RCB vs RR Live Score, IPL 2020 Match Today: Onus on Uthappa, Lomror after RCB send back big guns early

RR 61/3 after nine overs

11 runs off Adam Zampa’s second over as Uthappa and Lomror continue to take Rajasthan Royals forward.

SIX! A slog sweep from Lomror clears the boundary easily

It’s an 84-metre long six for Mahipal Lomror. He’s welcomed Azam Zampa’s second over by tonking the ball over midwicket. As the fielders continue to search the ball, the strategic time out has been taken.

50 up for Rajasthan Royals

But the worrying part is that it’s come after eight overs. None the less, nothing better than rebuilding after regular losses of early wickets. This partnership between Uthappa and Lomror has reached 20 off 24 and it’s important for RR that these two bat out there longer.

Four! First boundary for Uthappa

Zampa gives the flight but Uthappa is on to it. Reached the pitch of the ball and sends it down the ground for his first four. Fine diving effort from Gurkeerat Singh at long-on but the ball comfortably stayed clear of him. RR 46/3 after 7 overs

RCB vs RR Live Score, IPL 2020: Kohli hands the ball to Zampa

More spin for RCB as Adam Zampa enters the bowling attack. The last 14 balls have accounted for 2 wickets and just eight runs. Extremely crucial for RR is this partnership but the bad news is that neither batsman is coming off on the back of much crease time.

Lomror, Uthappa cautious

The surface is already slowing up and Sundar and Chahal are slowing it even further. Robin Uthappa and Mahipal Lomror are circumspect. Uthappa trying to be a little adventurous with a few audacious sweep shots but no harm done so far. End of the Powerplay and RR are 38/3.

Chahal starts, well, finished the over equally well

Just two runs and a wicket off that over as RR reach 33/3 after 5 overs. It could have been a fourth wicket for RCB as Uthappa mistimed a shot, but the ball landed short of the diving fielder at mid-on.

RCB vs RR Live Score, IPL 2020: OUT! First-ball wicket for Chahal

RCB bring Yuzvendra Chahal and he immediately gets a wicket. Sanju Samson falls for 4. RR 31/3 in 4.1 overs

Wicket-maiden for Saini

Only the fourth of the IPL 2020 as Saini, after dismissing Jos Buttler, prevents Robin Uthappa from getting off the mark off his first five balls. Four overs gone, RR 31/2.

GONE! Saini takes out Buttler

What a wicket. First ball of the match and Saini has Jos Buttler out caught behind. Full, straight and quick. Buttler drives but the ball takes the outside edge and carries safely to Devdutt Padikkal at slips. The umpire double checks whether there was a bump along the way, but it was as clear as a crystal. RR 31/2 in 3.1 overs.

OUT! Smith plays on

It may have been an expensive over but Isuru Udana has gotten the prized wicket of Steve Smith. Short and wide outside off and Smith tries to cut the ball, only to chop it back onto the stumps. Once again, he gives it no pace and RCB have an early strike here. RR 27/1 after 2.4 overs.

Back-to-back boundaries for Buttler

Start of a new over and immediately, Buttler puts the pressure on Udana. First ball of the over, he takes the aerial route to clear the boundary comfortable. The next ball, he drops the pace but Buttler punishes the bad length for a second boundary on the trot.

And now a boundary to Buttler

Washington Sundar shares the new ball with Isuru Udana and he makes an early error. Bowls a quicker ball and Buttler is equally quick to spot the length and sweep the ball for the third boundary for RR. All three fours in the same area. Royals 16 without loss after 2 overs

FOUR! Second boundary already

Once again Udana strays on the pads and gets flicked for a boundary. Udana is already rolling his fingers to take the pace off the ball, but Smith, on that occasion was alert like a hawk. Two boundaries for him already in the first over. RR 9/0 after 1 over

RCB vs RR Live Score: FOUR! RR are away

Udana drifts the ball to Smith’s pads and the former Australia captain whips it away for his and his team’s first boundary. Just took the second ball of the innings for RR to send the ball away to the boundary.

Isuru Udana to open the bowling for RCB

Buttler and Smith will be facing the left-arm pace of Sri Lanka quick Isuru Udana, who starts by taking inducing an edge odd Smith’s bat.

An important trivia for Virat Kohli fans

Out of his five IPL centuries, three of Virat Kohli’s hundreds have come in a day game. Could today be the opportunity the RCB captain is looking for? These hot conditions promise to make Kohli feel like home, as the temperature in his home town Delhi, in summers, is pretty much in the same range as today.

First duel coming up – Navdeep Saini vs RR openers

You’ve got to give it to Navdeep Saini for his brilliant bowling and maintaining composure in the Super Over against the likes of Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya. That sort of performance must have Saini high on confidence. Against Jos Buttler and Steve Smith, it won’t be easy, but a good contest should certainly be up for grabs.

RCB vs RR Live Score: A look at RCB’s unchanged XI

Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli (Captain), AB de Villiers (Wicketkeeper), Shivam Dube, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Washington Sundar, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Adam Zampa, Yuzvendra Chahal

RR’s Playing XI

Jos Buttler (Wicketkeeper), Steven Smith (Captain), Sanju Samson, Robin Uthappa, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Tom Curran, Shreyas Gopal, Jofra Archer, Mahipal Lomror, Jaydev Unadkat

RCB are unchanged

So still no Chris Morris as Virat Kohli expectedly announces an unchanged RCB Playing XI. He did want to bat first in these hot and humid conditions though. “We wanted to bat first as it’s a day game, better to get into the game in the first six overs of the match,” Kohli said at the toss.

IPL 2020 Live Score: Rajasthan Royals team news

Only one change in the RR camp, as explained by skipper Steve Smith. Mahipal Lomror gets a game. He comes in for Ankit Rajput.

TOSS: Steve Smith wins toss, Rajasthan Royals opt to bat

Steve Smith has no hesitation. He has opted to bat after winning the toss against Kohli’s RCB

Who is Super V’s Kryptonite?

Rajasthan Royals leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal has dismissed Virat Kohli three times in three matches. And with just 18 runs from three matches, Gopal couldn’t have hoped for better timing to bowl at RCB captain. Can he make it four dismissals in four matches today, or will Kohli conquer his kryptonite and make it big?

How many rivalries in IPL get bigger than Kohli vs Smith?

In terms of individual rivalries, there aren’t many that get bigger than Virat Kohli vs Steve Smith. You can name Kohli vs Rohit, Kohli vs Rahul, Rahul vs Rohit, but when it comes to RCB vs RR, with Smith and Kohli set to lead opposition sides, the match just has that extra reason to be followed a little more.

Are RCB’s openers the best among all 8 franchises?

Devdutt Padikkal and Aaron Finch have been among the runs for RCB this season having scored 111 and 101 runs respectively. They are one of only two pair of openers this season to have scored 100 runs each.

RCB vs RR: Kohli vs Smith, Archer vs de Villiers…

These two battles are set to be the highlight of today’s game. The sight of a red-hot Archer steaming in to bowl to Mr 360, ABD, will be one to behold.

Interesting RCB nugget

RCB’s bowling at the death may have raised a few eyebrows, but when it comes to bowling in the Powerplay, they are right up there. The franchise has the 4th best economy in the Powerplay, of 7.39, which alarmingly shoots up to 15.70 in the death overs. What can RCB do to curb this?

The only batsman not be dismissed in the Powerplay this year?

Among all openers of the eight franchises, Aaron Finch is the only batsman who has not been dismissed inside the first six overs in the IPL 2020.

IPL 2020 Live, RCB vs RR: The importance of 82 runs for Virat Kohli

If he scores 82 runs against Rajasthan Royals today, RCB captain Virat Kohli will become the first Indian batsman to enter the 9000-run club in T20 cricket. Overall, he will become the seventh in the world.

RR’s bowling a concern?

Despite conceding over 200 runs in their first two games, the Rajasthan Royals are bound to fret over their bowlers, who have combined to pick up 14 wickets in three matches. It’s the second least by a team in IPL 2020.

What could RCB’s XI look like?

All-rounder Chris Morris is yet to get a game in the IPL due to his side strain, but as per reports, he seems to be recovering well. If the RCB management considers him fit to play, who do you think he will replace? Adam Zampa or Isuru Udana? Because rest assured, Finch and de Villiers are going nowhere.

Individual milestones up for grabs

– Provided he plays, Dale Steyn will need three dismissals to completing 100 wickets in IPL.

– English all-rounde Tom Curran is 43 runs runs away from 1000 T20s runs.

– Royals captain Steve Smith needs 3 sixes to completing 100 sixes in T20.

IPL 2020 Live Updates: Time for RR fans to rejoice?

Stokes on his way to the UAE?

Well, if the latest reports are to be believes, all-rounder Ben Stokes is on his way to the UAE from New Zealand and will join his Rajasthan Royals teammates on Sunday. Upon his arrival, Stokes will undergo a mandatory six-day quarantine.

How the last five games ended…

Rajasthan Royals have beaten Royal Challengers Bangalore three times in the last five matches, one of which was abandoned due to rain, which means only once has RCB gotten the better of RR in their previous five encounters.

Head-to-head record

Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore have played 20 IPL matches before this and RR enjoy a slight 10-8 advantage over RCB. Two games have finished in draws and one ended in no-result.

IPL 2020 Live Score, RCB vs RR: How will this rivalry pan out?

Remember the 2017 Border-Gavaskar Trophy? When things went out of control between Kohli and Smith? The brain-freeze, the excessive chirping, and the famous Smith impersonation from Ishant Sharma… It’s no secret that Virat Kohli and Steve Smith do not share the best of friendships. But having said that, it was quite something to see Kohli stand up for Smith when he got booed during the India-Australia World Cup match last year. Things may have mellowed a little but do not miss Kohli’s reaction if Smith loses his wicket today.

IPL 2020, RCB vs RR live score

Hello and welcome dear readers! The time has finally come. The IPL 2020 will host its first double-header, and to kick things off, we couldn’t have hoped for a fixture more exciting fixture than the one between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals. This will be the 15th match of the IPL 2020 and it will pit Virat Kohli against Steve Smith. How about that for a rivalry. So much history between these two men and the teams they’ll be leading would be eager to set the equation straight. In terms of points, there’s nothing to separate these two teams, but form wise, the edge may just go to the Royals. Who will emerge supreme today? Stay tuned, we’re getting closer to the action.