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*PBKS VS RCB PREVIEW*
*THE BUILD UP:*
*TWO INCONSISTENT OUTFITS INTERACT AT MOHALI:*
RCB have had a lopsided start to their campaign this season. After brushing MI aside quite comprehensively in their opening encounter, they slipped to two losses in a row, largely due to their mediocre bowling efforts that ended up leaking 200 runs against both KKR and LSG. Their bowling came under the scanner once again as they leaked the highest total CSK have ever made, batting first against RCB,226. But the highs of their first day game should impress them and it should be morale booster for this upcoming clash with Punjab. Viewers will, once again, set their eyes upon the bowling effort of RCB, who is expected to do better in an away game.
Punjab, on the other hand, have been on the vulnerable side of things because of the innumerable injuries. While Rabada joined only two matches ago, Livingstone is yet to feature as their skipper, the 37 year old Shikhar, is recovering from an injury. Punjab have won 3/5 games and have a better momentum backing them because in the absence of Shikhar last game, Sam was spot on as the captain and their bowling that oozes confidence every time should pose a stern test for the powerpacked batting order of RCB. Though Punjab have conquered more teams than RCB as of yet, expecting them to emerge victorious again still remains a question mark given their history of being inconsistent.
*RCB PROBABLE XI:*
Virat Kohli, Faf Duplessis(c), Mahipal Lomror, Glenn Maxwell, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik(wk), Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Wayne Parnell, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Mohammad Siraj
As per reports, Josh Hazlewood is slowly getting back to his playing form but despite being available for today’s game, fiddling with the combination may not be the wisest choice because this RCB bowling group is expected to do better at grounds which have larger boundary dimensions like Mohali.
Vijaykumar Vyshak was taken for a good beating against CSK and having seen one bad and one good game, he is likely to be backed. His variations could be handy against an inconsistent batting order of Punjab, which most often than not, crumble in a heap collectively.
Duplessis, is expected to hold the key for RCB against Punjab. He boasts of a staggering record against this team, amassing 792 runs at an average of 59.3. When the units meet, fireworks from Faf shouldn’t come as a surprise by any chance.
*IMPACT PLAYER STRATEGY:*
Having impressed everybody with his batting vs CSK, Suyash Prabhudesai would be used as the impact sub (most likely) when RCB bat, swapping Siraj.
Expect Karn Sharma to come into the XI when RCB bowl, who could use the 70m boundaries to his advantage, replacing Lomror.
*PBKS PROBABLE XI:*
Shikhar Dhawan(c) (if fit), PrabhSimran Singh, Matthew Short/Liam Livingstone, Harpreet Singh, Sikandar Raza, Jitesh Sharma(wk), Sam Curran, ShahRukh Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh
No official confirmation has come for Dhawan. If he continues to be sidelined, Atharva Taide who registered a duck last game, would be backed.
We could see a much awaited return of the English batting all rounder, Liam Livingstone, who is set to bolster the entire lineup. Expect him to replace either one of Short or Raza. Given Raza’s heroics last game, I expect the former to take place.
*IMPACT PLAYER STRATEGY:*
Rahul Chahar to feature if PBKS bowl second. He could utilise the 70m boundaries to strike gold for Punjab. If he features, he is likely to replace PrabhSimran or Harpreet Singh.
*MY PREDICTIONS FOR THE GAME:*
*FOR RCB:*
Highest run getter- Faf Duplessis/Glenn Maxwell
Highest wicket taker- Wanindu Hasaranga/Mohammad Siraj
*FOR PBKS:*
Highest run getter- PrabhSimran Singh/Sikandar Raza
Highest wicket taker- Kagiso Rabada/Arshdeep Singh
*FOR THE GAME:*
RCB to win this game