The Rajasthan Royals will face the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 13th game of the Indian Premier League this time around at the Motera in Ahmedabad. This is a home game for the Rajasthan Royals. The Knight Riders have played three games so far and won two of them, whereas the Royals have both their matches and will be looking at notching up their first points of the tournament.

It is ironical how the things have changed around for both the sides. The Jaipur Rajasthan Royals were the champions in the first edition of the tournament, whereas the Knight Riders went from one loss to another in both the editions of the tournament. In fact, the Knight Riders were so atrocious that the coach was sacked, the captain was changed and the support staff totally shuffled.

As compared to that, this time around, the Royals have gone from one problem to another and are now in the danger of going through their worst losing streak. For starters, it was the loss of Ravindra Jadeja that would have hurt them. If that was not enough, they lost a close game to Mumbai and were then routed by the Delhi Daredevils. In the same game against the Daredevils, they also lost three of their better players to injuries, two of whom are doubtful for this game, and one, who has returned back.

Yes, Graeme Smith will no longer be a part of the tournament after it was revealed that he had a couple of broken bones in his middle finger and that he could not take any further part in it. Apart from Smith, though, there were issues with Yusuf Pathan and Dimitri Mascarenhas as well, as Pathan seemed to have popped his shoulder out while Mascarenhas could be going back home as well with a twisted ankle.

As compared to that, the Kolkata Knight Riders have had some tough games but have come out winners in two. Ironically, with Shah rukh Khan returning to cheer for his side, the team lost to the Chennai Super Kings in the third game. What the Knight Riders learnt the other day was that their death bowling was still not to the best of the abilities and that they will need to come out trumps there.

While guys like Angelo Mathews are good at the start of the innings, to expect them to bowl in the later innings is difficult. Also, their best bowler in death overs is Charl Langeveldt and he was sitting out of the game, making it difficult. One gets the sense that Langeveldt needs to make a comeback into the side, but at whose expense is a tough question that needs an answer to.

Tag :- Angelo Mathews   Graeme Smith   Jaipur Rajasthan Royals   Kolkata Knight Riders   Ravindra Jadeja   Yusuf Pathan