Rajasthan Royals return to Jaipur under mounting pressure and even a win in their previous outing did little to ease the scrutiny around the franchise. As the Royals prepare to host the Delhi Capitals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, they have a lot more to contend with than just the demands of another key IPL fixture.
The spotlight will be firmly on stand-in captain Riyan Parag, who heads into the contest under increasing pressure after being caught on camera. using an e-cigarette in the dugout during the recent Rajasthan game. The incident, which quickly went viral on social media, led to the IPL Board of Governors imposing sanctions on Parag, putting both the player and the franchise under uncomfortable public scrutiny ahead of Friday’s clash.
For Parago, the pressure is no longer limited to the captain. The controversy only sharpened the spotlight on a season that was already underwhelming with the bat. Tasked with leading Rajasthan through a crucial stretch of the campaign, Parag is yet to produce the kind of innings expected of a senior batsman carrying the added responsibility. Parag has struggled to impress with the bat this season (Courtesy: PTI)
His returns reflect that struggle. Parag has managed just 117 runs at a strike rate of 124 this season and is yet to post a score of 30 or more. For a player entrusted with the leadership and expected to anchor Rajasthan’s middle order, these numbers only added to scrutiny.
Against a Delhi Capitals side still looking for momentum and consistency, Parag now enters a game where the pressure is both personal and tactical. In Jaipur, Rajasthan need a captain who can calm the noise around them. Parag needs an innings that can do the same.
RR vs DC: DELHI NEEDS INSPIRATION
Delhi Capitals come to Jaipur looking for answers. Their last two defeats have not only damaged their position in the table but also raised uncomfortable questions about their direction at a crucial stage of the season.
The first was a defeat that should never have happened. KL Rahul produced one of the innings of the tournament and smashed 150 in a T20 innings, but Delhi still ended up on the losing side. It was the kind of result that can rock a dressing room and reveals just how little support their leading performers are getting.
The second was even more damaging. Bowling for just 75 against Royal Challengers BengaluruDelhi were handed one of their most sobering defeats of the season. It wasn’t just the loss, but the way it happened that was so alarming. Their batting folded without resistance, their confidence looked fragile and the defeat revealed how quickly their campaign could begin to unravel.
Two losses in isolation can be dismissed as a bad week. These two felt heavier. Delhi looked short on clarity, short on composure and most importantly, short on inspiration.
This is now the main interest going to Jaipur. Delhi doesn’t just need to win. They need someone to lift the spirits, reset the tone and give the campaign a new direction. Whether that spark comes from Rahul, the middle order or one of their senior bowlers could define how their season moves from here.
RR vs DC: THE RETURN OF MITCHELL STARC?
Delhi Capitals may yet find the spark they were looking for in the return of Mitchell Starc. The Australian speedster was seen going through his drills during Delhi’s training session in Jaipur and his availability could give the visitors a much-needed lift.
Delhi have looked out of sorts in recent outings and Starc’s return would offer both an advantage and an intimidation. Even in a format built around aggression, true tempo remains one of the fastest ways to break a rhythm. When combined with Starc’s ability to attack the stumps and hit hard lengths, he becomes the weapon that Delhi missed.
Against Rajasthan, this could be especially significant. The Royals have shown a willingness to attack early and take chances on the powerplay, but Starc’s pace presents a different kind of challenge. His ability to rush for time and force indecisiveness could be an ideal antidote against Rajasthan’s aggressive top order.
His return would also sharpen one of the game’s most intriguing matchups. If Starc is cleared to play, much of the focus will be on his battle with Rajasthani teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The 15-year-old has already built a reputation for picking up elite pace, showing little hesitation against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood.
This makes it a compelling tactical matchup. Delhi may see Starc as their best chance to test Vaibhav’s method against left-arm bowling, late swing and top pace through the air. Meanwhile, Rajasthan will back the teenager to continue playing without fear.
If Starc returns, Delhi will be hoping his presence offers more than just wickets. They will hope this will bring an edge, authority and inspiration that their campaign currently lacks.
RR vs DC: PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS
The pitch used in the previous match at Jaipur seemed to live up to the venue’s reputation for producing good batting surfaces. It looked fresh, well coiled and had a light covering of grass on it, although it was dry enough underneath to suggest that the draft game would still be rewarded. An early look from the surface suggested there might be some help for the seamers with the new ball, but once the batting settled down, it looked like a run-making pitch.
There is some weather movement in play which could slightly affect conditions in Jaipur till evening. While the forecast doesn’t indicate a washout, light rain and increasing clouds later in the day could add some moisture to the surface. This can help the pitch stay sticky longer, offer seamers a bit more grip and make the new ball a bit more effective than expected. On a surface that looked like it would favor batters, even a brief wetness could delay that shift and make early transitions more important. The course is unlikely to change dramatically, but conditions may be less straightforward than first thought.
RR vs DC: PREDICTED XI
Rajasthan Royals Predicted XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Donovan Ferreira, Shubham Dubey, Dasun Shanaka, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma
Impact Sub: Yash Raj Punja/Ravi Bishnoi
Delhi Capitals Predicted XI: KL Rahul (WK), Abishek Porel, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel (C), Mitchell Starc, Kyle Jamieson, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan
Impact Sub: Vipraj Nigam/Mukesh Kumar
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Published on:
May 1, 2026 09:19 IST
