The 19th match of IPL 2024 will witness a showdown between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Saturday, April 6.
RR vs RCB: Match Preview
The Royals have been displaying outstanding form in the tournament, securing victories in all their matches played so far. Contrarily, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have struggled, managing only one win out of their four matches. As they head to the ‘Pink City’, led by Faf du Plessis, the team aims to bounce back and create an upset.
In this new season, with a slightly altered team name, RCB faces familiar challenges. After four games in IPL 2024, they have only one win to their name. Despite having a star-studded top quarter in their batting lineup, most of them are yet to perform, putting pressure on the remaining players. The bowling department for RCB hasn’t been up to the mark either.
Similarly, Rajasthan Royals have their share of star players who haven’t fully ignited yet, especially at the top of their lineup. However, this hasn’t hindered their success, with three wins from their opening three games. The question remains: How formidable could the Royals become if Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler find their form?
Nevertheless, a turnaround for RCB could be sparked by the resurgence of key players like Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, or Cameron Green. With IPL 2024 still in its early stages, previous seasons remind us that a good start doesn’t guarantee success. Despite different initial performances last season, both teams ended up with similar points and net run rates by the league’s conclusion.
There’s still a long journey ahead, but RCB understands the importance of initiating a turnaround sooner rather than later.
The form guide for the two teams shows a clear contrast. Rajasthan Royals have been on a winning streak, with victories in all of their recent matches. On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have struggled, experiencing losses in their recent outings, with only one win in their last four matches
RR vs RCB: Pitch Report & Conditions
The Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur offers a surface that favors batsmen. Batsmen can expect the ball to come onto the bat nicely with a good bounce, providing them with ample opportunities to score runs. Considering the pitch dynamics, opting to bowl first and then chasing the target in the second innings could be a strategic choice.
In the current IPL season, Rajasthan Royals have triumphed in both of their home games. They opted to bat first on both occasions and successfully defended totals of 193 and 185. However, it’s noteworthy that the chasing teams had a decent chance in both matches. Therefore, while the Sawai Mansingh Stadium isn’t strictly a bat-first ground, its large outfield and relatively low dew factor do tend to balance things out for the team bowling second.
RR vs RCB: Head-to-head
In their head-to-head encounters, Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore have faced off in a total of 30 matches. Out of these, Rajasthan Royals emerged victorious in 12 matches, while Royal Challengers Bangalore secured wins in 15 matches. Additionally, there have been 3 matches that ended with no result. Their rivalry dates back to their first match on March 12, 2008, with their most recent clash occurring on May 14, 2023.
Rajasthan Royals
Sandeep Sharma, who missed the Royals’ previous match due to a niggle, is expected to return if fit. This would likely result in Nandre Burger returning to the Impact Player rotation, alongside players like Rovman Powell and Shubham Dube. The Royals tend to utilize their substitutes based on the match situation rather than relying solely on the toss outcome. Ideally, they prefer to have six full-time bowling options whenever feasible.
Probable XII:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Jos Buttler
- Sanju Samson (captain & wicketkeeper)
- Riyan Parag
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Dhruv Jurel
- R Ashwin
- Trent Boult
- Avesh Khan
- Sandeep Sharma
- Yuzvendra Chahal
- Nandre Burger/Rovman Powell
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Anuj Rawat’s performance has seen a decline since his impressive 25-ball 48 in the season opener in Chennai, managing only 25 runs off 48 balls in his next three innings. Consequently, there’s speculation that RCB might opt to exclude him on Saturday and reinstate Dinesh Karthik as the wicketkeeper.
This decision could open up opportunities to start Mahipal Lomror instead of utilizing him as an Impact Player, while also providing a chance for middle-order batter Suyash Prabhudessai or all-rounder Manoj Bhandage. There might also be a temptation to include Will Jacks in the mix, although fitting him in could be challenging without leaving out their high-profile trade signing, Cameron Green.
Probable XII:
- Virat Kohli
- Faf du Plessis (captain)
- Rajat Patidar
- Glenn Maxwell
- Cameron Green
- Anuj Rawat/Suyash Prabhudessai/Manoj Bhandage
- Mahipal Lomror
- Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper)
- Mayank Dagar
- Reece Topley
- Mohammed Siraj
- Yash Dayal
RR vs RCB: Match Prediction
Scenario 1
In Scenario 1, if Rajasthan Royals win the toss and opt to bowl, it’s projected that the Power Play score would range between 40-50, with the first innings total likely falling within 155-165 runs. In this scenario, the prediction leans towards Rajasthan Royals securing the victory.
Scenario 2
On the other hand, in Scenario 2, if Royal Challengers Bangalore win the toss and choose to bowl, the Power Play score is anticipated to be higher, around 60-70, leading to a first innings total of 180-190 runs. Despite this, the prediction still favors Rajasthan Royals to win the match.
RR vs RCB: Dream 11 Fantasy Prediction
Team 1:
- Keeper: Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson
- Batsmen: Virat Kohli (c), Faf du Plessis, Yashasvi Jaiswal
- All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Riyan Parag (vc), Cameron Green
- Bowlers: Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, Mohammed Siraj
Team 2:
- Keeper: Jos Buttler
- Batsmen: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, Yashasvi Jaiswal (vc)
- All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell (c), Riyan Parag, Cameron Green
- Bowlers: Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal
When and Where to Watch the Match: Streaming & Broadcast Details
What: Rajasthan Royals (RR) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) IPL 2024
When: 7:30 PM IST, Saturday – April 6
Where: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Where to watch RR vs RCB Live Streaming: JioCinema app for FREE
Where to watch RR vs RCB Live Telecast: Star Sports
