Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals battle out at Bangalore with eye on top of the table. The hosts are flamboyant, vibrant and contain the most popular as well as devastating trio of IPL. The visitors are led by the man who has always believed in the power of silence. And despite taking his team to the top of the points table that has surprised everyone, he has no special bytes to share. The match between teams of Captain Cool, Dravid and Captain Volcano, Kohli appears to be another good outing at home ground to register 4th consecutive win and go on top of the table.
There is no match between the players of these two sides. One team represents the coolness of Sea while other team represents the Volcano. Like a typical sea, Rajasthan Royals have slowly marooned 4 teams without much fuss, without needing a Tsunami. On the other hand the Volcano-type RCB gets it trait from the talented, vibrant and angry young man of India, Virat Kohli. He is firing with bat and tongue both. His team has very popular warriors in the form of Gayle and AB de Villiers. The high energy has forced even the newcomers to fire.
Sunrisers is ahead of them with 10 points from 7 games. But Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, both have better NRR and a win will take them ahead to the top of the Points Table.
Royal Challengers Bangalore are one of the most flamboyant team where even the Captain loves cursing every moment, Rajasthan Royals are the coolest side led by the coolest Cricketer of India and nobody is surprised when Royals are sitting on the top of FairPlay Points tally also.
Head-to-Head RCB 4-3 RR
2008
- RR def RCB by 7 Wickets
RR def RCB by 65 runs
2009
- RCB def RR by 75 Runs
RR def RCB by 7 Wickets
2010
- RCB def RR by 10 Wickets
RCB def RR by 5 Wickets
2011
- RR Vs RCB NR
RCB def RR by 9 wickets
2012
- RR won by 59 runs, MOM: Rahane
RCB won by 46 runs, MOM: AB de Villiers
IPL Performances
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In 2008, on their way to championship RR won record 13 matches and lost just 3, while RCB finished second from the bottom winning 4 matches and Losing 10.
In 2009, RCB finished 2nd best registering 9 wins and 7 losses. South Africa did not suit RR and they managed just 5 wins, Lost 8, and 1 was abandoned.
In 2010, RCB finished 3rd winning 8 and losing 8 games, while RR again failed to enter knockout and could win only 6 and Lost 8 matches.
In 2011, RCB reached the final winning 10 and losing 6, while Royals finished 6th with 6 wins, 7 losses and an abandoned match against RCB.
In 2012, RCB was left on 5th place as CSK sneaked ahead with better NRR. RCB won 8, lost 7. RR lost 9 and won 7 to finish 7th.
2013 Performances
RCB has played 6 matches and lost 2, while RR has played 5 matches and lost 1.
RCBs Performance
RRs Performance
Overall Performance
RR has Won 42, Lost 35, and two matches were abandoned.
Due to the poor performance in 2008, RCB has not so impressive record. Still they have 43 wins and 40 losses.
Strength
While Kohli owns the Orange Cap, Vinay Kumar held on to Purple Cap for a while. Gayle and AB de Villiers are cruising slowly towards the Orange Cap too. But while batting is safe as long as the trio plays, bowling has none other to look forward to in the current season. Even Muralitharan has been not so useful.
For Royals the bowling is shining, but unless Watson shines, Hodge can only take them to 140-runs odd as Rahane and Dravid play slow despite their long stay at the crease. Sanju Samson appears to be a good promise. Yagnik showed promises too in the last innings. Overall in batting their local boys are playing with more responsibility.
Weakness
The slow run rate of Royals makes them very vulnerable as bowlers get very less to defend. With a strong batting like RCB that is a major problem. But RCBs strength is their weakness too. If the trio is tackled in initial 10 overs, rest of RCB batting is not worth any promise, so far.
Verdict
The disciplined bowling of RR could take care of the damaging RCB trio and batsmen can assist with batting upto a level of 160-score to stop RCBs home run. But that may be possible in Jaipur where the pitch suits their bowlers more. At Bangalore on batting track unless Watson and Hodge fire together, RCB trio can take their side to 4th consecutive home win, and go on the top.
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