IPL 2017 | Match 29 Preview: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

Virat Kohli and his team will be hoping to right that wrong when they take on the defending champions Sunrisers at home.  

Head to head:

Sunrisers lead 6-4. 

Last Meeting:

Sunrisers did an encore of last year’s final by beating RCB by 35 runs in the first game of IPL 2017 in Hyderabad after bowling out the visitors for 172.

Fan Predictions:

As part of the preview, we bring to you fan predictions for the talking points of the ame. The predictions are sourced from the newest fantasy game on the block – Nostragamus. If you want to make your predictions and win prizes, click here.

Who will win?

Royal Challengers have won only 4 times against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the previous 10 meetings. This season has been nothing but a disaster for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. They have won only 2 games out 7 games which includes a horrible batting display against Kolkata where they couldn't even reach 50. On the other hand, Sunrisers Hyderabad are coming back from a defeat at the hands of RPS. Sunrisers have been a good form this season barring the defeat in their previous game unlike RCB who have been struggling the whole season to win. Thus it is going to be an easy victory for SRH at Chinnaswamy.  

Fans verdict : The fans disagree, RCB to win this one - 66%

How many wickets would RCB lose?

Options : Less than 7, 7 or more

RCB recorded the lowest total in the IPL history (49 all out) in their previous match against KKR. In addition to that, RCB has lost 6.5 wickets on an average per match in the last 7 matches played in this season of the IPL. But given that this is Chinnaswamy, the favourite hunting grounds for AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli we can see them playing for a longer time and hence avoiding a collapse. Hence we predict RCB will lose less than 6 wickets in their next game against SRH.

Fans verdict :  RCB to lose less than 7 wickets - 77%

Predicted Playing XI:

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Despite the shocking collapse against KKR, batting is still RCB’s strength. Harpreet Singh might make his debut.

Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli (C),  AB de Villiers,  Kedar Jadhav (wk), Mandeep Singh, Harpreet Singh, Stuart Binny, Samuel Badree, Tymal Mills, S Aravind, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Ashish Nehra might replace Mohammad Siraj who went wicketless while conceding 45 runs in four overs against RPS. Yuvraj Singh is also expected to return from illness.

David Warner (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Kane Williamson, Moises Henriques, Yuvraj Singh, Deepak Hooda, Naman Ojha (wk), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rashid Khan, Ashish Nehra, Siddharth Kaul.

Key Players:

Virat Kohli (RCB): No one is more hurt than Kohli about RCB's performance against KKR on Sunday and the skipper will look to lead from the front tonight.

David Warner (SRH): Sunrisers skipper struggled to find his rhythm against RPS on Saturday, managing just 43 from 40 balls and will look to make amends at the top of the order.

Pre-Match chatter:

"We do not have a strategy against ABD, Kohli and Gayle. We will stick to our gameplan which is working for us - that is restricting opponents in the first six overs.", SRH all-rounder Ben Cutting. 

Time: 8 PM

Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore.

TV Listings: Sony Six HD, Sony Six, Set Max, Sony ESPN