IPL 2018: Match 39, Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore – Expectation vs Reality

The race to occupy the slots of the playoffs stage of the 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is intensifying with each passing day. Monday will see two teams placed at the opposite poles take each other on at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. It’s going to be the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) versus the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

SRH are currently placed at the top of the rankings ladder and are arguably, one of the prime contenders for the title this time. On the other hand, Monday’s match is a must-win scenario for the RCB to remain alive in the competition. Before the real action starts, let’s take a sneak peek at what we’re expecting from this high-octane encounter while we wait for the reality to unfold.

Rashid Khan to bamboozle RCB with spin

RCB’s tryst with spin at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai in the last game against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) would’ve surely left the Virat Kohli-led side wary of turning deliveries. Rashid Khan has emerged as one of the best bowlers of this IPL, leaving almost every opposition scratching their heads over his bowling. Put the two together and the picture seems to be a grim one for the RCB.

Rashid Khan has already picked up 8 wickets at Hyderabad in IPL 2018 and seems to be in top form. He can be expected to unleash his ability to trick batsmen with his deft leg-break bowling. Since SRH will be looking to remain within the top 2 teams so as to have two shots at the play-off stage, Khan will be crucial in determining whether or not they win Monday’s encounter.

AB de Villiers to emerge as RCB’s saviour yet again

How many times have we seen RCB floundering, clutching at straws when the magician, and then AB de Villiers takes the field and leads them to glory? Currently at the last but one rank in the points table, RCB need a miracle to turn things around for them in the remaining matches and AB might just be the man to do that. He’d made his comeback into the game after being ruled out for two matches straight owing to a bout of viral fever.

RCB have to win all five or at least four out of the remaining 5 matches if they’re to nurture even a glimmer of hope of participating in the play-offs. With Brendon McCullum and Kohli, both turning out to be only slightly above average this season and the batting faltering on one occasion too many, the onus will be on ABD to guide his team to a much-needed victory against the SRH.

Here’s the reality right after the match..

Southee and Siraj team up

RCB won the important toss and their bowlers once again stood up. The duo of Tim Southee and Mohammed Siraj shared 6 wickets between them while going for only 55 runs in their combined 8 overs. But the skipper of SRH Kane Williamson proved his worth by scoring his fifth half-century of the season. He was well supported by Shakib Al Hasan who scored 35 runs after which the hosts collapsed to get skittled out for 146 runs as their bowlers were once again tasked with a tough ask.

Bhuvi and Kaul seal the thriller

RCB were set to chase down the target as Parthiv Patel and Virat Kohli churned out some quick runs in the powerplay. But once they fell they stuttered in the middle overs as the pressure piled on. But Colin de Grandhomme took the onus on him and attacked the best bowler of the opposition Rashid Khan to bring the equation down to 25 runs in last three overs. But Kaul and Bhuvi were exceptional at the death as only one four was conceded and that too off an edge. RCB fell short of the target agonisingly by 5 runs as SRH sealed their place in the playoff.