The Rajasthan Royals, known for their explosive batting when clicking, enter the crucial match against Royal Challengers Bangalore on a shaky note. Losing four matches in a row has exposed weaknesses in both their batting and bowling.
The absence of star player Jos Buttler has significantly weakened their batting. Now, the responsibility falls on the shoulders of young guns Yashasvi Jaiswal, skipper Sanju Samson, and Riyan Parag, who have impressive scores of 348, 504, and 531 runs respectively, to stop the team's slide.
Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar predicts a potentially lopsided contest. He highlights RCB's remarkable comeback, fueled by the leadership and exceptional form of senior players Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli.
"What RCB has achieved is simply incredible. To bounce back from their situation requires something special," Gavaskar said on Star Sports. "The senior players, Faf and Virat, deserve immense credit for motivating the entire team. In such situations, some teams can quickly lose hope. But RCB has shown tremendous fighting spirit."
On the other hand, Rajasthan's recent losses and lack of match practice raise concerns. Gavaskar believes replicating Kolkata Knight Riders' recent victory after an 11-day break might be the only way for Rajasthan to avoid a one-sided defeat.
"Rajasthan's recent form and lack of practice are worrying signs. They'll need a miracle, similar to KKR's win today, to avoid a potential blowout," he said. "I wouldn't be surprised if RCB dominates the match. The odds are heavily stacked against Rajasthan."