IPL 2022 | RR vs RCB | Qualifier 2 Preview, Prediction, Probable XI, CREX XI

A final Royal battle awaits at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday (May 27) as the high-flying Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) take on the punched Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Qualifier 2 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.  

The equation is simple for both the teams – get a win and fly to the finals of IPL 2022. 

However, things aren't going to be as simple as it looks on paper, with both RCB and RR playing at the all-new venue with a Final berth at stake. Royal Challengers Bangalore are coming into this contest on the back of a thumping 14-runs victory over Lucknow Super Giants. 

Rajat Patidar, Harshal Patel and Josh Hazelwood were the true architects of the game. The franchise would expect the same performance from the trio in the crucial 2nd Qualifier against the Royals. 

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals lost the 1st Qualifier against the Gujarat Titans and can't afford to lose the second opportunity to make it to the finals. Their main bowlers, Prasidh Krishna and Yuzvendra Chahal were the least impressive in the game against the Titans. 

A better bowling performance from the duo would sort the issues for the Royals in the upcoming match against the all-confident Challengers. With a lot at stake and the two best sides taking the field on Friday, we are in for another cracking IPL game at Motera. 

Match Details:

Match: Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Qualifier 2

Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad

Date & Time: 27th May at 7:30 PM IST & Local Time

Live Streaming: Star Sports Network and Disney+Hotstar 

Pitch Report: The Narendra Modi Stadium track is balanced, with a little more help for the batters. The outfield is quick, and we can witness a run-fest in Ahmedabad. Bowlers can try hard lengths to pick wickets. Anything around 170-180 will be a competitive score here, with both the captains looking to bowl first after winning the toss. 

Pitch Stats:

Total Matches: 6

Matches Won Batting First: 3

Matches Won Bowling First: 3

Average 1st Inning Score: 174

Average 2nd Inning Score: 166

Head-To-Head:

Royal Challengers Bangalore has a 13-11 against Rajasthan Royals from 27 match-ups to date, with 3 being ended with no results. 

It will be their third face off in this season. The last time both the teams met, both RCB and RR won a game each. 

Injury Update/Players' Availability:

There are no injury concerns in both the camps, and we can expect an unchanged playing XI on Friday. 

Key Match-Ups:

Maxwell vs Chahal: 120/5 at 171 SR

Samson vs Hasaranga: 18/5 at 78 SR

DK vs Chahal: 38/3 at 88 SR

Faf vs Boult: 62/3 at 97 SR 

Samson vs Siraj: 21/2 at 105 SR

Kohli vs Prasidh: 56/2 at 180 SR

Kohli vs Ashwin: 162/1 at 127 SR

Riyan vs Harshal: 37/2 at 185 SR 

Key Performers:

Jos Buttler, the orange cap holder of the ongoing edition of IPL, has aggregated 718 runs in 15 matches at an average of 51.28 and a strike rate of 148. 34. He has 3 centuries and four half centuries to his name this season.

Sanju Samson has been decent this season, with 421 runs to his credit from 15 matches. He has played some short and impactful knocks for RR thus far, and his one big knock is still due in IPL 2022. 

Wanindu Hasaranga is the leading wicket-taker for the Challengers this season and has taken 25 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 16.16, an economy of 7.70, and a strike rate of 13.8.

Rajat Patidar has impressed one and all, becoming the first uncapped player to score a century in the IPL playoffs. He played an unbeaten knock of 54-ball 112, laced with 12 fours and 7 sixes to help RCB post a mammoth target vs LSG in the crucial Eliminator game. 

Squads:

Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (C & WK), Devdutt Padikkal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Obed McCoy, Karun Nair, James Neesham, Rassie van der Dussen, Corbin Bosch, Navdeep Saini, KC Cariappa, Daryl Mitchell, Tejas Baroka, Kuldip Yadav, Anunay Singh, Kuldeep Sen, Dhruv Jurel, Shubham Garhwal.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis (C), Dinesh Karthik (WK), Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Shahbaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood, Akash Deep, Anuj Rawat, Finn Allen, Suyash Prabhudessai, Sherfane Rutherford, Aneeshwar Gautam, Chama V Milind, Jason Behrendorff, David Willey, Karn Sharma, Siddarth Kaul.

Probable Playing XI: 

Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (C & WK), Devdutt Padikkal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Obed McCoy.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis (C), Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Shahbaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Josh Hazlewood, Mohammed Siraj.

CREX XI Suggestion:

Wicket-Keeper: Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson

Batters: Faf du Plessis, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar

All-Rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Ravichandran Ashwin

Bowlers: Wanindu Hasaranga, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harshal Patel

Captain: Jos Buttler

Vice-Captain: Glenn Maxwell