Rajasthan Royals' quest to make a comeback against the resurgent RCB

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Our Predictions

• Rajasthan Royals have three top-order batters – Buttler,  Jaiswal, and Sanju Sampson in excellent form
• Royal Challengers bowling attack is over-reliant on Mohammad Siraj, as others have been inconsistent
• Rajasthan Royals' bowlers Chahal, Ashwin, and Boult have 26 wickets between them and are troubling batsmen 

MATCH PREVIEW    

An in-form Royal Challengers Bangalore would look to dislodge Rajasthan Royals from the top of the points table in the 32nd game of the season. RCB comes here with a win against Punjab Kings, and they will look to leverage the crowd support at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium. The Rajasthan Royals messed up in a run chase against the Lucknow Super Giants and lost what should have been an easy win. They will look to make a strong comeback, and we expect this game to go down the wire.    

Royal Challengers Bangalore Preview    

Faf du Plessis' side returns home full of confidence.    The skipper who played as an impact player in the last game, owning to a niggle will likely return for this game. It was an excellent performance by the team in their last game against the Punjab Kings, where they won by 24 runs. The top order is doing well, but the side will need a strong show from the middle order and its bowlers. The Rajasthan Royals will come hard at them, and RCB must fully use the home conditions.     

Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis have more than 600 runs between them this season. The side will need an electrifying start from them. However, the middle and lower middle order pose a concern as Glenn Maxwell has been the only performer. They need runs from Dinesh Karthik and Mahipal Lomror. Shahbaz Ahmed and Wanindu Hasaranga must use the long handle and add quick runs in the death overs. 

Mohammad Siraj has bowled with a lot of heart, but the rest of the attack hasn't done well. They need a strong performance from Wayne Parnell and Hasaranga, two of their most experienced bowlers. Maxwell, Vijaykumar Vyshak, and Harshal Patel must get their lines right, as Rajasthan has the most destructive batting line-up. 

Expected Starting XI for Royal Challengers Bangalore    

Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Mahipal Lomror, Glenn Maxwell, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Wanindu Hasaranga, Suyash Prabhudessai, Harshal Patel, Wayne Parnell, Mohammed Siraj, Vijaykumar Vyshak (Impact Player) 

Rajasthan Royals Preview    

Sanju Sampson would be upset with his side's performance against the Lucknow Super Giants in the last game. They failed to chase 155 runs for a win and fell 10 short of the target. It was the performance of the middle order that cost them the game. Sampson would put that behind them and develop a strong performance as they look to remain at the top of the points table. 

Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal have been consistent, and the side will need a strong show from them at the top. Devdutt Padikkal hasn't had a great tournament so far, and he needs to support Sampson in the middle order. Shimron Hetmyer is enjoying his stint, and he must add runs with Dhruv Jurel, Jason Holder, and Ravichandran Ashwin in the middle order.  

Trent Boult did well in the last game, and he must bowl tight spells opening the bowling with Sandeep Sharma. Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal must put their experience to good use, as the RCB batsmen have been in good form. Holder hasn't bowled well, and he must deliver the goods in this game. 

Expected Starting XI for Rajasthan Royals    

Sanju Samson (c & wk), Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jason Holder, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal, Devdutt Padikkal, Riyan Parag (Impact Player) 

TOSS: To Bat First     

It is an afternoon game, and the batting conditions will be their best in the first innings. Teams won't fancy bowling in the first innings as the ball would come to the bat nicely. Hence, the side winning the toss in this game shouldn't hesitate to bat first and put up a big total on the board

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS     

We expect a hot and humid afternoon in Bangalore. There will be a flat batting surface where the ball will come to the bat nicely and allow batsmen to play their strokes. There won't be much on this surface for the fast bowlers. Spinners need to bowl in the right areas as the small size of the ground makes it a nightmare for them. The side batting first would aim at putting 200 runs on the board. 

OUR PREDICTION     

Royal Challengers Bangalore have won games banking on their openers so far. The middle and lower middle order is yet to fire in the season, which is a big weakness for the side. The Rajasthan Royals have big hitters, and they will enjoy batting on this small ground. The side also has two spinners in good form, giving them the edge. 

Our Prediction is for Rajasthan Royals to win