By IPL Fan 
Welcome to IPLFan.in, your ultimate hub for all things IPL! The 2025 season is off to a roaring start, and Match 6 on March 26 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati promises to be a blockbuster. Rajasthan Royals (RR) take on the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in what will be RR’s first home game of the season at their secondary venue in Guwahati. With both teams coming off contrasting results in their opening matches, this clash is set to be a thrilling encounter. Let’s preview the action, highlight key players to watch, and set the stage for what could be a defining game in the early stages of IPL 2025.
- Date and Time: March 26, 2025, 7:30 PM IST (2:00 PM GMT)
- Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
- Broadcast: Live on Star Sports Network and JioHotstar
Rajasthan Royals (RR): RR kicked off their IPL 2025 campaign with a 44-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 23 in Hyderabad. Despite a valiant effort in chasing a mammoth 287, RR fell short at 242/6, with Sanju Samson (66 off 37) and Dhruv Jurel (70 off 35) leading the fightback. However, their bowling unit struggled, particularly Jofra Archer, who had a nightmarish return to the IPL, conceding 76 runs in 4 overs—the most expensive spell in IPL history. Stand-in captain Riyan Parag, leading in place of the injured Sanju Samson (who played as an Impact Player due to a finger injury), will be eager to turn things around at home. Samson is expected to return to full fitness and take back the captaincy for this game, which will be a massive boost for RR.
RR’s batting looks formidable with the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, and Shubham Dubey, who showed promise with a quickfire 34* in the last game. However, their bowling needs to step up, especially on a Guwahati pitch that has historically favored batsmen. The return of Fazalhaq Farooqi and Maheesh Theekshana to the starting XI could provide the control RR desperately needs.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): The defending champions started their title defense on a disappointing note, losing by 7 wickets to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 22 at Eden Gardens. KKR managed 174/8, with Shreyank Patil scoring a gritty 44, but their bowling couldn’t defend the total as RCB chased it down with 22 balls to spare. KKR’s new captain, Venkatesh Iyer, will be looking to lead from the front after a quiet outing in the opener. The absence of mentor Gautam Gambhir and former captain Shreyas Iyer (now with Punjab Kings) has put additional pressure on the young squad to step up.
KKR’s batting relies heavily on their top order, with Phil Salt, Sunil Narine, and Venkatesh Iyer expected to set the tone. Andre Russell’s all-round abilities will be crucial, especially on a ground known for high-scoring games. In the bowling department, Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana will need to provide early breakthroughs, while spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine will look to exploit any assistance from the Guwahati pitch.
RR and KKR have had a closely contested rivalry over the years. In their last meeting in IPL 2024, RR edged out KKR by 2 wickets in a thrilling chase at Eden Gardens. Overall, KKR holds a slight edge with 14 wins in 27 matches, while RR has won 12, with 1 match ending in a no-result. Given both teams’ current form and the high-scoring nature of the Guwahati pitch, this game could go down to the wire.
The Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati is known for producing high-scoring games, with an average first-innings score of around 180 in T20s. The pitch typically favors batsmen, with short boundaries and a quick outfield, but spinners can come into play in the middle overs if there’s some grip on the surface. Teams winning the toss might prefer to chase, as dew could play a factor in the second innings, making it easier to bat under lights.
Weather-wise, Guwahati is expected to be warm and humid on March 26, with temperatures around 28°C during the match. There’s a 20% chance of rain in the evening, but it’s unlikely to cause significant interruptions. Fans can expect a full game, barring any unexpected weather changes.
Rajasthan Royals:
- Sanju Samson (c & wk): If fit to lead, Samson will be crucial with the bat at No. 4. His 66 off 37 against SRH showed he’s in good touch.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: The young opener needs to fire at the top after a quiet start (4 off 5) in the first game.
- Maheesh Theekshana: The spinner took 2/52 against SRH and will be key in the middle overs on a pitch that might offer some turn.
Kolkata Knight Riders:
- Venkatesh Iyer (c): The captain needs a big score to lead by example after a modest start to the season.
- Andre Russell: His all-round contribution could be a game-changer, especially with the bat in the death overs.
- Varun Chakravarthy: KKR’s mystery spinner will be crucial in containing RR’s aggressive batsmen in the middle overs.
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubham Dubey, Nitish Rana, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Tushar Deshpande
Impact Player Options: Sandeep Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Kolkata Knight Riders: Phil Salt (wk), Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer (c), Shreyank Patil, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Suyash Sharma
Impact Player Options: Anukul Roy, Mitchell Starc
This game is a tough one to call. RR will be desperate to bounce back after their opening loss, and playing at their secondary home in Guwahati could give them an edge with crowd support. However, their bowling remains a concern, especially after leaking 286 against SRH. KKR, on the other hand, have a balanced squad but need their top order to fire after a lackluster performance against RCB. The Guwahati pitch is likely to produce another high-scoring game, and the team that bats smarter in the death overs could come out on top.
Prediction: KKR might have a slight edge due to their bowling depth, but RR’s batting firepower could make this a close contest. We’re leaning towards a KKR win by a narrow margin, possibly in a last-over thriller.
Are you ready for this RR vs KKR showdown? Who do you think will come out on top in Guwahati? Share your predictions in the comments below, and don’t forget to spread the IPL fever on social media. Use the buttons below to share this match preview on Instagram, X, or Facebook, and let’s keep the #IPL2025 excitement going!
Stay tuned to IPLFan.in for live scores, latest news, and updates from the IPL 2025 season. We’ll be back with a full match report, including the completed scoreboard, after the game concludes on March 26!