Two sides yet to win in the Indian Premier League meet in a huge match for both sides on Tuesday when the Rajasthan Royals take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore in a clash which neither can afford to lose, even this early in the campaign.
Both teams have played three matches and lost them all and whichever one comes away empty handed from a fourth game will put themselves under massive pressure if they are to make anything competitive of their season.
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Rajasthan Royals
To say the Rajasthan Royals have not had the desired start to the season would be something of an understatement. They headed into the campaign under pressure to begin it well knowing that they would be losing a number of players halfway through the piece and what might hurt them more is that they have had chances to win each of their games thus far, but failed to get over the line each time.
Controversy affected them in their first game but they had no excuses in losses to Sunrisers Hyderabad, where they couldn’t defend 198, and then to Chennai Super Kings where they were on course to chase down a mid-range total only to fall at the final hurdle, and fail to get over the line in the last two overs. The positive is that there is nothing wrong with their team and set up. The negative is that there is no way of coaching holding their nerve.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
It is all beginning to look like much of the same for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. As strong as it sounds, and as silly as it seems for a side containing Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers but they are simply not good enough, or not structured well enough to be a force in this tournament. Year on year their bowling is a shambles and at the minute it looks like if one of those two guns don’t deliver their batting is not much better.
It might be early in the season but the Royal Challengers could be drinking at the last chance saloon here. I say that because their Australian contingent arrive now and if they can’t turn their fortunes around then nothing will. In fairness they have to find something with the ball. If they can’t do that this is going to be another season of woe.
Team News
Michael Clarke was championing for Ashton Turner in the previous match but the fact is that the four overseas players are as set in stone as they could be so although he is available, I don’t see the Perth all-rounder coming in.
Marcus Stoinis and Nathan Coulter-Nile have arrived just in time for the Royal Challengers. Colin de Grandhomme’s knock in the last match may have done enough to keep him in the side but having offered little thus far Moeen Ali and Shimron Hetmyer are prime candidates to drop out.
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Betting
I’m not one for betting on the match outcomes in this tournament too often but I just don’t see what the Royal Challengers Bangalore have to offer here. Twice in three matches they have been bowled out and not just bowled out but skittled for less than 120, offering just 70 on one occasion. On the one time they have batted well they still couldn’t get over the line and worst still they look to have no idea of their best combinations.
Rajasthan Royals might be winless for the season but they have at least been competitive in all three matches and they have too many class acts in their side to not get over the line eventually. I’m sure they will have spoken since the last game about their key players taking responsibility and I expect to see that come home to roost here. Rajasthan look to be much stronger all round with the bat and in a different galaxy of strength with the ball. At odds against I’m with them to come through this one.
Tips
WON – Back Rajasthan Royals to beat Royal Challengers Bangalore for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Betfair
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