IPL 2020 Match 15 RCB vs RR: Preview, Playing XI predictions, weather report

Tags: Indian T20 League 2020, Bangalore XI vs Rajasthan XI, 15th Match at Abu Dhabi, Oct 03, 2020, Bangalore XI, Rajasthan XI

Published on: Oct 02, 2020

Scorecard | Commentary | Graphs

The first double header of IPL 2020 will be played between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Royals tasted their first defeat in the tournament when they went down to KKR. Royals had chased down a massive score against KXIP at Sharjah. However, they faltered in the chase against Kolkata at Dubai, a bigger ground than Sharjah. RCB, on the other hand, go in having stunned Mumbai in a Super Over game, also at Dubai.

Royals wouldn’t be too disappointed as they would look at the previous defeat as just one bad game. Skipper Steve Smith and Sanju Samson would be itching to be back among the runs. They have played two excellent knocks in RR’s two wins so far. RR though would be worried about the form about Jos Buttler, who can be extremely dangerous, but has failed to get going. Robin Uthappa has had a horror run with the bat, and there is a case for replacing him with Yashasvi Jaiswal.

In the bowling department, RR would want Shreyas Gopal to get among the wickets. He has just not looked his real self in the tournament so far. Jofra Archer was brilliant with his pace in the previous match, but Ankit Rajpoot and Tom Curran need to do better to stop the flow of runs.

As for RCB, they would be pleased to have gotten over the line against Mumbai Indians. There were two brilliant overs from Navdeep Saini -- one toward the end of the innings, and the Super Over -- that enabled RCB to fight back following the brutal assault launched by Ishan Kishan and Kieron Pollard. The move to open with Washington Sundar paid off as he finished with excellent figures of 1 for 12 in a high-scoring game

Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli, rather surprisingly, is yet to get going in IPL 2020. However, AB de Villiers and Devdutt Paddikal have played a couple of fine knocks to keep RCB in the hunt. All-rounder Shivam Dube too has played his part with some big hitting towards the end of the innings.

Head-to-Head Record: RCB and RR have faced each other 21 times, with RCB winning 10 and RR 8. Three games produced no result.

RCB Predicted XI: Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli(c), AB de Villiers(w), Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal, Adam Zampa

RR Predicted XI: Jos Buttler(w), Steven Smith(c), Sanju Samson, Robin Uthappa/Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Jofra Archer, Tom Curran, Shreyas Gopal, Ankit Rajpoot/Varun Aaron, Jaydev Unadkat

Pitch Report

The Abu Dhabi strip has aided pace and spin. However, batsmen who have spent time at the crease have been able to score reasonably well.

Weather conditions

The weather will be hot with maximum temperature being 35 degree Celsius and humidity 59 per cent.

--Renin Wilben

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