IPL 2018, Match 51, Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - Match Prediction

It will be a must-win clash for the Royal Challengers Bangalore when they meet the table toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 51^st match of the tournament.

Courtesy a couple of consecutive victories, Bangalore has kept their slim hopes of qualifying through to the playoffs alive. Their huge victory against the Kings XI Punjab has raised their net run rate which might go on to help them if they win the last two matches.

Sunrisers Hyderabad, on the other hand, had already qualified for the playoffs. They have played some exceptional cricket all through the tournament. The bowling department has been quite superb and has delivered on most occasions. When the bowlers haven’t been able to fire, the batsmen have raised their hands and have done the job for their franchise.

However, Hyderabad lost their previous game against the Chennai Super Kings who also have qualified for the playoffs. Their bowling-up failed to defend a reasonably big score of 180 runs. The CSK opening duo of Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu shared a terrific 134 runs partnership for the opening wicket which sealed the deal for Chennai.

The form of Shikhar Dhawan and Kane Williamson has been a major boost for Hyderabad at the top of the order. The duo brought up 100+ partnerships in the last couple of matches. Both have played some exceptional shots and have never really allowed the opposition to have a strong hold on the match.

Meanwhile, the middle order has been untested so far. Hence they will be looking to try out their middle and lower middle order, as the tournament nears the end.

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Bangalore, on the other hand, have revived their hopes from nowhere. They were down and out and needed a miracle to make it to the playoffs. If they do manage to win a remaining couple of games, there are high possibilities they will make it through to the top four.

The form of skipper Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers will also give them enough confidence. However, their middle order hasn’t been in the best of forms. Hence the wickets of Kohli and de Villiers will be vital, as far as Hyderabad are concerned.

“If you look at any T20 tournament, teams which have a high percentage of wins against losses, have very few turnovers with regards to the playing XI. That’s pretty much been the case with us. Apart from a couple of injuries, we have been pretty consistent with our selections, and I think it is an important thing to have.

We will continue to be consistent in these last few games. Because yes, we want to continue to win and secondly, I think it is important you have the continuity within the playing XI – people understanding what their roles are on the team and they get an opportunity to continue their form,” SRH head coach Tom Moody said adding the likes of Carlos Brathwaite is expected to remain in the sidelines.

Team Combinations

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Bangalore is expected to continue with their winning combination. The inclusion of Parthiv Patel and Moeen Ali have added the much-needed stability and especially after a couple of wins the team management is unlikely to tinker with the winning combination.

Predicted XI: Parthiv Patel, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Mandeep Singh, Sarfaraz Khan, Moeen Ali, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Wriddhiman Saha who missed a couple of matches owing to an injury might get back into the side at the expense of Shreevats Goswami. Yusuf Pathan might not be rushed back to the XI after missing a couple of games due to soreness.

Predicted XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Alex Hales, Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Deepak Hooda, Shakib Al Hasan, Wriddhiman Saha/Shreevats Goswami, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma

Match Prediction

Bangalore need to win badly, and the situation has got the best out of them in the last two matches. They will be hoping for more of the same in the next two games. Hyderabad had played some quality cricket. However, Bangalore stands a huge chance of winning today’s match. Hence, I am backing Bangalore to keep their hopes alive in the tournament.

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