IPL 2022: Qualifier 2 – Predicted Rajasthan Royals Playing XI vs Royal Challengers Bangalore

The Rajasthan Royals will be up against an upbeat Royal Challengers Bangalore in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2022 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 27 (Friday). Rajasthan will be heading into this match after a heartbreaking three-wicket defeat to Gujarat Titans in the first Qualifier a couple of days ago where pacer Prasidh Krishna was clobbered for three massive sixes in the final over by David Miller.

Despite this loss, RR have lived to see another day as they have got one more chance to book a place in the finals of IPL 2022. However, they will be up against a side that seems to be peaking at the right time and the Faf du Plessis-led side would be coming into this clash after winning the Eliminator by 14 runs against LSG.

As far as RR’s team combination is concerned, they would be fielding the same playing XI that had played against the Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1.

Here’s a look at Rajasthan Royals’ predicted playing XI against Royal Challengers Bangalore for Qualifier 2 of IPL 2022:

Openers: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler

Youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal did not have a memorable tournament in the first half during which he was benched owing to inconsistent performances. However, once the southpaw was included in the playing XI during the second half, he made the most out of that opportunity by scoring some magnificent half-centuries.

The emerging batter was dismissed cheaply for just three runs in the last game and he would be charged up to display better performance in Qualifier 2 against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Jos Buttler roared back to form with a superb 56-ball 89 as he single-handedly took care of Rajasthans’ innings with his whirlwind batting performance and in the process also surpassed 700 runs this season. His innings included 12 fours and 2 massive sixes.

Middler-Order: Sanju Samson (c & wk), Devdutt Padikkal and Shimron Hetmyer

Skipper Sanju Samson scored an important 47 runs off 26 balls and played a great supporting knock to Jos Buttler who went berserk from the other end. The duo was involved in a 68-run stand for the second wicket which eventually propelled RR to a challenging total of 188/6. On the other hand, Devdutt Padikkal contributed with a 20-ball 28 in the backend of the Rajasthans’ innings and his knock included two fours and as many sixes at a strike rate of 140.

Shimron Hetmyer has been the Royals’ most reliable middle-order batter who has scored vital runs in the middle and death overs this season. The Windies power-hitter was dismissed for just four runs to his name in the last match and he would be hoping to make amends with a solid knock against his former team RCB.

All-Rounders: Ravichandran Ashwin and Riyan Parag

Ravichandran Ashwin could not do much in the last game as he only got a chance to bat in the final over. Nonetheless, he had shown his batting prowess with an unbeaten 23-ball 40 in RR’s final league game against the Chennai Super Kings. As far as the wickets column is concerned, the senior spinner has registered 11 scalps to his name from 15 matches.

Riyan Parag has blown hot and cold in the ongoing season. The youngster was run out for just 4 runs in the last game during an unfortunate mix-up with R Ashwin on the final ball of the innings. It remains to be seen whether skipper Samson will give him a chance to roll his arms over in the crucial tie against Bangalore.

Bowlers: Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal and Obed McCoy

New Zealand pace spearhead Trent Boult did pick up the wicket of Wriddhiman Saha, but he was not at all effective after that and ended up giving away 38 runs at an economy rate of 9.5. Youngster Prasidh Krishna had a night to forget as he was struck for three maximums in the final over by Miller. Apart from that, he went wicketless and also conceded 40 runs from his 3.3 overs at an economy rate of 11.4.

Yuzvendra Chahal was off-coloured in Qualifier 1 as he went wicketless. Nonetheless, the wrist-spinner is leading the Purple Cap list with 26 wickets from 15 games and would be hoping to bamboozle a world-class RCB batting line-up in the upcoming knockout encounter. Caribbean speedster Obed McCoy picked up the wicket of a well-set Matthew Wade, but even he was expensive with the ball in hand conceding 1/40 at an economy rate of 10.

RR’s predicted playing XI against RCB: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Obed McCoy.