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Mumbai Indians have endured three last ball/wicket defeats. They played well in all their outings, but were left stranded on the wrong side of the finish line. After losing three games, two of which were in Mumbai, MI will be keen to register their first win of the season against RCB.
On the other hand, the Royal Challengers Bangalore in spite of having a balanced side have just one solitary victory against KXIP and they will be looking to build some momentum with a win in Mumbai. On a flat Bengaluru pitch, the batting heavy RCB were out-batted by the Rajasthan Royals. So the possibility of change at the top of the batting order is high.
Here is how the Royal Challenger Bangalore can line up against Mumbai Indians:
Openers
Quinton de Kock
Of the two wicket-keeper opening batsmen, Quinton de Kock performed better in the first three matches. Barring the 43 runs in RCB's first match against KKR, McCullum registered two failures in two matches.
So in all likeliness, the Kiwi will give way to an overseas all-rounder who can provide more balance to the side. Quinton de Kock looked in good touch in the previous encounter against RR, and RCB will hope that he will come good in the matches to come.
Washington Sundar
Washington Sundar had a decent outing with the bat in RCB's last encounter against RR, scoring 35 runs off 19 balls. Just like KKR using Narine as an opener, RCB should use Sundar up the order to score quick runs.
Batting at number 7, he may not play more than 10 or 15 balls in a match regularly.
Sundar as an opener scored 459 runs in TNPL and was the leading run scorer in the 2017 season. His abilities to bat at the top can be of much use to the squad who have just one win from three matches.
Middle order
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli announced his presence in this year's IPL with a superb half-century against RR. But not being able to take his side to the victory would have hurt him the most. The RCB fans will hope that Kohli will perform with the bat more consistently, similar to what he did in 2016.
AB de Villiers
Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers form one of the most formidable pairs in the world cricket. They have been the core of the RCB setup for many years.
AB scored a crucial half-century in the match against KXIP and helped RCB register their first win. He has strike rate close to 150 and he will forward to score runs on a batting friendly pitch in Wankhede.
Mandeep Singh
Even though the 47 runs that he scored against RR were in a losing cause, they would have given a lot of confidence to Mandeep Singh.
In the first three matches, he scored 106 runs at a strike rate of 170.96, highest for an RCB player this season. He has shown that if given opportunities he can become the finisher that RCB needs.
Manan Vohra
Manan Vohra has been around the IPL scenario for quite some time. But the number of opportunities that he got is less. In the 41 innings that he played in IPL, he scored 957 runs with a strike rate of 132.73.
He is a clean striker of the ball and can be a useful batsman at the end or to start an innings. He can also swap the opener position with Washington Sundar.
All-rounders
Colin de Grandhomme
Colin de Grandhomme can be the key to RCB's success. He has a strike rate in excess of 135 in IPL and can always chip in with a few overs if need be.
His record for New Zealand is noteworthy. In T20Is, his strike rate is close to 150 and he can be crucial in scoring some quick runs in the death overs.
Chris Woakes
Chris Woakes is the leading wicket-taker for Royal Challengers Bangalore with seven scalps from 3 matches.
Even though he has been expensive with the ball, conceding more than 10 runs per over, his ability to take wickets cannot be undermined. Woakes has not yet fired with the bat and RCB hope that he'll do it pretty soon.
Bowlers
Umesh Yadav
Umesh Yadav was key to RCB's victory over KXIP. He was at his best in that match taking three wickets in a single over and was deservingly awarded the man of the match.
He had a very bad outing against the Rajasthan Royals conceding 59 runs in four overs, of which 27 came in the last over and it turned out to be the deciding factor in the match. Umesh Yadav with his experience and pace will look to set things right in the next match against MI.
Mohammad Siraj
Siraj was sidelined in the first three matches because of his high economy rate. But with Kulwant Khejroliya also conceding nearly 10 runs an over with just two wickets from three matches, Siraj might get a chance in the next match.
Siraj is a wicket-taking bowler and can be very useful as the fifth bowling option.
Yuzvendra Chahal
Chahal and Washington as a pair are a good spin combination. Washington is the bowler who can curtail the run scoring, whereas Chahal is the wicket-taking bowler.
Chahal has taken three wickets in three matches with an economy rate just above 8. Being Kohli's go-to bowler to provide a break, a lot is expected from Yuzvendra Chahal.
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