The Rajasthan Royals will take on the Kolkata Knight Riders in match 18 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday. Both sides are in dire need of a win, having lost three of the four matches they have played so far this season.

KKR on a three-match losing run since their opening-day win over the Sunrisers Hyderabad, while Rajasthan have lost two in a row after miraculously beating the Delhi Capitals in the second match, after losing to Punjab Kings on opening day. 

Here are the three things to watch out for in today’s encounter:

1. Top-order struggles

Both teams have seen their top-order struggle so far this season.

For KKR, Nitish Rana scored consecutive fifties in the first two games but has failed to perform in the losses since. Shubman Gill, whose impressive IPL 2020 campaign saw him earn a spot in India’s Test squad against Australia and England, is yet to replicate last season’s form. Rahul Tripathi has also failed to build on the fifty he scored in the opening-day won over SRH. 

For RR, Sanju Samson’s valiant 119 went in vain against Punjab on the opening day and that has been his only meanigful contribution with the bat, recording scores of 1, 4 and 21 since. Similarly, Jos Buttler, with the exception of a 49 against CSK, and Manan Vohra have failed to fire at the top of the order. 

2. Another run-fest at Wankhede?

Wankhede Stadium has so far dished out high-scoring affairs so far and this could be another run fest. The pitch has been used twice before this season and both matches have produced totals in excess of 200. There is an even covering of grass on the surface which should aid batting. 

3. KKR bowling issues

The twi-time champions are having real issues with their bowling attack, conceding far too many runs and lacking death bowling finess to concede momentum in crucial stages of the match.

Their pace spearhead Pat Cummins is the world’s top-rated bowler in Tests but has not replicated his performances in IPL. In the loss against CSK last time out, he conceded 58 runs in four overs, while Prasidh Krishna, Andre Russel and Kamlesh Nagarkoti also concede at over 12 an over.