RCB would still be hurting from their dismal show at Kolkata where they posted the lowest total ever in the history of IPL. With 6 wins required at least from their last 7 matches to make the playoffs, they need to get their act together. They would take heart from the similar situation in IPL 2016 where they came out with flying colours. Can Virat Kohli and co. do it again? Here are the Match Preview and Predictions as the RCB take on the Sunrisers Hyderabad !
SRH have won 4 matches out of the 7 that they have played but they have lost all their away matches. They were hard done by an MSD special in their last encounter. They are sitting pretty at the third position but would love to go back to the winning ways.
PITCH
The pitch at M. Chinnaswamy stadium this year has surprised everyone and more so their home side. It has been on a slower side and the runs have been hard to come by despite short boundaries. The maximum score this IPL here was 161 by Pune Supergiants. So this match is expected to be another low scoring encounter.
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE – STRENGTHS
Batting has always been their strength. And the embarrasment in the last match could just be the push that RCB batsman need to pull up their socks and make life hell for opposition bowlers. Expect a Virat Kohli or A B de Villiers special tonight. The spinners in their ranks, Yuzvendra Chahal, Samuel Badree and Pawan Negi have performed exceedingly well. The return of Tymal Mills has given their death bowling a much needed boost.
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE – WEAKNESSES
RCB have lacked the aggression and intent this season of IPL that they are normally associated with. Injuries have made the things even worse for them. The middle order is inexperienced and that has put too much pressure on the Big Three who haven’t performed upto the expectations. The lack of fourth and fifth bowler may still haunt them in the middle and death overs. And with the mauling they received from KKR, a big reshuffle is on the cards in the batting line up.
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD – STRENGTHS
David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan have given them steady starts throughout this season. Kane Williamson at number 3 has been in expectional form. And Moises Henriques has stepped up his game with both bat and ball and is really a headache for the opposition. Boasting of the best bowling line up in IPL, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is at his best this season. Rashid Khan has been their trump card. Bipul Sharma also bowled well in the last game.
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD – WEAKNESSES
Despite bowling well consistently throughout the season, SRH would be a little disappointed with the last match. Siddharth Kaul and Mohd. Siraj went for quite a few runs against Pune. David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan has not been at his destructive best and Yuvraj Singh is still searching for his form. Deepak Hooda and Naman Ojha haven’t been in the thick of things and they need to make a contribution with the bat. And SRH is still searching for their first away win.
PREDICTED XI
RCB – The loss at Kolkata and the position at the bottom of the table may force them to take some hard decisions today. Harpreet Singh could make his debut in place of Mandeep Singh. Sachin Baby can also get a look in here in place of Stuart Binny.
Virat Kohli (capt.), Chris Gayle, Harpreet Singh, AB de Villiers, Kedar Jadhav, Sachin Baby, Pawan Negi, Tymal Mills, Samuel Badree, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sreenath Aravind
SRH – Yuvraj Singh who missed out in the previous match due to illness should return for this game. This means that Deepak Hooda or Bipul Sharma may have to sit out to make way. Ashish Nehra, who has a great record against Kohli may make a comeback.
David Warner, Shikhar Dhawan, Kane Williamson, Moises Henriques, Yuvraj Singh, Naman Ojha, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Bipul Sharma, Mohd. Siraj, Ashish Nehra
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HEAD TO HEAD
Overall: Played 10, SRH -6, RCB -4. SRH have won their last 3 games against RCB.
MATCH PREDICTION
With both teams coming off the bruised egos, this promises to be one cliffhanger of a contest. Here’s what we predict.
Scenario 1
TOSS – RCB wins and opt to field.
1st innings Score – 160-170
Match – RCB wins with 3-5 wickets in hand.
Scenario 2
TOSS – SRH wins and opt to field.
1st innings Score – 170-180
Match – RCB wins by 15 – 25 runs.
