With backs against the wall, RCB is in dire straits facing a must-win situation in each of the last five games that they play starting with Sunrisers Hyderabad tonight in an away contest. The franchise has got a lot to worry about in terms of picking the right even for the game. Lack of proper team combination has hurt RCB throughout the season as has been their inconsistency in all departments of the game. Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Brendon Mccullum, a team with such big names has failed to capitalize key moments of the game as exhibited by Parthiv Patel behind the stumps in the last match.
Their bowling too lacks the edge. Umesh Yadav has been there and thereabouts close to the Purple cap. The likes of Chahal, Sundar Tim Southee have failed to live upto their reputation. Murugan Ashwin looked impressive in one of the games but his inexperience is very much visible when getting tonked by batsmen.
Sunrisers on the other end has got their strategy in place. They choke their opposition by their bowlers and prefer to defend totals rather than chasing it. Their latest win against Delhi Daredevils was good for two reasons: Alex Hales emulating what a counter-attacking David Warner would do and Yusuf Pathan's blitz in the death when 28 were needed off 12 balls - an area they were lacking in past years. SRH have traditionally been blessed with quality bowlers. They know how to do it day in day out, so there's not much to ponder about.
Coming into this game thus, SRH will be the more confident og the two sides, first because they are playing at home and second because they are on a winning roll at the moment.
As far as team changes from both camps are concerned, its hard to predict if RCB will make any changes to their playing XI. Moeen Ali is still waiting to get a game but its difficult to see him fit in as a replacement. SRH on the other hand, have a settled line up and would not want to tinker with their winning combination.
Playing conditions will be hot and humid, with no threat of rain. The pitch is expected to play slow and as seen earlier, run making becomes difficult in the second half of the game.
Toss: Royal Challengers Bangalore won the toss and opted to bowl
Playing XI's
SunRisers Hyderabad: Alex Hales, Shikhar Dhawan, Kane Williamson (c), Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan, Shakib Al Hasan, Wriddhiman Saha (w), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rashid Khan, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Parthiv Patel (w), Manan Vohra, Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Mandeep Singh, Colin de Grandhomme, Moeen Ali, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal
