RR vs RCB: RCB win the toss and decide to bowl first, One change in both teams

Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, September 29 2021, 7:30 PM IST

Royal Challengers Bangalore have won the toss and have opted to bowl first

RCB skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and explained his decision to bowl first,saying,”Going to bowl first. Feel like the pitch remained good in the last game. If you get off a decent start you can get runs consistently. Feel as a batting unit we’re doing a good job and want to continue that.

Want to provide our bowlers with the conditions – it’s a new pitch. We asked for the guys to be brave in crunch moments and they showed that in the last game. I feel like I’m hitting the ball the best I have in a while. Just one change: Garton makes his IPL debut in place of Jamieson.”

RR captain Sanju Samson said,”Wicket is nice. Lot of people who have batted first and won the game at this venue. As a team we were a bit down.

Had a long chat yesterday. Revisited the purpose of playing the game. Lots of supporters back home. Karthik Tyagi comes in place of Jaydev Unadkat.“

Royal Challengers Bangalore (Playing XI): Virat Kohli(c), Devdutt Padikkal, Srikar Bharat(w), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Daniel Christian, George Garton, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Evin Lewis, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson(w/c), Liam Livingstone, Mahipal Lomror, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Chris Morris, Kartik Tyagi, Chetan Sakariya, Mustafizur Rahman

RCB vs RR rivalry

For Royals to turn this around, they need to start getting performances from those not called Sanju Samson. Evin Lewis, Liam Livingstone and Chris Morris haven’t really made a mark in this UAE leg yet, nor have the Indian players in the middle order. Samson meanwhile is second highest run-getter for the season, and scored another fifty in vain in their previous match.

Last time they met Devdutt Padikkal smashed a hundred in an unbeaten opening stand with Virat Kohli to make a mockery of the target. Before that, in Dubai itself, AB de Villiers smashed 55 off 22 to steal a win in the last two overs. It’s 3-0 in favour of RCB since the start of 2020, and RR desperately need to end that losing run today given how tight the race for the playoffs is and where they are in the table.

Interesting Stats:

• Shreyas Gopal’s record vs RCB: In 7 matches, he has returned 14 wickets, averaging 11.14 and has conceded at 6.50 rpo.
• In the middle overs this season, RR have scored at 8.92, while RCB have at 7.23
• In stark contrast in terms of wickets taken by spin this season, RR just have 6, while RCB have as many as 19.

Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2021:
Batting 1st: Won – 4, Lost – 2
Chasing: Won – 2, Lost – 2

Surprising to see Riyan Parag retain his place in 11. Maybe someone like Shivam Dube should had been given a chance.