IPL 2023 MATCH PREVIEW: RCB vs RR

After a promising start to the season with an emphatic victory over Mumbai, RCB's old habits seemed to have resurfaced in no time. Their perennial issue of suffering a big loss that damages their Net Run Rate (NRR) has plagued them for the past five seasons, costing them a playoff spot or a chance to finish in the top two. Despite being in commanding positions, RCB lost both their games against KKR and Lucknow due to rudimentary mistakes. Allowing the opposition to hunt down a colossal total of 210 after reducing them to 37/3 and permitting them to amass 204 from a precarious position of 89/4 only highlights the incompetence of the RCB team.

Following a "sweet win" over LSG, it seemed as though RCB's crusade had regained momentum. However, they experienced two consecutive decisive defeats at the hands of Delhi and MI, significantly compromising their net run rate. To remain in contention for the playoffs, they must achieve three consecutive victories.This has undoubtedly been RCB’s one of finest seasons with the ball if we exclude the brainfade in the middle overs of 2nd and 3rd game and the onslaught at Wankhede.

Defended 174 at Chinnaswamy
Defended 174 at Mohali
Defended 190 at Chinnaswamy
Defended 126 at Lucknow

RR has displayed a superior style of cricket compared to their current standing on the points table. Despite posting impressive scores against MI and SRH, which should have resulted in comfortable wins, they ended up losing due to their vulnerability in the death overs. Today's match between the two teams is pivotal and can be considered a virtual eliminator, as a loss could potentially terminate either side's pursuit for a spot in the playoffs.

Probable Playing XIs

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, Mahipal Lomror, Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik(wk), Suyash Prabhudesai, Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Josh Hazlewood, Mohammed Siraj, Vijaykumar Vyasakh

Rajasthan Royals

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, Joe Root, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sandeep Sharma, KM Asif

Venue

Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

-Average Total batting 1st: 157.7
-Average 1st innings winning total: 175.8

-Highest total: 217/6 by SRH v RR, 2023
-Lowest total: 92 by MI v RR, 2013

-Total Match Played: 51
-Batting First Won: 17
-Batting Second Won: 34

Head to Head

Overall: RCB leads by 14-12
Batting 1st: RR leads by 5-4
Batting 2nd: RCB leads by 10-7
Last 5 matches: RCB leads by 3-2

Most Runs

Virat Kohli - 600
AB de Villiers - 488

Most Wickets

Yuzvendra Chahal - 20
Shreyas Gopal - 14

Points Table

RR: 5th
RCB: 7th

Team Form

RCB: W L L W L W W L W L L
RR: W L W W W L L W L L L W

Match Ups

Kohli v Ashwin: 160 off 125, 1 dismissals
Kohli v Boult: 60 off 46, 1 dismissals
Maxwell v Ashwin: 146 off 73, 3 dismissals
Kohli v Sandeep: 78 off 59, 7 dismissals
Faf v Boult: 98 off 94, 3 dismissals
Maxwell v Yuzi: 147 off 85, 5 dismissals
DK v Yuzi: 47 off 51, 3 dismissals

Sanju v Hasaranga: 40 off 43, 6 dismissals
Sanju v Siraj: 21 off 20, 2 dismissals
Buttler v Siraj: 41 off 29, 2 dismissals
Hetmyer v Harshal: 35 off 28, no dismissals
Hetmyer v Siraj; 35 off 24, 1 dismissals

Form Update ( last 5 innings)

Key Players and Fantasy Picks

Faf du Plessis / Virat Kohli

A top order batter should be your 1st priority in Fantasy 11. Faf has been in some surreal form off late with 177 runs at an SR of 143 in BBL and became the 1st centurion in SA 20. He scored 369 runs at an average of 41 (2nd highest). He is the orange cap holder with 577 runs at a SR of 157 with 32 sixes.

In contrast to the preceding few seasons, Virat Kohli has now ignited the IPL with his exceptional performance. His approach, intent, and boundary percentage have all improved to a remarkable extent compared to his previous three seasons.

Jos Buttler / Yashasvi Jaiswal

Was the orange cap winner last year with 863 runs at an SR of 149. He hit 4 100s. He has been in superb form since the 2021 WC where he hit a 100 against SL. Then repeated his performance against Aus before the 2022 wc and obliterated India in the semis. No one has scored more runs than him at a better SR in PP since 2018. He started his season with a quickfire 20 oddball 50 and has 244 runs at an impressive SR of 149 but seemed off colour all this while until he scored a 95 against SRH.

Yashasvi should be a blind pick with the current form he is in but law of averages could very well catch up with him. It could be a high risk high reward situation if we leave him out of the 11

Sanju Samson

Sanju started the season on a positive note, however, he experienced a slight decline in form thereafter. He played a crucial role in RR's victory over GT, particularly due to his onslaught against Rashid Khan, which shifted the momentum in favor of RR. Hasaranga has dismissed him 6 times, and if RR stand any chance Sanju has to replicate that performance against Hasaranga in middle overs.

Yuzi Chahal

RCB has struggled to dominate spinners bowling in the middle overs, which has been their biggest weak point. And, the combination of Ashwin and Chahal has the potential to impede the run-scoring in the middle overs, similar to how DC, KKR and PBKS were able to do in the previous matches.

Glenn Maxwell

Since 2021, Maxwell has scored 1100+ runs for RCB at a SR of 152. No one scored more runs than him at a better rate and he did it by batting at 4 or below. He is also an effective off spinner who bowled a few economical overs in Powerplay. With Rajat not in the scene and DK not among runs in the recent past, the onus of carrying the middle order solely lies on him and he did not disappoint against LSG scoring 59 from 29 balls and straightaway took on the spinners in middle overs against Delhi, MI and against CSK. He has 27 sixes so far and a SR of 186 this season

Fantasy XI