Royal Challengers Bangalore versus Rajasthan Royals, Match 39, IPL 2022: Fantasy Preview

Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on Rajasthan Royals in Match 39 of IPL 2022. RCB were shot down to 68 all put in their previous match but they are still a force to reckon with. RR, on the other hand, are enjoying their best season since their return in 2018. They are firmly placed in the top four. 

Ground Details and Team Combination

The Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium has hosted six games so far this season and the batters here have scored runs at an average of 28.3. Meanwhile, a wicket has fallen every 19.5 deliveries. The fast bowlers have had more success here, operating at an economy of 8.6 and a strike rate of 19.3 - the best amongst all four venues. Meanwhile, spinners here have taken a wicket every 28.2 deliveries, which is the worst amongst all four stadiums. However, Wanindu Hasaranga and Yuzvendra Chahal have been in pretty decent form and it would be ideal to have at least one of them in your team.

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 Selection

If you want to pick anyone else apart from Jos Buttler to be your captain, do it at your own risk. Buttler, thus far, has been the batter of the season. At halfway mark in the tournament, he already has 491 runs including three hundreds. His contest against one of the best bowling line-ups in RCB will be the one to watch out for but given his sensational form, it’s the Englishman we are backing. 

Our Criclytics Player Projection predicts Buttler to score 52-78 runs in this match

X-Factors 

With a number of impactful runs, Shimron Hetmyer is the second-highest run-scorer for Rajasthan Royals this season (224). In red-hot form, his scores in the season read 32, 35, 42*, 59* and 29. Moved to number four now, from five, there is every chance he can ride the crest of his form against RCB.

Our Criclytics Player Projection predicts Hetmyer to score 22-32 runs in this match

Mahipal Lomror is yet to play a game this season but Anuj Rawat’s extended lean patch is likely to make way for the 22-year old. He may get the opening slot too which will allow him a great opportunity to prove himself. He was quite impressive for Rajasthan Royals in the previous season and at only 7.5 credits, he emerges as an excellent budget buy if he is indeed drafted in the XI. 

Our Criclytics Player Projection predicts Warner to score 16-24 runs and pick 0-1 wickets in this match

Here are the top-10 picks as per Criclytics projected points-

Match-Ups

A clear match-up lies between Faf du Plessis and Trent Boult, a battle that will unfold from the first over of RCB’s innings itself. Boult has dismissed du Plessis thrice in T20 cricket without giving much away. In addition, du Plessis has struggled to get going in the powerplay this season. 

Probable XIs

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis (c), Mahipal Lomror, Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Suyash Prabhudessai, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Josh Hazlewood, Mohammad Siraj 

Rajasthan Royals: Jos Buttler, Davdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Karun Nair, Riyan Parag, R Ashwin, Trent Boult, Obed McCoy, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal