IPL 2020: RCB vs RR Preview – A Royal Battle

Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore and Steve Smith’s Rajasthan Royals will take on each other at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Match 15 of IPL 2020. Both the teams have 2 wins to their name in the 3 matches. RR lost their first match of the season against Kolkata Knight Riders by 37 runs, while RCB defeated Mumbai Indians in the super-over in their last match. Both teams are going to play their first match in Abu Dhabi.

RR were blown away in their last game. They put up a dismal performance with the bat against KKR. They would be hoping for their star player Jos Butler to come back to form. They also need to improve the persistent problem of middle-order batting. RCB improved their top-order batting from the previous game, with all batsmen but Kohli stepping up. Their bowling also did well till the death overs, with Washington Sundar and Navdeep Saini coming good at crucial junctures.

Match Info:

Match 15- RCB vs RR

Venue- Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Time – 3:30 PM IST

Head To Head:

Stat Attack:

Virat Kohli is 82 runs away from completing 9,000 runs in T20 cricket, he will be the first Indian batsman to get there.

Shreyas Gopal has dismissed AB de Villiers four times in 28 balls.

Yuzvendra Chahal is yet to dismiss Steve Smith in the IPL despite bowling 28 balls at him.

Team News:

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

There is a sigh of relief in the Bangalore camp with Chris Morris now bowling in the nets. He is likely to play in this crucial game, and he shall strengthen RCB’s death bowling and batting depth. Star-bowler Yuzvendra Chahal believes that they have a much-balanced squad this year. They have also come up with a unique team bonding mentorship programme, where a senior player guides one junior player. For example- Saini and Steyn, Kohli and Padikkal, ABD and Phillipe.

Rajasthan Royals:

Rajasthan struggled a lot with the bat, with captain Smith remarking “Some of us thought we are still playing in Sharjah.” RR mentor Shane Warne gave an update on Stokes’ availability, saying “Hopefully, Ben Stokes would play a part this year, he’s a big loss and our thoughts are with him, but you know, add Ben to the team that played the other night and it looks a very, very good side.” Other than that, they could give an opportunity to Varun Aaron in place of Ankit Rajpoot.

Probable XI: