MI vs RCB IPL 2019 preview: Resurgent RCB face Mumbai challenge

RCB has won a game finally in IPL 2019. But the question is can they prove it wasn’t a fluke? Virat Kohli and his men will be pumped up after their performance in the last game but to tackle Mumbai they need a more disciplined effort.

On the other hand, Mumbai have reached a stage where their erratic show should start worrying them. Despite a strong team they have failed to string a winning combination.

Can they get back to winning ways by toppling a struggling RCB?

Venue: 

The pitch at Wankhede stadium has supported the batsmen which means no score is safe as long as teams are loaded with batting firepower.

Challengers! Is your Bold spirit ready for tomorrow? Get ready to shout out loud for our RCB! And remember – Yeney barali, RCB! Yaare Barali, RCB!#PlayBoldhttps://t.co/Ac8mrwOyF0

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) April 14, 2019

Form guide:

Virat Kohli and ABD look in good touch for RCB but they will want their other batsmen to make a big contribution. The form of the pacers is still a worry however Saini has breathed fresh air in the camp.

de Kock has played a big knock but Mumbai is still waiting for Rohit Sharma to hit big. The number four batsman is a headache too while the absence of a quality spinner is hurting the side.

Key numbers:

• In head to head battles, Mumbai has clear advantage. In 26 matches between the two sides, Mumbai has won 17. Infact in the last seven meetings, RCB has won only once.

• At Wankhede too Mumbai have dominated RCB. Mumbai have won five matches out of the eight played at this venue.

Players in focus:

In seven matches in the Indian Premier League season 12 so far, Hardik Pandya has faced just 81 balls but has made a massive impact thanks to his fearless ball striking. His strike rate in IPL 2019 is 183.95, his best in all IPL seasons and he has struck 11 sixes, a ratio of a six every 7.36 balls.

RCB has struggled in death overs so far in 2019 and Pandya can be the ideal player to make the most of this weakness.

Virat Kohli scored a gritty 67 run knock in the last game that showcased his form. Depsite RCB struggling in IPL 2019, Kohli averages 38.57, a slightly above his career average and has two fifties as well.

He has amassed 675 runs against Mumbai, the most by any batsmen from both teams. So we can be in for a Kohli special treat on April 15.