Jaipur: As the Indian Premier League 2025 enters a crucial phase, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will bank on the red-hot form of their opening duo, Virat Kohli and Philip Salt, when they face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 28th match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Sunday afternoon.
With three wins in five games, RCB are slightly ahead in the mid-table scramble and will look to consolidate their position against an RR side coming off a heavy 58-run defeat to Gujarat Titans. The key concern of the hosts has been their inconsistent bowling, and they now face the daunting task of containing arguably the most dangerous opening pair in the tournament.
Kohli, leading the Orange Cap race early in the season, has rediscovered his vintage touch with elegant timing and calculated aggression. Partnering him at the top, England’s Salt has added an explosive dimension, scoring at a strike rate of 217.65 in the previous match. Their aggressive starts have routinely taken the pressure off the middle order and allowed RCB to post or chase down high totals on flat surfaces.
The duo’s combined form is not just a strength but a strategic advantage. On a Jaipur pitch that offers true bounce and rewards strokeplay, the Kohli-Salt combination could make or break the contest in the powerplay overs.
Rajasthan, on the other hand, are grappling with a bowling lineup that has failed to deliver consistently. Archer’s return to form is a silver lining, but Fazalhaq Farooqi has been expensive, and even the normally reliable Sandeep Sharma leaked 53 runs in four overs against Gujarat. Maheesh Theekshana, though among the wickets, has struggled with economy.
RR’s inability to contain runs in the middle overs and at the death has exposed them repeatedly. Captain Sanju Samson has called for greater discipline from his bowlers, but facing a rampant RCB top order will be their sternest test yet.
While RCB’s middle order, featuring Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Liam Livingstone and Jitesh Sharma, has shown flashes of brilliance, it still lacks consistency. The lower-order hitting prowess of Tim David and Krunal Pandya lends depth, though.
For the Royals, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dip in form is a concern, and they will need solid contributions from Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, and the experienced Shimron Hetmyer. Samson himself remains a key figure, both with the bat and behind the stumps.
With sunny skies and dry conditions forecast, the Jaipur track is expected to play true throughout the game. Historically, it has offered some turn for spinners, but not enough to make a decisive impact unless backed by disciplined bowling. Teams chasing have had a better record at this venue, and both captains are likely to opt to bowl first if they win the toss.
With both teams looking to bounce back from losses, the clash promises to be intense. RCB hold the edge with their in-form opening pair and a more settled bowling combination featuring Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal. For RR to challenge, early wickets and a spirited batting response will be crucial.
RCB and RR have shared two wins each in their last four encounters, with their most recent meeting seeing Rajasthan chase down 172 with ease.
As the race for playoff spots heats up, Sunday’s match may well hinge on how Rajasthan handle the Kohli-Salt storm.
