IPL 2017 | Preview Match 17 : Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rising Pune Supergiant
Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore will host Steve Smith’s Rising Pune Supergiant at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru today. The clash will also renew the rivalry of Kohli and Smith, which was in focus for all the wrong reasons in the recent Test series between India and Australia.
Strong on paper, both sides, however, are yet to hit their stride and have registered just one win each from four outings so far this season. RCB are currently in sixth place and Pune last on the 8-team table on run rate.
RCB's batting looks formidable with the return of Kohli and AB de Villiers while leggie Samuel Badree will look to replicable the terrific performance he turned in against Mumbai Indians. If Yuzvendra Chahal holds his own, RCB will be able to keep Pune in check.
Smith has been sensational with the bat, aggregating 153 runs at 76.5 and is second on the run chart behind KKR's Gautam Gambhir. Pune will need Ajinkya Rahane to shoulder more responsibility at the top of the order.
Head to Head:
The teams have met only twice, with RCB winning on both occasions.
Last meeting:
A majestic Kohli century helped the hosts chase down a target of 192 with three balls to spare.
Predicted Playing XI:
RCB: Travis Head, Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers, Mandeep Singh, Kedar Jadhav (wk), Stuart Binny, Pawan Negi, Tymal Mills, Sreenath Aravind, Yuzvendra Chahal, Samuel Badree
RPS: Ajinkya Rahane, Rahul Tripathi, Steven Smith (C), Ben Stokes, MS Dhoni (wk), Manoj Tiwary, Imran Tahir, Ankit Sharma, Shardul Thakur, Rahul Chahar, Lockie Ferguson
Key Players:
Virat Kohli (RCB): Kohli scored 62 off 47 deliveries against MI on his return to competitive action and has a magnificent record at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Imran Tahir (RPS): The leg-spinner has his task cut out on the slow Chinnaswamy Stadium deck and the side will need him to be at his restrictive best.
Pre-match chatter:
"He's a quality player, he was even selected to open for India as an opener (in T20Is). He did well for us last year, so he'll turn the tide this time around as well. When he does it, he's going to play a sensational innings, whether it's tomorrow or in Gujarat (the next game) because he's a quality player. He did get on a good partnership with AB in Indore on a really tough surface. He started well in Hyderabad. He'll get his chance and I'm sure he'll take it," - RCBBatting coach Trent Woodhill on Mandeep Singh.
Time: 8 PM
Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
TV Listings: Sony Six HD, Sony Six, Set Max, Sony ESPN
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