Ben Stokes and Steven Smith have been the unlikely partners of Jos Buttler at the top, with Uthappa still hanging in the middle-order for the Rajasthan Royals.
With just 3 wins in 8 games and a dismal net-run-rate, the Royals are placed seventh on the points table. Two of those wins came in their first two games.
Rajasthan would be happy with Jofra Archer's brilliance with the ball, and Kartik Tyagi turning up as the perfect partner for him in the death overs.
But it all boils down to the feeble performances from the middle order, and Steven Smith's tactics at the top, which have been surprising at best.
The Royal Challengers Bangalore however, have had a dream run in the first-half of the IPL and are comfortably placed at number 3 in the table. The dominance they have shown in the first-half is very unlike them. And to make matters worse for the opponents, Virat Kohli has gotten back in his groove.
RR have a tough task ahead if they want to overcome the Royal Challenge of the Bangalore based franchisee. The first and foremost is the need to rejig their middle order to figure out what serves them the best. Also, Steven Smith needs to play to his strength and hold the innings together. Attacking from the word go is something he has tried enough already and it hasn't worked too well for him, understandably because that is not the kind of batsman he is.
Do we finally get to see Uthappa at the top and Stoked strengthening the feeble middle order, remains to be seen!
Bangalore have a set script that can work for them as long as they don't try too much experimentation like the last game. Ab de Villiers needn't be demoted and shielded from any bowlers, plain and simple.
Both the teams are unlikely to make any changes to their playing elevens.
Likely 11s:
RR: Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk), Steven Smith (c), Sanju Samson, Robin Uthappa, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat, Kartik Tyagi
RCB: Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers (wk), Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal
