Rajat Patidar has been appointed captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for IPL 2025, which begins on March 21. The announcement was widely expected that it would be Virat Kohli who leads RCB once again.

Patidar Captain Experence :

Patidar, 31, was one of three players RCB retained ahead of the mega auction in November. While this will be his first captaincy stint in the IPL, he captained his state team Madhya Pradesh in the 2024-25 seasons of the 20-over Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy.

RCB SPECIAL VIDEO FOR CAPTAIN RAJAT PATIDAR 👑 pic.twitter.com/jBXeQpgDb7

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 13, 2025

RCB have not won the IPL title yet, though they have been finalists three times, the last of which was in 2016. They have made the playoffs in four of the last five seasons, including in 2024.

ALSO SEE : IPL 2025: RCB announce captain

Virat on Rajat Patidar  :

“Rajat, I want to congratulate you, the way you have grown in this franchise, you have made a place in the heart of fans of RCB all over India. This is very well deserved, I tell you that myself and the other team members will be right behind you,” says Virat Kohli. “Show him absolute support, get right behind him, he will always do what's best for the team, best for the franchise.”

GG vs RCB Match Preview

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women will face Gujarat Giants at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara to kick off the 2025 Women's Premier League season. Last year, both teams had a 1-1 head-to-head record. After being beaten by RCB in Bengaluru, the Giants responded in Delhi with a 199-run total, which they successfully defended. Laura Wolvaardt and Beth Mooney, who won that game, will continue playing for Gujarat this season. They've retained the majority of their key batters from last season. Deandra Dottin, a batting all-rounder, will strengthen the Giants' lineup. Nadine de Klerk and Sophie Devine have been excluded from RCBW, among other major changes.

GG vs RCB Match Details 

Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore – 1st Match, WPL-2025

Venue: Kotambi Cricket Stadium, Vadodara

Date & Time: 14th February 2025 at 07:30 PM IST

Live Streaming: Disney+Hotstar

GG vs RCB Venue Stats

GG vs RCB Pitch Report

There is little known about this pitch. Although it appears to be a high-scoring venue, the most recent T20 game here was extremely low-scoring. We expect a good batting wicket this time.

GG vs RCB Weather Report

It is expected to be clear and sunny in Vadodara, with a high of 33 degrees Celsius. The weather would also be clear around match time in the evening.  

GG vs RCB Last Five Matches

GG vs RCB Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

Also Read: Big Setback for Rishabh Pant as Gautam Gambhir Hints at KL Rahul as First-Choice Keeper for Champions Trophy

GG vs RCB Probable Playing XIs:

Royal Challengers Bangalore Probable Playing XIs

Gujarat Giants Probable Playing XIs

Beth Mooney (c & wk), Laura Woolvardt, Harleen Deol, Phoebe Litchfield, Dayalan Hemalatha, Ashleigh Gardner, Danielle Gibson, Meghna Singh, Tanuja Kanwar, Lea Tahuhu, Meghna Singh

Topmost Picks for GG vs RCB Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – Royal Challengers Bangalore

• Smriti Mandhana – A lot will depend on Smriti Mandhana, who was sensational with the bat last year. She will strive to give the team a strong start.
• Renkuka Thakur Singh –  Renkuka Thakur Singh will lead the bowling attack for RCB and will play a crucial role in the middle overs.

Top Picks – Gujarat Giants

• Ashley Gardner – Ashley Gardner, who has been a reliable performer with both the bat and the ball, is now in charge of the team. She has been a consistent performer with both.
• Shabnam Shakil –  Shabnam Shakil is the only full-time seamer, and she must take wickets in the middle overs.

