Last Updated on 3 weeks by Charbel Coorey

RR vs RCB Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 13 | RR vs BLR Dream11 Prediction Today | Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore | Wankhede Pitch Report

A Royal night awaits at the Wankhede. Rajasthan Royals, who have been outstanding so far in IPL 2022, will be looking to keep the momentum going against a Royal Challengers Bangalore side still seeking a full performance.

Before Gujarat beat Delhi on Saturday, the Royals were the only team to successfully defend a target in this edition. They have done so twice. Their experienced attack has gelled well, with Lasith Malinga’s clarity of thought and clear instructions working well for the bowling group.

Also, the form of Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson in particular is cause for huge optimism. These are the two whom Jimmy Neesham, in an exclusive interview with CricBlog last week, pointed out as players he was looking forward to playing and training with. Buttler is coming off a magnificent century and will be after a similar performance here to set the tone for a confident Royals’ lineup.

So, it’s a good test for RCB. They have had two contrasting matches so far in IPL 2022, where they failed to defend 200+ and then just survived a scare to chase down a paltry 129 set by KKR. Much does seem to depend on their top order to perform, so if the top three can set a platform, they can look forward to a big score. Also, the bowling attack is capable of making inroads given the quality on paper, so their battle with the in-form Royals should be a beauty.

Possible Playing 11

The Royals are looking settled. One change they could make is Saini out for Neesham as the Kiwi can offer more with the bat.

Also, expect the Royals to persist with Riyan Parag. Last week, Sanju Samson said this could be a breakthrough year for the youngster, and then Jimmy Neesham also called him a “very talented batsman”.

Rajasthan Royals: 1. Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2. Jos Buttler, 3. Devdutt Padikkal, 4. Sanju Samson (c & wk), 5. Shimron Hetmyer, 6. Riyan Parag, 7. Jimmy Neesham/Navdeep Saini, 8. R Ashwin, 9. Trent Boult, 10. Prasidh Krishna, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal

Josh Hazlewood is reportedly available for this match, but RCB could look to stick with the same overseas players. Glenn Maxwell will be available for the April 9 match vs Mumbai.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 1. Faf du Plessis (c), 2. Anuj Rawat, 3. Virat Kohli, 4. Dinesh Karthik (wk), 5. Sherfane Rutherford, 6. Shahbaz Ahmed, 7. Wanindu Hasaranga, 8. Harshal Patel, 9. David Willey/Josh Hazlewood, 10. Mohammed Siraj, 11. Akash Deep

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Rajasthan Royals:

• What a magnificent performance it was by Jos Buttler vs Mumbai on Saturday. The Englishman struck an imperious 68-ball 100 to sit atop the run-scoring chart for IPL 2022 (135, SR 140.62).
• Since 2018, Buttler has struck 136 runs in five innings vs RCB at an average of 27.20 and strike rate of 133.33. Also, he has 20 matches of T20 experience at the Wankhede, where he has scored 543 runs at an average of 30.17 and strike rate of 147.55.
• Can Sanju Samson turn around a modest record vs RCB? The RR skipper has scored 260 runs in 12 matches at an average of 23.64, which includes one score of 92 a few years ago.
• Like Buttler, Samson is in great form currently (55 off 27 and 30 off 21 in IPL 2022), and has experience at the Wankhede: 19 inns, 568 runs, avg. 31.56, SR 143.80.
• Yashasvi Jaiswal looked good against RCB’s attack last season. He struck 31 off 22 balls with three fours and two sixes. Can he produce the goods today?
• Shimron Hetmyer has smashed 67 runs at a strike rate of 248.14 so far this season. This comes after he struck at nearly 170 in IPL 2021.
• Yuzvendra Chahal will come up against the franchise whom he served so well for a number of years. The classy leg-spinner has taken the most wickets of any spinner since the start of IPL 2021 (23). This includes a superb 2/26 vs MI, where he was denied a hat-trick by a dropped catch.
• Trent Boult has a strong record vs RCB, with 11 wickets in seven matches. He strikes every 15 deliveries against them. Also, he has a terrific record against du Plessis in T20s: 48 deliveries bowled, 39 runs conceded, three dismissals.

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

• Getting through the powerplay will be key for Faf du Plessis, as he did against Punjab Kings earlier this season where he smashed 88 off 53 balls. He has a good record at the Wankhede, with 479 runs in 15 matches at an average of 39.92 and strike rate of 130.52.
• Virat Kohli has the most runs in RR-RCB matches (579), including 72* at the Wankhede last season, albeit against a very different Royals attack. However, Kohli has some good numbers against the current Royals bowlers, including Ashwin (average of 162 in 20 innings), as well as Boult and Krishna (strike rate of over 140 against them).
• Dinesh Karthik’s 46 runs in IPL 2022 have come at a strike rate of 219.04. He has scored 23 off 15 balls vs Boult in the IPL (one dismissal), 75 off 57 vs Ashwin (one dismissal) and 14 runs off 12 balls vs Saini (one dismissal). Key player.
• Wanindu Hasaranga produced his best performance in the IPL last match vs KKR. He took 4/20, with all four of his wickets coming between overs 7-16. The Royals’ run rate is over 10 in this period in this IPL so far, so Hasaranga’s battle with RR’s big hitters should make for some great viewing.
• Hasaranga has a brilliant record against Samson in T20s. He has dismissed him three times in just 11 balls.
• Mohammed Siraj took 3/27 vs Royals on this ground this season, which included the wicket of Jos Buttler. Also, Siraj has a good record against Sanju Samson in the IPL: 15 balls bowled, 20 runs conceded, two dismissals.
• Harshal Patel was outstanding last match against KKR. He bowled two wicket maidens in the match to finish with 2/11. He took six wickets in two matches vs Royals last season (3/47, 3/34), and he will be key at the death here.

Other Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 25, RR 10, RCB 12, N/R 3.
• Wanindu Hasaranga vs Jos Buttler could be a key battle. Buttler has faced 23 deliveries from Hasaranga in T20s and is yet to hit a boundary. Also, Buttler’s strike rate vs wristspin (131, avg. 28) is his lowest against any bowling type in the IPL.
• Yuzvendra Chahal could be key against Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli. Du Plessis strikes at just 114 vs wristspin in the IPL, while Kohli is only slightly better at 116. However, both average well against wristspin (du Plessis 51, Kohli 46).
• Virat Kohli has struck scores of 72*, 43, 72* and 25 in his last four matches vs Royals.
• Devdutt Padikkal struck an unbeaten century on this ground for RCB against Royals last season.

Wankhede Stadium Mumbai Pitch Report and Weather

Powerplay bowlers have had a good time at the Wankhede so far this season. A total of 13 wickets have fallen in the powerplay in three matches on this ground so far in IPL 2022 (avg. 2.17 per match).

The average first innings score is just 142 so far at the Wankhede in IPL 2022. The chasing team has won all three matches. Another clear and warm evening is forecast, with dew likely.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article as well as your own instincts to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

• Wicket-keepers: Jos Buttler
• Batsmen: Virat Kohli, Shimron Hetmyer
• All-rounders: Wanindu Hasaranga
• Bowlers: Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harshal Patel

Match Prediction

This should be a cracker. If the team batting first can have a good powerplay, it can set them up for a good score. A score in the region of 170 can be a tough chase with teams now starting to win while bowling second in IPL.

Royals start as favourites.