RCB vs MI: It’s the Game of Survival Of The Fittest

Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore have been struggling with their current forms in the 11th edition of the Indian Premier League, as they meet each other to fight for survival in a match on Tuesday.

VIVO IPL 2018: Both Mumbai and Bangalore eager to win to survive in the tournament

Mumbai are somewhat in a better place as they had defeated the mighty Chennai Super Kings in their own adoptive backyard Pune. They are confident to go up against RCB’s strong batting line-up which has the likes of Virat Kohli and Brendon McCullum.

Bangalore’s morale is very low as they had suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. Despite having a low confidence, RCB needs to pick themselves up and have to put on a brilliant performance if they are to stay in the competition.

Both the teams are almost identical in their league table standings as both have two wins in their seven matches, with Mumbai ahead at sixth place due to better net run rate.

Mumbai would want to repeat the past as they had won the reverse fixture by 46 runs, where Rohit Sharma and Evin Lewis scored 94 and 65 respectively. But apart from Suryakumar Yadav, no other batsmen have shown consistency this season.

The Pandya brothers need to come back in form, both in batting and bowling. JP Duminy, who was chosen in the previous match, did not get an opportunity to bat as Mumbai crossed the finishing line beforehand. He will also be itching to create an impact for his team.

Mumbai need to bank on their pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mustafizur Rahman, along with young spinner Mayank Markande, if they want to restrict the powerful batting side of RCB to a low score.

On the other hand, RCB would be hoping for the return of AB de Villiers, who stayed out of the previous match due to fever. ABD is in prime form as he scored 68 off 30 against CSK and single-handedly defeated Delhi with his unbeaten 39-ball 90.

Captain Kohli, who had scored an unbeaten 92 and 68 against Mumbai and KKR respectively, would also like to produce another special innings. RCB’s opener and wicket-keeper Quinton De Kock would also like his good form to carry on.

Venue− M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

RCB Probable XI: Quinton de Kock, Brendon McCullum, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers/Manan Vohra, Mandeep Singh, Colin de Grandhomme/Washington Sundar, Murugan Ashwin, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj

MI Probable XI: Suryakumar Yadav, Evin Lewis, Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, JP Duminy, Krunal Pandya, Ben Cutting/Mustafizur Rahman, Mitchell McClenaghan, Mayank Markande, Jasprit Bumrah