Inaugural champions RR arrive on the back of winning all four of their games, while SRH, the IPL 2016 winners, return to their home ground after losing to Punjab Kings by six wickets in New Chandigarh.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Deshpande replaces Brijesh Sharma, while Pretorius comes in as Shimron Hetmyer is rested. \u201cA new wicket for us, first time it\u2019s been used this season as well. So hopefully there\u2019s a little bit of stickiness at the start. We\u2019ve chased down a lot of totals here. We fell short in 2024, so hopefully not the case this time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a journey. I was under (Sanju Samson) Bhaiya for the longest time, and then Sanga did really well in improving me with all the decisions and involved me in all the tactical and strategic meetings. Now I think I\u2019ve taken the onus up. Had to make a lot of tough calls, but happy to be here,\u201d said RR captain Riyan Parag.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
SRH skipper Ishan Kishan said fast bowlers Sakib Hussain and Praful Hinge replaced experienced pacers Jaydev Unadkat and Harshal Patel. \u201cI think I\u2019ve been doing this for a long time. I was a leader in Under-19 India, I\u2019ve been doing it for my state team, and I think it makes you more aware of the situation, more focused on the game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYou look to do more for your team because it\u2019s never about individual performance, it\u2019s always about teamwork. So we have done it, and I think we\u2019re doing it in a very good manner. I think obviously it makes a difference when you\u2019re the captain of the team and you\u2019ve been doing well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt shows a lot of maturity, that a player has a certain amount of growth in him now. So it did help me a bit in the last few years when I\u2019ve been a leader of my side and done well for the team. It made me come back to the Indian side. So what else can you ask for?\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Playing XIs<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (captain), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, and Tushar Deshpand<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Impact Substitutes: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravi Singh, Shubham Dubey, Brijesh Sharma<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (captain), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, and Tushar Deshpand<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Impact Substitutes: R Smaran, Sakib Hussain, Liam Livingstone, Shivam Mavi, Harshal Patel<\/p>\r\n\r\n