Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Mitchell Starc (Image Agency) NEW DELHI: Friday’s IPL 2026 clash will be a major battle as Mitchell Starc makes his season debut for Delhi Capitals and puts up a sensational match against teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi when they take on Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.RR captain Riyan Parag won the toss and elected to bat first at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, citing the surface conditions as a key factor.“We’re going to bat first. I don’t think it’s the usual Jaipur wicket. It’s a bit dry; we noticed yesterday and the pitch was playing a bit faster. So hopefully it slows down a bit at the back, so that’s why we’re batting first. (In the win against Punjab Kings) I think the middle order and the lower order started brilliantly as usual, as a team of openers. Chasing 220 always helps. That was the motto as I he said, we didn’t play proper and complete cricket, how will the tournament come to an end.
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However, the bigger headline came from the DC camp, with Starc finally coming into his own this season and adding firepower to their pace attack. His battle with Sooryavanshi at the top is expected to set the tone soon.DC captain Axar Patel has confirmed three changes to the playing XI as the team looks for a turnaround in the tightening play-off race.“Starc is playing, Chameera is not playing. Pathum is playing, which means David Miller is sitting. Ashok Sharma is there, so there are three changes. We have three changes, the wicket looks good and we are happy to chase. It is important to go back to basics. You have to stay present to turn things around, focus on the positives. Attitude and body language are very important.With both teams making adjustments and striving for consistency, the clash has added significance. But the first exchanges promise the most excitement – Starc on fire with pace and accuracy and Sooryavanshi ready to counter-attack in what could define the contest.
RR vs DC Playing XIs:
Delhi Capitals XI: KL Rahul(w), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel(c), Ashutosh Sharma, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, T NatarajanRajasthan Royals XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel(w), Riyan Parag(c), Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubham Dubey, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma
