RR Opt to Bowl as Rain Looms Over IPL Clash Between Rajasthan Royals and RCB

Guwahati, April 2026 : Rajasthan Royals (RR) won the toss and elected to bowl first against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Match 16 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Friday, with weather interruptions already playing a role in the contest.

RR captain Riyan Parag made the decision considering the pitch and weather conditions. While the surface was initially expected to be dry, intermittent rain has added moisture, potentially assisting bowlers early in the game. Parag emphasized that his team aims to capitalize on these conditions and maintain their disciplined approach.

“We are going to be bowling first. It was supposed to be a dry wicket, but with the rain, there will be some moisture. We want to make the most of it,” Parag said. He also highlighted that the team has been executing its plans effectively and playing calculated cricket. The skipper added that he is comfortable taking a backseat individually as long as the top-order continues to deliver strong performances.

Rajasthan Royals made one change to their playing XI, bringing in Brijesh Sharma in place of Tushar Deshpande to strengthen their bowling combination.

On the other side, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, led by Rajat Patidar, also made a key adjustment by including experienced pacer Josh Hazlewood in place of Jacob Duffy. The move is expected to add depth and control to their pace attack.

Patidar expressed appreciation for the crowd support in Guwahati, noting that it felt like a home game despite being an away fixture. “This is our first away game, but the support here makes it feel like home. We really appreciate it,” he said. He also acknowledged Duffy’s impressive performances in previous matches but stressed the value Hazlewood brings with his experience.

However, just as conditions seemed to improve, rain returned to interrupt proceedings, adding uncertainty to the match and potentially influencing strategies for both sides.

The playing XIs for the match feature a mix of experienced stars and emerging talent. RCB’s lineup includes stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, alongside power hitters like Tim David and Romario Shepherd. Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, boast a strong squad featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jofra Archer.

With rain looming and conditions expected to assist bowlers early on, the contest promises to be a tactical battle. Both teams will look to adapt quickly to the changing conditions as they aim to gain an edge in this crucial IPL encounter.

Playing XIs:

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 substitute: 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 substitute: Shubham Dubey, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Tushar Deshpande, Ravi Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi