RCB vs RR: Bengaluru banking on batters to fire against wounded Royals

After being asked to bat first, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will be desperate to reclaim their momentum in IPL 2025 as they return to Bengaluru where their campaign has surprisingly faltered. They face a similarly struggling Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Thursday, with both sides looking to reignite their seasons.

Despite impressive performances on the road, RCB`s home form has been a paradox, having suffered defeats in all three of their matches at the Chinnaswamy. A venue once considered their fortress has turned into a source of concern, with both their batting and bowling units appearing out of sync. Their batters have lacked the usual aggression and fluency, while the bowlers have struggled to find the right lengths on a surface known for its batting-friendly nature.

In a bid to maintain continuity, RCB has opted to stick with their playing XI, showing faith in their current squad to turn things around. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals have made a change, bringing in left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi in place of spinner Maheesh Theekshana, likely in response to the pitch and match-up strategies.

The Royals, however, face a leadership crisis with skipper Sanju Samson sidelined due to an abdominal injury. He had also missed the previous clash against Delhi Capitals, and his absence has once again thrust Riyan Parag into the role of captain. The young all-rounder will be tasked with steadying a team that currently sits eighth on the points table with only four points from eight games.

Despite their poor standing, RR`s batting lineup has shown glimpses of promise. Yashasvi Jaiswal has found some rhythm at the top, while Riyan Parag himself has played a few mature innings. Shimron Hetmyer and Nitish Rana have chipped in with important cameos, although consistency has eluded the unit as a whole.

RCB vs RR, IPL 2025: Teams

RCB: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (capt), Romario Shepherd, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal.

RR: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubham Dubey, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag (capt), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande