IPL 2020: Eliminator, SRH vs RCB – RCB Predicted Playing XI

Royal Challengers Bangalore have finally earned the playoffs ticket after waiting for three long years. They are facing Sunrisers Hyderabad at Abu Dhabi, the team which is in a tremendous form. RCB have lost all of their last four games and now they have a challenge of winning three consecutive clashes to clinch their maiden IPL title.

The team is not looking balanced, their lower order is extremely fragile and their bowling attack has some weak links too. However, the same combination was providing them utmost confidence earlier in the tournament and the RCB would hope to come back into the same form. More than the playing XI, they would be concerned about how they approach the game in this do-or-die encounter.

Here’s the predicted XI of RCB for Eliminator 1, SRH vs RCB:-

Openers (Josh Philippe and Devdutt Padikkal)

Josh Philippe has replaced Aaron Finch at the top of the order and the young batsman has looked confident. However, RCB would want a rapid start in the powerplay and one of Padikkal and Philippe needs to take care of the same. If RCB gets a blistering start, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers can continue the same to take them to a big total.

Middle Order (Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Shivam Dube)

Virat Kohli has scored a good amount of runs in this season but he not at a brisk rate. RCB would hope their skipper to score at a better rate as Abu Dhabi has been a high-scoring venue and they would need to score big total here. AB de Villiers would be required to keep things simple and strike at the right time. His role is extremely important for RCB to put a formidable total. Shivam Dube’s role is to be the power-striker in the middle order and to tackle SRH’s spinners.

All-rounder (Washington Sundar)

Washington Sundar has been their top-class powerplay bowler and with David Warner in the middle, his role will be extremely important. He has improved his game in this season and the off-spinner was seen bowling in the middle overs as well. Also, considering his batting prowess against spinners, being a left-hander, he can be promoted up the order to tacker SRH’s spinners who turn the ball into the left-handers.

Bowlers (Dale Steyn, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal and Mohammad Siraj)

Chris Morris has been their best new-ball bowler and a reliable option at the death. However, he left the field mid innings in the last game and if he doesn’t play against SRH, Dale Steyn can replace him. However, this would make their batting a bit thinner as Chris Morris can be a handy option with the bat as well.

Also, their other important pacer, Navdeep Saini didn’t play the last fixture against DC due to injury and he is expected to come back as well. If Saini joins back, RCB can exclude Shahbaz Ahmed, the young spinner and if this happens, they might opt to play Adam Zampa in place Chris Morris which leaves out Steyn. Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammad Siraj and Isuru Udana will fill the other bowling spots.