🏏IPL 2025 - Match 6: KKR vs RR, 26 March 2025 @ 7:30 PM IST🏏 - Page 6

Alex: "I'd be tempted to pick 11 batsmen. Given the pitches, why not go for broke, have 11 trying to smash 300 plus then defend it with average medium pace bowling. "

I feel KKR will win today

#NotJinxing

Based on strength

RR and KKR have historically played out very close encounters, and they now face off in Guwahati to register their first points this season. As you would expect, both of them have their share of issues to sort out.

The churn of the IPL mega auction is already being felt, with two of last season's top-three teams starting their campaigns on a losing note. Kolkata Knight Riders were outspun and outsmarted by Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eden Gardens, while Rajasthan Royals, who are no strangers to starting their season well, were blown away by the batting might of Sunrisers Hyderabad in Uppal.

All the ten teams have now played one match each. Hello everyone and a warm welcome to the sixth game of IPL 2025. It's defending champions - Kolkata Knight Riders - who were humbled by RCB - up against Rajasthan Royals who were sent on a leather hunt by SRH. Today's match will be played in Guwahati, a city that's closer to Kolkata, but it's a home game for the 2008 champions. Also, it's Riyan Parag's home ground and he'll be leading RR once again with Sanju Samson still recovering from finger surgery.

KKR got off to a superb start at the Eden Gardens with the bat against RCB but stuttered in the second half of the innings. Following that, they couldn't exert any sort of pressure with the ball as the target was hunted down comfortably. While there won't be any drastic changes to their XI, the three-time champions could rejig their batting order. For RR, it was a tough day for their bowlers in Hyderabad. All the bowlers were taken to the cleaners and Jofra Archer, their overseas recruit, ended up bowling the most expensive spell in IPL history (0/76 in 4 overs). RR did put up a fight chasing a humongous total. Samson and Jurel showed their class with fifties and the Hetmyer-Dubey duo reduced the margin of defeat with their power-hitting. RR fielded three overseas bowlers but Hasaranga wasn't one of them. Will he make it to the XI today? It's highly unlikely there'll be any changes in their batting department. We've already witnessed six 200+ totals in five matches this season. Let's find out what the Barsapara Cricket Stadium has in store for us.

Hiren: "Has Samson been dropped as a captain to make Parag captain or is it temporary due to Samson injury???" Samson hasn't fully recovered from his finger surgery. He's been cleared to play as a batter only, so until he's fit to field/keep wickets, Parag will lead the team (two more matches). Big day for Riyan Parag - captaining RR in his home city of Guwahati

Azizullah Azizi: "Will Gurbaz make it to the playing XI today?" I doubt KKR will make a change after just one defeat, so QDK likely to get another go. I have seen Moeen Ali showing signs of playing. We'll find out at the toss.

Vineeth Nalluri: "Impact Player rule has got more to do with these high totals than the nature pf pitches, I reckon. It simply adds one extra batter to every team, with most teams having 9 players who can bat, and that gives the top order the extra freedom to go after every ball. As far as I'm concerned I'm happy to see these high scoring thrillers as long as both teams get these scores. Thoughts?"

Alex: "I'd be tempted to pick 11 batsmen. Given the pitches, why not go for broke, have 11 trying to smash 300 plus then defend it with average medium pace bowling." You'll see 350 in a hurry then.