Jaipur: The excitement is building up as Rajasthan Royals (RR) gear up to clash with Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Monday.
This encounter marks RR's fifth and final match in Jaipur this season. So far, they have secured three wins out of four matches played at this venue.
In their previous match, RR pulled off a remarkable two-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders. Jos Buttler’s unbeaten century, along with Rovman Powell’s crucial contribution, enabled RR to achieve the highest successful run-chase in IPL history. Avesh Khan and Kuldeep Sen were the standout bowlers for KKR, picking up two wickets each.
In contrast, Mumbai Indians enter this match after a hard-fought nine-run win against Punjab Kings in Mohali.
Riyan Parag continues to shine for RR, being their top-scorer in IPL 2024 with 318 runs from seven matches at an impressive average of 63.60. Yuzvendra Chahal remains a key bowler for the Royals, consistently featuring in the top-five wicket-takers list this season with 12 scalps to his name.
Currently, RR lead the IPL 2024 standings with 12 points and a net run rate (NRR) of +0.677. They have won six matches and lost one. Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians have won three out of seven matches, placing them sixth in the standings with six points and an NRR of -0.133.
RR have the momentum on their side, winning four out of their last five matches, while MI have won three out of their last five games.
In their head-to-head encounters, MI holds a slight advantage, having won 15 out of 29 matches against RR in the IPL. However, the Royals emerged victorious in their recent face-off, defeating MI by six wickets with 27 balls to spare.
Key players to watch out for in this match include Trent Boult, who was the star performer in the Royals’ previous win over MI, and Yuzvendra Chahal, who is on the cusp of achieving the 200-wicket milestone in the IPL.
Both teams boast of strong squads, with RR led by Sanju Samson and MI captained by Hardik Pandya. The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the IPL's most competitive teams.