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for GG vs RCB Dream11 Team:

Beth Mooney, Richa Ghosh, Smriti Mandhana, Laura Woolvardt, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry(C), Georgia Wareham, Ashleigh Gardner(VC), Shreyanka Patil, Meghna Singh, Renuka Thakur Singh

Suggested Playing XI N0.2 for GG vs RCB Dream11 Team:

Beth Mooney(VC), Richa Ghosh, Smriti Mandhana(C), Laura Woolvardt, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, Ashleigh Gardner, Shreyanka Patil, Meghna Singh, Renuka Thakur Singh

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Ellyse Perry, Smriti Mandhana

Vice-captain – Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney

Wicketkeeper – Beth Mooney

GG vs RCB Probable Winners:

Both batting lineups are deep, and both teams have a large number of all-rounders. In terms of squad strengths, both teams appear to be fairly evenly matched. However, RCB Women have a slight advantage in the batting department. They have more dependable batters throughout the lineup. RCB will start as the favorites in our match prediction. Considering the team combination, Royal Challengers Bangalore is expected to win this match.

The Suresh Raina announcement about Virat Kohli being the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2025 is quite exciting news, which is spreading much excitement among the fans of RCB, as Virat Kohli has been part of the team for several years.

Kohli is as good as the great leader who doesn't have only on-field tactics to become successful but inspirational for his team mates. This is an experience pressure handler who is going to help RCB get success in IPL 2025.

Suresh Raina said - "Virat Kohli is Captain of RCB this time in IPL 2025". (Star Sports). pic.twitter.com/qmoCKQByiP

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) February 10, 2025

Kohli in IPL for RCB :

ALSO SEE :  Big Blow for England as RCB’s New Recruit Jacob Bethell Ruled Out of Champions Trophy 2025

Kohli's captaincy return ensures much-needed stability to the side after the confused period over their leadership. Long-term, it has been quite an aggressive as well as very passionate approach taken by Kohli towards his games, which becomes a very characterizing feature about RCB too. 

The whole world will look at RCB and Virat Kohli when the new season comes around. The promise that IPL 2025 has to offer is quite a lot, and one thing that keeps every fan's mind buzzing is whether this will be the year RCB will lift the IPL trophy under the captaincy of Kohli. Excitement is building, and RCB will surely be one of the most closely watched teams in the new season.

Virat Kohli has been synonymous with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) since the Indian Premier League’s inception in 2008, emerging as a stalwart both for the franchise and the league itself. After stepping down from captaincy ahead of IPL 2022 to manage his workload, Kohli might be preparing for a grand return as leader, as recent reports suggest his readiness to step back into the role for the 2025 season. With an unwavering fanbase and unfulfilled title dreams, Kohli's potential comeback as captain is igniting excitement and anticipation across the cricketing world.

Will Kohli's return as captain end RCB’s title drought?

According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, Virat Kohli’s return to captaincy could be the strategic change RCB need to end their IPL trophy drought. The Delhi-born cricketing legend, who first took on the mantle of RCB’s full-time captaincy in 2013, is widely regarded for his passionate leadership style and his unparalleled devotion to the team. Although he stepped down from the role in 2022 to prioritize his workload, three seasons later, Kohli is reportedly open to reassuming the captaincy in hopes of leading RCB to their long-awaited IPL title.

This rumored leadership shift comes at a crucial time as RCB head into the mega auction, potentially setting the stage for a team refresh aimed at finally securing the elusive championship. The decision is being widely praised by RCB’s faithful, who have remained hopeful of seeing Kohli lift the IPL trophy in an RCB jersey.

See Also: Zimbabwe Cricket announces historic Test match return after 28 years

A comeback to captaining responsibilities after three-year gap

Kohli’s tenure as RCB’s captain saw him reach several personal and team milestone. Known for his tenacious approach, he captained the team for eight years, delivering memorable performances and creating lasting moments on the field, including the record-breaking 2016 season where he scored 973 runs. Stepping down ahead of the 2022 season, Kohli handed the reins over to manage the demands of his international and league commitments.

However, as the IPL 2025 season draws closer, sources indicate that Kohli could once again don the captain’s hat. With RCB's focus still on claiming their first IPL trophy, fans hope that a familiar leader with unmatched experience in both international and league cricket could be the catalyst the franchise needs.

Long before they became teammates, Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell’s relationship was anything but friendly. Their rivalry peaked during the 2017 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, one of the most heated Test series between India and Australia. During the third Test match in Ranchi, Kohli injured his shoulder while fielding, an incident that quickly became a topic of discussion and even mockery among rival players. Two days later, when it was Australia’s turn to field, Maxwell mimicked Kohli’s injured shoulder as he clutched his own in a humorous yet provocative gesture.

