IPL 2021: Bangalore set to lock horns against Rajasthan Royals
Royal Challengers Bangalore will face Rajasthan Royals in what will be the 43rd game of the Indian Premier League 2021. With a few more wins, the third-placed RCB will secure a playoff spot.
Probable playing XI
RCB
Virat Kohli (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Kona Srikar Bharat (wk), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Dan Christian, Shahbaz Ahmed, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammad Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal.
RR
Evin Lewis, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Liam Livingstone, Mahipal Lomror, Shivam Dube, Rahul Tewatia, Chris Morris, Chetan Sakariya, Kartik Tyagi, Mustafizur Rahman.
Expected Man of the Match
Sanju Samson
Despite his team languishing at the seventh spot, Sanju Samson has kept his critics shut with consecutive batting masterclasses. Leading Rajasthan Royals for the first time in his IPL career, Samson has notched the most runs in the league after Delhi Capitals opener Shikhar Dhawan.
His half-century in the last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad propelled him 433 runs. With a threatening average of 54.12, Samson is rearing to go hard against Bangalore tonight.
Glenn Maxwell
Maxwell’s contribution with the bat and ball has been superb. His all-round performance against Mumbai Indians, which included 2/24 and 56, won him the Man of the Match award last Sunday.
His spin bowling in UAE’s conditions can help the RCB win their maiden IPL trophy. Ever since he joined RCB from PBKS, Maxwell has not stopped scoring a pile of runs in a jiffy.
If he continues to spank Rajasthan bowlers tonight, Sanju Samson and co could be in serious trouble.
Devdutt Padikkal
Padikkal loves to score runs against the injury-ridden Rajasthan Royals team. Without Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer in their side, Padikkal shall not find it hard to make it big against Samson’s men again.
The last time both teams met, Bangalore won the game, thanks to Padikkal’s century.
He departed on a duck on the last ball, but his overall performance this season has been superb. Not to forget, that Padikkal was Bangalore’s highest run-getter past season. Currently, he’s the third-highest run-scorer for RCB, behind skipper Virat Kohli (307) and Maxwell (300).
Match prediction
RCB have the last three encounters against the Royals without breaking a sweat. Kohli’s men have been subliminal with the bat and ball when it comes to squaring off against RR this season.
Bangalore will be taking pride in themselves after beating Mumbai Indians in the last outing, whereas low-spirited Royals are coming off a loss to SRH.
Their top-order has consistently failed. Yashasvi Jaisal, 19, has been playing his bit up the order, but Samson hasn’t yet found a batter who can help utilise the powerplay with the teenager.
Considering their current forms, Bangalore are the firm favourites against Rajasthan.
