IPL 10, Match 29, RCB v SRH: Royal Challengers Bangalore Predicted XI

If the Royal Challengers Bangalore resemble anything right now, it’s a set of nine pins. A side which scored the highest IPL total exactly 4 years ago now placed itself at the other end of the spectrum. More than a brilliant performance from the KKR pacers, perhaps it was RCB’s reckless batting which cost them an easy victory.

Rash shots, fetching away-swingers outside the off stump and failing to stick to the crease when the side needed them summed up the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s most dismal innings. Every batsman was to blame. Moreover, this was perhaps RCB’s most heavily armed side in this edition of the IPL so far. Kohli,

Kohli, Gayle and ABD at the top, followed by Jadhav, Mandeep, Binny and Negi – arguably the most potent batting line-up in an Indian Premier League side. Nevertheless, it was this very side which scraped to a mere 49 in response to KKR’s 131.

Statistics had its opportunity to rub salt into the wound. In a first for the IPL, not a single batsman got to double figures in the entire innings. It was nothing short of a march past. Batsmen came, they saw, but ended up being conquered, and how.

Following a bizarre collapse, the Royal Challengers Bangalore once again find themselves lingering at the bottom of the table. RCB will at least have to pull off a near-impossible 6 wins from their next 7 games to keep their hopes of making the qualifiers alive. A vital second half of the tournament begins for the Royal Challengers as they face off against defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Here’s a look at CricTracker’s Predicted XI for RCB’s clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Tuesday:

Openers (Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle)

It makes little sense to pass judgments on an entire batting line-up based solely on one poor game. This was a freak turn of events no doubt. However, it’s important for any side to stick to their strengths and give their players another crack to prove themselves.

As mentioned earlier, the RCB side which played at the Eden Gardens on Sunday was perhaps their strongest in this edition of the IPL so far. Gayle struck some form against the Gujarat Lions. Virat Kohli has made it a habit of leading from the front with the bat.

Both openers have the ability to take the game by the scruff of the neck. On any given day, you’d want to open with these two if you have their services at your disposal. This opening combination can annihilate the best of bowlers in the world.

Middle order (AB de Villiers, Kedar Jadhav and Mandeep Singh)

RCB’s top order relies on two steady batsmen, who can not only stick around, but can also take on the attack when required. The KKR fiasco did see the duo fail. Both batsmen fell to deliveries that should have been left alone.

All said and done, AB de Villiers is still one of the best batsmen the world has ever produced. On the other hand, Kedar Jadhav has time and again played the long innings to see his side out of trouble. Mandeep as well will be eager to make it count and notch up a performance of substance.

They are busy players and can not only hit the boundaries at will but also keep the scoreboard ticking with the quick singles and the twos. RCB possesses one of the better top orders in the IPL, which has a perfect balance of experience, creativity, and reliability.

Allrounders (Stuart Binny, Pawan Negi)

The Royal Challenges Bangalore middle order boasts of up and coming domestic talent. The duo of Stuart Binny and Pawan Negi are both clean strikers of the ball. Despite a string of failures from, they still have an important role to play in the team. Binny has got off to starts on prior occasions. However, converting them into long innings has been a major issue.

Albeit, RCB have a strong middle order in these three, who can easily add a flurry of boundaries at the back end of the innings. In Stuart Binny, RCB also have an able medium pacer who can contribute 4 overs when the extra bowler is needed. Pawan Negi’s left-arm orthodox can come in handy.

Bowlers (Samuel Badree, Tymal Mills, Sreenath Aravind, Yuzvendra Chahal)

What went completely unnoticed in RCB’s ghastly game against the Knight Riders was the team’s bowlers. The batting was of course miserable. But at the end of the first innings, Kolkata were all but staring at defeat on home turf thanks to a spirited performance from the RCB bowlers.

Credit must go where it’s due. Full marks for the lot who restricted a KKR side which bats deep to a mere 131. Each and every bowler contributed with wickets. Spinners dominated, with Yuzvendra Chahal once again leading the pack with figures of 3-16 – simply exceptional. Negi went for 15 in his 3 overs and bagged 2.

Tymal Mills was back into the side and contributed immediately with 2 scalps. The T20 specialist brought back his signature slower bouncers and the back of the hand deliveries to trouble the KKR batsmen. Samuel Badree, Sreenath Aravind, and Stuart Binny all bagged one apiece.

This was perhaps one of those rare performances where as many as 6 bowlers were used and not a single went wicketless. It just goes on to show that all the Royal Challengers Bangalore bowlers had read the conditions well and applied themselves. Their results are for everyone to see.

In a word, there was absolutely nothing wrong in the bowling department. What followed was, of course, unfortunate, but as Kohli reiterated, ‘we’ve just got to take the positives out of the first half’.