Indian Premier League 2019 Match 49, Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Twelve matches, 8 points. Royal Challengers Bangalore are hanging on to their IPL 2019 Playoffs hopes by the thinnest of threads, mostly because there is a cluster of four teams on 10 points. The best Bangalore can do is reach fourth spot – but then, once there, anything is possible. And indeed, with 4 wins in 5 matches after 6 consecutive defeats, they have shown they can turn things around.

Rajasthan Royals have been competing with Bangalore for the seventh spot throughout the tournament. And just like Bangalore, Rajasthan have managed to stay in the hunt despite the early defeats, and have now joined the 10-point cluster. The two teams will now clash in Match 49 of the tournament, at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.

Bangalore have been hit by the absence of Moeen Ali as part of the exodus of English cricketers. Colin de Grandhomme could have filled that void, but they decided to play both Shivam Dube and Gurkeerat Singh instead. Perhaps they will replace one (Dube is the likelier candidate after Gurkeerat’s performance against Delhi Capitals) with the burly New Zealander.

Rajasthan have bene, if anything, hit harder when the English cricketers left. In one blow they have lost Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, and Jofra Archer. Liam Livingstone did step up against Sunrisers Hyderabad, and contributions from Varun Aaron, Jaydev Unadkat, and Stuart Binny have helped them stay alive in the tournament. A win here will push their cause further.

Head to head

Rajasthan hold a 10-8 lead over Bangalore after winning earlier in the tournament. Parthiv Patel’s 41-ball 67 had taken Bangalore to 158/4 that day at Jaipur (Shreyas Gopal 4-1-12-3, Krishnappa Gowtham 4-0-19-0).

Thanks to Jos Buttler’s 43-ball 59, Rahul Tripathi’s unbeaten 23-ball 34, and Bangalore’s sloppy fielding, Rajasthan won by 7 wickets with a ball to spare despite Yuzvendra Chahal’s 4-0-17-2.

Key Players

Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore): Despite his outrageous sendoffs, the smile in back on Kohli’s face, and why not? His team is winning, and while he is not at his lofty best, his 423 runs (strike rate 134) are the eighth-most in the tournament. Time for him to step up in this crucial encounter.

Steven Smith (Rajasthan Royals): One may credit Smith, who replaced Ajinkya Rahane mid-season, for Rajasthan’s return to winning ways. Smith has returned to run-scoring almost invisibly, sometimes as anchor, sometimes with big shots, often controlling the pace of the innings? If Kohli is in the opposition, who better to respond but Smith?

Likely XIs

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Parthiv Patel (wk), Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Colin de Grandhomme, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Gurkeerat Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Washington Sundar, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Navdeep Saini.

Rajasthan Royals: Ajinkya Rahane, Liam Livingstone, Sanju Samson (wk), Steven Smith (c), Ashton Turner, Riyan Parag, Stuart Binny, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat, Varun Aaron, Oshane Thomas.

Prediction

It is an even battle, but Kohli and de Villiers may seal the stage on the small Chinnaswamy ground.