Venue: Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium, Pune
Time: 7:30 PM IST
Average score at venue (1st inns): 177
Win percentage while batting first: 50%
Pitch conditions:
- Batting first and putting a big total on board will be the key for the clash between Rajasthan and Bangalore — two teams who have the potential to make big scores and also have a long batting line-up in case they have to chase.
- The MCA Stadium in Pune has produced mixed results as far as defending and chasing is concerned. Out of the 6 matches played here so far, 3 have been defended successfully while the teams that were chasing won the rest.
- The pitch is expected to favour fast bowlers who have a strong record at this venue with a wicket-share percentage of 77.27%, compared to spin bowlers getting only 22.73% of the wickets.
Weather prediction:
There could be scattered clouds in the Balewadi area in Pune where this stadium is located. The city of Pune will witness a hot and humid day otherwise, with the temperature setting a high of 39°C in the afternoon, with the mercury dropping down to 32°C and little below that during the match hours on Tuesday evening. The humidity levels will range between 40 to 45%.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD (overall):
Matches played: 26
Bangalore won: 13
Rajasthan won: 10
No result: 3
Top 3 players from Bangalore: Faf du Plessis, Josh Hazlewood, Dinesh Karthik
Top 3 players from Rajasthan: Jos Buttler, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson
Top picks for H2H/WTA contest (top 5 players each):
Top 5 players from Bangalore: Faf du Plessis, Josh Hazlewood, Dinesh Karthik, Shahbaz Ahmed, Glenn Maxwell
Top 5 players from Rajasthan: Jos Buttler, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shimron Hetmyer
Q & A:
Fantasy tips and tricks: Should I pick more bowlers, batsmen or all-rounders?
The surface at the MCA Stadium in Pune has remained true to its nature — it has neither supported batsmen a lot nor has it favoured the bowlers of any kind. Out of the 6 matches played here, 3 have been won by teams defending and as many wins have been registered by teams chasing. Given the fact that it has also been difficult to put up scores around 200 at this venue, it will be right call to go ahead with additional batsmen and plenty of seam bowling options for making the fantasy cricket playing XI for this contest.
Fantasy tips: From which team should I pick more players in my XI? Which team is stronger?
Apart from the one match which Bangalore have played, there is not a lot that separates the numbers that these two teams have generated in this Indian T20 Cricket League 2022 tournament. Rajasthan sit pretty at the 3rd spot with 5 wins and 2 defeats from 7 matches, with a total of 10 points and a Net Run Rate (NRR) of 0.432. But in the case of Bangalore, who have played a total of 8 matches, have 5 victories and 3 defeats and a total of 10 points but their NRR needs a lot of improvement since it is currently at -0.472. However, in terms of skills, depth in the talent base and firepower across departments, both Bangalore and Rajasthan look evenly matched and the contest in Pune will be one to watch out for
MORE INFORMATION: Fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Trent Boult for Bangalore and Rajasthan respectively will hold the key on Tuesday night in Pune since they both have been among wickets of late and the pitch will suit their style of bowling. As far as batsmen are concerned, Bangalore have their share of trouble in the form of V Kohlii who has been out of form and would be feeling the heat as the tournament is now progressing towards its business end.
PLAYERS’ FORM: The former Bangalore captain V Kohlii has recorded two consecutive first-ball ducks sparking a lot of passionate debate in the cricketing fraternity regarding his performances, form and immediate future. V Kohlii hasn't looked really out of sorts as batsmen who are horribly out of form tend to look, but he has lacked conviction and confidence that remained his forte for a very long time. But this is a fickle format and fortunes do not take a lot of times to turn around — V Kohlii and his army might just have to wait for this bad phase to end. Rajasthan will expect their English wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler to continue firing on all cylinders, particularly with the support from other players such as Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer and Sanju Samson.
Changes in squad (if any): N
LIKELY XIs:
RAJASTHAN: Jos Buttler, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson (c&wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Karun Nair, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Obed McCoy, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal.
BANGALORE: Faf Du Plessis (c), Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Glenn Maxwell, V Kohlii, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shahbaz Ahmed, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Prabhudessai, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj.
FANTASY XI: Jos Buttler (c), Faf du Plessis, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Shahbaz Ahmed, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood (vc), Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna, Trent Boult.
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Rampant Rajasthan look to end losing streak against Bangalore
For the third-placed Rajasthan, the immediate task on Tuesday night at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune would be to end their losing streak against Bangalore, which has extended to five matches since the 2020 edition.
Interestingly, Bangalore have recorded wins while chasing in each of these five matches, which means that Rajasthan have a perfect opportunity to flex their batting muscle on Tuesday night in case they win the toss and elect to bat first.
And that would be a perfect recipe for success for Rajasthan against Bangalore given that their batsmen enjoy their time out in the middle in the first half of the game, and in the second half, their bowlers come to the party.
Each of the three centuries that Jos Buttler has scored this year have come batting first for Rajasthan, while all of Rajasthan's 5 wins from 7 matches so far have been recorded in matches wherein they batted first.
It is no secret that Rajasthan like to bat first but it is also no secret that Bangalore or perhaps the most dangerous side when it comes to chasing in this year’s Indian T20 Cricket League 2022.
The presence of dogged players such as Dinesh Karthik and Shahbaz Ahmed has not only delivered favourable results but has also helped Bangalore establish an aura of themselves that there is a lot to their batting even without runs from Faf du Plessis and V Kohlii.
While the incumbent Bangalore captain Du Plessis was able to manage his poor run of scores with the bat, the formal skipper V Kohlii has been struggling with his batting form hitting new lows every other match.
For that matter, the run machine that he has been, V Kohlii has scored two consecutive first-ball ducks, much to the dismay of his fans as well as his franchise. But V Kohlii and his legion of fans and Bangalore team management would want to cling on to hope that the batting maestro is able to turn around its fortunes and a big knock is just around the corner.
But the Bangalore batsmen will be under pressure on Tuesday night following their horrendous show with the bat against Hyderabad on April 23, wherein they were shot out for a mere 68 — sixth lowest total in the history — to suffer a 9-wicket defeat which was fourth biggest in teams of balls remaining (72).
Among the bowlers, Bangalore’s bowling line-up has been bolstered with the inclusion of Josh Hazlewood, while the Rajasthan side will rely on the likes of Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal and even Obed McCoy — who did not lose his composure in a tough and dramatic finish against Delhi a few nights ago.
