Rajasthan
Royals are about to play their first game of the Dream11 IPL in Abu Dhabi, as
they face Royal Challengers Bangalore. With a 3:30 PM start, this will be the
first afternoon game of the season. Both teams sit on 4 points apiece and a
win, albeit briefly, will instantly take them to the top of the points table.
We have been unbeaten against RCB since 2018, a record we would like to take
inspiration from, as we look to get back to winning ways.
Plot:
Steve Smith vs Virat Kohli – a battle that has been talked about extensively in Test cricket, but has its place in white-ball cricket too. Except for the runs scored in the IPL, both captains have similar numbers.
Smith has donned a new role this season for the Royals, opening the innings and
found success immediately. Kohli, on the other hand, has struggled to find form
in the league so far.
Rajasthan
Royals are ahead in the overall head-to-head – winning 10 matches, while RCB
have won 8. Since, 2018, we have beaten them thrice & one game ended up as
no-result, the last one they played. However, that game was dominated by the
Royals before rain came pouring down. Shreyas Gopal got a hat-trick &
claimed three huge wickets – AB de Villiers, Kohli & Stoinis.
These
are the two teams who finished 7th and 8th last season.
RCB have been at the bottom of the points table for two straight years now. The
good starts this year have them in good stead & the two sides will be
oozing in confidence. The Royals had a tough outing against KKR in Dubai, but
showed a lot of fight in the game. The team will be keen to make a strong
comeback. RCB, on the other hand, are fresh off a resounding win in their Super
Over against MI.
Stage:
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Another
big ground, with sizeable boundaries. The surface here has been pretty even for
both bowlers and batsmen. Experts have been predicting that this venue will
have the lowest average totals among the 3 in this season. The good news for
Rajasthan Royals though is, we’ve won all 3 games we played at the venue.
Acts:
Shreyas Gopal vs ABD & Kohli
This
could easily pip the Smith vs Kohli conversations that commentators &
experts may use as build-up in the pre-match shows. Shreyas has bowled to Kohli
& de Villiers on 3 & 4 occasions, respectively. He has got them out on
each of those. His googlies have been very deceptive and the duo have had
troubled picking them against leg-spinners in general.
Steve Smith vs Yuzvendra Chahal
One of
the most comfortable overseas batsmen against one of the most dangerous
leg-spinners of the season! Well, this is something we all must look forward
to. Chahal is a bowler who dares to flight the ball and entice batsmen to go
for big hits. Smith is a batsman who is not shy to use his feet and loft
spinners into gaps. A big ground will mean a lot of gap in the out-field for
Smith to exploit.
Jofra Archer vs Devdutt Padikkal
Padikkal
has shown a lot of promise for RCB as an opener. In 3 games, he has scored 2
half-centuries and given solid starts. He will be tested against the raw pace
that Archer will put him through. In the last game, Archer sent down the
fastest ball of the tournament till date – 152.1 kph. It will be interesting to
watch how the young batsman tackle these thunderbolts.
Both Rajasthan Royas & RCB are hungry teams,
looking to stay consistently at the top of the table. We have been in the top 4
from our first game to the last. A win will cement that spot further. The
winner will definitely go to the number 1 spot, at least till the completion of
the second game. The weekend action begins with our boys taking the field in
the afternoon, and they will be eager to make this our weekend
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