Nicholas Pooran arrived early to center-wicket practice in Jaipur on a scorching afternoon. Padding up in 37-degree heat and hitting the range hard must have been tough. After the sun set and conditions improved, Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals teammates joined Pooran. However, security at Sawai Mansingh Stadium became more difficult. “Halla Bol”—”raise your voice”—was no longer the team’s motto. Because of the IPL, everyone wanted a closer look at their favorite cricketers.
In this post-lockdown reality, Jaipur is one of the last two cities to host the event. Yuzvendra Chahal, who has been with the squad for a season and a half, conveyed the sentiment well. “Sir ye mera toh debut hai Rajasthan ke liye yahan pe,” the legspinner joked about Jaipur’s home advantage.
Lucknow Super Giants VS Rajasthan Royals
RR feels like coming home too. They’re on a three-match winning streak and defeated an opponent they couldn’t handle last year. Now atop the points table, they host a team they defeated twice last season in Jaipur for the first time. This meeting will be fresh.
Given Lucknow’s unpredictable weather, LSG may be the most pleased with an away win. KL Rahul and Co. may feel they can surprise the hosts at a place they’ve taken their time to return to, despite RR’s excellent stats. After all, the “fortress” has failed to win home games lately. Expect Jaipur to make the most of its situation, even if it means a little fanfare at practice.
Match 26: RR versus LSG, IPL 2023, 7:30 PM local.
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Jaipur is red and pink except for the central plaza. Three of the eight black-soil pitches in the center have been prepped for the IPL season. Pitch #4, which appeared dry below, will host the contest. The single T20I played here produced middling totals in the 160s and became increasingly difficult to bat. R Ashwin noticed that slower bowling increased ball spin. The curator anticipates nighttime dew to continue during the match.
One of India’s smallest cricket venues, the playing area has 70m boundaries. Chahal said he wanted to spin here.
Teams
Rajasthan Royals
News: Will RR keep supporting Riyan Parag? The 21-year-old’s season scores are 7, 20, 7, and 5.
Tactics and matchups: When facing off-spin, Nicholas Pooran’s IPL average drops from 42 to 24 and his SR drops 20 points. R Ashwin wants to bowl to the left-handed power-hitter.
Playing XI: Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Adam Zampa, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal
Lucknow Super Giants
News: Kyle Mayers keeps Quinton de Kock out. Will Jaipur collapse? Amit Mishra may replace Yudhvir Singh Charak, who had a great debut.
Tactics and matchups: Jos Buttler has been dismissed nine times by legspin in IPL since 2018. LSG can beat the RR opener with Ravi Bishnoi or Amit Mishra.
Playing XI: KL Rahul(c), Kyle Mayers/Quinton de Kock, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Nicholas Pooran(w), Ayush Badoni, Avesh Khan, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Mark Wood, Ravi Bishnoi
You know?
Buttler averages 54.25 and scores 143 runs in Jaipur. He scored 95* with four fifties.
Marcus Stoinis beat Sanju Samson twice in 12 balls.
They said
“Our team is second and powerful. Yudhvir Singh Charak: “The top-placed RR will be a nice battle.”
As a spinner, I’m happy here… In the last two games, Ashwin, Zampa, and I have bonded well. Yuzvendra Chahal