Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore will face spirited Sunrisers Hyderabad in the scintillating Indian Premier League at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, on Tuesday.
Both the teams look balanced on paper as a fusion of overseas and local talent is there to strengthen the core. 23-men SRH consists of 7 foreign and 16 Indian players, whereas the 27-men RCB squad has 9 foreign and 18 Indian players. Amid expectations for a high-voltage encounter today at Bangalore, we present you a list of key players, who will be in the center of it all.
Key players from Royal Challengers Bangalore
Virat Kohli
Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli has always been a pillar of support for two time runner-up RCB. The 27-year-old batsman from Delhi, has been associated with Bangalore franchisee, since the beginning of the mega-event. Playing with RCB for eight seasons, Kohli scored 3137 runs in 123 matches, with 19 fifties and a best knock of 99 runs.
Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle is prominently known for his hunger for runs, especially when it comes to T20 cricket. Gayle’s unbeaten knock of 175 runs in 2013, is enough to define his reputation in the IPL. The 36-year-old Jamaican batsman has struck 230 sixes and 262 fours, so far in 82 matches of the league.
AB de Villiers
Firming the middle-order, Ab de Villiers is just one of the great batsmen in the RCB side. The Pretoria right-hander has always been a delight in the cash-rich league. Having scored 2569 runs in 104 matches with a notable strike rate of 144.73, De Villiers has 2 centuries and 15 half-centuries in his IPL account.
Key players from Sunrisers Hyderabad
David Warner
Formerly an aggressive opener David Warner has now started playing down the order, batting responsibly for his team. With a commendable strike rate of 139.35, Warner has hit 2 centuries and 23 half-tons in 83 IPL matches.
Kane Williamson
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has played 2 IPL matches in the past, in which he scored 26 and 5 runs respectively against CSK and RCB. The 25-year-old right-hander will be the best companion with SRH opener Shikhar Dhwan to open their innings.
Shikhar Dhawan
The face of Sunrisers Hyderabad Shikhar Dhawan has been a match-winners for the Hyderabadi franchisee, many times. In the IPL, Dhawan has scored 2581 runs in 96 matches, playing for Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers, Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The left-hander has struck 21 fifties and an IPL-best 95-run knock with 54 sixes and 297 fours.