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IPL 2024: Can RR secure second-place finish against KKR? 
Riyan Parag has been in red-hot form this year (Source: X/@IPL)

IPL 2024: Can RR secure second-place finish against KKR? 

May 18, 2024
04:01 pm

What's the story

The final league game of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) will see the battle between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders. Though both sides have qualified for the playoffs, RR can ensure a top-two finish with a win in this fixture. Notably, the Royals have lost their last four fixtures. KKR are certain to finish at the top. Here is the preview.

Details 

Pitch report, conditions, and streaming details

Guwahati's Barsapara Cricket Stadium will host this duel on May 19 (7:30pm IST). The only previous game at this venue in IPL 2024 saw PBKS chase down 145 against RR a few days back. There was plenty of assistance for the new-ball pacers. Star Sports will telecast the match, and fans can also live-stream it on JioCinema for free.

H2H 

Here is the H2H record

Both teams have faced each other on 29 occasions in the IPL (including two Super-Over fixtures). The head-to-head record cannot separate the two teams as it reads 1-1. One of their matches got abandoned. RR claimed a thrilling two-wicket triumph when these two sides met earlier in the season. Jos Buttler's hundred helped RR chase down 224 on the final ball.

Playoff Scenario 

An important game for RR

Teams finishing in the top two will get an additional chance to qualify for the final. A win by any margin will guarantee RR a second-place finish. However, if they lose, they would need Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings to also suffer defeats in their final league-stage fixtures. As RR will feature in the last league-stage game, they would know the exact equation.

RR vs KKR 

RR have lost momentum lately

As mentioned, RR lost their last four games. They must regroup sooner than later as they were sensational prior to their losing streak. Notably, Jos Buttler is unavailable for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, KKR have been powered by Sunil Narine's all-round brilliance. Several other players have also stood up as the two-time champions have won consistently.

XIs 

Here are the probable XIs

KKR probable XI: Philip Salt (wk), Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rinku Singh, Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy. Impact Player: Vaibhav Arora. RR Probable XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Rovman Powell, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal. Impact sub: Nandre Burger.

Stats 

Here are the key performers

Narine has scored 461 runs this year (SR: 182.94). With the ball, the spinner has collected 15 wickets at an economy of 6.64. Andre Russell has been striking at 185 this year (222 runs). Both Riyan Parag and Samson have hammered 500-plus runs this season with their strike rate being over 150. Yuzvendra Chahal is leading the wicket-taking chart for RR with 17 scalps.

Poll

Will Riyan Parag hammer another fifty?