The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have surged into the Eliminator 1 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on the back of six consecutive victories, setting up a clash against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Wednesday at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The resurgent RCB, led by talisman Virat Kohli, will be brimming with confidence after dethroning the Chennai Super Kings and denying them a top-four finish.
RCB’s batting has been their cornerstone this season, with Kohli leading the charge as the tournament’s leading run-scorer. The Indian maestro has amassed a staggering 708 runs from 14 matches, including five fifties and a solitary century. Skipper Faf du Plessis has provided solid support at the top, scoring 421 runs with four half-centuries.
The bowling attack has also stepped up, with left-arm pacer Yash Dayal emerging as the highest wicket-taker for RCB. Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has also played a crucial role, providing valuable runs in the lower-middle order.
On the other hand, RR have endured a difficult run-in to the playoffs, losing their last four matches. Their hopes will rest heavily on the shoulders of skipper Sanju Samson, who has scored 504 runs this season with five fifties. Left-hand batter Riyan Parag has also been impressive in the middle order, contributing 531 runs.
The spin wizard Yuzvendra Chahal has been the standout performer with the ball for RR, picking up 17 wickets in 13 matches. Medium-pacer Sandeep Sharma has also been economical, conceding just 7.93 runs per over.
The Narendra Modi Stadium has traditionally been a batting paradise, and the team winning the toss is likely to opt to bowl first and restrict the opposition to a chaseable total. RCB’s recent form and momentum give them a slight edge heading into the clash, but RR will be determined to turn their fortunes around and secure a place in the Qualifier 2.
As per the Google Win Predictor, RCB have a 55% chance of winning the match, while RR’s chances are pegged at 45%. The match promises to be a captivating contest between two evenly matched teams.
