TACTICAL PREVIEW
Follow UsThe 2023 IPL is in its most interesting phase. Each game is throwing up new qualification scenarios. Every team is looking to get to the 16-point mark on the points table since 14 doesn’t seem to assure anything. And that is what makes Match 60 of the season quite exciting.
Both Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals are in a ‘must-win all games’ situation to get to 16 points. After three successive losses, Rajasthan registered a buoyant win against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens. They chased down an under-par score with as many as 41 balls to spare. While Yashasvi Jaiswal was on song again (98* off 47 balls), Yuzvendra Chahal pouching his second successive four-wicket haul was a big tick for the Royals.
On the other hand, Bangalore have blown hot and cold. Batting has been their more consistent facet, driven by three batters - Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell. Bowling has cost them a few games. Taking the field after being obliterated in their previous game at the hands of Suryakumar Yadav must be a dent in their confidence.
Rajasthan have batted with intent throughout the season. How Bangalore bowlers cope with that in this fixture could well decide the fortunes of both teams in this campaign. The losing side will only be able to get to 14 points at maximum and yet, their fortunes won’t be in their hands.
Things to watch out for
Can Boult fetch two big fish upfront?
Kohli, du Plessis and Maxwell have scored 68.1% of Bangalore’s total runs this season. It seems easy to dismantle their batting by getting both Kohli and du Plessis early. However, the opening duo has made sure at least one of them bats till the 10th over mark at least. That allows Maxwell to attack the spinners all out.
The same was witnessed when the two teams met in Match 32. Boult got the better of Kohli in the first over itself. Maxwell and du Plessis then forged a 127-run stand that turned out to be a match-winning stand.
Boult has been one of the best powerplay bowlers in the season, fetching nine wickets, the second most in this phase. Rajasthan would stress on dismissing at least two of Bangalore’s big three. It becomes more important given Maxwell’s strong record against Chahal and Ashwin. He has a strike-rate in excess of 170 against both spinners. Therefore, it is imperative for Rajasthan to get at least two wickets in the powerplay.
David vs Goliath in the death overs
Rajasthan are one of the only three sides to score at a strike-rate in excess of 190 in the death overs this season. On the contrary, Bangalore are one of the three sides to concede at an economy of 11 or more in the death overs.
Bangalore’s death overs specialist, Harshal Patel, has gone at an economy of 11.2 while picking only nine wickets in ten games. Their other specialist seamer, Vyshak Vijaykumar, has conceded at 13.2 in this phase. Harshal, in particular, will have to step up to stem the flow of runs against the likes of Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Sanju Samson and who knows if Jos Buttler also bats through.
Harshal will draw confidence from his record against Samson. He has dismissed the Rajasthan skipper twice for only 18 runs.
Ground Details
The Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Rajasthan’s home venue, has hosted four games with vastly contrasting fortunes. The first and third game saw the team batting first scoring only 154/7 and 118 all out respectively. Meanwhile, the other two games had 200-plus scores in the first innings.
One thing that has stayed constant though is help for spinners. The tweakers have picked 54.1% of wickets to fall here, the highest proportion at any venue. The pitch has slowed down in every game. The leg-spinners have snaffled 25.4% of the wickets. Rajasthan have Chahal and Bangalore posseses Wanindu Hasaranga. But overall, Rajasthan has a stronger spin attack with Ravichandran Ashwin on their side.
Tactical Nous
> Wanindu Hasaranga versus Sanju Samson is a renowned match-up. The leg-spinner has dismissed Samson six times in eight innings for only 40 runs. It is a give that Bangalore will bring in Hasaranga as soon as Samson will walk out to bat. Also, it would be vital in what phase of play this event takes place. If the pitch is in its slowing down phase, Samson’s task to negotiate Hasaranga would grow manifolds.
> Virat Kohli averages 33.7 against spin in the middle-overs but strokes at only 109.8. Rajasthan would love to add an extra spinner and stifle Kohli with spin in the middle overs. However, the equation isn’t that simple. If there is Maxwell batting at the other end in the middle-overs (strike-rate of 169.1), the same move can backfire.
Probable XIs
Expect both sides to add an extra spinner. Rajasthan may replace KM Asif with Murugan Ashwin and Bangalore can swap Vijaykumar with Karn Sharma in the main XI. Rajasthan also have the option to play Adam Zampa ahead of Joe Root. However, given the tricky nature of the pitch at their home venue, the hosts may refrain from doing that.
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c/wk), Joe Root, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, KM Asif/Murugan Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis ( c ), Virat Kohli, Anuj Rawat, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Karn Sharma, Josh Hazlewood
