RCB Vs SRH IPL 2024: Do or die situation for Virat Kohli today as RCB’s playoff chances dwindle

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Batting powerhouse Sunrisers Hyderabad will aim to breach the 300-mark for the first time in IPL when they face Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday (April 25).

When the two teams locked horns earlier this season, Pat Cummins led-SRH scored the highest total in the history of IPL as they powered their way to 287/3. SRH’s record total came on the back of Head’s whirlwind knock of 121 off 41 balls and Heinrich Klaasen’s 67 in 31 deliveries. As SRH scored 287, they bettered the previous record of the highest IPL total of 277, which they achieved against Mumbai Indians earlier this season.

Meanwhile, RCB have endured a poor run this season and the team is at the bottom of the points table with just one win from eight games. The chances of RCB qualifying for the playoffs are slim and the team will be playing for pride for the rest of the season, if they lose today’s game.

RCB’s only victory came against Punjab Kings a month ago. Since then the team has suffered six straight losses.

SRH are in good batting form this season. The team followed the record score of 287/3 with a total of 266/7 against Delhi Capitals.

Also read: What are RCB’s chances of qualifying IPL 2024 playoffs?

After demolitioning RCB,  Head hinted that the team is aiming to breach the 300-mark in the IPL.

“(Our total) needs a three in front of it, does it now?” Head had said.

SRH are on a winning streak of four matches and currently sits at third place on the IPL points table. A win against RCB will take SRH a step closer to the playoff spot.

RCB’s disastrous run can be attributed to poor form of its batters. Virat Kohli is the leading run-scored this season with 379 runs.  But the likes of Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell have failed to deliver with the bat.

Maxwell is no longer available for selection as he has opted for a “mental and physical” break.

Bowlers too have been in wretched form. Yash Dayal is the team’s leading wicket-taker with 7 scalps from 7 matches. Mohammed Siraj’s the team’s leading pacer for many years was dropped for RCB’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders.

The form of two teams suggest that SRH should have little problem in defeating RCB yet again.

Players to watch out for

Travis Head

Travis Head has been in blistering form this season. The Aussie all-rounder has hammered the first hundred of this season and also scored two half-centuries. Head’s batting at the top of the order helps SRH to get to big scores. Head will be excited to punish RCB bowlers once more.

Virat Kohli (RCB)

Virat Kohli has been the only saving grace for RCB this season. The former RCB skipper is the leading run scorer this year. Kohli hit the first hundred of IPL 2024 and has scored two more fifties. If there is one player who can help RCB turn the tide around is Kohli.

Pitch:

The pitch in Hyderabad is fast and bouncy. The ball comes onto the bat nicely which helps the batters. Expect another high-scoring fixture.

SRH vs RCB Head to Head 

Matches played: 24

SRH wins: 13

RCB wins: 11

No Result: 1

Expected playing XIs

SRH: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Abdul Samad, Nitish Reddy, Shahbaz Ahmed, Pat Cummins (c), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Markande, T Natarajan

RCB: Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Will Jacks, Rajat Patidar, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Dayal, Mohammed Siraj

Match time and where to watch: 

The match gets underway at 7.30 PM IST.  The match will be broadcast live on the JioCinema app and on Start Sports network

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow