Having won three of their last four fixtures, Steve Smith-led Team Rajasthan will look to carry on the momentum as they face Virat Kohli’s Team Bengaluru at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
Bengaluru have nothing to lose, given that their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs went down the drain following their 16-run defeat to Team Delhi over the weekend. Rajasthan, on the other hand, still have a slim chance of progressing, and one can expect them to go all guns blazing.
Bengaluru and Rajasthan, who sit eight and seventh in the league respectively, have always given each other a run for their money, with the former winning eight of their 19 encounters, while the latter winning 10.
Here’s a look at who should be your top pick for the game.
Batsman: Virat Kohli
AFP / Sajjad Hussain
Virat Kohli along with AB de Villiers and Parthiv Patel has been carrying Bengaluru’s batting contingent this season and expect this game to be no different. Furthermore, while he suggested his team will be looking to have fun for the rest of the fixtures after the Delhi game, the skipper will be vying for a personal record of the Indian T20 League.
Kohli needs just 77 runs to reach the 500-run mark in the season and if he does so, he will become the first player in the history of the tournament to score 500 (or more) runs in six different additions. As of now, he is tied with Hyderabad’s David Warner (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019).
All-rounder: Marcus Stoinis
AFP / Manjunath Kiran
Stoinis, since his arrival, has terrorized several bowling attacks of the league and his recent batting figures are the perfect specimen of it. The Aussie all-rounder, in nine games this season, has scored 211 runs at the average of 70.33. Coming down the order, he hits the bowlers at every end of the park.
His bowling might be a little shy, but his overall capabilities are sure to land you added bonus points.
Bowler: Yuzvendra Chahal
AFP / Sajjad Hussain
Running in contention for the purple cap, Yuzvendra Chahal has been a trusted deputy of Virat Kohli this season. And just like his skipper, he is running for a personal milestone to achieve as he only needs two wickets to complete his 100-wicket tally in the Indian T20 League. And he if achieves the feat, he will become the 11th Indian to do so.
With his artistry with the ball working to almost perfection, expect him to make a telling impact for his team.
