Two months back it was this same venue where Smith and Kohli ticked off an unpleasant relationship with each other, with the latter accusing the former of using unfair means in the DRS gate. A lot has transpired since then. India pulled off an amazing comeback victory, leaving the Australians a little bitter, and Steve Smith would be itching to get back at Virat Kohli today. And while the Indian and the Australian sides were at the helm of Test cricket the last time these two captains faced off, their IPL teams are down in the dumps at the moment.
Bangalore has always been a batting paradise, but much like the recent test series, the first game here also presented a sluggish, slow turner.
RCB will be buoyed by the return of Virat Kohli and ABD, but Gayle’s form has to be a worry, he hasn’t gotten going for a long time in a format that he has ruled all through his career. And with the Bangalore pitch not being the batting paradise that it once was, it could be very difficult for him to set the ball rolling tonight as well. ABD and Virat need to fire on all cylinders if RCB have to make a comeback of sorts in the table.
Also Read: Match preview and predictions for RCB vs RPS
RPS have to sort out some huge problems for themselves. Their players are firing in patches, and they are just not gelling as a side. They might have to come up with a new team combination, if they want to have any chance of reviving themselves.
Let’s get to business now!
IPL Fantasy League
Transfer out: Rohit Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Lasith Malinga
Transfer in: Virat Kohli, ABD, Rahul Tripathi
Now, I don’t have any player from this game in my side as of now.
No matter what the pitch is, no matter who the opposition is, class players always find a way to come good. ABD and Virat Kohli are definitely a few steps ahead every other player in this format, and thus don’t really worry about the toss or the pitch report before getting them in. Virat made a brilliant comeback, with a quick fire 50 on a track that everyone else found tough to bat on. Get both of them in, it is mandatory.
Now, I can bring in only one foreign player into my side(Trent Boult, Chris Morris and David Warner feature tomorrow) and out of Steve Smith, Ben Stokes, ABD and Imran Tahir; ABD seems the best choice as you never really know how quickly he can score. Ben Stokes hasn’t had the best of starts to IPL career, Tahir was taken to the cleaners in the previous game and Steve Smith scores slowly as compared to ABD.
For the uncapped player, I will get in one from the RPS side as none of the RCB uncapped players offer me a lot in both departments(that is they don’t have a very sound all rounder)
Rahul Tripathi opened the batting for RPS last time round and also bowls upto two overs of medium pace every game. On a traditionally good batting surface he could come off really well, especially against a timid RCB bowling line up. Get him in!
Captain: ABD(If RCB bat first)/Virat Kohli(if RCB bat second)
Fandromeda tips on the next page:
Fandromeda
Transfer out: Jos Buttler, Lasith Malinga
Transfer in: ABD, Samuel Badree
Now, I already have Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane in my side for this game.
The first player that I get in is ABD(Reasons mentioned in the IPL Fantasy League section).
Again, I can bring in just one more overseas player into my side, as all my other overseas players feature in the game tomorrow.
Ben Stokes, Steve Smith, Imran Tahir and Samuel Badree feature in my consideration set for that final overseas player slot.
In a straight toss up between Tahir and Badree, I would go in with Badree for this game, as he will up against a far less destructive outfit. Ben Stokes does seem like a very attractive option as he could cream the RCB bowlers in the final few overs but could go for as many in his death overs as well. I leave out Steve Smith because he doesn’t give me as much assurance as a Badree, because Badree should be able to chip in with at least one wicket.
Batting Star: ABD(if RCB bat first)/Virat Kohli(If RCB bat second)
Bowling Star: Samuel Badree
