IPL 2020 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals, live score and latest updates: TOSS: Steve Smith won the toss and opted to hit first against RCB in the game on the first day of the tournament. RCB has not changed, while the Royals have chosen Mahipal Lomror over Ankit Rajpoot.
Preview: Time of the ‘Royal’ battle. Royal Challengers Bangalore will face the Rajasthan Royals in the first game of the afternoon of IPL 2020 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi. Both teams are at 4 points with two wins from three games, with Rajasthan having the best net run rate. Bangalore, however, is having the best momentum after defeating the defending champions Mumbai Indians in their previous match, while Rajasthan suffered a major loss to Kolkata Knight Riders in their last game.
It is the first days of the tournament, but it is already clear that the teams are even, which means that every point will be crucial in the later stages. Which team will get the crucial two points on Saturday?
Royals of Rajasthan
RR started the tournament strong with a pair of wins in Sharjah. They adjusted to the small field and flat pitch excellently, out batting CSK and KXIP with relentless big hits, led by Sanju Samson. With two consecutive victories in their pockets, they came to Dubai with a lot of confidence, but failed to adapt to the different dimensions of the field and terrain.
As Captain Steve Smith said after the game, some of his hitters thought they were still in Sharjah. He included himself as he too fell cheap looking for a big hit.
RR has a more or less settled side, but it will have to tweak a few things. His hitting past the top three of Smith, Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson is slim. Do they keep faith in Robin Uthappa in the middle order? Or do they bring Yashasvi Jaiswal back to open and push Smith to No. 4? Or how about bringing in David Miller for Tom Curran? Curran made that choice difficult by scoring a half-century of fighting in the last game.
The other problem for RR is the Shreyas Gopal form. He, understandably, fought in Sharjah. However, a 0/43 streak in DUbai against KKR will not do their confidence any good. He’s picked up just 1 wicket from three matches so far and has to come back to give RR control in between. His new ball and bowling of death is more or less resolved with the presence of Jofra Archer.
Planned 11th: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, Steve Smith, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Tom Curran, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat, Ankit Rajpoot
Royal Challengers Bangalore
WL W. RCB has been hitting hot and cold this season. But they will take 2 of 3 especially since they lost their first six last season. Among those 2 is a victory over Mumbai, which they won in a Super Over.
RCB is getting closer to playing its best combination. They started the tournament by giving Dale Steyn a couple of games, but he’s clearly not in his prime. Isuru Udana and Adam Zampa came in for the last game, and while they weren’t good either, it gives them more balance going forward. If Chris Morris is in shape, he enters the team as a bowler of death and a lower-level hitter.
RCB, however, will be concerned that they let the Mumbai game go to a Super Over. They let MI score 104 runs in the final 6 overs, before Navdeep Saini rescued them with a great Super Over.
However, his hitting fell into place, with Devdutt Padikkal showing consistency and Aaron Finch in hitting form, before De Villiers did what he does best. Virat Kohli is not in shape yet, but he can’t go long without a great score.
Unless Morris is fit and / or AB de Villiers cannot hold the grounds, there is little to change in the RCB team. Moeen Ali for Zampa could be an option down the road, but they may not be given Washington Sundar’s excellent spell of 1/12 in 4 overs against Mumbai.
Planned 11th: Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Gurkeerat Singh, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Isuru Udana / Chris Morris, Adam Zampa, Yuzvendra Chahal, Navdeep Saini
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