This act of imitation did not sit well with Kohli, known for his intense competitiveness. In response, Kohli blocked Maxwell on Instagram, marking a significant chill in their relationship. The incident, seemingly light-hearted on the surface, became a symbolic gesture of their rivalry. Reflecting on that time, Maxwell mentioned on the LiSTNR Sport podcast, “I think he got the sh**s with me and decided to block me. It was fair enough.” For years, they remained at odds, with little interaction on or off the field.

Forging new bonds at RCB: Kohli’s support for Maxwell

However, in a surprising twist, Kohli later played a pivotal role in bringing Maxwell into the RCB fold, despite their previous friction. Ahead of the 2021 IPL season, RCB acquired Maxwell for an impressive INR 14.25 crore, adding him to an already powerful batting lineup that included Kohli himself and South African legend AB de Villiers. The team quickly became one of the most formidable in the league, at least on paper, with Maxwell scoring over 500 runs that season and helping RCB reach the playoffs.

Maxwell was taken aback by Kohli’s warm welcome when he joined the RCB training camp. “Virat was the first guy to message me and welcome me to the team,” Maxwell recalled. Excited by his new team environment, Maxwell searched for Kohli on social media to reconnect, only to realize he was still blocked. At first, he thought Kohli might not be active on Instagram, but a teammate informed him of the real reason: Kohli had blocked him back in 2017 after the Ranchi incident.

Maxwell laughed it off and took the bold step to confront Kohli. “I asked him, ‘Did you block me on Instagram?’ and he was like, ‘Yeah, probably. It was when you mocked me during that Test match.’” Both players laughed it off, and Kohli promptly unblocked him. Their mutual acknowledgment of past misunderstandings laid the groundwork for a fresh start, and they quickly bonded over their shared experiences and ambitions for RCB.

From teammates to friends

Their relationship continued to grow as they spent more time together, both in the RCB dressing room and in training sessions. They developed mutual respect not only as cricket players but as individuals. Kohli, who is known for his dedication to fitness and training, became an influential figure for Maxwell, and the Australian all-rounder quickly adapted to Kohli’s intense training regimen.

Maxwell’s performances with RCB validated Kohli’s support, and their shared efforts brought a new energy to the team. Maxwell, who struggled with consistency in previous IPL seasons, credited much of his RCB success to the backing he received from Kohli and the team management. He ended the season as one of RCB’s most valuable players, helping them finish third and making a significant contribution to their playoff journey.

Today, Maxwell and Kohli are close friends, having moved past their early tensions. They even joke about their earlier rivalry, reflecting on how much both have matured over the years. Maxwell humorously remarked in his book that their shared experience of parenthood brought them closer, noting that their relationship had evolved from the “young and brash” players they once were into more seasoned athletes with a genuine bond.

See Also: Kane Williamson to miss the third Test against India

A friendship built on shared experiences

The once-fiery duo now share a deep bond, cultivated through shared struggles, personal growth, and respect. Maxwell’s gratitude towards Kohli’s support, despite their initial differences, speaks to the growth of both men. “It was a nice little story to have as a side note,” Maxwell reflected. “We’ve had quite a funny relationship leading up to playing IPL together. Sharing that dressing room, sharing experiences, and becoming parents at the same time…We’ve both come a long way.”

Kohli’s unwavering support for Maxwell, even during his challenging IPL journey, has cemented their friendship as one of mutual respect and understanding. Both stars have mellowed, no longer the “young and brash” rivals they once were, but rather seasoned players who have grown both on and off the field.

The mega auction for the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is just around the corner. Teams will be embroiled in an intense tussle to get their hands on star players. While some teams insist on preserving their loyal long-serving members, other teams most notably the RCB and LSG have broad ambitions and are more than willing to scout for fresh talent at the expense of their experienced guns. Rishab Pant is one such name that has attracted the attention of several IPL franchises. The 26-year-old swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman made his IPL debut with the now-defunct Delhi Daredevils (Delhi Capitals) in 2016.

However, as per reports, Pant has put his name forward for the auction as it is believed that the Delhi-based outfit is willing to move on from him ahead of the next season. Many experts speculate that Pant had a series of discussions with the Delhi Capitals franchise and expressed his desire to lead the side. Unfortunately, his wish never materialized as he was informed that he was not the first choice for captaincy. This major reason may have caused Pant to part ways with them ahead of the next IPL season. 

The reason behind RCB's drive to acquire Pant 

Eyeing their maiden title, RCB are more than willing to secure the services of Rishab Pant who has been in prolific form in recent times. Pant brings with him an X-factor and has the ability to take the game from the opposition like no other. Following the exit of Faf du Plessis and wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik, the door is now left wide open for RCB to rope in a dynamic batter like Pant. He has been a star performer for India across all formats and can provide the franchise with a great deal of stability in the middle order. Moreover, with the departure of Faf, the possibility of assuming a leadership role for RCB is also open for Pant. It was initially believed that RCB had their eyes set on acquiring KL Rahul but now it looks evidently clear that they have more exciting options at their disposal.  

LSG & PBKS jostle to rope in Rishab Pant

Two other franchises apart from RCB have also shown keep interest in Rishab Pant ahead of the mega auction. Kl Rahul is all set to be relieved from LSG earlier next year. Once he is gone, LSG will be on the hunt for a reliable wicketkeeper option who can not only contribute with the bat and keep behind the stumps, but also lead the franchise to new heights. Pant with his leadership skills could give the Lucknow-based franchise just the edge they need to propel them to their maiden IPL title. On the other hand, PBKS are also reportedly hoping for Pant to join their side under a new head coach Ricky Ponting with whom he shares a special relationship.

Pant is part of the Indian squad in the ongoing 3-match Test series against the Black Caps. The ace wicketkeeper batter was last seen in action during the first Test in Bangalore where he played a match-reviving innings for his side and almost bailed them out of trouble. But his unfortunate demise on 99 in the second innings allowed the Kiwis to crawl back and take a 1-0 assailable lead.  

Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant had an impressive IPL 2024, scoring 446 runs in 13 matches. Despite this the team doesn’t seem fully satisfied with the 26 year old’s performance.

Reports say that Rishabh Pant might be transferred from Delhi Capitals to Chennai Super Kings before the IPL 2025 mega auction. According to Dainik Jagran, DC is debating whether to keep Pant or let him go due to concerns about his recent form.

There’s also a chance Pant could be traded to another team, but DC’s Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly, appears interested in keeping him as captain.

Dhoni’s potential retirement and Its impact

If DC decides to release Pant he might join Chennai Super Kings. The team is looking for a wicketkeeper to potentially replace MS Dhoni if he retires from the IPL, and Pant is a top candidate for the job. Dhoni’s future in the IPL is uncertain with a chance he might not play in 2025.

Pant made a strong comeback this season after recovering from a car accident in December 2022. He scored 446 runs, including three half-centuries, and also played as India’s No. 3 batsman in the T20 World Cup 2024, where he scored 171 runs in eight matches.

RCB’s search for an Indian captain

Meanwhile, KL Rahul might leave Lucknow Super Giants after a three year period. Following a tough 10 wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka criticized Rahul, casting doubt on his future with the team.

Rahul could return to Royal Challengers Bangalore, a team he played for in 2013 and 2016. Under Faf du Plessis RCB reached the IPL playoffs this season, but they were eliminated in the Eliminator by Rajasthan Royals. Reports suggest RCB is considering an Indian player as captain, and if Rahul joins he might take on that role.

The 2024 IPL edition is one of the most intensifying tournaments in the Indian franchise-based fraternity. With many broken records and some commendable performances, the team’s captains have acted as the epitome of such cricketing displays, making the concluded edition more memorable for the cricketing world.

With different captains having different strategies and intent, here is a ranking of all the teams’ heads who have contributed to the fullest with their cricketing minds and calibre in the recently concluded IPL 2024 edition. The ranking is based on a combination of factors, including the team’s performance, the captain’s leadership skills, and their contributions to the team’s success.

