The IPL 2022 campaign is the worst-ever for the most successful team in the tournament, the Mumbai Indians. In fact, their eight consecutive losses from the start of the season have been the worst in the tournament’s history. With six more matches to go, the Mumbai Indians' hope to qualify for the playoffs is practically over. Though, mathematically, they can still advance to the next round if they win the RR vs MI contest. However, that chance will also perish if they lose against the Rajasthan Royals on Saturday.
Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians: Team News
The champions of the inaugural edition, the Rajasthan Royals, have been in excellent form this season. It seems they are a genuine contender for the IPL 2022. Rajasthan are currently in the second position with 12 points. They are a couple of wins away from securing a place in the playoffs.
On the other hand, the Mumbai Indians have yet to register a win in this year’s IPL. They are on their way to surpassing Pune Warriors and Delhi Capitals' eleven straight defeats in the Indian Premier League. Mumbai need to win a match within the next two matches to avoid such an embarrassing record.
Read IPL 2022: Mustafizur’s Delhi seek win against Kolkata in the race for top four finish
Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan's campaign should feel confident after a comfortable 29-win against Royal Challengers Bangalore in their latest league match. It’s Jos Buttler who has taken the bulk of the responsibility for batting for the Royals. However, Buttler didn’t perform with the bat on Tuesday (April 26), but that didn’t stop Rajasthan from clinching the contest.
Young middle-order batter, Riyan Parag stepped up with the bat and made 56 off 31, striking the ball at a rate of 180.64. The bowling department is very strong for Rajasthan this season and they have probably the best options in bowling among the participating teams.
Playing XI (RR):
Top Order: Jos Buttler, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson (Captain, Wicket-Keeper). Middle-Orders: Shimron Hetmyer, Daryl Mitchell, Riyan Parag, Ravi Ashwin, Trent Boult.
Lower-Order: Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Sen.
Read Key Takeaways from the DPL 2022
Mumbai Indians
The Mumbai franchise lost some of their star players who helped them win multiple IPL trophies over the years. Clearly, losing those players have impacted immensely on the Mumbai Indians' performance this season. None of the Mumbai Indians' main power hitters — Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Kieron Pollard perform well with the bat, which is a big concern. Their bowling hasn’t been impressive either.
Playing XI (MI):
Top-Order: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ishan Kishan (Wicket-Keeper), Dewald Brevis;
Middle-Orders: Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Kieron Pollard, Daniel Sams, Jaydev Unadkat;
Lower-Order: Hrithik Shokeen, Jasprit Bumrah, Riley Meredith.
Match Schedule (RR vs MI)
Time: Saturday (April 30) at 8 pm (Bangladesh Standard Time) | Venue: Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai.
Read DPL 2022: Sheikh Jamal win championship, while Khelaghar are relegated
Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals: Head-to-Head
Mumbai and Rajasthan have met each other 26 times. The Mumbai Indians lead the head-to-head battle with 13 wins. On the other hand, Rajasthan have won 12 matches and one match had no result.
Aftermath
Rajasthan Royals will undoubtedly start as favourites in the RR vs MI contest, based on their recent form. The Royals team will try to move even closer to the playoffs by beating Mumbai in the game. On the other hand, the Mumbai Indians team’s confidence level has worsened with each defeat in the tournament. There is no more hope left for them in this year’s competition.
The only thing the Mumbai team can do is to play with a sense of pressure-free and try to win as many games as possible before the season ends. They can identify their best playing XI by rotating players from the squad, which could be beneficial for the next season.
Read IPL 2022: Halfway Through, Playoffs Qualification Scenarios for Ten Teams