IPL 2024: Can RR end RCB's winning streak in Eliminator?
Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be up against each other in the Eliminator of the 2024 Indian Premier League. The momentum is certainly with RCB as they are coming off six successive wins. Meanwhile, RR lost their last four concluded fixtures after enjoying a dream run in the initial half. They must regroup ahead of the knock-out game. Here is the preview.
Pitch report and other details
The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host this duel on May 22 (7:30pm IST). The wicket here usually assists the batters right from the start. This venue has played host to several high-scoring games in the tournament. However, spinners can outfox the batters here. One can watch the match live on the Star Sports Network and stream the same on JioCinema.
Winner will live to fight another day
The winner of the Eliminator will stay alive in the tournament and will face the loser of Qualifier 1 in a must-win Qualifier 2 to reach the finals. However, the loser of the Eliminator will get knocked. Notably, Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad will lock horns in the first Qualifier on Tuesday (May 21).
A look at head-to-head record
These two teams have faced each other 31 times and there is not much to separate the two teams. Still, RCB are slightly ahead with 15 wins in comparison to RR's 13 victories (NR: 3). Notably, RR defeated RCB in their only meeting in the league stage this year. The head-to-head record between the two sides in IPL playoffs read 1-1.
Who will prevail in the Royal battle?
RCB had just a solitary win in their first eight games. However, six back-to-back wins powered them to the playoffs. Their batters have particularly been brilliant with the likes of Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar being in red-hot form. As mentioned, RR lost their last four concluded games. Moreover, the dashing Jos Buttler is unavailable for the remainder of the season.
A look at the probable XIs
RCB (Probable XI): Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Dayal. Impact sub: Swapnil Singh. RR Probable XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Rovman Powell, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal. Impact sub: Nandre Burger.
Here are the key performers
Both Riyan Parag and Sanju Samson have hammered 500-plus runs this season with their strike rate being over 150. Yuzvendra Chahal is leading the wicket-taking chart for RR with 17 scalps. With 708 runs at a strike rate of 155.60, Kohli is the leading run-getter of the season. Patidar has six 40-plus scores in his last eight innings.
