RCB playing XI vs DC Super clash: Seeing the loss in their previous game as a blip, Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore will have to be at their best to beat a confident Delhi Capitals in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. Up against DC, RCB will need to address their No.3 conundrum. They will also have to put an end to using Washington Sundar as a stop-gap top-order option, to return to winning ways, in what could be touted as a battle of equals. The win would also mean Bangalore climb to the pole position in IPL 2021 points table.
RCB playing XI vs DC Super clash: No.3 slot big headache for Virat Kohli
The Challengers played Sundar at No.3 against Chennai, and tried doing what CSK have successfully done with Moeen Ali at No.3 position. Chennai, despite the likes of Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu in the side, have promoted Ali to third slot in the batting line-up. In four innings the England all-rounder has scored 144 runs and has kept the run-rate on the upper side. While the experiment worked for CSK, it has failed terribly for RCB.
Sundar, who showed his batting prowess during India’s red-ball series against Australia and England, failed to deliver against the new ball. He faced 11 deliveries and scored seven runs without posing any threat to CSK on Sunday. Furthermore, RCB for strange reasons has been trying to use the Karnataka-born in the top-order. In the opening game against Mumbai Indians (MI), he played as an opener with Kohli, in absence of Devdutt Paddikall. While he did show signs of resistance against the new ball, his inexperience in the role meant he was sent packing cheaply.
Besides Sundar, Bangalore have tried Rajat Patidar and Shahbaz Ahmed as their No.3 option. However, both failed to deliver, hence exposing the middle-order early in the match.
RCB playing XI vs DC Super clash: Who can play at No.3?
One possibility is to promote red-hot Glenn Maxwell at the No.3 spot, hence pushing each player one rank up. Barring a poor show against CSK, the Australian all-rounder has been in great touch this season. He has single-handedly been the deciding factor for RCB on various occasions this season. In five games, he has scored 198 runs and is amongst the frontrunners in IPL orange cap list.
With Kohli and (151 runs) and Padikkal (171 runs) as openers and Maxwell at No.3, AB de Villiers (129 runs) and the misfiring Sundar will have to perform in unison against a strong Delhi attack. Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium could be conducive for spinners. It would mean that Shahbaz Ahmed is likely to find a place in the playing XI in place of Navdeep Saini.
It is worth noting that Patidar might get another chance to prove his mettle, given his prowess in playing spin.
RCB playing XI vs DC Super clash:
Virat Kohli (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers (wk), Washington Sundar, Daniel Christian, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal