Ahmedabad: The stage is set for an electrifying encounter as Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan Royals lock horns with an in-form Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL Eliminator. Both teams are gearing up for a high-stakes battle, with RCB entering the match with momentum on their side after a series of impressive victories.
Rajasthan Royals, who were once contenders for a top-place finish, faced a setback with a string of defeats and a washout in their last game, ultimately settling for third place behind Sunrisers Hyderabad. On the flip side, Royal Challengers Bengaluru orchestrated a remarkable turnaround after a slow start, clinching six consecutive wins to secure their spot in the playoffs.
In their head-to-head encounters spanning 31 matches, Royal Challengers Bengaluru holds a slight advantage over Rajasthan Royals, with 15 victories compared to RR’s 13 wins. The recent encounters between the two sides have been evenly contested, with both teams winning three out of the last six meetings. Notably, Rajasthan Royals emerged victorious in the solitary league stage meeting earlier this season.
The playoffs history between the two teams stands at 1-1, with RR clinching the 2022 Qualifier 2 and RCB emerging triumphant in the 2015 Eliminator.
In the most recent outings, Rajasthan Royals were left disappointed as their clash against table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders was washed out in Guwahati, thwarting their chance to secure a higher position in the standings. Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru showcased their prowess by successfully restricting Chennai Super Kings to 191 runs after setting a daunting target of 219 in Bengaluru.
As the IPL Eliminator approaches, both teams will be eager to seize the opportunity and advance further in the tournament. With talented players on both sides and a history of thrilling encounters, cricket enthusiasts can expect a gripping showdown between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Rajasthan Royals Squad: Sanju Samson (c&wk), Abid Mushtaq, Avesh Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira, Kuldeep Sen, Kunal Singh Rathore, Nandre Burger, Navdeep Saini, Ravichandran Ashwin, Riyan Parag, Sandeep Sharma, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Rovman Powell, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Trent Boult, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yuzvendra Chahal, Tanush Kotian.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Suyash Prabhudessai, Will Jacks, Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Dagar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Rajan Kumar, Cameron Green, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Tom Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Swapnil Singh and Saurav Chauhan.
