Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will look to turn their fortunes around as they face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Match 28 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 today at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. After a rough run at their home ground in Bengaluru, RCB hopes a change of venue will help them regroup and grab much-needed points on the road.
The match is set to begin at 3:30 PM local time under hot weather conditions, with temperatures expected to reach 37°C in the evening. No rain is forecast, giving both teams a clear shot at a full game.
RCB Struggles at Home, Hopes for Revival in Jaipur
RCB’s journey this season has been far from smooth. The team now holds the record for the most losses at a single IPL venue after two more defeats at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium this year. Veteran Dinesh Karthik has called for “good pitches,” but so far, conditions have not favored them.
Interestingly, RCB’s away performances have been stronger. Wins in Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai have given them hope. Their middle order, often a weak link, has stepped up in these away fixtures.
Rajasthan Royals’ Inconsistent Start
The hosts, Rajasthan Royals, have also had a stop-start campaign. They won two games in a row before suffering a heavy defeat in their last outing. Historically, RR has started IPL seasons strongly, only to slow down in the later stages.
In IPL 2024, RR won eight of their first nine games, then lost four straight before their final league match was washed out. The same pattern appeared in 2023, with four early wins followed by a string of defeats.
This year, RR will be cautious not to repeat past mistakes. With this being their first match in Jaipur after a squad overhaul, both teams will be treading new ground.
Match Conditions and Key Stats
The Sawai Mansingh Stadium hasn’t been the easiest for fast bowlers in recent IPL seasons. It had the worst average and strike rate for pacers across all IPL grounds in the last two editions.
The average first-innings score here is 180 over the past two years, with five wins each for teams batting first and chasing. With temperatures soaring and no rain expected, batting conditions should remain consistent throughout the match.
Team News and Line-Ups
Rajasthan Royals
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Wanindu Hasaranga’s availability is uncertain due to personal reasons.
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Wristspinners are expected to target RCB’s middle order.
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In their last outing, RCB’s middle-order hitters managed just one six against Delhi Capitals.
Probable Playing XI:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga/Fazalhaq Farooqi, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Kumar Kartikeya
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
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Full squad available for selection.
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Focus on controlling the middle overs, where RR has lost 18 wickets this season.
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Legspinner Suyash Sharma will play a key role, having slowed scoring in RCB’s last two games.
Probable Playing XI:
Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone/Jacob Bethell, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma
Did You Know?
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In 2023, RCB bowled out RR for just 59 runs in Jaipur, marking the third-lowest team total in IPL history. That 112-run defeat remains RR’s biggest ever.
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Sandeep Sharma has dismissed Virat Kohli seven times in the IPL, averaging 14.86 against him.
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RCB has taken 10 wickets in the PowerPlay this season, the joint-highest in the league.
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Jofra Archer has been RR’s main threat in the PowerPlay, picking up four wickets, but other bowlers have combined for just two wickets in this phase.
What They Said
Rajat Patidar, RCB’s new captain, shared his thoughts on leading the side:“I see myself as captain when I’m on the field, but when I’m batting, I focus on my strengths with the bat. I don’t let the captaincy pressure affect my game.”
Patidar emphasized staying in the moment and focusing on what’s best for the team, both in domestic cricket and the IPL.
