Preview
Rajasthan Royals will face Royal Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday in a bid to stay in contention for a spot in the play-offs of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. Sanju Samson has been the lone performer for RR with the bat as others ahve failed to put up a big score on the board and that has cost them a few games. Even the bowlers have not yet clicked in unison for Rajasthan. With their record signing Chris Morris not performing well, RR might look to strengthen their bowling line up by including the number one T20I spinner Tabraiz Shamsi in their playing XI for the clash against RCB.
Rajasthan Royals are set to cross swords with Royal Challengers Bangalore in Match No.43 of the 2021 Indian Premier League on Wednesday, September 29 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. The Royals started their UAE leg with a win, but have faced back-to-back losses.
In their previous game at the same venue, Sunrisers Hyderabad beat them by seven wickets despite Sanju Samson scoring a sparkling half-century and getting the Orange Cap. With eight points and a net run rate of -0.369, the Royals are precariously placed at the sixth spot in the points table.
The Challengers, led by Virat Kohli, on the other hand, must be brimming with confidence after they defeated the Mumbai Indians by 54 runs. With their sixth win, they tightened their grip at the No.3 slot. Another win will take them one step closer to qualifying for the playoffs of the T20 league.
Rajasthan Royals:
Sanju Samson produced a memorable knock of 92 vs RCB a few years ago. However, it has often been lean pickings for Samson vs RCB, with an overall record that reads: 11 inns, 241 runs, avg. 24.10, SR 154.49.
However, Samson is in some fine touch currently, with scores of 70* and 82 in his last two matches. He is currently the second-highest run-scorer in IPL 2021, with 433 at an average of 45.40 and strike rate of 130.45.
Yashasvi Jaiswal has looked in decent touch in the UAE leg, with scores of 49 (36), 5 (4), and 36 (23). Can he carry on and make another 30+ score today at a good rate?
Evin Lewis and Liam Livingstone. Lewis has played one match vs RCB, making a score of 65 at a strike rate of 154.76. Livingstone has had a poor UAE leg, but is capable of producing the goods given he is having a magnificent year in T20s: 35 inns, 1,243 runs, avg. 41.43, SR 156.
Chris Morris has taken just the one wicket for RR against RCB, at an average of 102 and economy rate of 10.30. Overall in his career vs RCB, Morris has taken 10 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 31.70 and strike rate of 21. With the bat, he averages just 12.75 vs RCB. Can he improve on these numbers here?
Mustafizur Rahman has taken 2/22 and 1/26 in his last two matches. He will be key in enabling RR to find wickets against RCB
Probable XI
Evin Lewis, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Liam Livingstone, Mahipal Lomror, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Chris Morris/T Shamsi , Chetan Sakariya, Sheyas Gopal, Mustafizur Rahman
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
Virat Kohli is coming off consecutive half-centuries, and has scored 72*, 43 and 72* in his last three knocks vs Rajasthan Royals. He has the most runs of any player in RR-RCB matches, with 554 at an average of 30.78 and strike rate of 116.39.
Devdutt Padikkal smashed a century vs the Royals earlier in 2021 (101* off 52 balls). He has a century and half-century in three matches vs Royals (199 runs, avg. 99.50), and has two fifties in eight matches at Dubai.
Glenn Maxwell produced a superb all-round performance in the last game vs MI. He scored 56 (37) and took 2/23 on this ground. Against the Royals, Maxwell has hit 161 runs at an average of 26.83 and strike rate of 153.33 in eight matches.
AB de Villiers is yet to fire in the UAE leg of IPL 2021. However, today could be the day if he gets some time at the crease as he has a terrific record against RR: 15 inns, 484 runs, avg. 44.00, SR 160.80.
Also, ABD has a fine record at Dubai, with 310 runs in 10 innings at an average of 44.29 and strike rate of 149.76.
Harshal Patel is coming off a brilliant hat-trick against MI. The Purple Cap holder has 23 wickets this season, of which 15 have come via the slower ball. He took 3/47 vs RR earlier this season.
Yuzvendra Chahal has been brilliant in phase two of IPL 2021. Since being left out of India’s T20 World Cup squad, Chahal has taken figures of 1/23, 1/26 and 3/11. Against RR, Chahal has taken 16 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 14.19 and strike rate of 13.69.
At Dubai, Chahal has 16 wickets to his name in 10 matches at an average of 16.31 and strike rate of 14.63.
Probable XI
Virat Kohli (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Srikar Bharat (wk), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Shahbaz Ahmed, Daniel Christian, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal
Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 24, RR 10, RCB 11, N/R 3.
RCB thumped RR by 10 wickets earlier this season, with Devdutt Padikkal (101*) and Virat Kohli (72*) obliterating the bowling attack to chase 179 with ease.
Mahipal Lomror is one to watch here. He is striking at 131.88 in three innings so far in IPL 2021 (91 runs), and could be utilised in the powerplay once again with the ball.
Chris Morris is yet to take a wicket in the UAE leg of IPL 2021 (0/47 and 0/27).
Mohammed Siraj took 3/27 against RR earlier this season.
Pitch Report
Dubai has been a good batting venue despite having something in it for the pacers. But it's about targeting the shorter boundary, like seen with Maxwell in RCB's previous clash against Mumbai Indians. It's an evening game so will be comparatively cooler.
Our final Team
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