Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) take on Gujarat Lions (GL) in Match 44 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016 in a must-win match for both teams for different reasons. RCB will look to register a win and look to stay in the hunt for a place in the final four, but GL need just one more win to guarantee themselves a place in the playoffs. RCB’s bowling has not been up to the mark, whereas the batsmen, led by Virat Kohli have done quite well. They will have to make a change or two in their playing XI for today’s match. Let’s have a look at the team RCB are likely to put out against GL. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat Lions, IPL 2016, Match 44 at Bengaluru
Top-order: Chris Gayle’s miserable form continues in this edition of IPL as he has not been able to get into double figures even in a single match. With each and every match like a final for RCB, they need to find a player, who can make substantial contribution to the team. Travis Head may be the right choice, but he will bat in the middle-order, with Kohli and KL Rahul opening the innings once again. AB de Villiers at No. 3 makes the top-order look extremely strong.
Middle-order: Head, Shane Watson, Sachin Baby and Stuart Binny, will be entrusted to build on the start that the top-order has given them. Binny as we have seen in the tournament can hit the ball a fair distance and also gives Kohli the option of bowling him for a couple of overs, if not more. Baby’s form has been impressive. He is picked ahead of Sarfaraz Khan and is thoroughly justifying his place in the side. Watson too can use the long handle very well, but he has been in better bowling form than bating in this season. The top-order and the middle-order must combine to take RCB past 200, which should be a match-winning score at Chinnaswamy. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) vs Gujarat Lions (GL), IPL 2016, Match 44 at Bengaluru: Preview
Bowlers: Chris Jordan came into the team with a reputation of being a good death bowler, but has been anything but that. He has leaked 132 runs in 11 overs in the thre matches he has played so far at an economy at 12. It will be a surprise if he retains his place. Kane Richardson will most likely take Jordan’s place, if dropped. Chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi too can be brought in, if the pitch at Bangalore is slow, just like the one in the previous game.
Kohli has always backed Varun Aaron, but he should realize by now that he too has been poor. It is perhaps time to give someone like Abu Nechim a go in Aaron’s place. Sreenath Aravind and leggie Yuzvendra Chahal are sure to retain their place in the side. Chahal has been the stand out bowler for RCB in the tournament so far and his four overs will once again be crucial. Watson too has been in good form with the ball in patches. He too will have to come good, If RCB are to get over the line against a strong batting line-up of GL.
RCB’s likely XI: Virat Kohli (c), KL Rahul (wk), AB de Villiers, Travis Head, Shane Watson, Sachin Baby, Stuart Binny, Kane Richardson/Tabraiz Shamsi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Seenath Aravind, Varun Aaron/ Abu Nechim.
(Pramod Ananthis a reporter at CricketCountry. He has represented Karnataka table tennis under-15, and is a hardcore supporter of Liverpool FC. His Twitter handle is @pramz)
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