Currently second on the points table with 17 points from 12 games, back-to-back wins in their remaining fixtures could seal a top-two finish — a milestone they haven’t achieved in nine years.
Notably, Friday’s game was initially scheduled as a home match for RCB, but had to be shifted due to the onset of the monsoon.
Before the tournament was disrupted by the India-Pakistan military conflict, RCB were in scorching form, riding a four-match winning streak. However, that momentum hit a roadblock after a 20-day hiatus when their return fixture ended in a washout. It remains to be seen whether the team can rediscover its rhythm with the playoffs looming.
RCB have enjoyed one of their most consistent IPL campaigns in recent memory, spearheaded by the ever-dependable Virat Kohli. The veteran batter has been in sublime touch, scoring seven fifties in 11 innings and holding the top order together with his trademark poise.
Captain Rajat Patidar, along with Tim David and Romario Shepherd, have provided valuable firepower down the order. However, Patidar’s form dipped before the break — after averaging 37.2 in his first five matches, he managed just 53 runs in the next five games at a mere 10.6 average.
A finger injury during the home clash against CSK had forced Patidar to wear a splint, but he has since resumed batting comfortably in the nets — a positive sign for RCB going into the crucial phase.
In the bowling department, the spin duo of Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma has delivered consistently, while Josh Hazlewood and Yash Dayal have taken charge of the tough overs. Hazlewood, however, will miss the upcoming game as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury.
On the upside, most of RCB’s overseas players are available for this game and the rest of the tournament.
As for their opponents, Sunrisers Hyderabad — runners-up last season — are coming off a six-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants and will look to end a disappointing campaign on a high.
Despite occasional flashes of brilliance from explosive openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, SRH’s inconsistent run has seen them slip to eighth on the table. Their bowling attack, led by skipper Pat Cummins and India pacer Mohammad Shami, has struggled to impose itself collectively in pressure situations.
Teams:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Mayank Agarwal, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh, Liam Livingstone, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh.
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Atharva Taide, Abhinav Manohar, Aniket Verma, Sachin Baby, Smaran Ravichandran, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Travis Head, Harshal Patel, Kamindu Mendis, Wiaan Mulder, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Shami, Rahul Chahar, Simarjeet Singh, Zeeshan Ansari, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga.
