RCB hopeful of returning to winning ways as wobbly MI unit pose stern challenge

RCB are all set to return to the yard after a brief stutter as Mumbai Indians play their next challenger. What has so far been an incredible start for the Royal Challengers saw them dropping momentum against Gujarat Titans after a batting collapse up front, however, a late fightback from Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma and Tim David saw them gunning for something formidable.

With two wins from three matches and a NRR of +1.149, RCB will be desperate to chronicle their third win which will cement their position in the top two while also keeping Delhi Capitals on their toes as they continue their unbeaten run in the latest edition of the tournament. The RCB top-order that has so far banked upon their top three, featuring Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, saw new faces rising to the occasion in the form of Jitesh Sharma and Liam Livingstone. As the caravan arrives in Wankhede, which is another batting friendly surface, one would once again expect the power-hitters to activate their beast mode.

Mumbai Indians haven’t been at the top of their game with just a solitary win from the first four matches. With the return of Jasprit Bumrah, it might be a big boost for the Men in Blue, however, no official confirmation about his fitness has yet been shared. Despite the shaky start, Mumbai Indians have got ample firepower in their ranks who can flip the game in a flash. With big names at both ends, one can expect a full-blown battle of two cricketing juggernauts.

Venue Watch

The surface at Wankhede has always been a conducive one for the batters. The bounce has always been true and that will allow the batters to go after the ball from the word ‘go’ itself. The new ball might witness a bit of lateral movement, however, that would only last for the first four overs. As soon as the ball loses its lacquer, batters will have an open invitation to go after the bowlers, no matter the circumstances. Dew might tend to play a spoilsport, dampening the prospects of bowlers even further. However, the availability of the new ball might offer some balance to the duel.

Personal battles to watch out for:

Virat Kohli vs Jasprit Bumrah

Despite Virat Kohli’s rollicking start to the tournament, he has hit a bit of a bump and would be raring to get out of it. With the top order being in question after the defeat against GT, Kohli would have a lion’s share of responsibilities on his shoulders to steer the innings. With the surface offering bare minimum to the bowlers, Kohli should eye the powerplay to try and extract the most number of runs in setting up a decent platform for himself. Jasprit Bumrah, on the contrary, is an absolute hunter with the new ball in his hands. Keeping aside the lateral movement, the gun discipline from Bumrah laced with those lethal toe-crushers makes him an insuperable bowler. The contest between two of world’s best cricketers will blaze the trail for an incredible saga of rivalries in this heavyweight clash.

Rajat Patidar vs Trent Boult

The new RCB captain, Patidar has undoubtedly floored spin at volition until now. However, the conundrum against pace can be a major challenge for Patidar to brave. Even in the last game, he looked uncomfortable against Gujarat Titans before Ishant Sharma finally put him out of his misery. Being a man who loves challenges, Patidar will try and take this dilemma head on. Trent Boult is one of those rare left-arm seamers who can make the leather bend to his will. With the ball angling away from the right-handers and Patidar with a high inclination of playing those on the rise shots over cover and point, this contest will always have an element of spice and risk blended in the same breath.

Josh Hazlewood vs Suryakumar Yadav

Josh Hazlewood has continued to be an impressive spearhead for RCB’s fast-bowling and he will once again have a massive responsibility of going all guns blazing against the Indians. It’s his discipline that has always been his biggest strength while he will try and make the most of the new ball. Suryakumar Yadav’s flexibility and balance makes him a menacing option up front and he has also been a man in form. If he tends to tick, Hazlewood will have to conjure something special to keep the game in balance. This might be tagged as a duel of intense technical brilliance.

Match detail:

Match: Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Date: 7th April, 2025

Time: 7:30 PM

Head-to-head:

Matches played: 33

MI: 19

RCB: 14

Squads:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru:

Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Swastik Chikara, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Philip Salt, Manoj Bhandage, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Liam Livingstone, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Mohit Rathee, Abhinandan Singh.

Mumbai Indians:

Hardik Pandya (c), Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Verma, Trent Boult, Naman Dhir, Robin Minz, Karn Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Deepak Chahar, Will Jacks, Ashwani Kumar, Mitchell Santner, Reece Topley, Shrijith Krishnan, Raj Angad Bawa, Venkat Satyanarayana Raju, Bevon Jacobs, Arjun Tendulkar, Vignesh Puthhur, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah