IPL 2018, RCB vs MI: 5 player battles to look forward to

At the beginning of the tournament, no one expected defending champions Mumbai Indians and the star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore to be placed at 6th and 7th respectively in the table after 7 games. While the hosts RCB lost their previous game at home to Kolkata Knight Riders, MI recorded a commanding win over Chennai Super Kings and it will be the visitors who will have more confidence going into today's game.

RCB’s AB de Villiers is expected to be back after missing the previous game and that would certainly be a welcome change to their batting line-up.

At the end of the day, the individual battles that will take place at Bengaluru tonight will decide the fate of the game and here is a look at the 5 most important player battles.

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#5 Quinton de Kock v Mitchell McClenaghan

In the last two games, RCB’s South African star got back into form as he made 53 and 29 against Delhi Daredevils and KKR respectively. He would want to continue his good work and get a good score at the top of the order in tonight’s big game against MI. He is striking at 130.20 so far and he would definitely want to improve on that when he comes up against MI’s bowlers tonight.

One bowler who has been a steady performer for MI thus far has been Mitchell McClenaghan and his battle against the left-hander is going to be fascinating. The Kiwi can bowl quick and in addition to that, is a quintessential ‘hit the deck’ bowler. He has taken 8 wickets so far and gone for 8.70 runs an over. When these two run into each other tonight it is going to be a fascinating watch.

#4 Umesh Yadav v Suryakumar Yadav

Umesh Yadav

His promotion to the opener’s slot has been one of the most inspired decisions from the MI leadership and Suryakumar Yadav has delivered handsomely by becoming the highest scorer for the team so far in the IPL. He has made 274 runs at an average of 39.14 and has also recorded a strike rate of 129.24. He is the key if MI are to get off to a fast start at Bengaluru tonight and RCB’s pace spearhead Umesh Yadav is the man who will be responsible for keeping him quiet.

The Indian fast bowler has perhaps been the only positive in an RCB pace attack that has leaked runs in most games. He is the highest wicket-taker in the team with 9 scalps and in 7 games so far, he has gone for only 8.50 runs an over. In the previous game between the two sides, he had rocked MI early with 2 wickets off the first two deliveries of the match and Suryakumar Yadav was his first victim.

#3 Virat Kohli v Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah

The RCB captain is in fine form and although his team has not been winning much, Virat Kohli has continued to be one of the most consistent batsmen in the competition so far. He is the 3rd highest run-scorer in this year’s IPL with a total of 317 runs and has also recorded a staggering average of 63.40.

In the previous game between the two sides, Kohli made an unbeaten 92 but he did not force the pace as his primary target was to preserve the net run rate. However, this time there is no such consideration since only a win will do for RCB and he might just explode at his home ground tonight.

The bowler who might cause him some trouble is MI’s India star Jasprit Bumrah, and due to the fact that they both play for the Indian team, it makes for a very interesting subtext. Although the fast bowler has not been at his best, he has still picked up 8 wickets and has only gone for 7.21 per over. Can Kohli take him on or will the youngster get the better of his national team captain?

#2 AB de Villiers v Mayank Markande

AB de Villiers

The right-arm leg-spinner has been one of the biggest finds of the IPL so far and his superb showing for MI has propelled Mayank Markande into the list of the leading spinners in the tournament so far. He is MI’s highest wicket-taker with 10 wickets in 7 games and in addition to that, he has gone for only 7.52 runs an over.

His control, variety and intelligence have made it possible for him to hold his own against the biggest names in the game. In his last game against the same opponents, he picked up a wicket but more importantly, went for only 25 runs in his quota of 4 overs.

His biggest challenge tonight would be to find a way to get RCB’s AB de Villiers out and considering the fact that the South African can turn the tide of the game fairly quickly, Markande would need to be at his best right from the outset. De Villiers has no apparent weakness in his batting and is currently averaging 56, to go along with a stupendous strike rate of 184.21. This is a battle that could change the course of the game.

#1 Yuzvendra Chahal v Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma

The man who blew RCB away with a scintillating 94 in the previous encounter between the two teams may not have had the best of tournaments so far but Rohit Sharma rediscovered his touch in the previous game against CSK. He promoted himself to number 3 and got an excellent unbeaten 56 as MI cruised to victory.

While he is unlikely to have much trouble against most of the bowlers at RCB, the duel between him and Yuzvendra Chahal is going to be a fascinating watch. Chahal is among the best spinners in limited overs cricket and has the ability to keep the biggest hitters in the game quiet with his inventive bowling. He has recorded an economy rate of 7.92 so far and has claimed 7 wickets as well. If RCB are to win tonight, then Chahal would be a key factor and his battle with Rohit Sharma would go a long way in deciding the game.

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