Both teams have won only one match in their four games so far in the 2017 Indian Premier League season and both have big guns, who are out of form. However, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rising Pune Supergiant have another opportunity to get back to winning ways as they go head-to-head at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday.
The focus will also be the rivalry between the two skippers, Virat Kohli and Steve Smith, as they were involved in on-field altercations during the fiercely-fought India-Australia Test series earlier this year.
The hosts were once again let down by their batsmen with only fit-again Kohli slamming a half-century to post 142 on the board in Friday's game against Mumbai Indians. Despite Samuel Badree picking up a hat-trick to decimate the opposition's' top-order, Kieron Pollard's 47-ball 70 helped his team clinch a remarkable win.
Chris Gayle's form at the top of the order has been a big concern and the misfiring all-rounder needs to go big if RCB is to dominate today. The onus will once again be on Badree and Yuzvendra Chahal to deliver for the hosts but a brief spell of showers earlier this evening might make it difficult for the spinners.
RPS will be better served if wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni finds from today and Smith would want better contributions from opening batsman Ajinkya Rahane and marquee player Ben Stokes as well.
Dew is likely to be a big factor in today's evening clash and both teams would want to bowl first. With only Imran Tahir consistently performing with the ball, the visitors' need young bowlers of the likes of Shardul Thakur and Rahul Chahar to deliver if they are to stand a chance of ending their losing streak.
Team News
RCB
Possible XI: Kohli (c), Gayle, De Villiers, Jadhav (wk), Negi, Mandeep, Binny, Mills, Aravind, Chahal, Badree
RPS
Possible XI: Smith (c), Rahane, Tripathi, Stokes, Dhoni (wk), Tiwary, Ankit, Shardul, Ferguson, Chahar, Tahir
