IPL 2020: SRH vs RCB Game Plan 1- David Warner and Jonny Bairstow seem too hot for RCB bowlers 

The third match of the IPL 2020 tournament between the blockbuster teams, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore, could all be about match-ups. We take a look at a key game plan that could play a role in the third game of IPL 2020 – SRH vs RCB. In their first partnership against RCB in […]
 
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IPL 2020: SRH vs RCB Game Plan 1- David Warner and Jonny Bairstow seem too hot for RCB bowlers 

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

In their first partnership against RCB in the IPL 2019, the SRH openers, David Warner and Jonny Bairstow, hammered the RCB bowlers with utter disdain. Kohli and co. would not have forgotten the record opening partnership of 185 runs between Bairstow and Warner, and they shouldn’t. Both the openers scored centuries and SRH won the match by 118 runs. 

Both teams are set to clash again, and, since the English and Australian players are allowed for this match, RCB bowlers would need something extra-ordinary to stop the SRH duo. Warner and Bairstow are amongst the best white-ball players at the moment. The fact that they are versatile batsmen and form an LHB-RHB pair makes them the best batting opening pair of the competition. 

There is not so much in the favour of RCB as far as the cricketing logic and numbers are concerned. The main problem for RCB is that Warner and Bairstow complement each other well. Even if you find a weakness to exploit against one of the two, he could rotate the strike and the other can take the charge. RCB need to get them out within the powerplay at any cost to win this fixture. 

SRH vs RCB – The powerplay plan against David Warner and Jonny Bairstow

You can bank on to David Warner to produce consistent performances in the IPL as much as you can on the fact that the sun rises in the east. Moreover, he goes mad against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Averaging over 80 in nine innings against RCB since 2014, Warner has scored 562 runs with a great strike rate of over 170. He has failed to cross the 50-run mark in just one innings.  

IPL 2020: SRH vs RCB Game Plan 1- David Warner and Jonny Bairstow seem too hot for RCB bowlers 

Warner has not struggled any particular bowling type in the IPL, especially in the powerplay. It is hard to find to his weakness, let alone trying to find a glaring weakness. Since 2016, there is no bowling type against which the Aussie averages less than 45 in the powerplay. He has a strike rate is 135 or more against the bowling types barring left-arm fast bowlers (against which he has faced just four balls).

 

For namesake, RCB could try many options against him. The first is Washington Sundar. Even though the southpaw has not been dismissed against any off-spinner yet, RCB can ask Sundar to choke the flow of runs from one end. Against Sundar, Warner has scored 22 runs off as many balls without getting dismissed. If Sundar does that successfully, Warner might be forced to take risks. 

However, a stat which doesn’t favour the off-spinner is that he has an economy of 8.58 against southpaws in the IPL powerplays since 2016. Albeit, Sundar, who does not turn the ball enough, can bowl tight lines and cramp Warner for the room. But, again, Warner could take a single and Bairstow can take charge against Sundar. 

IPL 2020: SRH vs RCB Game Plan 1- David Warner and Jonny Bairstow seem too hot for RCB bowlers 

SRH vs RCB – How do you stop David Warner?

The other ploy could be using Umesh Yadav upfront. Umesh is among the better powerplay bowlers in the league. Since 2016 in the IPL, he averages 19.3 against southpaws and has an impressive strike rate of about 16 in the powerplay. Umesh should not give Warner any width and hit the good length. 

A stat also goes against Umesh. Against Umesh since 2017 in T20s, Warner has scored 54 runs at a strike rate of over 163 without getting dismissed. But, if he can move the ball and executes the plan well, he can improve his record against the Aussie opener. This ploy could also work against Bairstow. 

RCB could also consider Dale Steyn for this role.

 

In the recent T20I and ODI series against Australia, Archer troubled Warner with some high pace and by extracting movement off the pitch. Whilst Archer is of a different class, it is easy to get lured because of the recency bias and expect the same from Saini. The speedster can replicate what Archer did but Saini’s history in the powerplay is not very inspiring. In the powerplay, Saini averages over 64 and has an economy of 8.4. Albeit, if Saini gets his length and line right, it’s not a bad plan at all. 

 

Plus, Bairstow is not very secure against express pace. Thus, RCB would hope Saini provides them early wickets. The other plan could be trying Yuzvendra Chahal in the middle overs. Bairstow is among the better players of spin bowling but he got against leg-spinners five times in the last IPL. Chahal too picked up his wicket once in six balls. However, David Warner – who averages 295 and has a strike rate of over 160 against leg-spinners in the IPL since 2016 – can protect his partner from Chahal.

Warner in numbers in the IPL