Sky Analysis

IPL 2021: Match 16 – RCB vs RR – Preview, Playing XI, Pitch Report & Updates

What a start this has been for RCB in the IPL 2021. The Virat Kohli led side has won all their matches and are comfortably placed at the helm of the points table. They’ll be up against Rajasthan Royals, who are having a torrid time in the tournament.

To be fair, this RR team looks too bleak. They seem to be over-dependent on Sanju Samson. Jos Buttler has looked completely out of touch while David Miller can be very inconsistent. The likes of Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag and Rahul Tewatia are talented players but they’ve not converted their talent into performances. Once Samson is dismissed early, Royals batting looks prone to a collapse. Also, as a bowling unit, they’ve been disappointing though there have been some decent individual performances.

Royal Challengers Bangalore have played good cricket but we think that there is plenty of scope for improvement. AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell look in fine form but Kohli’s lack of runs will be a concern. Moreover, RCB has a long tail thus any day De Villiers and Maxwell fail to perform, RCB can be in trouble.

Kohli, however, will be pleased to see the form of their bowlers. Kyle Jamieson seems to be a valuable addition while Mohammed Siraj and Harshal Patel have bowled well. Yuzvendra Chahal also gave glimpses of a return to form in the last game.

Pitch Report – The match will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The surface seems like getting slower with every passing game. This could mean that batting won’t be that easy as it was in the initial few games.

Team News

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Rajat Patidar has been a big let down in the first three matches and Virat Kohli might look to replace him with Finn Allen. He may also bring in Mohammed Azharuddeen in place of one of the all-rounders to strengthen their batting.

Probable XI

Virat Kohli (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar/Finn Allen, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers (wk), Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed/Mohammed Azharuddeen, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal

Team News

Rajasthan Royals

Liam Livingstone has pulled out of the IPL 2021 citing bio-bubble fatigue.

Probable XI

Jos Buttler, Manan Vohra/Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Shivam Dube, David Miller, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Chris Morris, Jaydev Unadkat, Chetan Sakariya, Mustafizur Rahman