Big Picture: Can Rashid stop Royals from making it 5/5?
The only unbeaten side in the competition, Rajasthan Royals have both batting and bowling going right for them. But can Rashid Khan pose a threat to the table toppers' unbeaten streak?
It's been a difficult start to the season for the legspinner, with five wickets in five games at an average of 34.6 and economy of 8.65. But, he does have a stellar record against the Royals.
Jos Buttler has never hit a four or six off him in the IPL and has fallen to him three times in eight innings, averaging just 10.00 and striking at only 63.82. Riyan Parag averages 5.07against Rashid, falling to him twice in 13 deliveries. He has also dismissed Shimron Hetmyer three times in nine innings, and Yashasvi Jaiswal once in two. R Ashwin, who has batted up the order a couple of times this season, has an average of just 3.00 and has lost his wicket three times against Rashid in the IPL.
That aside, both sides have struggled to maximise their powerplays. Royals have a run rate of 7.70 in the first six overs, while Titans have gone at 8.26. But while the Royals have flipped a switch after that, striking at over 10, the Titans have struggled. Their run rate of 8.23 after the powerplay is the worst among all teams.
Titans are seventh on the points table with a 2-3 record, and against the table-toppers, a stiff challenge naturally awaits. Another defeat would leave them languishing towards the bottom but a victory away from home will lift them into the mid-table logjam.
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