Rajasthan Royals take on Delhi Capitals in Match 43 of IPL 2026 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Friday, with the forecast suggesting punishing afternoon heat and a demanding finish under the lights. Temperatures are expected to hover near the 40-degree mark for most of the day, only easing gradually as the game moves deeper into the evening.
Jaipur weather: brutal heat, then a tougher evening
Jaipur is set to remain very hot through the afternoon, with conditions staying stifling even as evening approaches. The day’s peak is forecast to reach close to 41°C, before readings slip into the 30s as play progresses.
- The air is expected to feel heavy well into the evening, making batting and fielding more physically demanding.
- Temperatures should gradually fall from the afternoon peak into the 30s as the match advances.
- The “feels like” temperature is likely to stay a touch higher than the thermometer due to dry summer air.
Pitch and conditions at Sawai Mansingh Stadium
The Sawai Mansingh Stadium has often been a venue that can offer a fairly balanced contest, but in the 2026 season the surface has leaned toward high scoring, with plenty of encouragement for batters. A key factor expected tonight is dew after sunset, which will significantly change how the ball behaves.
- The pitch has shown a batter-friendly trend in IPL 2026, with strong potential for runs.
- Heavy dew is expected after sunset, which can make the ball extremely slippery.
- Slippery conditions in the second innings may hinder spinners, including Kuldeep Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi.
- The black-soil nature of the wicket tends to keep bounce on the lower side.
Head-to-head: RR and DC locked even
Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals have met 30 times in their head-to-head history, and the rivalry is perfectly balanced so far, with both franchises claiming the same number of wins.
- Total matches: 30
- Rajasthan Royals won: 15
- Delhi Capitals won: 15
Match build-up: RR’s momentum vs DC’s urgency
With Match 43 looming, Rajasthan will aim to continue the momentum they have gathered recently when they face Delhi at the same venue. Delhi, meanwhile, come into the game seeking an immediate turnaround after a tough stretch of results.
Rajasthan Royals: pushing for consistency
Rajasthan have enjoyed a strong run so far, winning six of their nine matches to occupy fourth place on the points table. The side, led by Riyan Parag, is also riding confidence after delivering a pressure-handling chase against Punjab Kings.
- RR’s record: six wins from nine matches.
- Current position: fourth in the points table.
- Leadership: Riyan Parag.
- Recent highlight: RR successfully chased a 223-run target to inflict Punjab Kings’ first loss of the season.
Delhi Capitals: under pressure to arrest the slide
Delhi Capitals are in a more precarious spot, having managed only three victories from eight matches. They sit seventh in the table and are currently enduring a three-match losing streak, which adds urgency to their approach.
- DC’s record: three wins from eight matches.
- Current position: seventh in the standings.
- Leadership: Axar Patel.
- Form: three consecutive defeats.
Delhi’s last outing was especially disappointing, with a heavy loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. They were dismissed for a relatively modest total, and Bengaluru chased it down comfortably, leaving questions around both batting output and bowling control.
- Last match: a heavy defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
- Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium.
- Delhi batting: knocked over for a modest total.
- Bengaluru chase: completed the target with ease.
- Key concerns: weaknesses exposed in both batting and bowling departments.
