FANTASY PREVIEW
Follow UsRoyal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants will lock horns in Match 15 of IPL 2023. Bangalore were shot down by 81 runs in their previous game. After that massive dent to their confidence, they will be looking to pick themselves up but face a tough Lucknow challenge in their objective. The KL Rahul-led Lucknow have won two of their three games as yet.
Ground details and team combination
Although the average first innings score at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium since 2018 is only 165, the first match confirmed the notion that it is a high-scoring venue if the team batting first don’t lose many wickets in the powerplay.
However, the team chasing has gone on to win 10 out of the 18 matches here since 2018 and it will not be surprising if the toss-winning captain elects to bowl first.
While the spinners (8.1) have been far more economical than the pacers (9.7) in T20s since 2018 at this venue, the latter have picked up 60% of the wickets here.
Suggested Teams
While you could go for the above team, you can also choose your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.
Captaincy suggestions
For small leagues: KL Rahul (capt), Virat Kohli (vice-capt)
For grand leagues: David Willey (capt), Krunal Pandya (vice-capt)
Stats that matter
> KL Rahul averages 76.3 against RCB, his second highest batting average against the currently existing IPL sides. He has three half-centuries in his last five innings against RCB.
> There is a good chance that Mark Wood will return for this fixture. In 11 matches since September 2022, Wood has 27 wickets at 10.1 runs per victim.
> Glenn Maxwell is a great all-round asset in T20 cricket. However, he isn’t bowling nowadays to heal from his leg injury which takes a hit at his utility value. Plus his scores of 5, 0 (in a first-class match), 8, 12* and 5 (white-ball cricket) don’t instill much confidence in his batting.
> The Harshal Patel factor has been missing for RCB. In his four overs at the death thus far, Harshal has been hammered for 62 runs.
> KL Rahul has an outstanding record against Mohammed Siraj in T20s. He has never been dismissed and has scored almost 100 runs at a strike rate of 194.
Grand League Punts
> There is a good chance that Quinton de Kock will feature in the Lucknow XI for this game. The left-hander averages 46.3 in the M Chinnaswamy Stadium at a strike-rate of 147.4 with three fifties and one hundred in 11 innings.
> Kyle Mayers and Krunal Pandya could be great captaincy options here because of their all-round value. Mayers has been in great form with the bat while Krunal snaffled a three-wicket haul in the previous game. There is a good chance both of them will start the bowling for Lucknow in this match.
Here are the Top 10 Criclytics Projections
Probable XIs
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis ( c ), Mahipal Lomror, Glenn Maxwell, Michael Bracewell, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Shahbaz Ahmed, David Willey, Harshal Patel, Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj
Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul ( c ), Kyle Mayers, Quinton de Kock (wk), Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Mark Wood, Jaydev Unadkat, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi
