RR vs RCB Three victories will secure the elusive crown. At the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, May 22, RCB will face a struggling Rajasthan in a do-or-die Eliminator match to kick off their IPL 2024 playoff run. In Qualifier 2, two teams—one that won six games in May and the other that hasn’t won this month—will square off for a trip to Chennai, where SunRisers are waiting. By crushing SunRisers by eight wickets and securing their spot in the final, which is set for May 26 in Chennai, KKR has sent a warning to the other playoff teams. The three teams—RCB, RR, and SRH—will now compete for the remaining berth in the summit match. And RCB is the favorite to play KKR on the last Sunday of 2017 IPL season, if their recent performance is any indication. After appearing all but untouchable in the first half of the season, Rajasthan was set up to win the table. But when it came to business, they collapsed, losing four straight games before their final league match was called off in Guwahati on Sunday due to rain. Rajasthan will be quite disappointed with themselves after missing out on the top two spots and into the Eliminator.
CAN BENGALURU CONTINUE RESURGENT RUN?
However, Bengaluru will be full of confidence after pulling off an unbelievable six-match winning streak in the league stage, which ended on Saturday, May 18, with a spectacular knockout of five-time champions CSK. After winning just one of their first eight games of the season, RCB actually became the first team to qualify for the playoffs.
Since momentum is everything in sports, RCB will start the Eliminator as the favorite. The rest of the batting lineup, led by captain Faf du Plessis and Rajat Patidar, has joined in on the action while Orange Cap holder Virat Kohli, who has 708 runs from 14 matches, has not let up. Down the order, Dinesh Karthik has been hitting for about 200 runs, while Cameron Green, an all-round player, has also been productive at the bat recently.
When RCB had a horrific run in the first half of the competition, their bowling received a lot of criticism. But the bowling unit has peaked at the appropriate time, with players like Mohammed Siraj and Yash Dayal finding form and RCB placing more faith in their spin tandem of Karn Sharma and Swapnil Singh.
Conversely, Rajasthan seems to have forgotten how to triumph. Despite the heroics of Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag, they have not benefited by Jos Buttler’s return to England or Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismal play. In the lower middle order, Rovman Powell and Dhruv Jurel have struggled, and Shimron Hetmyer has been out due to injury concerns.
KEY BATTLES: RCB vs RR
Trent Boult vs. Virat Kohli: In the IPL 2024, the New Zealand pacer has taken the most wickets for RR during powerplays. Virat Kohli, who has been in incredible form, particularly in the powerplays, will require his assistance to be stopped.
Yash Dayal vs. Riyan Parag: This matchup between two men who have been singing a lovely song of redemption this season could be exciting. Dayal enters the game having prevented MS Dhoni from going crazy in the last over of a crucial victory—something that many bowlers have never done in IPL history. However, Ryan has been the cornerstone of RR’s batting lineup, repaying the team for its faith in him.
Mohammed Siraj vs. Sanju Samson: This matchup between the hot-hitting Mohammed Siraj and the pivotal Rajasthan batsman at the top of the order is sure to be explosive. If this battle is won, the outcome could have a significant impact on the game.
IPL Eliminator: Ahmedabad Pitch and weather conditions
First things first: a complete 40-over match is anticipated if the weather gods cooperate. Wednesday is predicted to be hot and muggy in Ahmedabad.
Regarding the surface, anticipate a strong batting pitch that provides sufficient assistance for the fast bowlers. Using the new ball, Boult and Siraj will have fun bowling. In Qualifier 1, Mitchell Starc was brilliant for KKR against SRH, taking three wickets during the powerplay. It is not going to get any easier to bat in the first innings, though. The batting teams’ credo should be to hold onto wickets throughout the powerplay.
IPL Eliminator – RR vs RCB: Team News
Will Jacks and Jos Buttler, two major England players, are missed by both RR and RCB. While RR has felt Bottler’ absence, RCB has fared well without Jacks. Rajasthan would be hoping for the availability of Shimron Hetmyer, but RCB is unlikely to alter their winning lineup.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sanju Samson (c/wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Avesh Khan, and Yuzvendra Chahal are the players in the RR Predicted XI. The following players are predicted to start for the Royals: Glenn Maxwell, Manipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Karn Sharma, Yash Dayal, Mohammed Siraj, Lockie Ferguson, and captain Faf du Plessis.
IPL Eliminator, RR vs RCB: Who Will Win?
In order to defeat RR and exact revenge for their loss at the Narendra Modi Stadium during the IPL 2022 Qualifier 2, RCB will begin as the clear favorite. On Wednesday, expect a one-sided match that will feature a special Virat Kohli.
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