History is on Hardik Pandya's side, which has won all three games against the Royals so far, and that would certainly play on the minds of the Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan outfit at the Narendra Modi stadium.
New Zealand's stand-in captain Tom Latham was delighted to have found a new hero in ton-up Rachin Ravindra as they began their World Cup campaign, obliterating champions England by 9 wickets in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
New Zealand face England-beaters Afghanistan aiming to keep their unbeaten run intact
Both Jaiswal and du Plessis, the leading run-getters in IPL 2023 so far, are in scintillating form. While du Plessis is leading the scoring charts with 576 runs from 11 innings, including six half centuries and a best of 84, Jaiswal is a close second with 575 runs from 12 matches, which includes four fifties and a 124-run knock.
Rajasthan Royals started off their IPL 2023 campaign in grand style as they thrashed Sunrisers Hyderabad by 72 runs.
Images from the World Cup match between South Africa and England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.
New Zealand beat England by a comfortable six wickets as the four-match Twenty20 International series finished in a 2-2 draw.
Royal Challengers Bangalore batter Virat Kohli scored 973 runs in 2016 for the most runs in a season.
Samson's innings was complimented with fine strokeplay as well as quick running that brought him another IPL half-century and put RR in victory's path.
IMAGES from the Indian Premier League matches played in Guwahati on Saturday.
They are languishing at the bottom and placed eighth in the points table after the first half of IPL 2023.
Following their comfortable win over Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson lauded the home team's attacking mentality.
'Credit to the way England played, they put us under pressure. They played beautifully, hats-off to England, they were clinical.'
Former captain Michael Vaughan said the BCCI should "swallow pride" and look at England for inspiration after India's semi-final exit from the T20 World Cup.
'I think it's going to be @rajasthanroyals year.. they will be lifting the trophy late in May..'
Rajasthan Royals face tough challenge against in-form Chennai Super Kings
Maxwell relishes 'freedom to express' with match-winning 77 for RCB against RR
Table-toppers Rajasthan Royals need more from their fragile middle-order as they look to return to winning ways against an inconsistent but dangerous Royal Challengers Bangalore in Sunday's IPL match in Bengaluru.
How the IPL teams have shaped up after the auction.
Gujarat Titans put up a dazzling show to hand Rajasthan Royals a crushing 9-wicket defeat at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match played between Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings in Guwahati on Wednesday.
With 125 runs in three matches including two half-centuries, Rajasthan Royals opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has made his best start yet to the IPL.
England meet Australia at Adelaide Oval on Thursday in the first of three one-dayers, a series with nothing major at stake for either team. All-rounder Moeen Ali said it was "horrible" to have another game so soon after Sunday's final.
'The winning shot was a great feeling, I wanted to finish the game and winning the game has been my motto. I'm blessed and grateful, I'm trying my best.'
Afghanistan dismissed England for 215 to create one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
England captain Jos Buttler is happy with his team's preparation but tipped champions Australia as the favourites to win the Twenty20 World Cup on home soil.
Jos Buttler's presence is rubbing off on the Rajasthan Royals' youngsters as well, captain Sanju Samson said.
Australia's T20 captain Aaron Finch said he is not a big fan of bowlers running out batters backing up too far at the non-striker's end and wants the bowlers to give a warning before executing the mode of dismissal.
'When I was playing regularly, there must have been someone who had to sit out, and I wasn't guilty. So you can't feel low if you are sitting out because the team is winning.'
The 10-team tournament will be played across 10 venues culminating in the November 19 final at the 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
'Please have a day of Thursday, bud! You know I love you, but just chill Thursday please', KP, a former England captain, wisecracked as his buddy posted a video preparing for the big match against Jos Buttler's team.
Resurgent KKR face struggling RR, aim to break into top-4
'It was all about targeting one or two over but unfortunately every time we wanted to do that we lost a wicket'
Buttler had produced a Player of the Match performance in the dramatic 20-run victory over New Zealand
Devdutt Padikkal, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shimron Hetmyer starred in the Royals chase.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index of World Cup 2023 after the first 12 games.
IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match played between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals in Chennai on Wednesday.
After defeats in their opening two matches, Australia came roaring back, winning their next nine games in succession
Shaping strategies to suit different oppositions and venues will be key for every team during the World Cup and New Zealand have an Indian, who is familiar with conditions and owns the data to assist them -- Saurabh Walkar, their performance analyst.
'There has not been a clear direction on what he's going to do yet, but we are still hopeful. I've always said his bowling would be a bonus, but just look at what he brings with the bat, even in the field.'
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