High on confidence after beating two-time defending champions Mumbai Indians in the season’s opener, Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore will be eager to continue the winning start when they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the second game at MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai on Wednesday.
While RCB began their campaign with a morale-boosting win at the same venue, the David Warner-led SRH lost to Kolkata Knight Riders by 10 runs.
RCB will be bolstered by the return of young opening batsman Devdutt Padikkal, who missed the last game due to Covid related issues.
The Karnataka left-hander is in great touch recently and his return will be a welcome boost for the side. He will partner skipper Kohli at the top.
Virat and the incomparable AB de Villiers will again be the key players for RCB in batting, with Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell hoping to make invaluable contributions with the willow.
He looked good in the first game in RCB jersey, and has the backing of the team management, including skipper Kohli.
Barring the trio of Kohli, de Villiers and Maxwell, RCB look thin on batting and that’s why Padikkal’s presence at the top is important for them. After their failure in the opener, Rajat Patidat and Washington would look to make amends against SRH.
Almost all of RCB’s bowlers were economical against MI’s formidable batting with medium pacer Harshal Patel returning excellent figures of 5/27. They will certainly look for an encore.
As far as SRH are concerned, both their openers Wriddhiman Saha and Warner failed to get going against KKR and will look to make up for that against RCB.
The swashbuckling Warner has close to 600 runs against RCB and he will aim to add to that impressive tally.
Kane Williamson is unlikely to return on Wednesday as coach Trevor Bayliss had said the Kiwi would require some more time to regain full match fitness. Bhuvneshwar Kumar went for runs against KKR at the death but is expected to get his rhythm back sooner than later.
The likes of Rashid Khan and Mohammed Nabi can also ask probing questions with their crafty bowling at Chepauk track.
