An alert from the National Disaster Management Authority bears grim prognoses about impending thunderstorms, rain and gusty wind for Guwahati residents ahead of Rajasthan Royals versus Kolkata Knight Riders, Indian Premier League’s last group-stage fixture.
That the match at Barsapara Stadium may end up deciding whether Sanju Samson’s men finish in the top two, it may have the dugout addressing a prayer or two to the rain gods.
How things are
The mathematics is quite simple now. If RR wins against KKR on Sunday, it enters Qualifier 1.
However, a Chennai Super Kings loss on Saturday and a Punjab Kings win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the day game on Sunday can also ensure a second-place finish for the Royals without them having to take the field.
Stats
If Sunday’s contest does get underway, death overs are where Samson’s team needs to metamorphose into its full glory. RR has not only scored 71 runs more than KKR between the 16th and 20th over, but it has also picked 24 wickets, a touch better than KKR’s 21.
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RR will also carry a psychological advantage for it pulled off a record chase to prevail the last time these two sides met.
An interesting duel to look forward to will be the one between spinners CV Varun (KKR) and Yuzvendra Chahal (RR) in the middle overs. While Varun has picked 16 wickets, the most by any bowler in 2024 between overs 7 and 16, Chahal has accounted for 15.
Salt unavailable
KKR will not have Phil Salt, who has flown back to England on national duty, in the eleven. He is the side’s second-highest run-scorer this season (435). Although Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz will be an ideal like-for-like replacement, Shreyas Iyer and Co. haven’t officially named anybody.
Source Agencies
