Why RCB has the upper hand in IPL 2022 second qualifier against Rajasthan Royals

The second qualifier for the final match on May 29, 2022 will be played between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. After a crushing defeat to Lucknow Super Giants on May 25, 2022, Royal Challengers Bangalore are in solid form.

In the head-to-head battle in this tournament, RCB and Rajasthan have faced each other twice, and won one match each. In all, RCB and Rajasthan have faced each other in 24 matches. RCB emerged victorious in 13 matches, while Rajasthan won in 11 matches.

 But in today’s match, RCB seems to have an edge over Rajasthan.

Here are the reasons:

1. THE RETURN OF FORM OF KOHLI

Former RCB captain Virat Kohli didn’t have a good season this IPL. But the team management and RCB captain Faf Du Plessis backed Kohli. This helped Virat regain his confidence and return strong. In a match against Gujarat Titans, Kohli smashed 73 off 53 balls. Even in the last match, though he was dismissed at 25, he looked comfortable hitting the ball.

This is a good signal for RCB because their most important batter looks in good shape now, at a time when the team needed him the most. In today’s match, Virat Kohli will face the pace of Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna and the leg spin of Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin. It will be a tight battle between RR bowlers and Virat Kohli.

2. AN IN-FORM HARSHAL PATEL

In the last match against Lucknow, Harshal Patel bowled extremely well. At a point when it looked LSG might win the match needing just 54 off 24 balls, Harshal Patel dismissed Marcus Stoinis, who was batting well. Harshal Patel, however, did bowl some wide deliveries, but also got many dot balls. 
Harshal Patel and Josh Hazlewood kept the bowling tight and won the match for RCB, thereby eliminating Lucknow. 

3. THE NEW SURPRISE

RCB found their new star in Rajat Patidar in their last match against LSG. The right-handed batter from Madhya Pradesh smashed an unbeaten 112 off 54 balls, hitting 12 fours and seven sixes. He completely decimated the bowling of LSG, powering RCB to an impressive total of 207/4. 

He was a player who was ignored by even RCB in the IPL auctions 2022 and went unsold. He was later inducted into the team as a replacement for Luvnith Sisodia. After the match, Patidar got a standing ovation from the entire team including Virat Kohli, who seemed elated with the young chap’s performance. 

In today's match, Rajat Patidar will be a big challenge for the pacers of Rajasthan; especially Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna. That means, Rajasthan will need a definitive strategy today: getting Patidar dismissed early.