In the upcoming clash between two Royal Teams, Sanju Samson‘s Rajasthan Royals are set to host Royal Challengers Bengaluru, captained by Faf du Plessis, in the 19th match of the Indian Premier League, scheduled for Saturday night at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
The home team is riding high on a wave of victories, yet to taste defeat in the tournament, while their Southern counterparts are struggling to live up to expectations, disappointing their fans with lacklustre performances on the field.
Though it’s still early to make predictions, RR appears to be emerging as one of the contenders likely to secure a spot in the playoffs, whereas the road to the playoffs is becoming increasingly challenging for the Bengaluru-based franchise, requiring them to win at least six out of their remaining ten matches.
On the points table, the Pink Jersey squad currently holds the second spot with three consecutive wins in as many matches, while RCB, having played an additional match, have only managed to clinch victory once out of their four encounters, leaving them languishing in the 8th position.
What has happened so far?
In the opening game against Lucknow Super Giants, Samson led his team to a commanding first innings total of 193 runs, showcasing an unbeaten knock of 83 runs followed by a collective effort from the Pink Army bowlers successfully restricting the opposition 20 runs short of the target.
Subsequently, in their following two matches, Riyan Parag emerged as the standout performer, delivering consecutive half-centuries against Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians. In the RR vs DC match, Parag seized control from a precarious situation, guiding his team to victory by 12 runs. Against MI, RR secured a resounding victory by 6 wickets.
On the flip side, RCB’s tournament began with a stumble against Chennai Super Kings succumbing to a 6-wicket defeat. In their first match at home, the hosts clinched victory amidst intense moments, thanks to Dinesh Karthik’s crucial 28-run contribution that sealed the match against Punjab Kings.
However, the downfall of the highly supported RCB team began with two consecutive losses at their home ground. The 7-wicket defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders came as a shock, while the humiliating loss against LSG served as a stark wake-up call for the team.
Head to Head Record
On Saturday, the two teams will face each other for the 31st time in IPL history, marking their sole clash in this season’s league stage matches.
Reflecting on their past 30 encounters, Bengaluru has emerged victorious more often than Rajasthan. However, the margin is relatively close, with RCB securing 15 wins compared to the 12 wins by the champions of the inaugural IPL season. Additionally, three matches concluded without a result.
Key Players
Riyan Parag (Rajasthan Royals): Despite enduring criticism in the past, Riyan Parag has finally come into his own in this season’s IPL. With unwavering support from the franchise, Parag has emerged as one of the leading run-scorers of the tournament, setting his sights on the prestigious Orange Cap.
Currently trailing by just 22 runs to claim the top spot, Parag has amassed an impressive 181 runs in 3 innings, boasting an outstanding average of 181 and a strike rate exceeding 160. Once considered the weak link in RR’s middle order, Parag’s scintillating form this year has silenced his critics with a series of match-winning performances.
Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru): Batting virtuoso Virat Kohli poses as the prized wicket for Rajasthan Royals in their upcoming clash. Holding the Orange Cap, the former RCB captain has once again showcased his impeccable form, much to the delight of both his fans and team. However, the over-reliance on Kohli remains a cause for concern for the Southern team.
Kohli has 101 fifty-plus scores in T20 cricket, the most by any Indian player
Delving into Kohli’s individual exploits, the RCB opener has breached the 200-run mark, amassing 203 runs in 4 innings at an impressive average of 67.66 and a striking rate of 140.97, including two consecutive scintillating fifties. In the previous encounter, Kohli’s dismissal for a mere 22 runs left RCB struggling to chase down 182 against Lucknow, resulting in a 28-run defeat for the team.
Team News from Both Camps
Ahead of the match against Mumbai Indians, RR’s captain disclosed that their Premier death bowling specialist, Sandeep Sharma, is sidelined due to injury. It appears likely that the hosts will persist with their same combination of two overseas pacers, namely Trent Boult and Nandre Burger.
On the other hand, RCB has no fitness issues but new head coach Andy Flower has failed to nail down a winning combination with Mahipal Lomror and Vijaykumar Vyshak left out of the team after delivering splendid performances.
Predicted XIs
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson © (wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Nandre Burger, Yuzvendra Chahal
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis ©, Will Jacks, Glenn Maxwell, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat (wk), Dinesh Karthik, Reece Topley, Mayank Dagar, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal
Prediction
Based on the current form of both teams, it appears that Rajasthan Royals hold a significant advantage over the visiting team. It is probable that the home team will assert their dominance on Saturday unless a concerted effort from RCB manages to salvage the day for them.