🏏 IPL 2024: Match30-RCB vs SRH. M.C Stadium- DT Note. Page 104

🏏Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 30th Match 🏏

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s promising start in the IPL has spiraled into turmoil, with their bowlers needing a significant mindset shift against Sunrisers Hyderabad for a much-needed victory on Monday. 

Despite boasting talented players and esteemed coaches, RCB finds themselves at the bottom of the standings with just one win from six matches, highlighting the ineffectiveness of their plans. The team's struggle stems from their bowlers' inability to adapt to varying conditions, relying heavily on predictable strategies like knuckle balls and slow bouncers, which have been easily countered by opposition batsmen.

The recent match against Mumbai Indians exemplified this trend, as RCB's bowlers failed to defend a formidable total, conceding runs generously and lacking the creativity to contain a determined batting lineup.

Facing SRH, whose batting prowess rivals that of MI, presents a daunting challenge for RCB. With key players like Heinrich Klaasen, Abhishek Sharma, and Travis Head in top form, SRH poses a formidable threat throughout their batting order.

Despite SRH's bowling vulnerabilities, particularly in the spin department, skipper Pat Cummins has led the charge effectively, supported by the inclusion of T Natarajan, adding depth to their attack. 

As the match unfolds at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB will look to capitalise on SRH's minor weaknesses while relying on their star players like Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis to steer them towards a much-needed victory.

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Faf du Plessis-led RCB is languishing at the bottom of the table with just one win and five losses from six matches. They are coming into this clash on the back of a four-match losing streak. 

In their last game, the Bengaluru-based franchise lost to Mumbai Indians by seven wickets at the Wankhede Stadium.

Sunrisers Hyderabad have blown hot and cold in the tournament, having won three and lost two encounters. However, after winning their last two games, Pat Cummins and Co. will be confident of continuing the winning run against RCB. 

M Chinnaswamy Stadium Pitch Report:

Three games have been played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru so far. The average first-innings score is 180. Two out of the three games have been won by chasing teams. In the last game at this venue, RCB failed to track down a 182-run target against the Super Giants. The captain who wins the toss will want to bowl first as defending totals is very tough at this ground, where the boundaries are short, the outfield is quick, and the pitch remains the same throughout the 40 overs.

What to expect: A chase-happy, toss-winning captain. Even in other seasons, this has been a venue where sides have backed themselves to chase any target in front of them. The two-paced nature of the surface in the first half of games that eases out with the onset of dew has only exacerbated problems of defending here.

RCB vs SRH Probable Playing XIs

Royal Challengers Bengaluru:

Virat Kohli, Faf Du Plessis (C), Cameron Green, Rajat Patidar, Will Jacks, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Mahipal Lomror, Mayank Dagar, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal

Impact substitute - Vijaykumar Vyshak

Sunrisers Hyderabad:

Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aiden Markram, K Nitish Reddy, Rahul Tripathi, Henrich Klassen (WK), Shahbaz Ahmed, Pat Cummins (C), Mayank Markande, Jaydev Unadkat, Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Impact substitute - T Natarajan .

Probable Best Players of the Match

Probable Best Batter

Virat Kohli: He was dismissed for a single-digit score for the first time this season against Mumbai. The Orange Cap-holder is too good a batter to miss out in consecutive matches, especially with the kind of form he has been in of late. The talismanic batter has amassed 319 runs from six matches at an average of 79.75 and a strike rate of 141.78.

Also Check: New Betting Laws in India 

Probable Best Bowler

Pat Cummins: The Australian captain has used his experience to great effect, especially in the middle overs. The right-arm pacer has picked up six wickets from five matches at an average of 24.33 and has a miserly economy rate of 7.30. Cummins has used the slower ball tactfully and flummoxed quite a few batters.

Today’s Match Prediction: Sunrisers Hyderabad to win the match

Scenario 1

Royal Challengers Bengaluru win the toss and bowl

Power Play score – 55-65

First Innings Score - 200-210

Sunrisers Hyderabad win the match

Scenario 2

Sunrisers Hyderabad win the toss and bowl

Power Play score - 50-60

First Innings Score - 180-190

Sunrisers Hyderabad win the match

Head to head: RCB 10 - SRH 12. The Sunrisers won their only IPL title in 2016 at this venue, beating the hosts in the final. But they have won only one other time on this ground. The two sides haven't played here since 2019.

Team Watch:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Injury/Availability: Glenn Maxwell, grappling for form, is also nursing a finger injury sustained while fielding against Mumbai Indians. He walked off the field after the blow. Director of Cricket Mo Bobat revealed the all-rounder had two scans and there was no major injury concern just yet.

Tactics & Matchups: When RCB hosted LSG here about two weeks ago, the visitors were unafraid to use two left-arm spinners - M. Siddharth and Krunal Pandya - in the PowerPlay. Usually a graveyard for their kind, spinners have conceded at an economy rate of only 8.35 at the Chinnaswamy this season and it's a route worth considering against two left-handed SRH openers, who like pace on the ball. RCB could have two off-spinners in their line-up if Maxwell is deemed fit to start.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Injury/Availability: Mayank Agarwal, who had reported unwell, has resumed training and could feature as an impact substitute at his home ground.

Tactics & Matchups: Bhuvneshwar Kumar has picked up a solitary wicket in the PowerPlay this season but enjoys a particularly good record against this season's leading run-getter, Virat Kohli, who he has dismissed four times in the IPL. Bhuvneshwar also enjoys a good record at the venue, claiming nine wickets from eight visits here at an excellent economy of 7.31.

Did you know?

- Mohammed Siraj has conceded 123 runs from 10 PowerPlay overs bowled this season for a solitary wicket

Glenn Maxwell might miss RCB's next match Vs SRH due to a thumb injury. (News24).

- Heinrich Klaasen has struck at 234.38 in the death overs this season, a rate bettered by Dinesh Karthik (250.00). Karthik has also hit one six (11) more than Klaasen in this period

What they said:

"There's no hiding away from the fact that we haven't played the way we want to play. When you go into the competition, you work out what you think your best chances of winning are. We came into this competition in the last year of an auction cycle, you go to the auction, you improve the team, the best you can, you set the strategy, and you come in and you expect to deliver. Now, we haven't played the way we want to play." - Mo Bobat, RCB Director of Cricket

"I think you have to keep challenging yourself to try to take wickets because any team can score that 60-70 at the back-end, in the last four or five overs. So I think no score is safe. And you always feel you're in the game, particularly when you're chasing. I think most teams will come here and try to chase because they feel it's easier to navigate the innings when you know what's in front of you." - Daniel Vettori, SRH Head Coach

With the half-way stage in the league still approaching, chaos has been the overarching theme of RCB's campaign. They've used 19 players so far, benched their two most expensive pre-season signings - Cam Green and Alzarri Joseph - and are no closer to shrugging off the inertia. But after a groggy beginning that's already left them flat on the face, the only way ahead is up.

"We have to push for that 200. We don't have as many weapons in our bowling. So it comes down to the batting. From a bowling perspective, we have lacked penetration. We have to get them two or three down in the powerplay. Always feels like we are on the back foot after the first four overs," the RCB captain lamented after the crushing loss in Mumbai.

Flights back home after such chastening trips usually bring relief. For nothing is as comforting as well-known and well-made formula. Except this formula at the Chinnaswamy Stadium will also be hand delivered to the away dressing room - where the holders of the record IPL score will sit - with a hospitable 'all-you-can-eat' label.