RCB's out-of-touch batting looks to fire against RR's competent bowling in Royal battle
Royal Challengers may look to replace Anuj Rawat in bid to firm up misfiring top order against Yuzvendra Chahal and co
Shashank Kishore
25-Apr-2022
Big picture
Start poorly, recover, gain momentum, lose a few and then make a last-ditch climb to the playoffs. This has somewhat been a loose trend both Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals have followed over the past few years. In that sense, being among the early pace-setters is an unusual position to be in.Royals are slightly better off at present, having racked up impressive wins over Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals to be placed third on the points table with five wins in seven games. Royal Challengers would be relieved their customary mid-season shellacking is out of the way. A forgettable 68 all out two nights ago against Sunrisers Hyderabad leaves them currently at fifth spot, but with five wins in eight.
In the first exchange three weeks ago, Royal Challengers overcame a middle-order slump to chase down 170. Royals will be itching to pull one back, and on current form you wouldn't want to bet against them being able to do that.
The match is another exchange between key Royals players up against their former team. Devdutt Padikkal and Yuzvendra Chahal have played key roles with bat and ball. However, Anuj Rawat, a former Royals player too, hasn't quite set the batting charts on fire for his new team, and is in danger of losing his place.
But the one man who isn't yet in threat of losing it, but is in desperate need for runs is Virat Kohli. An unusually prolonged patch of low scores this season - something he hasn't been used to over the past few years - is something he will need to try and find a way out of.
Likely XIs
Rawat's string of low scores could force a change for Royal Challengers. There are two ways of altering the balance. If they can open with Suyash Prabhudessai, it gives them the luxury of playing an extra bowling option. Else, Rajat Patidar or Mahipal Lomror could come in to replace Rawat.Royal Challengers Bangalore: 1 Faf du Plessis (capt), 2 Anuj Rawat/Rajat Patidar, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Shahbaz Ahmed, 6 Suyash Prabhudessai, 7 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Harshal Patel, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Josh Hazlewood
Meanwhile, Royals have no reason to change their XI, unless there are last-moment injury concerns.
Rajasthan Royals: 1 Jos Buttler, 2 Devdutt Padikkal, 3 Sanju Samson (capt, wk), 4 Shimron Hetmyer, 5 Karun Nair, 6 Riyan Parag, 7 R Ashwin, 8 Obed McCoy, 9 Trent Boult, 10 Prasidh Krishna, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal
Strategy Punt
Stats that matter
Shashank Kishore is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo