Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey

IPL 2021 Match 43: RR vs RCB Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | RR vs RCB Dream11 Prediction Today | Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report

Rajasthan Royals have promised a lot. Even their talented but often frustrating captain Sanju Samson is in the runs, and is right in contention for the Orange Cap.

However, as has often been the case in recent years, the Royals haven’t quite been able to go to the next level. Their last defeat – to bottom-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad – was particularly disappointing and potentially very costly after a poor batting performance vs Delhi Capitals over the weekend.

Now, it’s desperation time. Both KKR and MI picked up excellent victories yesterday to leave the Royals with a must-win game today to go level and stay in realistic contention. Not only will skipper Samson need to continue his dsearch for consistency, but more is required from the likes of Evin Lewis, Liam Livingstone and Chris Morris.

And the task won’t be easy today. Royal Challengers Bangalore are back in the winners’ circle after a comprehensive, dominant victory over the Mumbai Indians. While their finishing still leaves a bit to be desired, which is remarkable given the presence of AB de Villiers, their bowling looks in good touch. Virat Kohli’s men will be looking to build on a strong performance and take an important step towards a top two finish.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Rajasthan Royals:

• Sanju Samson produced a memorable knock of 92 vs RCB a few years ago. However, it has often been lean pickings for Samson vs RCB, with an overall record that reads: 11 inns, 241 runs, avg. 24.10, SR 154.49.
• However, Samson is in some fine touch currently, with scores of 70* and 82 in his last two matches. He is currently the second-highest run-scorer in IPL 2021, with 433 at an average of 45.40 and strike rate of 130.45.
• Yashasvi Jaiswal has looked in decent touch in the UAE leg, with scores of 49 (36), 5 (4), and 36 (23). Can he carry on and make another 30+ score today at a good rate?
• More is expected of Evin Lewis and Liam Livingstone. Lewis has played one match vs RCB, making a score of 65 at a strike rate of 154.76. Livingstone has had a poor UAE leg, but is capable of producing the goods given he is having a magnificent year in T20s: 35 inns, 1,243 runs, avg. 41.43, SR 156.
• Chris Morris has taken just the one wicket for RR against RCB, at an average of 102 and economy rate of 10.30. Overall in his career vs RCB, Morris has taken 10 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 31.70 and strike rate of 21. With the bat, he averages just 12.75 vs RCB. Can he improve on these numbers here?
• Mustafizur Rahman has taken 2/22 and 1/26 in his last two matches. He will be key in enabling RR to find wickets against RCB.

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

• Virat Kohli is coming off consecutive half-centuries, and has scored 72*, 43 and 72* in his last three knocks vs Rajasthan Royals. He has the most runs of any player in RR-RCB matches, with 554 at an average of 30.78 and strike rate of 116.39.
• Devdutt Padikkal smashed a century vs the Royals earlier in 2021 (101* off 52 balls). He has a century and half-century in three matches vs Royals (199 runs, avg. 99.50), and has two fifties in eight matches at Dubai.
• Glenn Maxwell produced a superb all-round performance in the last game vs MI. He scored 56 (37) and took 2/23 on this ground. Against the Royals, Maxwell has hit 161 runs at an average of 26.83 and strike rate of 153.33 in eight matches.
• AB de Villiers is yet to fire in the UAE leg of IPL 2021. However, today could be the day if he gets some time at the crease as he has a terrific record against RR: 15 inns, 484 runs, avg. 44.00, SR 160.80.
• Also, ABD has a fine record at Dubai, with 310 runs in 10 innings at an average of 44.29 and strike rate of 149.76.
• Harshal Patel is coming off a brilliant hat-trick against MI. The Purple Cap holder has 23 wickets this season, of which 15 have come via the slower ball. He took 3/47 vs RR earlier this season.
• Yuzvendra Chahal has been brilliant in phase two of IPL 2021. Since being left out of India’s T20 World Cup squad, Chahal has taken figures of 1/23, 1/26 and 3/11. Against RR, Chahal has taken 16 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 14.19 and strike rate of 13.69.
• At Dubai, Chahal has 16 wickets to his name in 10 matches at an average of 16.31 and strike rate of 14.63.

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 24, RR 10, RCB 11, N/R 3.
• RCB thumped RR by 10 wickets earlier this season, with Devdutt Padikkal (101*) and Virat Kohli (72*) obliterating the bowling attack to chase 179 with ease.
• Mahipal Lomror is one to watch here. He is striking at 131.88 in three innings so far in IPL 2021 (91 runs), and could be utilised in the powerplay once again with the ball.
• Chris Morris is yet to take a wicket in the UAE leg of IPL 2021 (0/47 and 0/27).
• Mohammed Siraj took 3/27 against RR earlier this season.

Possible Playing 11

Rajasthan Royals: 1. Evin Lewis, 2. Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3. Sanju Samson (c), 4. Liam Livingstone/David Miller, 5. Mahipal Lomror, 6. Riyan Parag, 7. Rahul Tewatia, 8. Chris Morris, 9. Chetan Sakariya, 10. Kartik Tyagi/Jaydev Unadkat, 11. Mustafizur Rahman

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 1. Virat Kohli (c), 2. Devdutt Paddikal, 3. Srikar Bharat (wk), 4. Glenn Maxwell, 5. AB de Villiers, 6. Dan Christian/Wanindu Hasaranga, 7. Shahbaz Ahmed, 8. Kyle Jamieson, 9. Harshal Patel, 10. Yuzvendra Chahal, 11. Mohammed Siraj

Dubai Pitch Report and Weather

The average first innings score at Dubai in IPL 2021 is 160.8 in five matches. The team batting first has won three of the five matches on this ground this season, following on from 15 out of 26 games last season.

Two nights ago, Sunrisers chased the Royals’ 164 with ease on a good batting surface. The Dubai surface has looked the best batting pitch out of the three grounds in IPL 2021, so a score in the region of 165-170 is important for the team batting first.

The forecast is for more clear and warm weather.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?

Match Prediction

RCB have an excellent recent record vs RR, and look good to win here as well.