In-form Rajasthan Royals look to extend strong start against MI

Riding on early-season momentum, Rajasthan Royals will look to continue their strong start when they take on five-time title holders Mumbai Indians in a league match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) Stadium here on Tuesday.

For the Royals, much of that confidence stems from their top order, which has clicked from the outset. Yashasvi Jaiswal and young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi have been fearless at the top, taking the game on early and giving the side strong starts. Their intent has allowed players like Dhruv Jurel to settle in and build innings rather than repair damage.

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Captain Riyan Parag is yet to make a big score, but his presence has been felt in other ways. His composure and clarity in key moments, especially in tight finishes, have already made a difference, as seen in their narrow win over Gujarat Titans.

The bowling unit, too, has quietly gone about its job. Tushar Deshpande has stood out at the death, showing both control and nerve under pressure. His ability to nail yorkers under pressure was evident in the closing stages against Gujarat, where he held his nerve to defend a modest total. Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, meanwhile, has rediscovered his rhythm, picking up wickets regularly and adding bite in the middle overs.

All of this has given the Royals a settled and balanced look, something that could prove crucial as the tournament progresses.

In contrast, Mumbai Indians arrive searching for answers after a setback in their previous game against Delhi Capitals in the national capital. The focus will once again be on the fitness of skipper Hardik Pandya, whose absence due to illness disrupted their balance. While Suryakumar Yadav stepped in admirably as stand-in captain, Mumbai lacked the all-round depth that Pandya brings.

Their bowling has shown glimpses but not consistency. Jasprit Bumrah has been economical but is yet to make a significant breakthrough this season, while Shardul Thakur could not replicate his impact from the opening game. The team combinations have also been in flux, with changes not quite delivering the desired results.

These are areas Rajasthan will look to capitalise on, especially with the kind of form their top order is in.

The conditions in Guwahati add another layer to the contest. The surface here has shown that it can offer early assistance to bowlers, as seen when the Royals’ pacers made full use of it to bundle out Chennai Super Kings a little over 120 in the previous game at this venue. However, it also tends to ease out as the match progresses, with dew expected to play a role in the second innings as the Royals chased down the total in mere 12.1 overs.

While the Royals will be hoping to carry forward the momentum, Mumbai Indians will be keen to quickly regroup and arrest the slide.

Squads:

Rajasthan Royals: Riyan Parag (c), Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Aman Perala, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Adam Milne, Brijesh Sharma, Jofra Archer, Kuldeep Sen, Kwena Maphaka, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi and Sandeep Sharma.

Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Danish Malewar, Robin Minz (wk), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Atharva Ankolekar, Raj Bawa, Corbin Bosch, Will Jacks, Mayank Rawat, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Tilak Varma, Ashwani Kumar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Deepak Chahar, AM Ghazanfar, Mayank Markande, Mohammad Izhar, Raghu Sharma.