IPL 2020: Match 10, RCB vs MI – RCB Predicted Playing XI

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) started their campaign on a positive note with a victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). However, the second game was a forgettable one for the Bangalore franchise as they lost the game against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by 97 runs. The team led by Virat Kohli underperformed in all the departments and the management needs to find answers for several questions before their next encounter.

In the bowling department, they lacked discipline and their experienced bowlers– Umesh Yadav and Dale Steyn went for too many runs. Their next game is against Mumbai Indians and with their powerful batting unit, MI can score quite freely against a weak bowling side like RCB.

Also, the strong batting line up for which RCB is known for, looked quite vulnerable while chasing the massive total. If RCB wants to be in the competition and clinch their first title, they need to find the balance in their team very soon.

Here is the Predicted Playing XI of RCB for their match against MI:

Openers (Devdutt Padikkal and Aaron Finch)

Devdutt Padikkal had a dream debut in the first game against SRH as he scored a solid fifty at the top. However, he didn’t perform as per the expectations in the next game while chasing a massive total. The youngster needs to play his natural game and has to prove that he can perform under pressure if he wants to play at the highest level.

Aaron Finch came into the side with a reputation of a world-class batsman. His record at the international level speaks for him but his performance in the current tournament hasn’t been quite fascinating. After getting two starts in two games, Finch hasn’t been able to transform it into big innings and he would look to do it in the next game.

Middle-order (Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers (WK), Shivam Dube)

Virat Kohli’s lean patch in 2020 has continued in IPL as well. He hasn’t played as per the expectations in the first two games and would be looking to change his fortune in the third game.

AB de Villiers’ role can be either of a finisher or the anchor if Kohli doesn’t play along. RCB is quite dependent on these two-star batsmen like every season and would want them to perform in their match against the defending champions.

Shivam Dube has been a star with the ball for RCB and has really developed himself into an all-rounder. However, he needs to enhance his batting credentials in the upcoming games as RCB is expected to drop Josh Philippe and the southpaw will be batting at No.5.

AB de Villiers will also be doing the gloves in this game if Philippe sits out and the responsibility of the top 5 batsmen increases as RCB is looking to go into the game without the Australian stumper.

All-rounders (Washington Sundar and Isuru Udana)

Washington Sundar is a bowling allrounder but he hasn’t been given a lot of opportunities with the ball. As MI has Quinton De Kock, a left-handed opener in their team, Virat Kohli might try Sundar’s off-break in the powerplay.

Isuru Udana is expected to replace Philippe in the line-up. The Sri Lankan all-rounder can bowl with a lot of variety including slow cutters and his left-handed bowling can really give variety to the RCB’s bowling attack.

Bowlers (Dale Steyn, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal and Mohammad Siraj)

Dale Steyn, the leader of the attack is not looking in great touch in this season. However, with the record he posseses, he is expected to get more chances. Navdeep Saini has really developed himself into a match-winning bowler. His ability to bowl in the death has also been applauded and if RCB needs to do well, his performance is quite important.

Yuzvendra Chahal is their lead spinner and the wrist-spinner is in terrific form as well. He won the Player of the Match award in the game against SRH and the management would expect him to destroy Mumbai’s batting order in a similar fashion.

Mohammad Siraj is expected to replace Umesh Yadav in the next game as the latter has been in dismal form in this season. His economy has been well above 10 and he hasn’t picked up any wicket. Siraj is a decent medium-fast bowler and RCB would expect him to end their pace bowling woes.