File Image: Riyan Parag and Hardik Pandya (Pic credit: IPL)

Mumbai Indians will be banking on the return of skipper Hardik Pandya as they look to bounce back against an in-form Rajasthan Royals in their IPL clash on Tuesday.Pandya missed MI’s previous game due to illness, a setback that proved costly in their six-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals. His absence not only deprived the side of his all-round abilities but also forced a reshuffle in team combination. While Suryakumar Yadav stepped in as stand-in captain, MI struggled to find balance, particularly with the ball.The bowling unit looked unsettled, with Corbin Bosch proving expensive, while Jasprit Bumrah has been economical but is yet to take a wicket this season. Mitchell Santner has been a bright spot in spin, but the attack overall will need to step up significantly.MI face a stiff challenge against a Royals side that has hit the ground running this season. Rajasthan’s top order has been particularly impressive, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi providing explosive starts, while Dhruv Jurel has added solidity in the middle. Skipper Riyan Parag has led astutely, especially in crunch moments.Their bowling unit has also delivered, with Ravi Bishnoi emerging as a key wicket-taker and Tushar Deshpande impressing at the death.

RR vs MI Head-to-Head

RR vs MI: Pitch Report

Guwahati has shown early assistance for fast bowlers this season, particularly under overcast conditions. In the only game here so far, Chennai Super Kings were bowled out for 127, with early moisture aiding seam movement, before Rajasthan Royals chased it down comfortably.With rain forecast in the afternoon and clearer skies later, similar conditions are expected. The new ball could offer swing and seam in the Powerplay, making the initial overs crucial. As the pitch dries, batting should become easier, with dew likely to aid chasing teams under lights.

RR vs MI: Predicted XIs

Rajasthan Royals predicted XI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (capt), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar DeshpandeImpact Sub: Sandeep SharmaMumbai Indians predicted XI: Rohit Sharma, Ryan RIckelton (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Naman Dhir, Hardik Pandya (capt), Sherfane Rutherford, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Trent Boult, Mayank MarkandeImpact Sub: Jasprit Bumrah

RR vs MI: Guwahati Weather Update

Mostly cloudy conditions are expected, with light morning showers followed by thunderstorms in parts during the afternoon. The temperature is likely to peak around 29°C. By evening, skies should turn partly cloudy, although there remains a chance of a late-night thunderstorm, with temperatures dipping to around 19°C.During match hours, conditions look relatively stable, with partly cloudy skies and only around a 10% chance of rain.

RR vs MI: Live Streaming details

The RR vs MI clash will be held at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, with the match set to begin at 7:30 PM IST. The game will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on JioHotstar.

RR vs MI squads

Rajasthan Royals: Riyan Parag (c), Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Aman Perala, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Adam Milne, Brijesh Sharma, Jofra Archer, Kuldeep Sen, Kwena Maphaka, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi and Sandeep Sharma.Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Danish Malewar, Robin Minz (wk), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Atharva Ankolekar, Raj Bawa, Corbin Bosch, Will Jacks, Mayank Rawat, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Tilak Varma, Ashwani Kumar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Deepak Chahar, AM Ghazanfar, Mayank Markande, Mohammad Izhar, Raghu Sharma.