IPL 10, Match 34: RPS v RCB - Royal Challengers Bangalore Predicted XI

This could be the last nail in the coffin for RCB - only a win here can save them some hope.

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Royal Challengers Bangalore. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The Royal Challengers Bangalore are all but down and out of this year’s IPL staring down at the barrel in the seventh position just ahead of the Delhi Daredevils who are behind them by a couple of matches. Their performances have been below par considering the stalwarts in the team and the spectacular performance they put up last year.

However, plagued by injuries to some of their key players and the poor form of their batsman have also not helped their cause.  But the juggernaut rolls on and this weekend will feature the Royal Challengers facing off against the Rising Pune Supergiant.

The captain, Virat Kohli would be fuming at the way his team has broken down in this tournament without evening mimicking so much as a fight. However, this is also an opportunity to bring in a few changes and inject in new blood which might give the team the much-needed boost it so desperately needs. Here, we take a look at the probable XI for their next match against Pune.

Openers (Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle)

It’s no surprise that Kohli will open the innings. He has done pretty well for himself in this position amassing mountains of runs last season. Even being curled by a shoulder injury this year hasn’t stopped the man from getting a couple of 50s in the 5 matches he has played so far.

Virat has looked pretty solid in those innings and his position at the top of the order is well warranted. His usual go-to opener Chris Gayle, on the other hand, has not been his usual self but it is likely that he will be in the playing XI. Gayle has been scoring in patches but he needs to regain the consistency that made him the Universe Boss.

Middle Order (AB de Villiers, Kedar Jadhav and Vishnu Vinod)

De Villiers is one of those players who is like a trinket to a baby. He can’t be replaced. The man has once again shown his class this season striking at a healthy 131.57 at an average of 37.50. His place at number 3 is solidified and he will be expected to fire against a rather weak Pune bowling attack.

Kedhar Jadhav has looked impressive for some time now. He has carried his form from the national side to his IPL team and has played cameos for the team with an exceptional strike rate of 160.93. His presence at number 4 will guarantee the team has someone to fall back to in case of any early wickets up the order.

The opportunity for Vishnu Vinod might open up in this game. The youngster from Kerala was brought into the side in place of the injured KL Rahul. To be fair, he hasn’t got as many opportunities to establish himself and hopefully, the match against the Supergiant will help him elevate. He has performed well in domestic cricket and should look to translate similar performances in the IPL.

AllRounders (Shane Watson and Pawan Negi)

Shane Watson was benched for the game against the Lions the other day. RCB’s middle order was found wanting during that match and they could really use his experience in the bowling department as well with his dot to dot line and variation in pace.

Pawan Negi impressed a lot of people with his brief but explosive innings in the last game against the Gujarat Lions. Being a left-hander will also help in the angle coming into him from a leg spinner, and devices him well against someone like Imran Tahir. His bowling has also drawn applause this season bowling at a strike rate of 13.71 and an economy of 6.87 which is excellent in T20 cricket.

Bowlers (Aniket Choudhary, Samuel Badree, Srinath Aravind, Yuzvendra Chahal)

Aniket Choudhary, the left-arm pacer stands himself a good chance of making it to the playing XI. He can move the ball in the air but what he can really do remains to be seen. He hasn’t made people take notice in the handful of matches he has played in the IPL so far but the RCB management would like to infuse new changes and bring in new ideas this time.

Sreenath Aravind is an impressive left-arm bowler who has the ability to make the batsmen fumble when he is in full rhythm. Unfortunately, he too hasn’t been in the best of forms but RCB will be hoping he can turn it around against the Supergiant.

Yuzvendra Chahal the lanky, crafty leg-spinner is one of those traditional leggies that brings the ball into the right-hander consistently and suddenly whips out a googly. He has picked the bulk of the wickets for RCB and will be a huge factor in the match against RPS.

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