to remain in the top-two of the table.
KKR, their opponent, are on a secure footing. Yes, just like Buttler, Phil Salt has returned to England, in order to participate in the series against Pakistan. So, the pressure would be on Rahmanullah Gurbaz to shore up the top order alongside the explosive Sunil Narine. But most of their key components are functioning according to expectations. In particular, Varun Chakravarthy, Andre Russell and Narine.
In the final analysis, KKR’s progress from here on could very well come down to how the spin duo perform. Both of them are wicket-takers and also tend to be economical. Russell too has had a major role to play. His pyrotechnics with the bat are well-known, but he has also been hitting the deck hard and taking vital scalps.
Will Buttler’s replacement find his touch? Can RR’s batting unit in general find its mojo? Do KKR have a plan ‘B’ if Narine fails with especially with a bat in hand? Some of the questions might be answered in Guwahati.
#RCBvCSK: Happy fans outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium ❤🙌@RCBTweets are doing it for their fans!
Can they go the distance from here?
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