The ninth match of the IPL 2024 season promises to be a fiery encounter between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC). Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur will witness this match. Both teams will be looking to bounce back from their opening results –  a win for RR and a loss for DC.

Rajasthan Royals come into the match brimming with confidence after their convincing victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Their batting lineup clicked with skipper Sanju Samson leading from the front with an unbeaten half-century. The bowling attack was equally impressive, with all bowlers except Avesh Khan claiming at least one wicket. However, it was Trent Boult’s exceptional spell with the new ball that truly set the tone for the Royals’ win.

Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, will be looking to turn things around after a disappointing loss to Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their opening match. 21-year-old Abhishek Porel, who impressed as an Impact Player, failed to put up a strong total. The bowling unit, too, couldn’t defend the score as PBKS chased down the target with four wickets remaining.

The past five encounters between these two teams have been closely contested. RR holds a slight edge, having won three out of the last five matches. However, DC will be looking to level the playing field and register their first win of the season.

All Eyes on Pant: Can He Lead DC to Victory?

Much of the focus will be on DC skipper Rishabh Pant. He showed glimpses of his explosive batting in the first match, smashing some big sixes during his net session the day before.  His coach, Ricky Ponting, will be hoping these sixes translate into runs against RR and help DC secure their first win.

Injury Updates:

• Anrich Nortje has joined the DC camp but is unlikely to play straight away.
• Ishant Sharma and Mukesh Kumar are fit and available for selection for DC.
• RR has no reported injury concerns as of now.

Match Prediction:

This match promises to be a close contest. RR is in good form after their opening win, while DC will be determined to bounce back. The team that handles pressure better and executes their skills effectively will emerge victorious.

Don’t miss out on this exciting match! Tune in tonight and witness a battle between two strong IPL contenders.

Predicted Playing XIs

Here’s a look at the probable playing XIs for both teams:

• Rajasthan Royals (RR): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (C & WK), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sandeep Sharma
• Delhi Capitals (DC): David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Shai Hope, Rishabh Pant (C & WK), Kumar Kushagra, Axar Patel, Abhishek Porel, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Anrich Nortje, Mukesh Kumar

Pitch Report RR vs DC

The pitch at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur has a reputation for favoring teams chasing runs. While Rajasthan Royals won batting first in their opening match here, historically, teams batting second have a slight edge. Here’s a breakdown of the pitch details:

• Chasing Advantage: Out of 53 games played here, teams batting second have emerged victorious in 34 encounters.
• Toss Not a Guarantee: Interestingly, the win-loss ratio when it comes to winning the toss isn’t a huge advantage. Teams winning the toss have won 28 times, while those losing it have won 25 times. There haven’t been any washed-out matches at this stadium either.
• Moderate Scoring: The average first innings score at Jaipur is 160, suggesting it’s not a batsman’s paradise. The first match this season also saw some cracks on the pitch, aiding the spinners.
• Hope for Chasing Teams: Delhi Capitals might find inspiration from their successful 193-run chase against RR at this very ground in 2019.

Night Game and Dew Factor:

Since this is a night game, dew will play a crucial role. As the temperature drops from 35°C at the start (7 PM IST) to 30°C by 11 PM IST, the pitch will become wetter. This might influence the captain’s decision at the toss.

The captain winning the toss might be tempted to field first. This allows them to exploit the initial dryness of the pitch for bowling and then benefit from the dew-aided batting conditions later in the innings.