The first two matches of this Dream 11 IPL once again proved how IPL is connected with quality and entertainment. A bit of rustiness was felt with the players, but the quality is still at the top-notch. And now it’s time for two biggies to lock horns—battle of red and orange.
What’s going to be more fascinating is the innings in which the strong batting unit of RCB would be facing the proven SRH bowling department.
Let’s dive into the predictions to feel the build-up of the clash.
Prediction on the top run-scorer
Since the IPL management is trying to manage many matches at the three venues, they have decided to go with some grass on top of the wickets. This is to reduce the tiredness of the pitches. Consequently, this process is directly going to reflect on the early matches. Based on the grass top, the Australian batters who are good with fast and spin bowling are David Warner and Aaron Finch. And they stand as our predictions for top run-scorers in the first match of their campaign.
Especially Aaron Finch, who is going to wear bold red this time, is getting into this tournament with the environment surrounded by the best in the business of batting. Which, in turn, automatically puts Aaron Finch as a favorite batter to score top runs in the first match of RCB.
A tough competitor for RCB’s Finch would be his Australian opening partner David Warner, but this time as an opponent. Basically, Warner is excellent against the spinners, as RCB possess the leg spinners as their key in bowling, the left-handed David Warner won’t find trouble in tackling them.
Prediction on top wicket-taker
Even though the monstrous Rashid Khan is present at the SRH squad, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar might have a go with the new ball if he gets on a roll. The UP born bowler is in the urge to prove to be back on the white side. The most important thing about him is that he is a great learner, which helps him adapt to conditions so quickly.
The red team will have Yuzvendra Chahal as a frak who will accumulate wickets as usual. The more significant dimension if Dubai ground will be the best suit for a leg spinner who loves to bowl loopy deliveries with intense passion. A natural wicket-taker who can be handy with the variations. Again the majority of right-handers in the SRH will favor the wrist-spinner of RCB, who has a skipper who loves supporting the attacking version of Yuzvendra Chahal.
Prediction on Who will win the match?
Speaking of batting, RCB is a few steps ahead of SRH. David Warner’s orange team possesses an excellent top order that can turn around the table, but the middle order is not as strong as RCB’s. The Virat Kohli led RCB looks violent with the presence of Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli, AB De Villiers, and Moeen Ali. With Devdutt Padikkal being the front runner of the opening partner of Aaron Finch, the Bangalore based team is mighty with the batting department.
Now comes the most exciting department, bowling. Comparatively, SRH possesses the proven bowling unit with which they grabbed the title of the 2016 edition. Rashid Khan and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar are holding the bowling unit with both their hands. But the rollicking debate of RCB’s death over bowling is set to come to an end with the new pickings for this season. They have Chris Morris, Dale Steyn, Navdeep Saini, and Isuru Udana for the job. But still, this needs to work as a unit, and it can be found only when the combinations work together in the early matches.
RCB ‘s strong batting unit puts them top in winning the match. As they have a decent bowling unit, they are felt as the favorites for this match against SRH.
Prediction on the most six-hitting batter:
Aaron Finch and Ab De Villiers are right on top of this competition. Both are exponents against spin. Especially, Finch has most of the chances to win the healthy competition between these two RCB batters because of the slot he comes in. Aaron Finch walking in first, bats with only two fielders outside the ring for the initial six overs would give him chance his arms without any difficulties.
Above all, the Australian skipper techniques to hit brutal sixes make him an automatic choice for this. He has just crushed Jofra Archer in the English soil, where the Windies born England bowler clicks north of 90 mph with the new ball. This acts as a hint of how much he is ready to face the pacers. Speaking of batting against spin, the hulky Aussie batter has the lofted strokes which come under his own formula.
ABD needs to face Rashid Khan during the early stage of his innings. That puts ABD’s wicket under a little risk. Other than that, there is no other reason to stop ABD from hitting the most number of sixes in the match.
Prediction on Man of the match:
Chris Morris has the chance to attain this award. Being an all-rounder, his role will have a significant impact on RCB’s result. In batting, his role will act as the core for RCB. Coming in at 5 or 6, he will be provided with the situation to slog as far as possible. This might be the right role for Chris Morris.
He can act as a third pacer for the team with the ball, which balances the team properly. The only thing to consider is his fitness level. If he comes over it, then its the best thing the Bangalore based team could ask for.
To sum up
On the whole, with greater bench strength in batting and a decent bowling unit, puts RCB’s head higher than that of SunRisers Hyderabad. The thing that RCB usually lacks is the early wins in the tournament. Hopefully, they could break that this time with a much better team of them.
