Rajasthan Royals
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Mumbai Indians
Away · Guwahati · Hardik back
RR Playing XI
SRH’s lineup is specifically built to exploit flat decks and small boundaries — with Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Heinrich Klaasen as their core match-winners. Ishan Kishan leads the side in Pat Cummins’ absence.
The biggest subplot in tonight’s playing 11: Jofra Archer is playing against his old franchise Mumbai Indians tonight. You know he’s been thinking about this one all week. Archer, back to his brilliant best with 2 wickets in the opener and another strong showing against GT, now faces Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Ryan Rickelton in familiar Guwahati air that should help his swing.
For MI, Mumbai Indians get a big boost with Hardik Pandya likely to return after missing the game against Delhi Capitals due to illness. A fit Hardik — bowling those crucial overs and batting at No. 5 — is an entirely different proposition for RR’s bowling attack. His return could be the X-factor that tips the balance tonight.