1. Shreyas Iyer- Kolkata Knight Riders

The 2024 IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, have been a jack-of-all-trades team, checking all the boxes in all aspects, with particular praise from their skipper, Shreyas Iyer, and the coaching staff. Shreyas Iyer has done well as a captain, and the team is doing well under his leadership.

His decision-making has been sound, with no significant weaknesses identified in his leadership. KKR has perhaps the finest balance of bat and ball. The leading cause for this has been player selection and, therefore, player performance. He played aggressive cricket with the bat, hitting 351 runs at a strike rate of 146.

2. Pat Cummins- Sunrisers Hyderabad

Pat Cummins excelled as a captain. After performing well for Australia, which has a strong lineup, the star player’s challenge was to turn around SRH’s fortunes. And he did just that. Thanks to Cummins’ inspired captaincy, the hitters transformed the dynamics of the league with their aggressive style, and the developing bowlers dominated it to the fullest.

Cummins was also effective with the ball, taking 18 wickets over the season. As a captain, he inspired the SRH team to break records in the IPL 2024. Cummins has pulled the best out of numerous players this season, leading them to the grand finals.

3. Faf du Plessis- Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Though the team had one heck of a forgettable start, Royal Challengers Bengaluru made a fantabulous and memorable comeback, even when there was a bleak 1% chance of qualification. All credit would go to the former South African ace opener, Faf du Plessis, who focused on strengthening its batting core and improvising its bowling department.

Overall, it was a valiant display of captaincy and team effort by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. As of his batting performance, du Plessis made 438 runs at a strike rate of 161.

4. Sanju Samson- Rajasthan Royals

In the initial and mid stages of the league, Rajasthan Royals (RR) were the favourites to finish first in the points standings, having won eight of their nine games. However, their season deteriorated following that, and they made the playoffs in third place.

This was primarily about critiquing the team’s consistency and captain Sanju Samson’s evolving plans and methods. If not for this season, Samson is praised for his constant batting and captaincy efforts, which was unsurprising given his performance this season. He had a spectacular batting tenure, amassing 531 runs with a strike rate of 153.

5. Rishabh Pant- Delhi Capitals

Rishabh Pant returns to play after being out for more than 15 months. After avoiding a life-threatening accident, the top player returned to cricket and performed well as a batsman. But he was a decent skipper. He began his IPL 2024 campaign with some difficulties.

But by the second half of the tournament, he had returned to his excellent levels. The Delhi Capitals skipper scored 446 runs with a strike rate of 155. Pant made poor selections about the team’s batting and bowling. Pant would need to improve over time for the following season.

See Also: Gambhir reveals KKR’s 2024 victory secret

6. Ruturaj Gaikwad- Chennai Super Kings

Ruturaj Gaikwad captained Chennai Super Kings for the first time in IPL history. His leadership was not up to par, but it could have a future influence on the team’s destiny in the long term, especially after a long and prosperous era of MS Dhoni. The batting order constantly changed in numerous games, hampered the players’ performance.

Ruturaj Gaikwad led Chennai Super Kings through a consistent season, not to forget his spectacular batting stint by scoring 583 runs, making him the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament. Gaikwad won only seven games in his 14-match campaign, indicating significant room for development.

7. Sam Curran- Punjab Kings

Though Shikhar Dhawan had to lead the Punjab Kings full-time, Sam Curran’s appearance as a captain for majority of time was interesting to check out. However, he wasn’t appealing with his overall all-rounder performance, as he made just 270 runs at a strike rate of 123 and snapped 16 wickets.

But, his ability to utilise emerging domestic talent has prompted his arsenal to change the game and can act as the future of the team’s successes. In the end, the team was able to win just a mere five wins and ended up ninth in the points table.

8. KL Rahul- Lucknow Super Giants

KL Rahul led the Lucknow Super Giants to a 50-50 record, winning seven of their fourteen matches. Under his guidance, the squad won as many games as it lost, indicating an up-and-down season. They started brightly but lost momentum in the middle.

Meanwhile, Rahul scored 520 runs this season, but his strike rate of 136 was significantly below average and ordinary for openers in the IPL 2024 season, which was a high-scoring event. It sums up his tactics of runs coming off his bat, but not at the rate his side needs.  The Super Giants missed the playoffs for the first time in their three-season history.

