IPL 2020: RCB vs SRH Game Plan 1 – Is AB de Villiers the answer to RCB’s Middle Overs Slump?

RCB vs SRH – The fifty-second match of the IPL 2020 tournament between the teams, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad, could all be about match-ups. We take a look at a key game plan that could play a role in the fifty-second game of the IPL – RCB vs SRH

RCB vs SRH: RCB’s slow down in the middle and the ABD question

When the two teams met earlier this season, AB de Villiers scored a scintillating half-century coming in at 4 near the 10-over mark. AB’s whirlwind knock provided RCB the momentum they needed at the death after a bit of struggle in the middle overs, which ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides.

11 games after that and RCB still have issues in scoring at a brisk pace in middle overs; RCB are the slowest team with the bat in overs 7-15 this season, being the only team to score at less than 7 runs per over.

AB de Villiers with a strike rate of 171.21 is the only one among the mainstream RCB batsmen with a strike rate above 140 this season and hence the hopes for providing the impetus at the end will rely heavily on his shoulders yet again. But will RCB want AB to be at his attacking best in the middle overs too?

The stark difference in AB’s strike rate in middle and death overs is something that the RCB management might need to look upon. Whether they are willing to scrape through the middle overs to launch at the end or looking to score at a decent pace throughout, AB is capable of playing both roles to perfection.

Given how the results have panned out in the past few games, RCB will want to up the ante in the middle phase and without a doubt, they do have the personnel to change things around. But do SRH have it in them to stop AB from unleashing himself in middle overs?

The ever-threatening Rashid Khan has the upper hand against the former Proteas skipper in IPL, dismissing him twice in 16 balls, and conceding 6 runs per over. The presence of Rashid might just force AB to continue with the approach of playing it safe in middle overs.

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With a play-off spot still not mathematically guaranteed RCB are running into SRH who are coming into the encounter having toppled DC with their fearless approach. And it will be a decision RCB need to take; whether to continue with the approach and play it safe in middle overs or show a bit more intent and take the attack to the opposition as it has been the approach more than the execution that has troubled RCB. ABD is definitely the answer to the issue, but it will all go down to whether they are willing to make it happen.