IPL 2018, Match 11, RCB vs RR - Rajasthan Royals Predicted XI

The Rajasthan Royals registered their first win of the season when they beat the Delhi Daredevils in the rain curtailed encounter in Jaipur recently. Prior to that, they had an embarrassing defeat against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in their first game of the 2018 edition. Now, they head to the southern part of the country again, this time to Bengaluru.

The Royals will take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Royal derby. Coming to the game, the Men in Blue would be aware of the fact that the RCB camp will be high on confidence after their recent win at the same venue. Also, the home advantage will be working in their favor. It will be a green game for the Virat Kohli-led side and the team has had a phenomenal track record in the outfit.

Certainly, the task ahead for the visiting Rajasthan Royals side will be a tough one. They will have to play their best cricket to beat RCB in their own backyard. The team management would have certainly started off their planning about the playing eleven and the best combinations for the game. With a couple of players having slight niggles and a few new players joining the squad, there could be a certain change in the RR playing camp.

Here is the Rajasthan Royals Predicted XI for the match:

Openers (Ajinkya Rahane, D Arcy Short)

The opening pair has not been firing for the Rajasthan camp. And the major cause for this has been their lack of fortune. D Arcy Short, who is one of the most exciting openers in the format, has been run out twice in as many number of games. The miscommunication with Ajinkya Rahane has cost him dearly.

He would be hoping to get to the playing field again and putting up an improved show. Meanwhile, his opening partner, Rahane, has been playing well. After having missed out on scoring big in the first game against SRH, Rahane played an anchoring knock against the Daredevils. He will be keen to continue his good run of form.

Middle-Order (Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Rahul Tripathi)

The RR middle-order boasts of very talented players. Sanju Samson has arguably been the most fluent batsman in the camp. In both the games, Samson has played well thus far in the season. Moreover, the ease with which he has been clearing the ropes is making him a top contender for Orange Cap this season.

Samson is followed by English batsman Jos Buttler. Buttler has been in tremendous form in the recent times. However, he has failed to translate his good international form to good shows in the IPL. He got a good start in the previous game but could not get going thereafter.

Buttler was ably supported by Rahul Tripathi in the previous game. Tripathi would have ideally liked to play in the top order but he does not mind playing the role of the finisher either. He has definitely not settled into the new role just yet, but is surely capable of doing it.

All-rounders (Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer)

The Rajasthan Royals have received a major boost in the form of Jofra Archer. The Windies all-rounder has been making big news in the T20 format in the recent times. His arrival will certainly make the RR camp look a lot stronger. He is looking set for his IPL debut.

Along with Archer, there is another big name that the RR camp boasts of. Ben Stokes has been a hot property in the IPL and the Royals are lucky to have him in their camp. Stokes is yet to come up with an impressive show in either of the departments in the season.

Spinners (K Gowtham, Shreyas Gopal)

The Karnataka duo of K Gowtham and Shreyas Gopal look set to take the field for RR yet again in the capacity of front line spinners. While Gowtham is an impressive offie, Gopal bowls the other way. But both can be very effective on their given day.

Furthermore, Gowtham and Gopal are more than just handy with the bat. Gowtham is renowned for his big hitting ability in the domestic circuit while Gopal is capable of keeping the innings going in the lower middle order in times of crisis.

Fast bowlers (Jaydev Unadkat, Dhawal Kulkarni)

The fast bowling department looks very set for the Royals. Jaydev Unadkat and Dhawal Kulkarni have been performing very well in their respective roles with the new ball. In the last game, they bowled tight lines up front in the shortened game and fared up really well against the big hitters of the DD lineup.

With RCB camp also boasting of very good hitters, the roles of Jaydev and Dhawal will become the key to Royals’ chances in the match. Furthermore, this Indian duo will be supported by Jofra Archer and Ben Stoles in the pace bowling department.

Here’s RR predicted XI for the game against RCB

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