By In a nutshell, the Royal Challengers Bangalore have been plagued by the same old worries in the new season, with just one win in their four games so far. Faf du Plessis’ men are staring down the barrel as far as their playoff dreams are concerned, with the batting lacking consistency and the bowling being woefully short of clarity in execution. Facing a tough assignment against the Rajasthan Royals, who are one of the two unbeaten sides this season, the familiar scenario of crisis looms large for RCB, especially given RR’s potent home record at Jaipur.
The Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, have started the season with a bang, with three wins out of three and impressive victories. Their bowling continues to be their stronger suit, and the resurgence of Riyan Parag adds an extra dimension to the batting unit. With Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal yet to fire, the duo’s imminent form could make the hosts’ batting ominous. Despite stumbling at home in the 2023 season, RR have returned to their winning ways at Jaipur this season.
With the venue’s big dimensions and history of two-paced pitches, RCB’s batting faces a tough task. Most of their batters prefer pace on the ball for strokeplay, and RR’s bowlers will be aware of the loopholes to exploit. Bangalore’s bowlers might find some respite due to the conditions, but they will also have to contend with Rajasthan’s formidable batting unit, a sub-plot that could potentially decide the game’s outcome.
RCB looks for win in Jaipur
The game is set for Saturday, April 6, at 19:30 IST at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Contrary to historical data, both games in Jaipur this season have seen 180-plus scores by the team batting first, with batting becoming easier in the evening game. Another batting-friendly surface is expected, possibly with something in it to keep the bowlers interested.
In head-to-head encounters, RR hold a slender 15-12 lead over RCB from 30 games, with three no-results also in the mix.
Team watch:
Rajasthan Royals: All is well in the RR camp when it comes to the fitness of their squad, with no casualties reported. Sandeep Sharma, with 26 wickets from 18 games against RCB, has an impeccable record against Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell, which could play a crucial role in the contest. The Royals are likely to field an unchanged side given the convincing nature of their win against Mumbai Indians.
Probable XI: Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c/wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Trent Boult. [Impact substitute – Shubham Dubey]
Royal Challengers Bangalore: All players are expected to be available for the game in Jaipur. Jos Buttler, despite not being in form, carries a known threat, especially at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. RCB have two bowlers, Reece Topley and Mohammed Siraj, who have had success against Buttler and could play a crucial role in the game’s outcome.
Probable XI: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Anuj Rawat (wk), Dinesh Karthik, Mayank Dagar, Reece Topley, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal. [Impact substitute – Mahipal Lomror]
Did you know: Jos Buttler’s highest score in his last six IPL innings is 13, registered in the last game against Mumbai Indians. The Englishman ended IPL 2023 with three successive ducks, and the new season hasn’t been too different so far.
What they said:
- Faf du Plessis wants his side’s experienced men to step up in the batting department, stating, “You need two guys to bat through and get a partnership which we were not able to do.”
- Riyan Parag reveals a simple secret to his redemption, stating, “Nothing has changed, just that I have simplified things. Before I would think about things too much, this year the goal is simple, watch the ball, hit the ball.”
