IPL Preview Match 8: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) – on a high after the thrilling win over Kolkata Knight Riders the other night – faces Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore tonight at the Indian Premier League. The Hyderabad team, on the other hand, lost their first match of the tournament, against Chennai Super Kings.

SRH out to challenge Virat and Co. in their backyard – BCCI

The Bangalore Stadium is a well-known batting paradise. Both the teams have some terrific stroke makers in their line up: Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers for RCB; and David Warner, Shikhar Dhawan, and Kane Williamson for SRH. The spectators in front rows will have to wear helmets.

Preview – RCB

Gayle single-handedly took the team to victory in their first match. The other stars in their batting galaxy failed to shine against the disciplined bowling of the Kolkata team on a slow and low Eden Gardens pitch. There would not be any problems with the pitch at the Chinnaswamy. It will be as flat as the city roads. However, the problem with the Hyderabad bowlers – especially Dale Steyn and Trent Boult – cannot be discounted.

Still, the SRH bowlers will be worrying more about bowling to the RCB bigwigs than the other way around. The fact that Kohli and AB failed in the first match will worry them even more. They are too good players to fail consistently. It is almost certain that RCB will score close to 200, probably even more, if they bat first.

Preview – SRH

The trick for SRH lies in outscoring the RCB, by targeting the weak link in the hosts’ armour: their bowling. Warner was strangely subdued in the game against Chennai. He is someone who can match Gayle and co stroke for stroke. The best chance for the team is in batting second.

The team has to get its batting order right too. There is no way they can keep Kane Williamson for the second half of the innings. His best position is number three. If he is not batting at the top four, he is wasted in the team.

The Indian pace bowlers in the Hyderabad team struggled against the big hitters of CSK the other night. Gayle and de Villiers will not make their job any easier.

Prediction

Each team has won two matches apiece in the four matches they have come face to face. The Sunrisers has not won a match in Bangalore yet. It is unlikely to change this time.