The Royals won eight of their first nine matches in the IPL this year and looked poised to finish in the top two and secure a spot in Qualifier 1. However, since then, they have suffered four consecutive defeats and finished in third place in the 10-team table.
In this match, Rajasthan will once again be without Jos Buttler. He has left the IPL to join England ahead of the T20 World Cup next month. Tom Kohler-Cadmore has effectively replaced Buttler at the top of the order, but he has not been nearly as formidable. Riyan Parag and Sanju Samson are the Royals’ top scorers this season with 531 and 504 runs, respectively. Both will need to be key players in this match.
Yuzvendra Chahal and Avesh Khan have shared 30 wickets in this IPL campaign. They have arguably been the best combination of leg-spin and right-arm fast bowling in the tournament. However, it will take more than two bowlers to get through a powerful opponent’s batting lineup, putting much of the burden on Ravichandran Ashwin, Sandeep Sharma, Trent Boult, and others.
In mid-April, Bangalore had nothing to lose, but now they have everything to play for. They have risen from the bottom of the table by winning six consecutive matches and are still in contention for their first IPL title. Let’s see if they can continue their winning streak.
Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis have recently played huge roles for the RCB team. It’s not just about the significant number of runs but also the fact that the Indian and South African stars have utilized all their individual and collective experience for the Royal Challengers at this stage of the tournament. Nevertheless, their runs have been crucial. Kohli has 708 runs in 14 innings this IPL, while du Plessis has 421 runs in 14 innings.
Like Rajasthan, RCB has also lost a star from the England squad. Will Jacks left the tournament along with Buttler. Glenn Maxwell has since returned to the Bangalore XI and continues to prove why he is one of the best all-rounders in the IPL. Maxwell is a genuine wicket-taker and an outstanding addition to the fast bowlers Yash Dayal and Mohammed Siraj. Dayal and Siraj have shared 28 wickets in this IPL.
Bet on the favorites Royal Challengers Bangalore at odds of 1.70 to beat the underdogs Rajasthan Royals at odds of 2.15.
