The Rajasthan Royals (RR) will play the Mumbai Indians (MI) in Match 44 of IPL 2022 on 30 April, at Dr D.Y. Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. During the match, Rajasthan will pay homage to Shane Warne, their first ever captain, who recently passed away.
For Mumbai fans the season cannot end soon enough. For the most successful team in IPL history it has been an unmitigated disaster, with a record played eight, lost eight so far. Hopes of making the playoffs are virtually gone. All that is left now Is to try to salvage some pride. No wonder their supporters were the most vocal when it was rumoured that this season’s competition might be cancelled because of COVID-19.
Problems abound for them all over the pitch. They have by far the most underperforming bowling unit, and the inability to get going after the Powerplay has been their Achilles’ heel, Ishan Kishan, who was meant to be a game-changer, has failed to adapt to the requirements.
By contrast, Rajasthan have looking up. They come into this match second in the table, after Gujarat Titans, and will believe that this may be the year they can lay their hands on the IPL trophy for the first time since 2008. In Jos Buttler, they have the batter of the season so far. Buttler has three centuries to his name already, one of which came in the first match between these two teams earlier in the campaign.
Indications are that the pitch may be playing a little slower than earlier in the season. Back the spinners.
Likely XIs:
Rajasthan Royals: Jos Buttler, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Daryl Mitchell, R. Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Sen
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Dewald Brevis, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Kieron Pollard, Hrithik Shokeen, Daniel Sams, Jaydev Unadkat, Riley Meredith, Jasprit Bumrah
Fantasy tips:
- It is difficult to look beyond Buttler enjoying another big innings against the MI bowling attack, pick him;
- Pick .Ashwin and Chahal. They can have a big part to play with the ball in this match;
- Losing becomes a dangerously addictive habit. Rohit needs to have a good game personally and for his team to help arrest the slump. This may be his night.
Prediction:
When these two sides met earlier in the season, RR won by 23 runs. It would be no surprise if the same result and a not dissimilar margin of victory were to be the outcome this time round.
Streaming:
‘Match 44 between RR and MI will start at 19:30 on Saturday, April 30th. You can watch the match on the Star Network and Hotstar.