Rajasthan Royals takes on Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 30th match of the league on 23rd April at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur. RR have won 4 out of 7 matches played and currently placed at second place in points table whereas, RCB have won 3 and lost 3 out of 6 matches played so far and currently placed at bottom three in points table.
IPL 2012: Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Preview
RCB has won their last two games and looking good, whereas RR’s winning streak has been stopped by CSK yesterday with a last ball win.
Head to Head:
Match Played on 11 May 2011 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.
Rajasthan Royals (146/6 (20 overs) v Royal Challengers Bangalore (151/1 (17 overs)
Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 9 wickets.
Match Played on 15 April 2012 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore.
Rajasthan Royals (195/2 (20 overs) v Royal Challengers Bangalore (136 (20 overs)
Rajasthan Royals won by 59 runs.
Player of the match: Ajinkya Rahane (Rajasthan Royals) Ajinkya Rahane 103* (60)
Analysis of Rajasthan Royals:
- Strong batting line up with top scorer of this season Rahane, Dravid, Hodge and in form Shah.
- Average middle order of domestic players contributing well.
- Three times the team has scored more than 170 runs.
- All-rounder from West Indies Cooper has also contributed from RR.
- Their bowling doesn’t any big name, but still they are performing well.
- They are team to be watch out, once Shane Watson becomes available.
Analysis of Royal Challengers Bangalore:
- Chris Gayle has been the show stealer for RCB in last two matches.
- Batting looks pretty solid with likes of Dilshan, De Villiers, Kohli and Tiwary.
- Bowling has been there area of concern from start of this season.
- They lack a quality fifth bowler and Kohli is yet to fire.
Big Picture:
Daniel Vettori, the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain, has said the lack of a quality fifth bowler was an important factor in his team’s 59-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Royals chose to bat and scored 195 for 2, with Ajinkya Rahane scoring 103 and Owais Shah 60.
They scored 70 in the 12 overs bowled by Zaheer Khan, Daniel Vettori and Muttiah Muralitharan, and 120 in the remaining eight overs. Chris Gayle conceded 21 in one over, Vinay Kumar 51 in four and S Aravind 48 in three overs. They need to work hard on that fifth bowler.
RR should play Hodge at number three with Shah at number four. If Hodge plays, he should bat at No 3 and replaced by Watson when he becomes available.
Comparison:
- Going by current form, RCB should look to chase once again with Gayle firing.
- Both teams good fire power to provide a cracker of a match.
- With two Royals playing head to head, it will be exciting royal match.
Tags: IPL 2012, IPL 5, Preview, Rajasthan Royals, RCB, Royal Challengers Bangalore, RR
