The first round of matches in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) has concluded, and the Rajasthan Royals are set to face the Kolkata Knight Riders in the upcoming match. This game will take place in Guwahati, a venue where the Royals have experienced varied outcomes in the past. However, this occasion is particularly significant as they will be led by local favorite Riyan Parag.

Both teams received harsh lessons in their opening encounters. The Knight Riders suffered a heavy defeat against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the season's inaugural match, while the Royals allowed the Sunrisers Hyderabad to post the second-highest score in IPL history the following day. On a positive note, both teams demonstrated enough batting prowess to alleviate concerns in that area.

It is unlikely that either team will make significant changes, given that this is only their second match of the season. Nevertheless, the Royals might consider substituting Wanindu Hasaranga for his fellow Sri Lankan teammate Maheesh Theekshana to prevent Sunil Narine from having a prolonged impact during the powerplay.

Although Jofra Archer recorded disappointing figures in his last match, the Royals are expected to retain him in the lineup. However, they may also contemplate including Akash Madhwal, known for his effective yorker deliveries.

The Knight Riders are expected to keep Anrich Nortje on the sidelines and opt for Spencer Johnson instead. They will be hoping that the underperforming members of their batting lineup, aside from captain Rahane and Narine, can find their rhythm in Guwahati and contribute significantly to the team's score.

Quinton de Kock will face significant pressure as he takes on the role of KKR's primary opener and wicketkeeper, particularly with the aggressive Rahmanullah Gurbaz waiting in the wings. Gurbaz, who was the leading run-scorer at the T20 World Cup and earned a spot as an opener in the ICC's ODI team of the year, played a crucial role in KKR's title victory last season while stepping in for Phil Salt.

Projected XI and impact player for RR: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag (c), Nitish Rana, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Jofra Archer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Projected XI and impact player for KKR: Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson/Anrich Nortje, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora.

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