IPL 2017 Match Prediction RCB vs SRH

Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore – IPL 2017 Match Prediction

It’s time to get going with the 10th season of India’s biggest showpiece event – the Indian Premier League 2017. Yes! It’s finally here! Two months of glamour along with India’s most loved sport! It’s going to be that exciting time of the year when everything will be at stakes; you’ll see your favorite cricket stars in action and your favorite actors, actresses and super stars cheering for their favorite IPL teams. Entertainment guaranteed. Bet you!

The opening match of IPL 2017 will be contested between the two finalists of the last year – Sunrisers Hyderabad (the Defening champions) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (Runners-Up) of IPL 2016. Big names in both teams but injuries to Indian players because of a long Test season will result in a few players missing out in the season opener.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Strengths:

One of the most popular teams in the history of Indian Premier League – RCB have a batting line-up each and every bowling attack in the league would fear to bowl against. With the likes of Chris Gayle, Shane Watson, AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli, Kedar Jadhav – this is one of the most attacking batting line-up in the league. Earllier this year, RCB picked up the most expensive bowler in the history of IPL auctions that was Tymal Mills for a whopping 12 crore. An impactful bowler in the shortest format was missing in their ranks and after having Mills in their squad, they have strengtened their bowling unit to an extent.

Also, Pawan Negi who was the most expensive uncapped player in IPL 2016 is now with RCB. The all-rounder couldn’t contribute much in the previous season, so he’ll be looking to prove a point this time around and raring to go. Hence, presence of Pawan Negi and Tymal Mills along with Samuel Badree, Shane Watson, Tabraiz Shamzi and Yuzvendra Chahal in their team has taken the RCB bowling attack to the next level.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Weakness:

Injuries to their star players has been a big blow to RCB towards the start of IPL. KL Rahul won’t be available for the entire course of IPL 2017 and also has the injury to Sarfaraz Khan will be a big setback for the Challenegers. Skipper Kohli is about to miss the initial few games along with AB de Villiers to miss out on the season opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad. So, in the absence of these star players the team combination might face a few issues.

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Strengths:

The defending champions have all bases covered. A solid opening pair in the form of David Warer and Shikhar Dhawan, an equally strong middle order in the presence of Yuvraj Singh, Deepak Hooda, Moises Henriques and with the likes of Ashish Nehra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rashid Khan, Pravin Tambe and Mohammad Nabi in the bowling department, it looks a complete T20 unit.

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Weakness:

Being the defending champions of IPL, there will be that pressure of expectations to repeat their performances this year as well. When there are expectations from the team, you tend to succumb under that pressure sometimes. So, that’s the only thing that will bother the defending champions. Mustafizur Rahman who was one of their best bowlers last year and played a pivotal role in their victory might miss out on a few games.

PITCH Report:

The opening encounter will be played at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium in Hyderabad. The pitch assists spinners and SRH have few fine spin bowlers in their team. Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Pravin Tambe, Bipul Sharma and Yuvraj Singh. These bowlers would play an important role in the season opener and also they would be knowing the conditions better having played at this venue more than their opposition.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (Possible XI) –

Chris Gayle, Mandeep Singh, Shane Watson (Captain), Kedar Jadhav, Sachin Baby, Stuart Binny, Harshal Patel, Tymal Mills, Yuzvendra Chahal, Samuel Badree, Sreenath Aravind.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Possible XI) – David Warner (Capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Moises Henriques, Yuvraj Singh, Deepak Hooda, Naman Ojha, Ben Cutting, Rashid Khan, Ashish Nehra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Pravin Tambe.

Prediction and possible outcome – RCB will have major players like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers missing the opening game, that gives SRH a good chance to take down RCB in the absence of these two stars of Challengers. Sunrisers have a stronger bowling unit as compared to the previous year. Also, home conditions make it suitable for spinners to bowl against RCB batsmen. Sunrisers Hyderabad have the advantage going into the season opener, which makes them the favorite to win the first contest of IPL 2017.