9. Shubman Gill- Gujarat Titans

Shubman Gill, a budding opening batter, has become the captain of the Gujarat Titans after Hardik Pandya moved to the Mumbai Indians. In his first stint as captain, Gill faced challenges, including critical player injuries, leading to some perplexed and vague decisions.

Despite this, he viewed it as a learning experience. The team won only five out of 14 matches, but Gill’s batting was solid, with 426 runs in 12 games. But it will be interesting to see how he evolves as a captain for the Gujarat Titans.

10. Hardik Pandya- Mumbai Indians

Hardik Pandya, the new Mumbai Indians captain, was perhaps the most disappointing captain and big-name player of the IPL 2024 season, especially given that he led Gujarat to an IPL trophy and a runners-up finish in the previous two seasons.

Despite huge expectations, the Mumbai Indians ended at the bottom of the points table, winning only four matches out of 14 games. Hardik scored 216 runs at an average of 18 as a player and took 11 wickets. Given his previous success, Pandya’s captaincy has been more forgettable this season.

The 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League, a tournament that has always set the benchmark for the shortest format of the game, has once again raised the bar.

This year, we’ve witnessed some incredible performances, with shattered long-standing records and international and emerging players making their mark on Indian soil. The batters of the tournament have indeed embodied the spirit of IPL 2024. In this listicle, we’re taking a closer look at the top five extraordinary batting innings that have captivated the cricketing world in the 2024 edition. 

1. Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders) vs Rajasthan Royals- 109 runs off 56 balls

Hailed as one of the toughest spinners, Sunil Narine, the Trinidadian spinmeister, has proved his impeccable calibre with the bat, thanks to the IPL platform for displaying his willow-handling skills. Though he started his stint as an opener during the 2017 Big Bash League, his long stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders helped him unleash batting prowess, and the clash against Rajasthan Royals summed it all up.

Against a robust Royals bowling attack on the vast Eden Gardens track, Narine pumped up his batting shots and got off to a flying start. With 13 boundaries and six sixes, he had hit his first-ever century across his batting timeline, with a commendable strike rate of 194.64. To add things up, this memorable batting innings made him the first player in the IPL to have scored a hundred and picked a five-wicket haul.

2. Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals) vs Kolkata Knight Riders- 107* runs off 60 balls

To give a small continuation to Sunil Narine’s memorable first century, it was in the same clash of the best; the fans witnessed another stupendous batting innings. After giving a target of 224 runs to the Rajasthan Royals, the away side was up for it amongst the vast grounds of the Eden Gardens. But he had got off slightly slow as he made only 25 off his first 18 balls.

But although struggling with the injury that kept him out of the last RR game and rapidly running out of batting partners, Buttler stayed the course. And taking the match to an enthralling last ball, Buttler’s innings of 107* runs off 60 balls, with nine fours and six sixes, he had taken his visitor’s side team to a victory by two wickets, which kind of overshadowed Narine’s commendable knock. 

3. Will Jacks (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) vs Gujarat Titans- 100* runs off 41 balls

With a quick-pace triple-digit mark and an awestruck reaction by King Kohli, Will Jacks’s century is a wholesome and flavourful batting innings. Starting things off with 17 runs in just 17 balls, in the successive 24 balls, the English batter hit the remaining runs to reach his first-ever IPL century.

Though he had come lately to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting campaign, he had proved to be an instrumental element to the team’s middle order batting, which led him to a memorable six-consecutive winning stint, which led them to seal the final playoffs spot, when they just had a mere 1% chance, symbolising the team’s resilient and robust mentality approach. 

See Also: First batch of Indian Team leaves for USA ahead of T20 World Cup 2024

4. Travis Head (Sunrisers Hyderabad) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru- 102 runs off 41 balls

In the clash between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad on the small dimensions of Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru broke the long-held record of the highest team score ever in IPL, where Sunrisers Hyderabad took that title away from the previous holders of Bengaluru, thanks to the swashbuckling Aussie batter, Travis Head.

