The top half of the IPL 2022 standings are quite cramped and teams are very closely bunched together. This next match is being played by two teams that are in that top half and so the result of this match would carry a lot of significance. We are talking about the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR).

RCB was not only beaten but embarrassed in the previous match as it was bowled out for 68 by SRH. It now has five wins from eight matches and is fifth in the standings. RR, on the other hand, won a very high-scoring match against DC thanks to another Buttler century this season. They have five wins from seven matches and are third in the standings.

IPL betting sites do not seem to be able to distinguish between the two teams and are offering the same odds for both of them to win.

Match prediction and IPL betting tips for RCB vs RR IPL 2022. The match is going to be played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on the 26th of April 2022.

RCB VS RR TEAM PREVIEWS

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE

RCB would want to forget its previous match like a bad dream and just hope to quickly move on. A complete batting failure saw the team being bowled out for 68 and they had no chance of defending that. The problems at the top of the order continued for RCB as Anuj Rawat and Virat Kohli struggled massively.

There is no question of Kohli being dropped but we think Rawat may be replaced in the playing eleven. Either way, it is clear that RCB’s top order needs some runs and without the middle-order bailing it out, we could see another collapse.

Surprisingly, the betting markets for Virat Kohli do not seem to change much and you could bet against him to try and profit off of his terrible run of form.

Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik, and Shahbaz Ahmed are the three batters that stood out for RCB in the middle. We think betting on Maxwell to score some runs in this match is not a bad idea.

RCB’s batting is vulnerable and it is also going to be up against two quality spinners on a surface that always offers them a bit of help.

RCB’s bowling has been its strength this season and has allowed it to defend par or even below-par totals a couple of times. The boundaries in Pune are larger than what we see at the Wankhede or DY Patil Stadium so their fast-bowlers could use the short balls effectively.

Harshal Patel, Josh Hazelwood, and Wanindu Hasaranga should be a handful to face here. The challenge for them is going to be finding a way to get past the in-form batting lineup of the Rajasthan Royals.

RAJASTHAN ROYALS

RR has been the most impressive team of IPL 2022 so far. It has been led by Jos Buttler who has three centuries this season already and is just batting at a whole different level right now. Even the other batters in the lineup like Sanju Samson, Shimron Hetmyer, or Devdutt Padikkal have been in excellent form.

We also think that adding Karun Nair to the lineup with Riyan Parag for support is a good move. It just adds a bit of much-needed depth to the lineup. In terms of batting strength, it is difficult to find a team that has performed better than RR in IPL 2022.

We would bet on them to hit more fours and more sixes in most matches in their current form.

Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin, and Prasidh Krishna were already a part of a dominant bowling setup but we think the addition of Obed McCoy has made the lineup even stronger. We have not yet seen the best of McCoy who is very good with his slower balls and cutters.

Yuzendra Chahal is the obvious choice for the Top Bowler Rajasthan Royals betting market but does not sleep on Trent Boult either. He would be eying a couple of early scalps as well.

MATCH DETAILS:

Match: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals, Match 39, IPL 2022
Venue: MCA Stadium, Pune
Date & Time: April 26, 7:30 PM

PITCH REPORT

It has been quite a while since the last game between CSK and GT took place at the MCA Stadium. Any score above 170 is going to be tough for the team batting second, however, the captain that wins the toss will be tempted to bowl first considering the dew factor.

PROBABLE PLAYING XI FOR RCB VS RR

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE

Faf du Plessis (c), Anuj Rawat/Mahipal Lomror, Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Suyash Prabhudessai, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Josh Hazlewood, Mohammed Siraj

RAJASTHAN ROYALS

Jos Buttler, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Karun Nair, Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Obed McCoy/Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal

PROBABLE TOP PERFORMERS

PROBABLE BEST BATTER OF THE MATCH: JOS BUTTLER

With the kind of form he has been in, Jos Buttler will consider playing yet another match-winning knock for his side. The right-hander has already notched up three centuries this season and he has been quite unstoppable so far in the tournament. He accelerated well after a slow start in the previous game and RR will be hoping he stays in the crease for long.

PROBABLE BEST BOWLER OF THE MATCH: YUZVENDRA CHAHAL

Yuzvendra Chahal produced a master class of spin bowling in the previous game when the ball was relatively wet and it was hard for the bowlers to grip. The leggie continued his impressive form and finished with 1 for 28 in his 4-over spell in a high-scoring game. He is the current Purple Cap holder as well with 18 wickets to his name in seven games.

Today’s match prediction: Rajasthan Royals to win the match.