Follow UsRoyal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will take on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Match 49 of IPL 2022. Time is running out for both sides. CSK is in a position where they need to win all their remaining five games to get to 16 points which are perceived to be the minimum points required to proceed further. RCB, having lost three in a row, have the cushion of only one more defeat to get to 16. Hence, it is a crucial game for both sides.
Player Availability
Dwayne Bravo had a niggle in the last match and missed the game. He may or may not be back for this clash. There is a similar situation around Moeen Ali who has missed a number of games due to an injured knee. He has started to train and if match fit, he should be back in the side. Mitchell Santner will be the likely candidate to make way for either of them.
Ground Details and Team Combination
Pune had been a low scoring venue this season until Match 46 had close to 400 runs in the match.
Overall, the average run-rate still lingers at 8.4 here, the joint-lowest in the competition. The average first innings score is 173 and 67 percent of the game have been won by the team batting first. Spinners have only had 26 percent of wickets to fall here, the lowest proportion at a venue. Yet, someone like Wanindu Hasaranga can’t be missed.
Team Suggestion
The team we've picked has a good mix of world-class batters and bowlers. But remember, while you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms.
Captain Suggestion
Ruturaj Gaikwad struck form in the previous game in a blistering fashion. He creamed 99 runs off only 57 balls. It was his second fifty of the season but much more fluent than the first one - 73 against Gujarat Titans. Gaikwad likes to pile up one big score after the other. That is what has led to his meteoric rise. He also averages 51 in four matches against RCB and hence, is our preferred captaincy choice in this game.
Our Criclytics Player Projection predicts Gaikwad will score 35-53 runs in this match
X-Factors
Mukesh Choudhary has picked up his season in some style. He managed only four wickets in the first five matches. Since then, he has showcased his mettle with seven wickets in the last three games. It will be quite farfetched to call him the lead pacer in this line-up but the left-arm seamer is a handy resource. Given RCB’s struggle at the top-order, he can strike early and is a decent vice-captaincy option in this match.
Our Criclytics Player Projection predicts Choudhary to pick 2-3 wickets in this match
Shahbaz Ahmed is a utility player who provides points with both bat and ball. He has averaged 32.8 this season with the bat with numerous handful knocks. In addition, he snaffled two wickets in the previous match. Such all-round options can take your fantasy fortunes a long way.
Our Criclytics Player Projection predicts Ahmed to score 15-23 runs and pick 0-1 wickets in this match
Here are the top-10 picks as per Criclytics projected points-
Match-Ups
Harshal Patel has dismissed Ambati Rayudu thrice in only 16 balls. However, the respective form of the two players are at different ends. Rayudu blazed a brilliant 78 off 39 balls in his last outing whereas Harshal’s form has tipped off with the right-armer managing only four wickets in the last five games. It will be an interesting battle between form and past trends.
Probable XIs
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Josh Hazlewood, Mohammad Siraj
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Dwayne Bravo/Moeen Ali/Mitchell Santner, Dwaine Pretorius, Simarjeet Singh, Maheesh Theekshana, Mukesh Choudhary