IPL 2023: Match Preview

Royals eye return to winning ways against Delhi Capitals in Guwahati

With the close loss to Punjab Kings still fresh on their minds, Rajasthan Royals will be eager to get back to winning ways when they head back to the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati to take on Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Men in Pink gave a good account of themselves as IPL made its way to Assam for the first time. Though the result didn’t go their way, the Sanju Samson-led team put on an inspiring show that our Director of Cricket and Head Coach Kumar Sangakkara was proud of.

“There are only certain things we can control,” Sanga said addressing the team post-match. “We can't control conditions, we can't get frustrated with what’s in front of you, just got to find a way through it. Whether we are bowling, whether we are batting.”

Up against the Capitals, who are yet to win a match in IPL 2023, Samson and the boys, however, will look to seize control early.

Match details

IPL 2023: Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals - April 8, 2023

Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati

3:30 PM IST

Going by the previous contest, it’s fair to say that the pitch at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium is a batter’s delight. With even pace and bounce, the ball comes onto the bat well and one can get good value for their shots. But quality bowlers can still reap good dividends on the track as R Ashwin and Jason Holder showed against the Punjab Kings.

However, dew could be a deciding factor on the night and the captain who wins the toss will definitely have an upper hand.

Key battles to watch out for

Rajasthan batters vs Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav has been the Capitals’ key spin bowler for a while now. And on a pitch like the one in Guwahati, their captain David Warner will rely heavily on the chinaman to keep a check on a Royals’ side that is stacked with quality batters.

But a closer look at the numbers doesn’t paint a good picture for Kuldeep. Against the Rajasthan power hitters, he has had his fair share of struggles, with both Jos Buttler and skipper Sanju scoring at a commendable rate against the spinner.

Kuldeep Yadav against RR batters in T20s

Player	Innings	Runs conceded	Balls	Wickets	Batting strike rate
Jos Buttler	7	67	47	2	143
Sanju Samson	5	39	31	0	126
Shimron Hetmyer	2	21	15	1	140

This match-up could prove to be a decisive factor as the Royals will be keen to take the attack to the Capitals and display their batting might in front of the home crowd.

In the Spotlight

Jason Holder

The Royals’ batting unit is off to a flier in the IPL. With the top three in Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Samson scoring at will and the likes of Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel chipping in with the much-needed runs, they have managed to score big so far.

The bowling unit hasn’t been far behind either. While the spin duo of R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal have done the bulk of the damage, their new recruit Jason Holder has justified his price tag with quality performances in the two matches so far.

The opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad saw Holder announce himself with a sharp catch to dismiss Rahul Tripathi and then produce a disciplined performance with the ball as well. But it was against the Punjab Kings that the West Indian rose to the challenge.

On a track where most of the bowlers were taken to task by the Punjab batters, Holder, along with Ashwin, managed to put the breaks on their opponents. Just two matches old, Holder already looks comfortable in Pink and will be looking to put up even better performances for his new team this season.

Team news

He came in as an ‘Impact Player’ in the previous match and left a lasting impression with his quickfire 32*. But it remains to be seen if Dhruv Jurel will find a place in the starting XI against Delhi Capitals. And with no news on any injuries from the RR camp, Sangakkara will be keen to take the positives from the last tie when he sits down to name his men for their next challenge.