FANTASY
Follow UsAfter beating fellow top-four contenders in their previous matches, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings will lock horns in Match 48 of the IPL 2021 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. RCB, with 14 points from 11 matches are in a better position to qualify while Punjab will hope for a big win which can give them an advantage in terms of run rate.
IPL head-to-head
Overall matches:
29 | MI - 16 wins | DC - 13 wins
Last five matches:
PBKS - 3 wins | RCB - 2 wins
Suggested team
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.
Ground details
Sharjah has stood out among all the three venues in the second leg. With slow surfaces on the offer, batting has proven to be a difficult job as the likes of SRH, KKR, CSK have all struggled to chase a target below 140. CSK fared better than most other teams as they looked comfortable chasing 135 for major part before losing a flurry of wickets at the end before getting over the line. Bowlers who can control pace variations are going to be the key at the venue. Pacers have bowled more overs and gotten more than 70% of the wickets this season, but spinners are crucial in the powerplay. It is good to go with two all-rounders and three frontline pacers in your team.
Captain
Harshal Patel has been sensational since the start of IPL 2021, picking up wickets across different surfaces and foxing the batsmen with his cutters and back of the hand deliveries. The Purple Cap holder has conceded 53 runs against Punjab in the first leg, but there isn't much to suggest a repeat as the pacer has claimed 7 wickets in the last two matches.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Patel could pick 2-3 wickets in this match.
X-Factors
Glenn Maxwell has been pivotal to RCB's resurgence in the second leg as the Australian scored scintillating innings against Mumbai and Rajasthan at a strike rate of above 135. He is also handy with the ball picking up key wickets in the Powerplay and middle overs.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Maxwell could score 17-25 runs and pick 0-1 wickets in this match.
KL Rahul has been sensational form this season scoring 489 runs in 11 matches which has proven to be the strength and weakness of Punjab's batting. The Punjab skipper will once again be the key if they are to challenge for a top-four finish against fellow competitors.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Rahul could score 28-42 run in this match.
Shahrukh Khan announced his return to the playing XI with a match-winning 22 off 9 balls against KKR. Punjab will bank on his finishing abilities in the death overs as he had done it previously in the season against CSK and SRH.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Nortje could pick 2-3 wickets in this match.
