The fact that Royal Challengers Bengaluru sits comfortably bottom in the majority of important bowling metrics—average (43.60), strike-rate (26.4), and sixes conceded (65)—is the most devastating indictment of their disastrous IPL 2024 season thus far. Along with having taken the fewest wickets—25—they are tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad, their next opponents, who have played one fewer game than them.
But, SRH finds themselves on the positive part of the points table, while RCB is enmeshed in problems resembling a wooden spoon. This is mostly because they adhere to the contemporary T20 tenet that states that teams must maximize their hitting resources. It’s what RCB skipper Faf du Plessis wants his team to achieve after four target-setting scores between 173 and 196 all resulted in losses.
“We must work hard to reach that 200. In our bowling, we don’t have as many weapons. Thus, the batting is what matters most. As far as bowling is concerned, we have not penetrated enough. In the powerplay, we need to take them two or three down. After the humiliating defeat in Mumbai, the captain of the RCB said, “It always feels like we are on the back foot after the first four overs.”
After such chastening excursions, flights home usually provide some respite. Nothing is more reassuring than a tried-and-true recipe. With a friendly “all-you-can-eat” label, however, this recipe will also be personally delivered to the away dressing room at Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the owners of the record IPL score will be seated.
Chaos has been the recurring theme of RCB’s campaign as the league’s halfway point draws near. They are still far from shaking off the inertia despite having used 19 players thus far, benched their two most costly preseason acquisitions, Cam Green and Alzarri Joseph. But there’s only one way forward after a foggy start that’s already left them face down: up.
When: April 15, 19:30 IST, Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL 2024
Where: Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
What to anticipate: A toss-winning, chase-mad captain. This is a place where teams have backed themselves to pursue any goal that is in front of them, even in previous seasons. The surface’s two-paced character during the first half of games, which lessens when dew sets in, has made defense an even bigger challenge here.
Matchup: SRH 12 vs. RCB 10. At this location, the Sunrisers defeated the hosts in the final to win their lone IPL championship in 2016. However, they have only previously prevailed once on this terrain. The last time the two teams played here was in 2019.
Collective Eye:
Bengaluru Royal Challengers
Injury/Availability: In addition to struggling with his form, Glenn Maxwell is recovering from a finger injury he got while fielding against the Mumbai Indians. After the blow, he left the field. The all-round player had two scans, according to Director of Cricket Mo Bobat, and there was currently no serious injury worry.
Strategies & Matchups: Approximately two weeks ago, when RCB hosted LSG here, the visitors used M. Siddharth and Krunal Pandya, two left-arm spinners, without hesitation in the PowerPlay. Typically a graveyard for their sort, spinners have conceded at the Chinnaswamy this season at an economy rate of just 8.35. Considering this option is worthwhile when facing two left-handed SRH openers who enjoy movement on the ball. If Maxwell is judged fit to start, RCB may have two off-spinners in their lineup.
Likely Starting XI: Mohammed Siraj, Reece Topley, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Akash Deep, Glenn Maxwell/Cam Green, Mahipal Lomror, Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Will Jacks, Rajat Patidar, and Mohammed Siraj [Impact Sub: Saurav Chauhan]
Hyderabad’s Sunrisers
Mayank Agarwal, who had been absent due to illness, has returned to training and may be used as an impact replacement at his home field.
Strategies and Matchups: Bhuvneshwar Kumar has taken just one wicket in the PowerPlay this year, but he has a very strong record against Virat Kohli, the leading run scorer, having dismissed him four times in the IPL. Bhuvneshwar has a strong track record at this location as well, taking nine wickets at an outstanding economy of 7.31 in eight appearances.
Possible starting XI: Pat Cummins, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, T. Natarajan, Abdul Samad, Abdul Samad, Aiden Markram, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Shahbaz Ahmed [Rahul Tripathi/Mayank Agarwal, Impact Sub]
Were you aware?
– This season, Mohammed Siraj has bowled 10 PowerPlay overs for a single wicket and given up 123 runs.
– Glenn Maxwell, who played for Kings XI Punjab in the 2014 season, recorded his highest IPL score of 95 against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
– Dinesh Karthik (250.00) has struck at a higher rate than Heinrich Klaasen (234.38) in the death overs this season. During this time, Karthik has also struck one six (11) more times than Klaasen.
What they expressed:
We haven’t played the way we wanted to play, and that is something we cannot deny. You determine what you believe are your greatest odds of winning before the competition. When we first entered this tournament, it was in the final year of an auction cycle. You go to the auction, do your best to enhance the team, plan your approach, and show up expecting to perform. We haven’t played as we would have liked to right now.” – Mo Bobat, Director of Cricket at the RCB
“I believe that you should always push yourself to try to get wickets because any side may score 60–70 runs in the final four or five overs. I believe that no score is secure. And you always feel like you’re part of the action, especially when you’re pursuing. Since most teams believe it’s simpler to navigate an innings when you know what’s in front of you, I believe most teams will come here and attempt to chase.” Daniel Vettori, Head Coach of SRH
