Rajasthan Royals seek to turn their fortunes around against Sunrisers Hyderabad

Rajasthan Royals will be hoping to snap their 4-match losing streak when they take on a Sunrisers team who have so far blown hot and cold. While the Rajasthan Royals could not regain their winning touch against the Delhi Capitals despite their return to Sharjah, the Sunrisers come into the game fresh of a trouncing of Kings XI Punjab.

Captain Steve Smith has not had the desired impact for the Royals. His failures in the past 4 games to bat through the innings has left their fairly inexperienced middle order exposed. Sanju Samson has looked a shadow of his first two games self, registering scores of 8, 4, 0, and 5 in his last 4 innings. The tournament is yet to see a Jos Buttler special at the top. Young Yashasvi Jaiswal huffed and puffed as he tried to keep together a withering run-chase against the Capitals. However, the return of Ben Stokes who will finally be playing his first game of the tournament will be a huge boost to a beleaguered team in need of immediate surgery.

Upon Stokes's return, it will probably be Andrew Tye who will have to be sacrificed. Bowling will be the lesser of the two worries for the Royals. Jofra Archer has been immense with the ball, registering figures of 3/24 in Sharjah. Kartik Tyagi has been a revelation ever since he has burst onto the scene. The spinners have been largely economical, Rahul Tewatia proving to be the diamond in the rough be it with a bat in his hand or a ball.

David Warner and Jonny Bairstow looked to be back to their fearsome best against Kings XI with a 160-run opening stand. Kane Williamson with all his experience played a gem of an innings to finish the innings off in the previous game while wickets fell all around him. Despite their seeming lack of death beyond the top 4, the Sunrisers are slowly beginning to get the best out of their Indian domestic talent which should hold them in good stead.

Rashid Khan has led the bowling group tremendously in the absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. With combined figures of 6/60 from his last 16 overs, Rashid has once again proved why he is one of the most sought after T20 bowlers in the world. Their left-arm pace bowling duo of Khaleel Ahmed and T Natarajan have stepped up big time, and given the Sunrisers bowling unit a solid outlook. Sandeep Sharma seemed to have found his rhythm back against the Kings XI which will be a heartening sign for the Sunrisers.

The Royals have struggled to score big ever since they moved out of Sharjah, and will be hoping today will be the day they begin to turn their fortunes around. The return of Ben Stokes will come as a massive uplifting factor for a team in desperate need of some inspiration. Rashid Khan bowling to Ben Stokes will make for a mouthwatering contest. A Sunrisers win will catapult them into the top 4 albeit on NRR.