Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be locking horns with Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 18th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 at the MCA stadium in Pune. It will be the night match on the day of the doubleheader, Saturday. RCB has won two games out of the three games they have played so far and a win here will elevate them to the top half of the IPL 2022 points table. On the other hand, MI is yet to open their account in the season so far as they have lost all three games.
MI suffered losses to Delhi Capitals (DC), and Rajasthan Royals (RR), and their last loss came against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Although the batters did well in the first innings, the bowled failed and KKR chased the target of 162 runs in 16 overs. On the other hand, RCB lost their season opener against Punjab Kings (PBKS) by a close margin and followed that with back-to-back wins against KKR and RR.
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The two old rivals have locked horns with each other 31 times in IPL so far and it is MI that has enjoyed the fair share of success against RCB with 19 wins. RCB also hold the edge in the last five meetings as they have won 3 games. So, we will be in for an interesting contest on Saturday afternoon as both teams need their maiden win of the season. As for the team combination, both teams may stick to the same 11 from their last match. However, they could make a change in the bowling department.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
Royal Challengers Bangalore are set to receive a major boost of their own, Glenn Maxwell is ready to return to action. Maxwell’s presence could ease the load off Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik in the batting line-up and his n off-spin-bowling option against the left-handed pair of Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma. With Maxwell back, RCB could have seven genuine bowling options in addition to having a deep batting line-up, with all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga potentially slotted at No. 9.
Probable XI: Faf du Plessis (c), Anuj Rawat/Mahipal Lomror, Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, David Willey, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep
Mumbai Indians (MI)
Among Mumbai’s issues has been the fact that new recruits Basil Thampi, Tymal Mills, and Daniel Sams have conceded runs left, right and center. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard are yet to firs with their bats. Mumbai’s bench strength, too, doesn’t inspire the kind of confidence it did in the past. Suryakumar Yadav’s return from injury was a timely boost to the side. They will need more shaking off of rust from his teammates on Saturday.
Probable XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tim David/Dewald Brevis, Kieron Pollard, Fabien Allen/Daniel Sams, M Ashwin, Tymal Mills, Jasprit Bumrah, Basil Thampi/Jaydev Unadkat
Fantasy suggestion 1:
Ishan Kishan, Faf du Plessis (c), Suryakumar Yadav (vc), Glenn Maxwell, Tilak Varma, Dinesh Karthik, Shahbaz Ahmed Wanindu Hasaranga, Tymal Mills, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj.
Fantasy Suggestion 2:
Ishan Kishan (c), Faf du Plessis, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Glenn Maxwell, Tilak Varma, Dinesh Karthik, Kieron Pollard, M Ashwin, Tymal Mills, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshal Patel.
