IPL 10, Match 31, RCB v GL – Royal Challengers Bangalore Predicted XI

After their last game was washed out, Royal Challengers Bangalore will come into this game desperately looking for a win. A stutter here will cost them a spot in the playoffs. Playing at their home ground the M. Chinnaswamy will give them a little more motivation to perform.

They still haven’t recovered from the routeing given to them by KKR on Sunday. After an embarrassing 82-run defeat, RCB wanted to get on the field and fight another battle. Rain denied them that opportunity and they will now have to wait until Thursday night when they will face the Gujarat Lions.

Raina-led Gujarat, just like RCB, have struggled this season too. After topping the tables last year, they find themselves at the bottom this time. They have failed to do well in all three facets of the game collectively.

Their bowling has been the worst. With Dwayne Bravo being ruled out, they have roped in Irfan Pathan to perform the all-rounder’s role.

Getting out for 49 in a T20 game certainly, calls for a few changes in the side. Let us have a look at the Predicted XI of RCB for their home game against Gujarat:

Openers (Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli)

Kohli registered a first ball duck while Gayle never looked good in his 37-minute stay at the crease against KKR. Both are expected to open the RCB innings again for they were involved in a big partnership a game before that.

RCB needs solid performances from this duo in the second half of the tournament if they want to progress any further in IPL 2017. Gayle must look to attack from ball one to put the pressure back on the opposition.

RCB paid the price to be too adventurous in the last game. They could have bided time and played out certain bowlers and then looked to attack. By playing shots right from the onset, they played into the hands of KKR’s game plan of picking early wickets.

Middle Order (AB de Villiers, Kedar Jadhav, Sachin Baby and Vishnu Vinod)

While Sachin Baby is expected to bat at No. 5, scoring the runs will still be the top 4’s responsibility. The rest can only support them. Baby, who plays for Kerala in the Ranji Trophy, has had just one game this season so far. He can be a finisher as he is capable of playing his shots. The Kerala-born cricketer is also a live-wire in the field which adds to his advantage.

De Villiers and Jadhav would be very disappointed in the manner they got out last game. Both played poor shots and were out at crucial junctures which led to the downfall of RCB. They should take responsibility and bat prudently in the middle overs. The duo has shown glimpses of form in the early part of the tournament and just need to bat according to the situation of the game.

Vinod has played just two games before he was done away with. A strike rate of 140 in domestic T20’s, warrants him a selection in the lower middle order. He can keep wickets which will take off the additional pressure off Kedar Jadhav. The 23-year-old can be given a go ahead in place of the struggling Binny.

AllRounder (Pawan Negi)

Negi, who is known for his big-hitting prowess in domestic cricket, hasn’t got going with the bat at the big stage. The Delhi boy is a destructive batsman down the order who could clear the ropes at will. RCB will be hoping that Negi could get his batting form to the fore. He has been bowling really well this season picking 6 wickets in as many games at an economy rate of 6.14.

Bowlers (Samuel Badree, Tymal Mills, Sreenath Aravind and Yuzvendra Chahal)

Badree was expensive as his national teammate Sunil Narine got stuck into him the other day. He is expected to keep his place as he will be given the responsibility to bowl with the new ball against Brendon McCullum and Aaron Finch. Chinnaswamy offers purchase to the spinners which make Badree an automatic choice for this game.

Mills has produced decent performances but hasn’t had one big performance yet, which was anticipated of him. He is expected to keep his place for he adds quality to the RCB bowling attack.

Chahal and Aravind have been good with their bowling this year. The smart use of Chahal by skipper Kohli has been productive for the team. The leg-spinner strangles the batsmen in the middle overs with his variations like he did in the game against KKR. His 3/16 was instrumental in inducing a KKR batting collapse which meant that RCB were chasing only 132.