IPL 2020, RCB vs SRH preview: Virat Kohli begins hunt for elusive title

Both teams possess dangerous batsmen who can single-handedly take the game away from the opposition. Check RCB vs SRH playing 11 predictions and squad here

Virat Kohli will begin his quest for an elusive IPL title when perennial under-achievers Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) take on David Warner's low profile but consistent Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in third match of IPL 2020 at Dubai International Stadium on Monday.

Both teams possess dangerous batsmen who can single-handedly take the game away from the opposition.'

Check IPL Match, 3 SRH vs RCB live score toss and match updates here

Kohli has always led from the front but he knows his search for a maiden title will remain incomplete if the team doesn't perform in all departments.

RCB team news

The addition of Australian limited overs captain Aaron Finch to the squad gives the star-studded batting line up more firepower. Expectations are also high from highly rated young opener Devdutt Padikal.

Following a nightmarish 2019 season when they finished last, RCB seem to have much better balance but there ability to hit late in the innings is yet to be tested.

RCB also boasts of a potent spin unit, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal will again be the key as he has been over the past seasons with Washington Sundar, Pawan Negi, Adam Zampa and Moeen Ali lending more options.

RCB have also addressed the issue of their weak death bowling that plagued its campaign last season. The franchise has bought South African bowling all-rounder Chris Morris.

RCB tentative playing 11: Aaron Finch, Parthiv Patel/Devdutt Paddikal, Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Washington Sundar, Umesh Yadav / Pawan Negi, Dale Steyn, Yuzvendra Chahal, Navdeep Saini.

SRH Team news

On the other hand, Warner, whose exploits in the IPL include winning the 'Orange Cap' thrice and leading his side to a maiden title triumph in 2016, will once again pair up with the dangerous Jonny Bairstow.

The formidable opening duo, that shattered multiple records including the highest opening partnership in IPL history against RCB last season, will hope to emulate the previous edition's exploits. Sunrisers also have the batting prowess of Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Mitchell Marsh and Fabian Allen.

Sunrisers' blind spot also lies in the lack of depth in their batting order. The franchise has invested in youngsters like Virat Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Priyam Garg, and Abdul Samad and the management in the hopes that one of them could become the vital cog in the middle order.

Check 2020 IPL live score and latest news updates here

A team that is known for its depth and variation in bowling, Sunrisers' core unit remains unchanged. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will spearhead the pace department with Sandeep Sharma, Siddarth Kaul and Basil Thampi playing secondary roles.

Armed with presence of the top T20 bowler Afghanistan leggie Rashid Khan and no.1 all-rounder in the format Mohammad Nabi, who was in a terrific form in the recently-concluded CPL, Sunrisers have one of the best spin bowling attacks in the tournament. They also have left-armer Shahbaz Nadeem.

SRH tentative playing 11: David Warner (c), Jonny Bairstow, Manish Pandey, Priyam Garg, Vijay Shankar, Wriddhiman Saha, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, Basil Thampi

Coaching staffs of both the teams:

At the helm of both sides are Australians, Sunrisers have appointed Trevos Baylis, who guided England to their maiden ODI World Cup title last year, as coach, RCB has placed its faith in Simon Katich to lead them.

Full list of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL 2020 players along with their salaries:

 

Player	Team	Retained/bought	Price (Rs cr)
Virat Kohli	RCB	Retained	17.00
A B de Villiers	RCB	Retained	11.00
Chris Morris	RCB	Bought	10.00
Yuzvendra Chahal	RCB	Retained	6.00
Shivam Dube	RCB	Retained	5.00
Aaron Finch	RCB	Bought	4.40
Umesh Yadav	RCB	Retained	4.20
Adam Zampa	RCB	replaced Kane Richardsom	1.50
Washington Sundar	RCB	Retained	3.20
Navdeep Saini	RCB	Retained	3.00
Mohammed Siraj	RCB	Retained	2.60
Dale Steyn	RCB	Bought	2.00
Moeen Ali	RCB	Retained	1.70
Parthiv Patel	RCB	Retained	1.70
Pawan Negi	RCB	Retained	1.00
Gurkeerat Mann Singh	RCB	Retained	0.50
Isuru Udana	RCB	Bought	0.50
Devdutt Padikkal	RCB	Retained	0.20
Joshua Philippe	RCB	Bought	0.20
Pavan Deshpande (uncapped)	RCB	Bought	0.20
Shahbaz Ahmad (uncapped)	RCB	Bought	0.20

 

Here is the full squad of Sunerisers Hyderabad:

Player	Team	Retained/bought/traded	Price (Rs cr)
Abdul Samad (uncapped)	SRH	Bought	0.20
Abhishek Sharma	SRH	Retained	0.55
Basil Thampi	SRH	Retained	0.95
Bhuvneshwar Kumar	SRH	Retained	8.50
Billy Stanlake	SRH	Retained	0.50
David Warner	SRH	Retained	12.50
Fabian Allen	SRH	Bought	0.50
Jonny Bairstow	SRH	Retained	2.20
Kane Williamson	SRH	Retained	3.00
Khaleel Ahmed	SRH	Retained	3.00
Manish Pandey	SRH	Retained	11.00
Mitchell Marsh	SRH	Bought	2.00
Mohammad Nabi	SRH	Retained	1.00
Natarajan	SRH	Retained	0.40
Priyam Garg (uncapped)	SRH	Bought	1.90
Rashid Khan	SRH	Retained	9.00
Sandeep Bavanaka (uncapped)	SRH	Bought	0.20
Sandeep Sharma	SRH	Retained	3.00
Sanjay Yadav (uncapped)	SRH	Bought	0.20
Shahbaz Nadeem	SRH	Retained	3.20
Shreevats Goswami	SRH	Retained	1.00
Siddarth Kaul	SRH	Retained	3.80
Vijay Shankar	SRH	Retained	3.20
Virat Singh (uncapped)	SRH	Bought	1.90
Wriddhiman Saha	SRH	Retained	1.20