IPL 2018 Eliminator, KKR vs RR: In-form Kolkata to face resilient Rajasthan

In the Eliminator of Vivo Indian Premier League (IPL 2018) Ajinkya Rahane’s Rajasthan Royals (RR) will take on Kolkata Knight Riders, led by Dinesh Karthik, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. With odds stacked against them, former champions Rajasthan Royals will look to go full throttle when they lock horns with two-time winners and overwhelming favourites Kolkata Knight Riders in today’s IPL match. KKR finished the league season in the third position on Vivo IPL points table as they won 8 of their 14 group-stage matches, including winning their last three matches which gave them the required momentum for second playoffs of IPL 2018. In their last league game of IPL 2018, they defeated table-toppers SRH. The winner in today’s IPL match (Eliminator) will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2018 Qualifier 2 on May 25.

What role weather condition will play in IPL 2018 Eliminator?

A cloudy evening with thunderstorms expected around10 PM. If rain comes into the equation and results in a washout, KKR will play the second qualifier while RR will be knocked out on the basis of points table standings

IPL 2018, MI vs KXIP: Mumbai face Punjab in crucial match today for playoff

In the 50th match of Vivo Indian Premier League (IPL 2018) Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians (MI) will take on Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) led by R Ashwin in a must-win game at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. MI will be desperate for a win against KXIP to keep their playoff hopes alive when they square-off in today’s IPL match. With 10 points, the three-time champions Mumbai Indians are placed at the sixth spot in the Vivo IPL points table while their opponents are a spot ahead with 12 points in their kitty.

Just when MI's dream of making it to the final four was on the verge of getting shattered, the Rohit Sharma-led brigade came up with a spirited show to register a hat-trick of wins before faltering against Rajasthan Royals in their previous game. Mumbai Indians have to win both their remaining two matches to keep their chances alive for advancing to the playoffs.

Mumbai Indians, with an excellent net run-rate, need to put behind the humiliation by the Rajasthan Royals and come out with all guns blazing against an equally jittery KXIP, who have lost their way in the second half of IPL 2018 after starting strongly. MI's middle order was yet again exposed in the last game when their batsmen, including skipper Rohit Sharma, failed miserably. Only Suryakumar Yadav has been among the runs on a consistent basis and MI would be pleased with the return to form of West Indian opener Evin Lewis. These two will be banked upon to provide an excellent start.

IPL 2018, CSK vs RR: Rajasthan to face mighty Chennai in must-win tie today

In the 43rd match of Vivo Indian Premier League (IPL 2018) Ajinkya Rahane-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) will take on Chennai Super Kings led by MS Dhoni at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Back to winning ways after a hat-trick of defeats, a desperate Rajasthan Royals will face a herculean task when they take on mighty Chennai Super Kings in a must-win game in IPL today’s match. The RR outfit didn't have the best of campaigns so far in IPL 2018 and are placed sixth with just eight points from 10 games in Vivo IPL points table.

Three consecutive defeats have more or less sealed their fate but Rajasthan Royals somehow managed to keep themselves afloat with a 15-run win over Kings XI Punjab in their previous game. But for things to turn around for the Rajasthan Royals, every aspect of their game needs to improve and click for them in the remaining four games. Today’s IPL match would also provide Rajasthan Royals a chance to avenge their 64-run loss to CSK at Pune in their previous encounter. Standing precariously, the Ajinkya Rahane-led side need to win today’s IPL match to keep alive their play-off chances. A defeat will definitely end their hopes. The hosts are back on their home turf, Jaipur, where they have recorded three of their four victories and this might work for Rajasthan Royals going into today’s crucial game. RR were badly hurt by the lackluster performance of their batsmen and bowlers in IPL 2018. Average performance by captain Rahane and Sanju Samson and below-par show of star English all-rounder Ben Stokes and Rahul Tripathi has hurt Royals badly and the hosts need its batting unit to fire in unison against the formidable Chennai Super Kings. English wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler came to Rajsthan Royals' rescue in the previous match smashing a 58-ball 82 to take the hosts to 158 for eight, a target which their bowlers defended, thanks to impressive performances from Krishnappa Gowtham, Kiwi spinner Ish Sodhi and Jofra Archer.