IPL 10, Match 12, RCB v MI: Royal Challengers Bangalore Predicted XI

It’s been a rare grey start for last year’s finalists Royal Challengers Bangalore in the tenth edition of the Indian Premier League. RCB has had to make do with a lacklustre team and has looked like a tired side on the field. The heavyweights who are still hanging around in the squad have had a couple of wishy-washy games. Shane Watson, who’s been handed the responsibility of captaining the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Kohli’s absence, couldn’t make a mark with the bat. The hefty all-rounder has been equally rusty on the field. On the other hand, the mighty Chris Gayle warmed the bench in RCB’s last game, as he failed to unleash his trademark fireworks to light up the IPL.

Nevertheless, the RCB boys will gather a lot of confidence following AB de Villiers’ return to the scheme of things. In a scorecard of mediocre innings, his 46-ball 89 stood alone as the beacon of hope for RCB against Kings XI Punjab. Returning from a back injury, AB’s was a one man show which revived the Royal Challengers to post a respectable total. The good news doesn’t end there for Bangalore because skipper Virat Kohli has hinted at a probable comeback in the game against the Mumbai Indians.

The Royal Challengers Bangalore’s numerous experiments with the opening combinations have all failed. Mandeep Singh, Chris Gayle, Shane Watson, and Vishnu Vinod haven’t remotely lived up to RCB’s reputation of massive opening stands. However, if Virat Kohli is indeed fit to play on Friday, he could provide the start that fans have longed to see. Coming to RCB’s bowling attack, they have been slightly wayward, especially considering the fact that KXIP made short work of the target set by the Royal Challengers.

These are still early stages of the tournament, but the Royal Challengers Bangalore need to pull things back before it gets too late. With an added advantage of playing in home conditions, RCB will look to outplay the Mumbai Indians and bag two valuable points.

Here’s a look at CricTracker’s predicted XI for the Royal Challengers Bangalore for their contest against the Mumbai Indians at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium:

Openers (Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli)

With a prospective Virat Kohli comeback, it’s only fair to bring back the destructive Gayle into the playing XI along with India’s superstar. The duo has devastated many a bowling attack on n number of occasions. Virat Kohli especially was an incarnation of a run machine who was switched on at the start of IPL 2016, producing a massive 973 runs by the end of the final. Kohli could be making a much-anticipated comeback from injury, which will spread fear across the entire spectrum of teams in the IPL.

As far as the Gayle-storm goes, it’s only a matter of time before it hits the 10^th edition of the IPL. Chris Gayle needs no introduction to his ability to send the ball out of the park. The big West Indian will look to make it count against a seemingly vulnerable Mumbai bowling attack.

The crowd at the M Chinnaswamy can be assured of finding the ball in the stands more often than on the turf if this deadly pair opens the innings for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Top order (AB de Villiers, Kedar Jadhav)

The legend is back, and in grand fashion too. Despite being the visiting side, RCB’s AB de Villiers was welcomed with rousing chants from the Holkar Stadium crowd. In his first game of the season, AB showed exactly why he is one of the most feared batsmen in the circuit today. This is a player who can rev up his strike rate to staggering levels in a span of two overs or less. A genius in his own rights, AB can deposit the ball in any section of the ground he fancies. His awe-inspiring innings will surely foster confidence to the RCB batting line up.

India’s Kedhar Jadhav would consider himself unlucky having been given out LBW to a ball which would have missed the top of the stumps. By virtue of a poor decision, Jadhav joined the list of batsmen who vanished as AB de Villiers watched from the other end. Had Jadhav stayed at the crease, the match would have surely taken a different turn.

Unlike the other members of the Indian team, Kedhar Jadhav is a batsman who doesn’t possess much glamour. Nevertheless, he quietly goes about doing his job, scoring valuable runs for his side when needed. Jadhav has looked to do the same for the Royal Challenges Bangalore. He definitely isn’t someone any bowler should take lightly.

Middle order (Mandeep Singh, Stuart Binny, Pawan Negi)

The Royal Challenges Bangalore middle order boasts of prominent domestic talent. The trio of Mandeep Singh, Stuart Binny and Pawan Negi are all clean strikers of the ball. Although Negi didn’t get a bat in the last game, both Mandeep and Binny got off to a start. Binny remained unbeaten, but Mandeep succumbed to Varun Aaron’s pace and Wriddhiman Saha’s smartness with the gloves.

Albeit, RCB has a strong middle order in these three, who can easily add a flurry of runs at the death. In Stuart Binny, Bangalore also has an able medium pacer who can chip in with 4 overs when the extra bowler is needed. Pawan Negi’s left-arm orthodox can come in handy. All three are exceptional fielders as well. This trio forms one of the more robust cores amongst teams in this IPL.

Bowlers (Iqbal Abdulla, Tymal Mills, Adam Milne, Yuzvendra Chahal)

Despite AB de Villiers’ resilience at the crease, the RCB bowlers were unable to back the South African’s heroics with the bat. The bowling line-up was essentially taken apart, save the two wickets they bagged. Australians Shane Watson and Billy Stanlake ended with economy rates in excess of 10. Tymal Mills was smashed for 22 runs in his 2 overs. RCB’s go to bowler Chahal couldn’t spun a web around the opposition batsmen either. All in all, it was a forgettable performance with the ball, which calls for a little freshness in the bowling attack.

Iqbal Abdullah and Yuzvendra Chahal are bowlers who complement each other perfectly. Both primarily turn the ball away from the right-hander, but Chahal’s occasional googly can fox the best of batsmen. Abdulla, on the other hand, has the arm ball that pitches and keeps its line, trapping batsmen in front of the stumps.

In the pace department, Tymal Mills, despite being a bit expensive in the previous game, is a gem of a bowler. A rightful T20 specialist, Mills brings with him a variety of deliveries into the game. The slower bouncer from the back of the hand is an unmatched skill which the Englishman has mastered, and one that he uses to great effect. Don’t forget the pace that this man has on offer.

Speaking of pace, New Zealand’s Adam Milne can push the speed gun over 150 kmph. RCB have a precious resource with his pace, and Milne will look to make a statement with the ball. Having played just the one IPL game, Milne hasn’t had any opportunity to take the field and showcase his talent. He has had several injury hiccups in his career, but he should be raring to go for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

This will indeed be a crucial game for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, who will look to register a convincing victory over the Mumbai Indians. With a reinforced side on offer, RCB could well make a strong comeback into the IPL and quickly move up the standings.