It's the clash of the Royals in the return leg in Pune. In a fiercely contested first leg, all it needed was one tactical mistake by Sanju Samson as the match flipped over to the Royal Challengers, thanks to a wonderful 67-run 6th wicket stand between Dinesh Karthik and Shahbaz Ahmed. Since then though, the Royals have gone from strength to strength, seated comfortably in the second position, with 10 points from 7 games. The Challengers are currently fifth and just outside playoff positions, but they also have 10 points, albeit having played one extra game. But they're coming off a humbling defeat, having crashed to 68 all-out against the Sunrisers. It could just be a one-off thing and any RCB fan would say that it's bound to happen every season, but can Faf du Plessis' band of merry boys overcome the disaster against SRH? Can Virat Kohli overcome his own spectacular slump in form? On paper, this is a contest between equals and both teams are still well placed in the points table, but winning is a habit and both teams will be keen to avoid a logjam, going into the business end of the tournament.

Bangalore v Rajasthan, Match 39: Preview (Hindi)


Bangalore v Rajasthan, Match 39: Preview (Hindi)

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Preview by Kaushik Rangarajan


The second encounter of the season between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals is, perhaps, best viewed through the prism of the two top-orders. Faf du Plessis, Anuj Rawat and Virat Kohli have combined to score only 12 more runs than Jos Buttler's current tally of 491. Add Sanju Samson and Devdutt Padikkal's contributions and this chasm widens. Take away Dinesh Karthik-engineered jailbreaks and maybe RCB wouldn't be where they are in the standings.


Where they are is fifth and very much in the playoffs range, but that can change quickly in the second-half scramble that is possible in a 10-team league. There is an air of vulnerability around RCB, exacerbated by the 68-all-out - despite possessing pedigree on paper until No.9. Not only has that defeat rocked their smooth-sailing boat sideways, it's also left them with the worst Net-Run-Rate among the teams around them - a factor that could prove decisive in the run-in.


That they have little less than 48 hours to marinate in that chastening experience ought to be a blessing. The Royals are not without flaws themselves. If RCB can somehow polish off RR's cream quickly, they'll know that the middle can be rather crumbly. Despite having Yuzvendra Chahal in flying form, the Royals have conceded 192, 210 and 207 in their last three games, opening an avenue of redemption for RCB. A double against one of the form teams of the season may just be right anaesthetic to numb any lasting wounds and lay the base for another run of favourable results.


When: RCB vs RR, April 26, 19:30 IST


Where: Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune


What to expect: The wickets at the MCA Stadium have had a bit of a mid-season breather thanks to the rescheduling of the two Delhi Capitals games this week. That might just push the teams into chasing once more despite some signs of tiring wickets in the competition. That said chasing teams have a 50% win record here this season.


Head to Head: RCB 13-10 RR. The Royal Challengers have won each of their last five encounters against Rajasthan Royals, dating back to the 2020 season. The reverse fixture this season saw a chasing masterclass from Karthik, who swung the momentum towards his side with a clinical takedown of his statemate R. Ashwin.


Team Watch:


Royal Challengers Bangalore


Unavailable: None


Tactics & Matchups:


Wanindu Hasaranga has dismissed Sanju Samson four times in five innings and will be an obvious plan of attack against the Royals captain. With Anuj Rawat unable to provide the PowerPlay impetus, RCB could also consider moving Kohli up to open and bring in Mahipal Lomror as a left-handed floater in the middle-order.


Probable XI: Faf du Plessis (c), Anuj Rawat/Mahipal Lomror, Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Suyash Prabhudesai, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Josh Hazlewood, Mohammed Siraj


Rajasthan Royals


Unavailable: None


Tactics & Matchups:


If the left-arm swing of Marcon Jansen was a problem, then RCB have little in the form of respite. Rajasthan Royals can throw Trent Boult and Obed McCoy to poke at their opposition's insecurities. Samson erred tactically in the reverse fixture by not bringing on Chahal into the attack straight upon Karthik's arrival to the crease. It may have had to do with Shahbaz Ahmed's presence at the other end but Karthik has a particularly poor record against legspinners, particularly against Chahal who has dismissed him thrice.



Probable XI: Jos Buttler, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson (c&wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Karun Nair, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Obed McCoy, Yuzvendra Chahal


Did you know?


- Wanindu Hasaranga has bowled his full quota of overs only once in the last four games


- At the halfway mark in the league phase, Buttler is 58 runs ahead of where Kohli was in the 2016 season when he scored the record-setting 973 runs.

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