Rajasthan Royals have elected to bowl first against the Mumbai Indians in their IPL 2025 encounter in Jaipur. The decision comes on the heels of a remarkable performance by their young prodigy, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, whose century in the previous match was pivotal. However, the team faces challenges with injuries. Sandeep Sharma is out due to a broken finger and their regular captain, Sanju Samson, is sidelined with an abdominal strain, thus weakening the squad at a critical phase.
To remain in contention for the playoffs, Rajasthan Royals must win their remaining fixtures. Acting captain Riyan Parag disclosed another forced change: Wanindu Hasaranga will miss out due to a niggle, making way for Kumar Kartikeya. On choosing to field first, Parag noted, “We expect dew later at night, which could advantage us in the chase.”
Mumbai Indians captain, Hardik Pandya, shared a similar sentiment regarding the playing conditions. Under his leadership, MI are seeking their sixth consecutive win, a feat that would propel them to the top of the table. Pandya has decided to stick with an unchanged line-up at a venue where MI haven’t tasted victory since 2012.
Mumbai Indians Line-up: 1. Rohit Sharma, 2. Ryan Rickelton (wk), 3. Will Jacks, 4. Suryakumar Yadav, 5. Tilak Varma, 6. Hardik Pandya (capt), 7. Naman Dhir, 8. Corbin Bosch, 9. Deepak Chahar, 10. Trent Boult, 11. Jasprit Bumrah. Impact Player options include Karn Sharma, Raj Bawa, Reece Topley, Robin Minz, and Satyanarayana Raju.
Rajasthan Royals Line-up: 1. Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 3. Nitish Rana, 4. Riyan Parag (capt), 5. Dhruv Jurel, 6. Shimron Hetmyer, 7. Jofra Archer, 8. Maheesh Theekshana, 9. Kumar Kartikeya, 10. Akash Madhwal, 11. Fazalhaq Farooqi. Impact Player options include Shubham Dubey, Tushar Deshpande, Kunal Singh Rathore, Yudhvir Singh, and Kwena Mphaka.
As the contest unfolds, both teams will strive to outwit each other in a game that promises to be a test of both skills and strategies.
