Big Picture: Batting leaders vs laggards
There’s a contrast in their bowling attacks too, but this one favours LSG.
RCB rank eighth in terms of economy rate (10.62) this season, while LSG’s bowling unit is right on top with an economy of 8.5. Notably, they are yet to concede 200 in a season where such totals have become extremely commonplace. LSG stand between RCB and a record-equalling run of five successive 200-plus scores in the IPL.
RCB are currently third in the points table, while LSG are down at seventh. But only two points separate the teams, even though they appear to be in extremely contrasting form.
Form Guide
RCB WWLW (last four matches, most recent first)
LSG LWWL
Key Question
Team News
Kohli didn’t field against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede on Sunday due to a mild ankle strain. He was back in the nets and did some running tests during RCB’s only training session ahead of the game of Wednesday, allaying any fitness concerns.
Fast bowler Rasikh Dar has also got over his bout of cramps and is set to play.. There was no sign of Josh Hazlewood, however, at training.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (likely XII): 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Phil Salt, 3 Devdutt Padikkal, 4 Rajat Patidar (capt), 5 Tim David, 6 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7 Romario Shepherd, 8 Krunal Pandya, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Jacob Duffy, 11 Suyash Sharma, 12 Rasikh Dar
LSG quick Mohsin Khan has played just one match this season and is touch-and-go for Wednesday. He’s set to undergo a fitness assessment that Tom Moody, LSG’s global director, expects to be routine. Mayank, meanwhile, has built up his bowling workload and is ready to go. If he plays, he could replace Avesh Khan, who has an economy of 10.4 in four matches so far.
Lucknow Super Giants (likely XII): 1 Mitchell Marsh, 2 Aiden Markram, 3 Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), 4 Ayush Badoni, 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Abdul Samad, 7 Mukul Choudhary, 8 Mohammed Shami, 9 Digvesh Rathi, 10 Avesh Khan/Mayank Yadav, 11 Prince Yadav, 12 Shahbaz Ahmed/M Siddarth
In the spotlight
With 195 runs at a strike rate of 214.28, Rajat Patidar has emerged as the driving force for RCB in the middle overs. At one stage against MI, he was on 44 off 11 balls. He’s striking at more than 200 against both spin and pace this season, making him extremely difficult to plan for, and is the joint highest six-hitter (18) along with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Patidar’s surge in the IPL has sparked whispers of higher honours, and if he can sustain this tempo that debate will only get louder.
Bowling at full tilt this season, Mohammed Shami has proved a challenge with the new ball when batters are scoring faster than ever before in the powerplay. While the wickets haven’t come – he only has three in the powerplay – he has exerted control. His economy rate in that phase is only 6.1 and Tom Moody, LSG’s global director of cricket, couldn’t be happier with where he’s at.
Stats and trivia
- RCB are on a four-match winning streak at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The last time they won five in a row at home was in 2013.
Pitch and conditions
The match will be played on the surface on which CSK fell 43 short of RCB’s 250. Expect another belter. Dew wasn’t a factor in the first two games at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, but there was a fair bit on match eve. The ground staff are aiming to limit its impact on the game by using the anti-dew spray.
Quotes
“He looks fit and strong. He’s got great wisdom, good leadership characteristics and he’s bringing all that to the table for us. What makes him good is his durability, his ability to swing the ball early and his pace is up there. He’s bowling high 130s, which is as good as it has been throughout his career. It’s a credit to him that he’s in that condition.” Tom Moody on Mohammed Shami
Shashank Kishore is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo
