In a cannot-lose-this match for both teams, the key for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Mumbai Indians will be to get the team combination right. RCB host MI in an IPL 2016 game at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday that could have a big impact on the playoffs for this season.
While RCB are coming off a win, and a thrilling one at that, the Mumbai suffered a hammering at the hands of the Sunrisers Hyderabad in their previous match. So, MI's target will be to bounce back, while RCB's will be to keep the momentum going as they try and make a late charge for the playoffs.
As exciting a win as it was in Mohali, Virat Kohli will know his bowlers leaked far too many easy runs. In a match where RCB would have probably come up trumps had they bowled to their plans, there were just a little too many bad balls for comfort, most of them put away by the excellent Murali Vijay.
Chris Jordan, who, to his credit, held his nerve in the final over, was one of the main culprits in that regard, with the Englishman going for 52 runs in his four overs in the previous match, having gone for over ten an over on his debut as well. Jordan was supposed to be the answer to RCB's death over worries, but the England international has struggled. If Kohli thinks the struggle means dropping him to the bench for Tabraiz Shamsi or not remains to be seen.
The other change that RCB might consider making is bringing Chris Gayle back. The left-hander has sat out the last two matches, owing to KL Rahul's form at the top alongside the skipper Kohli. However, with Travis Head hardly getting any quality opportunities in the middle order, it might be time for Gayle to return. On a ground where sixes are usually the order of the day, Gayle might just be what RCB need to get over the line and stay on course for the playoffs.
Kohli, though, could also think, since the batting has not been a problem, and with AB De Villiers and Shane Watson already there to smash those sixes, there is no need to fix something that isn't necessarily broken.
The Mumbai Indians might also consider making a change to the top of their order. Having gone down with a whimper in the last match against SRH, Rohit Sharma and Ricky Ponting might consider finding a place for Martin Guptill and/or Corey Anderson. The problem, though, is who will make way?
Jos Buttler has blown hot and cold in his first IPL season, but at a small ground like the Chinnaswamy, his big-hitting and match-winning skills could be the difference between victory and defeat. While Tim Southee has bowled exceptionally well for the Mumbai Indians this season, keeping him on the bench for a match that will have plenty of runs scored anyway might not be a bad idea, with one of Guptill or Anderson, yet to play a single game in IPL 2016, coming in.
Expected playing XI: RCB: Chris Gayle, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (C), AB De Villiers, Shane Watson, Sachin Baby, Stuart Binny, Chris Jordan, Iqbal Abdulla, Varun Aaron, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Parthiv Patel, Ambati Rayudu, Jos Buttler, Corey Anderson, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Harbhajan Singh, Mitchell McClenaghan, Jasprit Bumrah.
