IPL 2022 Qualifier 2, Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: Head-to-head record and prediction
The second qualifier match of TATA IPL 2022 will see a clash between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore on 27th May at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Image credit: Josh Hazlewood : Brings Stability in Bowling side Josh Hazlewood key RCB PacerThe team winning this match will fight with Gujarat Titans on 29th May in the finals of this 15th edition of IPL.
The teams have already clashed twice in the ongoing season, and this will be their third encounter. They both have won one game each. While the first match was won by RCB by four wickets, RR defeated RCB in the second one to win by 29 runs. Shahbaz Ahmed and Dinesh Karthik became the critical contributors to the wins as RR bowlers failed terribly to dominate them in the first clash. In the second one, Riyan Parag hit an unbeaten 56 to post a respectable total and further, Kuldeep Sen shined with the ball to defend a total of 144 as he took a four-wicket haul.
The contest will be exciting, with all the star players of this season battling for the final spot. While Rajasthan Royals lost their Qualifier 1 match against Gujarat Titans, the Red Army had a clinical win against the newbie Lucknow Super Giants in the eliminator to find a spot in Qualifier 2. Hardik Pandya and David Miller gave a tough time to the RR bowlers; thus, the team will look to work on that and get back stronger. Whereas for RCB, Rajat Patidar's maiden ton with the bat and Harshal Patel's commendable bowling in slog overs gave KL Rahul led LSG a heart-breaking defeat.
Predicted Playing XI
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Mahipal Lomror, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Josh Hazlewood, Mohammed Siraj
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Obed McCoy
Match Prediction
Both the teams have played good cricket this season. And to no coincidence, they have made it to Qualifier 2 and are contesting for finals now. Royal Challengers Bangalore will be the favourites to win the qualifier and reach the finals as they are coming off carrying winning momentum. Their batters are in good form. Rajat Patidar at top-order has been a great find. Besides the batters, Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Harshal Patel are doing exceptionally well with the ball and will look to dominate Rajasthan batters.
As it's the third clash between the two teams, that too is a qualifier for the finals. They will aim to win this match and book their slot for the 15th edition final.