Rajasthan Royals secured the toss and decided to field first against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 16th fixture of the Indian Premier League 2026, held at Baraspara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Friday. The Royals adjusted their team by including Brijesh Sharma instead of Tushar Deshpande. Meanwhile, Bengaluru enhanced their fast bowling unit by recalling Josh Hazlewood, who replaced Jacob Duffy, bringing added expertise and precision to the attack.
RR captain Riyan Parag explained that the surface was anticipated to be arid, though recent rain might introduce some dampness. He emphasized his team’s disciplined approach and commitment to executing their pre-tournament strategies. Parag also expressed satisfaction with his reduced individual responsibilities, thanks to the solid performances from the opening batsmen.
‘We opted to bowl first. The wicket was expected to be dry, but rainfall has added moisture. We aim to capitalize on these conditions,’ stated Parag.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar highlighted the enthusiastic local support, which made the venue feel like home turf. He confirmed Hazlewood’s inclusion at Duffy’s expense, praising the Australian’s experience while acknowledging Duffy’s recent strong showings. However, rain resumed shortly after, pausing the game just as conditions appeared to improve.
‘This marks our first match away from home. We appreciate the support—it’s like playing in front of our own fans. We love it. Regrettably, Duffy sits out today, with Josh Hazlewood stepping in. Duffy performed exceptionally in the previous outings. Josh’s experience will boost our confidence,’ said Patidar.
Team Lineups:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Josh Hazlewood
Impact substitutes: Jacob Bethell, Rasikh Salam, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Kanishk Chouhan
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh Sharma
Impact substitutes: Shubham Dubey, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Tushar Deshpande, Ravi Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Featured Video of the Day:
IPL 2026 | Delhi Capitals Secures 6-Wicket Victory Over Mumbai Indians: Comeback for Sameer Rizvi
