Dare. Dream. Believe. Don\"t give up.

From missing out on qualification for three consecutive seasons to storming into the playoffs for the fifth time in the IPL, it has been a fascinating journey and season for the Royals. One that has seen every member of the team step up and deliver, in almost every game. One that has not only given the fans unparalleled joy, edge-of-the-seat thrillers and unforgettable victories, but also instilled in us a strong sense of pride with their undying spirit in even the most hard-fought defeats. One that has displayed the true character and resilience of this team, through all the highs and lows. One that is full of promise and potential. One that is well on course to make history in IPL folklore.

Led by the uber-cool Sanju Samson, the Royals have finished the IPL 2022 league stage in second place with 18 points and an NRR of 0.298 - the second-best among all teams. With 629 runs so far, Jos Buttler continues to lead the batting charts, while Yuzvendra Chahal’s 26 wickets have kept him ahead in the Purple Cap race.

Our caravan now moves to the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where we will lock horns with Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1. The winner of this match goes straight into the final at Ahmedabad, while the losing side gets another opportunity to play in Qualifier 2. Having lost their first encounter with GT earlier this season, the Royals will be keen to avenge the loss and be the first ones to book their spot in the grand finale. 

Match Details

Qualifier 1: Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals - May 24, 2022

Eden Gardens, Kolkata

7:30 PM

A new venue in a new city means fresh wickets and completely different conditions for both teams in equal measure. Since 2017, teams batting second have won 13 of the 23 IPL matches played at the picturesque Eden Gardens. In all those games, captains winning the toss have chosen to bowl first. The average first-innings score here since 2017 is 178, with pacers taking more wickets (154) than the spinners (110). 

The city has witnessed some pre-monsoon showers over the last few days. If the conditions continue to remain the same leading up to matchday, expect the toss to play an even more critical role for both captains. Here’s hoping for a full 40-over game. 🤞

Player battles to watch

David Miller vs Ashwin & Chahal

The southpaw has faced Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal in a combined 20 T20 innings, and has lost his wicket thrice to each of them. Miller has looked particularly ineffective against the leggie, having scored just 35 runs in six innings at an average of 11.7. Yuzi Chahal has been sensational for the Royals in the middle overs and has picked 14 wickets at the death - the most by any bowler this season. On the other hand, Ravi Ashwin’s arrival in the Powerplay continues to pay off, with the off-spinner either providing a breakthrough or simply stalling the run-flow. An intriguing match-up is on the cards!

Sanju Samson vs Rashid Khan

Given his fiery starts and the aggressive intent he’s shown this season, Sanju Samson will be looking to capitalise on his good touch with a big knock in this crucial fixture. His record against spinners is excellent, and his success against GT’s Rashid Khan comes as no surprise. In nine T20 innings against him, Sanju has scored 68 runs at an average of 68, having only been dismissed once. He also has a couple of IPL fifties to his name in Kolkata, making him the team’s most successful batter at this venue.

RR batters at Kolkata in the IPL

Player

Inns

Runs

Avg

SR

Sanju Samson

7

199

28.4

131

Jos Buttler

2

80

40.0

182

Riyan Parag

1

47

47.0

152

Team News

Shimron Hetmyer replacing Jimmy Neesham was the only change in our Playing XI against CSK, strengthening an already solid batting line-up. Obed McCoy has done a brilliant job as the fourth overseas player, outplaying batters with his tricky slower deliveries. Ashwin the batter has developed into a brilliant floater, adding the ‘X factor’ to the side. The new-ball pair remains solid, while the spin twins continue to complement each other perfectly. Having ticked most boxes in our last game with a balanced team, it’ll be interesting to see whether the team management retains the winning combination or throws in an element of surprise. There’s no official injury update from the camp as of now.

Milestone Watch

  • Sanju Samson needs 2 catches to complete 50 IPL catches for the Royals as a wicketkeeper

  • Prasidh Krishna is 5 short of 50 wickets in the IPL

  • Ravichandran Ashwin is 22 runs away from completing 1000 T20 runs

  • Yuzvendra Chahal needs 1 wicket to become the most successful spinner in a single IPL season

Which Royal are you looking forward to watching in action? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter at @rajasthanroyals or with me @arey_yaar