Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have been struggling to register a win at their home ground. On Friday, they face Punjab Kings in a crucial encounter. If RCB want to break their losing streak in Bengaluru, they must be cautious against Punjab’s strong spin attack.
Beware of Chahal and Maxwell
RCB batters have already struggled on the slower Bengaluru pitch against spinners like R Sai Kishore (Gujarat Titans), Kuldeep Yadav, and Vipraj Nigam (Delhi Capitals). Now, they face the challenge of tackling Yuzvendra Chahal and Glenn Maxwell—both of whom know Chinnaswamy Stadium well, having played for RCB in the past.
Punjab’s Spin Attack Could Be a Major Threat
Yuzvendra Chahal, who recently returned to form with a four-wicket haul against Kolkata Knight Riders, can be a nightmare for any batter. Glenn Maxwell, despite his poor batting form, is expected to retain his place in the XI due to his experience and utility with the ball.
Chahal is not just a magician with the ball but a master of length. He often tempts batters with deliveries outside the off-stump, inviting big shots that frequently end in catches near the boundary. His variations in pace make him tricky to read, and batters need to make extra effort to hit him for sixes. Maxwell, on the other hand, relies on control rather than big turn or deception, making him a dependable spin option.
RCB’s Bowling Unit and Key Players
RCB will look to experienced spinners like Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma to step up. In contrast, Punjab Kings have a potent pace duo in Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen, though they may lack the experience of RCB’s Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Captaincy Battle: Patidar vs Iyer
This will be the first time Rajat Patidar and Shreyas Iyer face off as captains. Iyer, a proven IPL-winning skipper and reliable batter, will be up against debutant captain Patidar. Despite the contrast in experience, both are calm leaders who are considered strong players against spin—making their roles crucial in the middle order.
Punjab’s morale will be high after a low-scoring win over Kolkata, but they cannot afford to underestimate RCB, a team with depth in both batting and bowling departments.
Also Read- RCB vs PBKS Pitch Report: A Batting Paradise in Bengaluru – Toss Could Decide the Winner!
Probable Playing XIs:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (C), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Yash Dayal.
Punjab Kings: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Shreyas Iyer (C), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Vijaykumar Vyshak.
