RCB vs MI IPL 2019 Preview: Can Bangalore overcome Mumbai’s batting might?

Two batting heavy teams. Short boundaries and batting-friendly surface. Its obvious that the RCB vs MI match in IPL 2019 will see plenty of runs but the bigger question is can these teams fix the gaping holes that exist in their line-ups?

Both RCB and MI were drubbed in their first matches and hence both sides will be itching to register their first win of IPL season 12.

Venue:

The Bangalore stadium features short boundaries so chasing is considered easier. And its a no brainer that this could well be a big scoring match.

Form Guide:

Both teams have played only one match. So there is little to draw conclusions from.

RCB must be furious the way they lost their first match of the tournament. Their batting was in shambles and Kohli would want to ensure that its not the same old story again for RCB.

Mumbai on the other hand would want to focus on their death bowling. They conceded 99 runs off the last six overs against DC and the team would want some improvement in this area.

Key Numbers:

• Mumbai have dominated Bangalore so far. The record of 16-9 is heavily in favour of Mumbai.

• The last time the two sides locked horns against each other, RCB emerged victorious courtesy of  a Tim Southee special. But the five encounters before that have all been won by Mumbai.

• In 2018, RCB won only two games at their home venue. This is one area, Kohli will surely want to work on in 2019.

Players in focus:

Rohit Sharma, the Mumbai Indians’ skipper had his worst IPL year in 2018. With just 286 runs at an average of 23.82, Rohit failed to make any impact. And in 2019 he has started with just 14 runs in the first match.

Can the Mumbai Indians’ captain make this match count as the short boundaries at Bangalore suit his batting style?

In international T20 games, ABD averages 23.71 against left-arm spin and has seven dismissals. With Krunal Pandya in the opposite camp, this should be an interesting contest.

Meanwhile, Colin Grandhomme,  RCB’s other middle-order batsman, averages a  paltry 14.90 against spin bowling in international cricket and he averages below three against left-arm spin. So Krunal might play a big role in RCB’s middle overs.