IPL 2022: Can beleaguered Mumbai halt rampaging Royals?

A fourth win in a row for Rajasthan Royals would be a perfect tribute to the late Shane Warne, whose life will be celebrated on Saturday with a gala event.

Yuzvendra Chahal, the most successful bowler so far for the Royals, will aim to spin a web around MI's batters.

Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians – two teams with contrasting fortunes – will face off in an Indian Premier League group league fixture at the DY Patil Stadium on Saturday.

While five-time champion Mumbai is out of the playoff race with eight losses from as many games, Rajasthan Royals is on a three-match winning streak and is aiming to storm into the top-four.

And with Royals celebrating the life and contributions of its only IPL-winning captain Shane Warne,

who passed away in Thailand last month , during this game, a win would be a perfect tribute to the Australian legend.

ALSO READ - Rohit will bounce back strongly - MI batting coach Robin Singh

For the Royals, a lot will depend on Jos Buttler, captain Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer. Buttler has hammered three centuries in the tournament so far. Sanju and Hetmyer, too, have played their parts and with Riyan Parag rediscovering his touch, the Royals will be a confident lot. Its bowling department looks well-oiled with spin duo R. Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal pulling the strings. Chahal – with 18 scalps – leads the highest wicket-takers chart, and pacers Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna, too, have had an impact.

Mumbai Indians, meanwhile, has faltered in every department. Captain Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan have struggled, and even though Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma and Dewald Brewis have had their moments, they have not been enough. Bowling, too, has been a concern as Jasprit Bumrah has found little support from Jaydev Unadkat or Daniel Sams, forcing the management to rope in the veteran Dhawal Kulkarni.