RR vs MI Toss Update: Hardik Pandya Opts to Bowl as Rain Forces 11-Over Clash in Guwahati

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and opted to bowl first against Rajasthan Royals in Match 13 of IPL 2026 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday, after persistent rain forced officials to reduce the contest to an 11-over-a-side match.

The toss itself was delayed significantly due to wet conditions and finally took place at 9:55 PM IST, with Mumbai Indians calling tails and winning the coin flip. With rain having interrupted proceedings earlier in the evening, Pandya chose to bowl first, citing the shortened format and the possibility of improved batting conditions later in the night.

Match officials confirmed that the game would begin at 10:10 PM IST, with each side allotted 11 overs, while the powerplay has been

reduced to 3.2 overs. The shortened format is expected to alter the tactical approach of both teams, with aggressive batting likely from the outset and bowlers under pressure to execute their plans with precision.

The rain interruption has turned what was expected to be a full-length contest into a high-intensity sprint, where momentum swings can happen quickly and early breakthroughs could prove decisive. In shortened matches, teams often look to maximize scoring opportunities from the first few overs, making the powerplay phase particularly crucial.

For Rajasthan Royals, batting first means they will need to set a competitive total quickly against Mumbai Indians' experienced bowling attack. Mumbai, meanwhile, will hope to take advantage of early conditions and restrict RR before chasing under potentially easier batting conditions later in the night.

With rain already impacting the start and forcing a reduced-overs encounter, both teams now face a tactical battle in a format where every ball could shape the outcome.

RR vs MI Toss Result

Toss Winner: Mumbai Indians

Decision: Bowl

Toss Impact at Barsapara Stadium

Historically, captains winning the toss at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium have often opted to bowl first, considering the assistance available for bowlers early on and better batting conditions later in the match.

The surface in Guwahati typically offers some movement for fast bowlers with the new ball, while batting becomes easier as the match progresses.

RR vs MI Playing XI

Rajasthan Royals Playing XI

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma

Mumbai Indians Playing XI