RCB Hope to Keep Top-Two Ambitions on Track After Long Break

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will look to keep their top-two ambitions on track when they face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their penultimate league game on Friday. The match will be played at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, a venue that has served up a mixed bag of conditions in the past.

RCB's Rusty Start

RCB will have to shake off the rust after a nearly 20-day break, during which they haven't taken the field. They will be up against an SRH side that has shown flashes of brilliance, beating some of the tournament's top teams on their day.

SRH's Struggles

SRH have struggled this season, with only four wins from 12 games. However, they have shown glimpses of their old self, beating some of the top teams. They will be looking to sign off with two more consolation victories.

Tactics and Matchups

RCB's Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be key to their bowling attack, especially against a team he represented for 11 years. SRH's Eshan Malinga has been impressive, taking nine wickets so far, including five with the fuller length delivery.

Probable XIs

RCB: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Salam, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma

SRH: Atharva Taide, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Kamindu Mendis, Aniket Verma, Nitish Reddy, Pat Cummins, Harshal Patel, Harsh Dubey, Zeeshan Ansari, Eshan Malinga