Rajasthan Royals (RR) have had a shaky start to their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign as they have won just one out of their first three matches. After a heartbreaking loss in the first match, RR bounced back with a last-over win in their second before going down by a big margin in their third. Their opponents in the fourth match will be the unbeaten Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
RCB have been in excellent touch so far as they have won all three of their matches. With their Chennai leg now done, the side has now shifted to Mumbai where they would want the same form to continue. With such a settled line-up, beating RCB could prove to be extremely difficult for RR.
On that note, we take a look at how RR can beat RCB today.
IPL 2021: RCB vs RR – Key for RR #1: Consider changing the bowling line-up
Rajasthan Royals’ bowlers came good in the second match. They were decent in the third as well, but that doesn’t change the fact that on paper, the bowling attack is imbalanced. With three left-arm pacers and just one specialist spinner, the attack is susceptible to being exploited by the likes of Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers.
There is thus, a need to attain balance and this can be done by bringing in a right-arm pacer and/or another specialist spinner. With the likes of Kartik Tyagi and Shreyas Gopal waiting in the wings, there is a case to include them today.
IPL 2021: RCB vs RR – Key for RR #2: Middle order has to deliver
RR’s middle-order has been woefully out of form. In fact, it does not look threatening or balanced at all. The likes of Riyan Parag and Shivam Dube have got starts, but haven’t been able to convert them into big scores. With there being not much room for change with the exception of there being a case to include Mahipal Lomror in the playing XI, the existing players must step up to the plate.
Skipper Sanju Samson himself has been inconsistent as he followed up his century with two failures. He would both want to get back to form today as well as want to keep up the same on a consistent basis. As long as Samson and the middle order don’t deliver, RR will find it extremely difficult to notch up victories.
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