Rajasthan Royals (RR) are set to take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Sunday, April 13, in Match 28 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
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Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Preview
While many teams have found it challenging to settle into a single home base, Rajasthan Royals (RR) face a tougher task—adjusting to two. After playing their initial fixtures in Guwahati, they return to the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur nearly three weeks into IPL 2025, aiming to recover from a patchy start.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) also come into this match on the back of a hard-fought defeat to Gujarat Titans (GT), but there are signs that their bowling unit is beginning to click. Their powerplay attack has shown marked improvement as the tournament has progressed, with Jofra Archer rediscovering his rhythm and menace. Sandeep Sharma has brought consistency to the line-up and holds a notable edge over Virat Kohli—having dismissed the RCB batter more than any other bowler in IPL history, seven times in 16 innings.
Rajasthan Royals, the hosts, have experienced a stop-start campaign so far—two successive victories were quickly undone by a heavy defeat in their most recent match. But perhaps a sluggish start isn’t entirely negative. In recent seasons, they’ve developed a trend of peaking too early and fading at the business end. In IPL 2024, they stormed to eight wins in their first nine games, only to slump with four straight losses before rain washed out their final league fixture. A similar trend unfolded in 2023: four wins from their opening five were followed by just three in the remaining nine.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals have set the tone early in matches, boasting the best powerplay scoring rate this season—an explosive 10.7 runs per over.
Rajasthan Royals will no doubt remember their humbling at the hands of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2023, when they were bundled out for just 59 in Jaipur—the third-lowest team total in IPL history. That crushing 112-run defeat still stands as their heaviest loss in the league.
On the flip side, while Jofra Archer has led the Royals’ new-ball attack with four PowerPlay wickets, he’s lacked adequate support. The rest of the RR bowling unit has managed just two wickets during this phase, highlighting an imbalance that could be exploited by a dynamic RCB top order.
Beyond these tactical angles, the Indian talent on display adds another layer of intrigue to the contest. RR boast the likes of Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag, Nitish Rana, and Dhruv Jurel.
Waiting for them is Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), a side that has been on a rampage away from home. They recently snapped long-standing droughts by defeating Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede for the first time in a decade, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk after 17 years, and reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens.
RCB’s road performances have been nothing short of elite—they average 39.6 runs per wicket at a blistering 10.5 runs per over, compared to 22.1 and 8.3, respectively, at home. With the ball, their control has also been sharper on the road, averaging 21.2 per wicket, in contrast to a loose 56.4 at home. While they had ample time to settle during earlier away games, this time the turnaround is tight—they come into this clash just two nights after a defeat to Delhi Capitals (DC).
The IPL’s return to Jaipur may have taken its time, but for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the timing couldn’t be more opportune. A fresh venue presents a welcome escape from the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where fortunes have dipped significantly. With two more losses added this season, RCB now hold the unfortunate distinction of suffering the most defeats at a single venue in IPL history. While Dinesh Karthik’s call for “good pitches” was delivered with a smile, it’s uncertain whether better surfaces alone can change their trajectory. For now, solutions remain out of reach.
The Sawai Mansingh Stadium, however, offers RCB a shot at revival. Their campaign has thrived on the road, with landmark victories in Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai—each powered by standout performances from a middle order that’s often been their Achilles heel. Jaipur may no longer be the fortress it once was for Rajasthan Royals, and with RR also adjusting to this venue for the first time this season following significant squad changes, RCB will sense an opportunity to bank two valuable points.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, on the other hand, may not need to worry about home advantage if they continue to deliver on the road. But to do that, they’ll need to bounce back quickly—especially in the bowling department—after their recent loss to Delhi Capitals. And looming large is the prospect of facing Jofra Archer in full rhythm, steaming in against a batting line-up that thrives on pace.
Virat Kohli stands on the brink of two major milestones. He’s just one half-century away from becoming only the second player after David Warner to notch up 100 T20 fifties, and is also a single fifty short of equaling Warner’s record of 66 half-centuries in the IPL.
Kohli continues to reign supreme as RCB’s all-time leading run-scorer with a staggering 8614 runs. Interestingly, no other Indian features in the franchise’s top six scorers until you scroll down to Rahul Dravid’s 1132 runs. As for the current squad, Rajat Patidar and Devdutt Padikkal are nearing personal milestones—just 15 and 37 runs away, respectively, from joining the 1000-run club in the IPL.
RCB, meanwhile, have been clinical with the ball up front. They’ve taken 10 wickets in the PowerPlay this season—the joint-most by any team—and also boast the best average in this phase.
Beyond Kohli, RCB counters with Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, and Jitesh Sharma—setting the stage for an exciting clash of emerging and established stars.
One key subplot in this clash is the fascinating duel between Sandeep Sharma and Virat Kohli. While Sandeep has conceded 104 runs to the RCB veteran, he’s also dismissed him seven times—the most by any bowler—averaging just 14.86 in their head-to-head.
So, who takes the edge in this intriguing battle of bounce-back stories?
Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Head-to-Head
RR 14 – 15 RCB
- Matches Played: 32
- Won by Rajasthan Royals: 14
- Won by Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 15
- Tied: 0
- No Result: 3
- First-ever Fixture: April 26, 2008
- Most-recent Fixture: April 6, 2024
Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
It’s expected to be a scorching afternoon in Jaipur with temperatures soaring to around 38°C, making conditions physically demanding for players during the 3:30 PM start. Curators will have to strike a balance with the pitch preparation—ensuring it doesn’t get too dry, unless specifically instructed by the hosts. Historically, the Sawai Mansingh Stadium has been tough on fast bowlers, recording the poorest average and strike rate for pacers across IPL venues in the past two seasons.
However, how the track behaves this year is still uncertain. Evening temperatures are likely to hover around 37°C, with no rain in the forecast. Over the last 10 matches at this ground, the average first-innings total has been 180, and the outcomes have been evenly distributed—five wins apiece for sides batting first and chasing.
Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Team News and Predicted XI
Rajasthan Royals – Team News
There were concerns about Wanindu Hasaranga’s availability, as he missed the previous match due to personal reasons. However, Sanju Samson confirmed that Hasaranga rejoined the team last night and is available for selection.
A key contest to watch will be the battle between wrist spinners and RCB’s middle order. Heading into their last match, RCB’s Nos. 4 to 7 had hit the most sixes among all teams this season. But in their defeat to Delhi Capitals, they managed just one six, with Tim David notably coming in at No. 8. Spin proved to be their undoing on a surface that offered assistance, so much will depend on how Hasaranga, if selected, and Kartikeya perform against this middle order.
Rajasthan Royals – Predicted XI
- Sanju Samson (capt, wk)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Nitish Rana
- Riyan Parag
- Dhruv Jurel
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Wanindu Hasaranga
- Jofra Archer
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Tushar Deshpande/Kumar Kartikeya
- Sandeep Sharma
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Team News
RCB are unlikely to make changes to their current combination, though Jacob Bethell provides a left-handed option in the middle order if they decide to replace the inconsistent Liam Livingstone. The entire squad is available for selection.
Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, have struggled in the middle overs (7-15), losing 18 wickets in this phase so far in IPL. Legspinner Suyash Sharma has been effective in containing RCB’s scoring in their last two matches, while RCB’s strong pace attack could also play a key role in restricting RR with a few quiet overs.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Predicted XI
- Phil Salt
- Virat Kohli
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Rajat Patidar (capt)
- Liam Livingstone/Jacob Bethell
- Jitesh Sharma (wk)
- Tim David
- Krunal Pandya
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Josh Hazlewood
- Yash Dayal
- Suyash Sharma
Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Players To Watch Out For
Jofra Archer (Rajasthan Royals)
Jofra Archer has regained his rhythm in recent matches, consistently clocking speeds in the upper 140s kph and posing a threat with the new ball. After a difficult start, where he conceded 16.8 runs per over in his first two games, Archer has bounced back, taking five wickets in his last three matches and maintaining a much-improved economy rate of 6.2.
Liam Livingstone (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
Liam Livingstone began the season with strong performances both with the bat and ball, but has since hit a rough patch. He’s coming off scores of 0 and 4 in his last two matches and has bowled just two overs in the past three games. RCB will be hoping for a turnaround from Livingstone to strengthen what has otherwise been a solid middle-order.
Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Prediction
Scenario 1
- Toss: Rajasthan Royals win the toss and bowl first
- Powerplay Score: 60-70
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru Total: 170-190
- Match Result: Rajasthan Royals win the match
Scenario 2
- Toss: Royal Challengers Bengaluru win the toss and bowl first
- Powerplay Score: 50-60
- Rajasthan Royals Total: 160-180
- Match Result: Royal Challengers Bengaluru win the match
When and Where To Watch Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The Indian Premier League 2025 clash between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru is set to begin at 3:30 PM IST on Sunday, April 13, at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur. The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports network and will also be available for live streaming on JioHotstar for FREE.
Read More: IPL 2025: LSG End GT’s Winning Streak with Clinical Chase Powered by Pooran’s Six-Fest
FAQs
Who has the better head-to-head record between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru lead the head-to-head with 15 wins, while Rajasthan Royals have won 14 out of 32 matches.
What is the expected pitch and weather condition for the RR vs RCB IPL 2025 match in Jaipur?
The match will be played in hot and dry conditions, with temperatures touching 38°C. The pitch is likely to be dry unless otherwise instructed by the home team.
Is Wanindu Hasaranga available for the RR vs RCB match?
Yes, Wanindu Hasaranga has rejoined the Rajasthan Royals squad and is available for selection after missing the last match due to personal reasons.
How have Jofra Archer and Liam Livingstone performed in recent IPL matches?
Jofra Archer has bounced back with five wickets in his last three games at an economy of 6.2. Meanwhile, Liam Livingstone has struggled, scoring 0 and 4 in his last two innings and bowling just two overs in three matches.
What are key tactical battles to watch in the RR vs RCB match?
Watch out for Sandeep Sharma vs Virat Kohli (7 dismissals), wristspinners vs RCB’s middle order, and Jofra Archer’s new-ball threat against RCB’s power hitters.
