The Royal Challengers Bangalore, with five defeats in seven matches in IPL 2017, some of them horrible ones, cannot afford any more slipups, particularly at their home ground. Looking to inflict another big blow on RCB will be the Sunrisers Hyderabad, the team that beat them in the final last year and in the opening match of the Indian Premier League this season.
RCB and SRH have played some great matches over the years, and while this one comes around at around the mid-stage of the tournament, when all the noise levels and excitement usually gets turned down just a little, there is no more important match for the Royal Challengers Bangalore than this one.
Having made such a poor start in IPL 2017, RCB, basically, need to win six of their remaining seven matches to have a chance of finishing in the top four and making it to the playoffs.
The way they have been playing this season, that looks like an extremely tall order, but if anything would have jolted them back to reality and the need to play at a 100 per cent every ball, it would have been the last match.
Their bowlers did an outstanding job to bowl out a powerful KKR batting lineup for just 131. With the much-vaunted batting lineup that RCB have a win looked like a foregone conclusion, with the only question being how many overs they will need.
However, the likes of Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB De Villiers and Kedar Jadhav all failed with the bat and with the rest falling down like nine pins as well, RCB crashed to the lowest ever total in the IPL.
Putting together a perfect bowling and batting performance will be essential to top the Sunrisers Hyderabad on Tuesday.
While SRH have been formidable at home, winning all four of their matches, they have been underwhelming on their travels.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad have lost all three of their away matches so far, with the last one stolen from them thanks to some MS Dhoni brilliance.
David Warner will know his team needs to fire away from home soon, because they cannot keep banking on winning at home to get them into the playoffs.
Where and when to watch live
RCB vs SRH is scheduled for an 8pm IST (3.30pm BST) start.
Live Streaming and TV information for IPL 2017 Match 29:
India: TV: Sony Six, Sony Six HD, Sony Max, Sony ESPN, Sony ESPN HD and Sony Max. Live Streaming: Hotstar.
International: Live Streaming: Cricketgateway.
South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa: TV: SuperSport Two. Live Streaming: SuperSport Live Video.
Middle East: TV: OSN Sports Cricket HD. Live Streaming: OSN Play.
USA: TV: Willow TV. Live Streaming: Willow TV Online.
UK: TV: Sky Sports 2. Live Streaming: Watch Sky Sports.
