The Rajasthan Royals (RR) will be aiming to further tighten their grip on the top position of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 points table as they prepare to host the Mumbai Indians (MI) in a pivotal 38th T20 match. Scheduled for Monday at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, this encounter is crucial for both teams with the Royals looking to continue their exceptional form, and the Mumbai Indians striving to find consistency in their campaign.
Under the leadership of skipper Sanju Samson, the Rajasthan Royals are currently experiencing a dream run this IPL season. Coming off a record-breaking chase of 224 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders in their last outing, the Royals have showcased their batting prowess and secured a commendable six wins out of their seven matches so far, including a comfortable six-wicket victory over Mumbai in their first-leg match at the Wankhede Stadium.
The Mumbai Indians, captained by Hardik Pandya, have had a roller-coaster season, marked by some thrilling performances but inconsistent results. Their last match saw them narrowly avoiding defeat against the Punjab Kings, managing a close nine-run victory while defending a total of 192 runs. However, their struggle to clutch crucial moments has left them in the sixth spot on the points table, with only three wins in seven games.
The match timings are set for 7:30 PM IST on Monday, April 22, with the toss taking place half an hour earlier at 7:00 PM. Fans can catch the live action broadcast on Star Sports and stream the game on the JioCinema website and app.
Highlighting the key players, RR’s Jos Buttler stands out as the formidable force with his bat. The English cricketer recently scored a stunning unbeaten century against KKR, marking his second hundred of the season. Having accumulated 498 runs in just nine innings against MI, including one century and five fifties, Buttler is expected to be a central figure in the upcoming game. Alongside him, young Riyan Parag has made significant contributions, particularly with his match-winning 54* off 39 balls in the previous face-off with MI.
From Mumbai’s camp, eyes will be on their ace bowler Jasprit Bumrah alongside the all-round skills of Hardik Pandya, to reignite their campaign and climb up the points ladder.
Looking at the predicted playing XIs, RR’s lineup is likely to include Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Kuldeep Sen, and Yuzvendra Chahal. Meanwhile, MI might field Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Mohammad Nabi, Gerald Coetzee, Shreyas Gopal, and Jasprit Bumrah.
As the IPL 2024 approaches its midpoint, both teams are well aware that every match is crucial in shaping their path to the playoffs. The stage is set for an electrifying clash in Jaipur as the Rajasthan Royals seek to maintain their lead at the summit, while the Mumbai Indians look to disrupt the Royals’ stellar run and boost their own playoff aspirations.