IPL 2022 Qualifier 2, Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: A fight between Royals for the final spot 

The team winning this one will lock horns with Gujarat Titans in the finals of IPL 2022.

This is the second chance for Rajasthan Royals to fight for a spot in the finals alongside Gujarat Titans. They could have been the first to fix that spot but failed to get better in Gujarat in Qualifier 1. They have not lifted the trophy ever since after the inaugural edition. They have come a long way in this contest and would do their best to seal their final spot. Rajasthan Royals all-rounder star Daryl Mitchell has left the IPL bubble to link up with New Zealand for an international tour. Their playing XI will likely be unchanged in this match until there's some forced change. 

On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore are yet to get their hands on the trophy of the Indian Premier League. They failed to do so under the leadership of Virat Kohli. Can Faf du Plessis do the unthinkable and give fans the moment of much-awaited cheer. It won't be a cakewalk, as Rajasthan has been a good side throughout the tournament. RCB is carrying a winning momentum and will look forward to converting this one into a win. They will likely take on RR with the same team as the previous match. It is time for RCB to prove their skills as they no longer depend on other teams for qualification. Their performance and a pinch of luck will decide their fate for the finals.

Pitch Report

The penultimate match will be played at Narendra Modi Stadium. The surface here shows varied nature depending upon the pitch used for the game, as it has both red and black soil pitches that behave differently. Spinners often get a good time in the venue, considering the previous matches. Batters often look to struggle here. The dew factor might get into play at the venue, and thus the toss-winning captain might look to bowl first. 

Players to watch out for

Batters: Jos Buttler and Faf du Plessis

Jos Buttler is in red-hot form this season. He hammered 89 in the last match against Gujarat, though he went in a losing cause. He has scored 78 runs in the previous two head-to-head against RCB and will be an essential contributor. Although Faf du Plessis didn't have a favourable outing in the eliminator, he will look to contribute and lead from the front in this vital game. 

All-rounders: Ravichandran Ashwin and Glenn Maxwell

Ravichandran Ashwin is also a right-handed batter and right-arm off-break bowler for Rajasthan Royals. He will look to contribute similarly to the previous matches with bat and ball, as Motera pitch favors spinners a lot. Glenn Maxwell, a right-handed batter and right-arm off-break bowler, got dismissed on a duck in the last clash with RR. He will aim to compensate for that and take the team towards winning.

Bowlers: Yuzvendra Chahal and Harshal Patel

Yuzvendra Chahal will again clash with his former franchise in a crucial encounter. His breakthrough wickets will be vital for the team's win. On the flip side, Harshal Patel has won many pressure matches for RCB; even in the eliminator, he emerged as a key defender. He took two wickets in the last clash with RR and will be a vital player tonight. 

Stats to keep an eye on

• The venue has been the home ground for Rajasthan Royals in the past. They have played 12 matches and won 7 of them. 
• Since 2021, teams batting first have won six games, and teams batting second have won 11 games in T20 cricket at the Motera.
• Dinesh Karthik has been dismissed thrice in ten innings by Yuzvendra Chahal and averages just 12.66 against him in the T20s.
• Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore have had the best spin attacks in this IPL. Royals' spinners have grabbed 38 wickets to RCB's 35.

After witnessing two high-scoring games at Eden Gardens, we hope that Narendra Modi Stadium gives yet another cracking contest in the final stage of the league. It will be interesting to see which team will get better than the other and make it to the finals.