With already announcing his stint in the IPL from an excellent first-match performance, Head accelerated his performance and got him to this stage, where he proved to be handy in scoring the highest team total of IPL of 287/3 by making a century off just 39 balls. In his innings of 102 runs off 41 balls, he hit nine fours and eight sixes at a colossal strike rate of 248.78. 

5. Shashank Singh (Punjab Kings) vs Gujarat Titans- 61* runs off 29 balls 

In this listicle, we have seen all the centuries making the mark, but a few innings have created a long-lasting impact, but it didn’t require a triple-digit mark. One such innings is by the Punjab Kings’ middle-order batting powerhouse, Shashank Singh. It all started in last year’s IPL auction when the Kings bought him instead of another player with the same name, leading to a case of mistaken identity.

With several rumours goofed up, the franchise clarified it and mentioned that he was always on their planned list. As it implies, the batter from Chattisgarh paid back the trust and scored an impeccable innings of 61* runs off 29 balls in a 200-run chase against the Gujarat Titans. This innings is a testament to seizing any opportunity given to a person from different walks of life, which also bolstered the batter’s confidence and led him to be a valuable batting asset to the Punjab Kings. 

RR vs RCB Match Preview

The 2024 Indian Premier League Eliminator will be played on Wednesday evening at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, between the Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Rajasthan finished third in the group stage, followed by RCB in fourth place by three points. After winning eight of their first nine games this season, Rajasthan Royals went on a losing streak that ended with a washout against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday. RCB’s rise from the bottom of the table to the final play-off spot in their final group stage game is well known to all IPL fans, and Faf du Plessis’ side is now playing with great confidence and will fancy their chances of another win today.

RR vs RCB Match Details

Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Eliminator Match

Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium – Ahmedabad

Date & Time: 22th May 2024 at 07:30 PM IST 

Live Streaming: Jio Cinema

RR vs RCB Venue Stats

RR vs RCB Pitch Report

The wicket has genuine bounce and pace, and the quick outfield allows batsmen to score freely. There is little on this surface for fast bowlers, but spinners who mix length and turn the ball do well here.

RR vs RCB Weather Report

This game is expected to have partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-30s. We will see clear skies at Jaipur on May 22, and the conditions will be perfect for the game.

RR vs RCB Last Five Matches

RR vs RCB Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

Also Read: IPL 2024: Most runs and Most wickets after Match 67, CSK vs GT

RR vs RCB Probable Playing XIs:

Rajasthan Royals Probable Playing XIs

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sanju Samson (c) (wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rovman Powell, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Probable Playing XIs

Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Rajat Patidar, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Yash Dayal, Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Lockie Ferguson

Topmost Picks for RR vs RCB Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – Rajasthan Royals

• Sanju Samson – The Rajasthan skipper has outscored his opening batting pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler. So far in this campaign he has a top score of 82 not out.
• Yuzvendra Chahal- the spinner is the only player in the history of the IPL to have picked up over 200 wickets and he has taken between 12 and 27 wickets each season from 2014 onwards.

Top Picks – Royal Challengers Bengaluru

• Virat Kohli- the leading run scorer in IPL 2024 made 47 runs from 29 balls in Saturday’s victory and he is averaging 64.36 from 14 innings this season.
• Yash Dayal- the left-arm pacer got two big wickets in Daryl Mitchell and MS Dhoni against CSK. Although he was expensive, he was once again RCB’s biggest wicket taking threat. 

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for RR vs RCB Dream11 Team:

Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis(C), Rajat Patidar, Cameron Green, Riyan Parag(VC), Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal

Suggested Playing XI N0.2 for RR vs RCB Dream11 Team:

Sanju Samson(VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli(C), Faf du Plessis, Rajat Patidar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Cameron Green, Riyan Parag, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli

Vice-captain – Riyan Parag, Sanju Samson

Wicketkeeper – Sanju Samson

RR vs RCB Probable Winners:

Without Jos Buttler, the Rajasthan Royals do not appear to be as strong a batting side, and they will need to put on their best batting performance in this game to give a confident RCB cause for concern. Three weeks ago, the Rajasthan Royals would have easily won this game, but the teams are now in completely different mindsets. We believe RCB will win their seventh consecutive match and advance to the Qualifier 2. Considering the team combination, Royal Challengers Bengaluru is expected to win this match.