IPL 2019 – Match 14: Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore – RCB Predicted Playing XI

Three games, three losses and a miserable start – the story of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) thus far in the tournament. At the moment, they are rooted down to the bottom of the points table and their confidence would have taken a massive dip after the last game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. They lost that game by a massive 118 runs and will need a few consecutive wins from here on to stay in the race.

Next up, they will be facing the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Even after the embarrassing loss in the previous game, there is a ray of light that is shining brightly upon them. Australia’s tour of Pakistan ended and the players will soon join their respective IPL teams. So, RCB will have a few chopping and changing to do before they get started with their next encounter.

Here is the Predicted Playing XI for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB):

Openers (Parthiv Patel (wk), Marcus Stoinis)

Parthiv Patel is the best wicket-keeping option that the RCB team has got. He is reliable enough behind the stumps and gets the team off to good starts more often than not. However, that will not be sufficient from the team’s perspective. Parthiv should look to spend as much time possible in the middle and should accumulate a lot of runs.

The wicket-keeper could have a new opening partner for the fourth time in this game. Marcus Stoinis, who has had a brilliant BBL this year, is highly likely to open the innings for the team. He is in good form and should enjoy batting in the powerplay. Moreover, he can give the captain a few overs whenever required.

Middle Order (Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers)

RCB will have two of the best batsmen in the world at the moment, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in their middle order. Both these men haven’t had the best of times as yet. AB de Villiers looked good against the Mumbai Indians but failed to get his team over the line. If RCB is to win the match, this duo will have a massive role to play.

Virat Kohli is due for a big one in this tournament. He has got off to good starts in all the games and is hitting the ball well. But he is finding usual ways to get out and it seems as if he is taking too much pressure. The skipper should ideally look to anchor the innings and stay there right till the end.

All Rounders (Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar)

There was a hint of assistance for the spinners in the last game. Thus, RCB should look to include some utility all-rounders in the eleven. Moeen Ali will continue in the eleven and should enjoy bowling with the long boundaries. RCB is expected to persist with a young talent like Shivam Dube.

The youngster will surely get better as he plays more games. Prayas Barman didn’t have a fruitful debut and went for a lot of runs. RCB might replace him with Washington Sundar who can bowl in the powerplay and can also hit a few big shots with the bat.

Bowlers (Nathan Coulter-Nile, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal)

RCB’s bowling line-up will get a huge boost with the return of Nathan Coulter-Nile. He is expected to be slotted into the eleven straightaway instead of Colin de Grandhomme. RCB will hope that he delivers during the death overs for the team. Also, he can take up the role of the finisher in the side as he is capable of clearing the ropes with ease.

Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Yuzvendra Chahal will continue in the RCB eleven. While Umesh can bowl along with Sundar in the powerplay overs, Moeen, Siraj and Chahal can operate in the middle overs. Again at the death, Siraj will have a role to play along with Coulter-Nile.

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