IPL 2019 Match Preview: M7 – RCB VS MI: Both teams are yet to open their account this season. RCB got off to a rough start, being dismissed for 70 in the season opening fixture in Chennai. Despite posting a low total, RCB still put up a fight – though the flawed selections for the conditions meant they just didn’t have enough ammunition to finish the job.
MI were blown away by Rishabh Pant in their opener against the Delhi Capitals. After conceding 213 runs, MI needed one of their own to wreak havoc like Pant did; that wasn’t to be as MI lost wickets in clusters. Yuvraj Singh top-scored in MI’s chase; he applied well and made 53 in his maiden innings for the franchise.
MI had a few anxious moments when JaspritBumrah injured his shoulder at the end of the DC innings. Reports emerging from the MI camp have indicated that the injury isn’t serious and that he is recovering;he hit the nets on the eve of the match, but there’s a good chance though he will not be risked in this match and will be given time to recover completely.
MI have been boosted by Lasith Malinga becoming available; if he joins up with the team in time, he could fill in for Bumrah, which will then force MI to bring in Mayank Markande in place of Ben Cutting.
Team news:
RCB: Despite the disappointing performance against Chennai Super Kings, the home side will more or less stick with the same playing XI.
Probable XI: Parthiv Patel (wk), Virat Kohli (c), Moeen Ali, AB de Villiers, Shimron Hetmyer, Shivam Dube, Colin de Grandhomme, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal, Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Siraj.
MI: Lasith Malinga will join the squad on Thursday and is highly unlikely to play the contest. Barring any last minute issues with Bumrah, the side should go in with the same XI that took on DC.
Probable XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Quinton de kock (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Yuvraj Singh, Kieran Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Ben Cutting, Mitchell McClenaghan, Rasikh Salam, Jasprit Bumrah.
What they said:
The execution is always key no matter what plans you have. We have the best death bowler. Bumrah is the best in the world. With a guy like that, it’s okay to be off the mark in one game knowing he’s going to come back strong. He’s not one of the best for no reason. Even the others, Mitch and Hardik, I know they are going to bounce back – Quinton de Kock.
It’s hard every single game I play. You look at the strengths and then you look at the weaknesses. No one is perfect. He is a very good bowler but it’s also possible to get hold of him, especially on this ground with not so big boundaries. All the bowlers, no matter who you are, are under pressure here – AB de Villiers.
Head to Head in IPL
Overall: Matches – 23, Royal Challengers Bangalore – 9, Mumbai Indians won – 14.
In Bengaluru: Matches – 9, Royal Challengers Bangalore – 2, Mumbai Indians won – 7.