RCB are currently placed sixth in IPL 2023 points table | Source: Twitter
The 60th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 will see Rajasthan Royals locking horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday, May 14 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.
Team Preview
Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan have had a topsy-turvy ride in this season so far. They started off strong, but then hit a rough patch and suffered three consecutive defeats before bouncing back in their last game against Kolkata Knight Riders.
With six wins and as many losses in their 12 matches, they are currently in fourth place on the points table. They must be looking to win this game and remain in a top-four at the end of the league stage.
In terms of team composition, they have struck gold with Yashasvi Jaiswal in excellent form and Jos Buttler providing solid support at the top of the order. Their bowling attack is equally destructive, with the likes of Trent Boult, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Sandeep Sharma leading the way.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Bangalore, on the other hand, are facing a must-win situation as they look to keep their playoff hopes alive. They have won five and lost six of their 11 matches so far, leaving them in sixth place on the points table.
A win in this game would certainly help their cause, but they will also need to hope that other results go their way, given the fierce competition among teams to make it to the top four at the end of the league stage.
The team combination for them is starting to come together, with their batting line-up showing some real promise in recent matches. The middle order has been the standout, with previously out-of-form players starting to hit their stride.
Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis have been key contributors at the top of the order, while Glenn Maxwell showed his class in the last match. The team will be hoping that he can maintain that form going forward.
The only area of concern for them is their bowling. With most of their bowlers going for runs, they have struggled to keep the opposition's scoring under control.
Match Details
Date and Time: 14 May, 3:30 PM IST
Venue: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Live Streaming and Broadcast: Jio Cinema & Star Sports Network
Pitch Report
The pitch at Sawai Mansingh Stadium has been a good one, offering a little bit of everything for bowlers and batters. Spinners have found some success on this surface, and we can expect them to play a role in this match as well.
While chasing has been the preferred option for most teams here, the team that wins the toss in this day's match may want to consider batting first and putting a big total on the board.
Predicted Playing XI
Rajasthan Royals
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Joe Root, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, KM Asif, Yuzvendra Chahal
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Anuj Rawat, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood
Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips
Wicket-Keeper: Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson
Batters: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, Yashasvi Jaiswal
All-Rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Ravichandran Ashwin, Wanindu Hasaranga
Bowlers: Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, Mohammed Siraj
Captain: Jos Buttler
Vice-Captain: Sanju Samson
Prediction
This match will mark the second time these two teams meet this season. In their previous face off, Royal Challengers Bangalore came out on top with a narrow seven-run victory. However, given the excellent form and synergy of the Rajasthan Royals, they are considered the favourites heading into this game.
 "Shivani Shukla")