A few of the Chris Gayle’s credentials: top run-getter in the T20 format (7184), most centuries in the T20 format (13), highest score in T20s (175*), leading six-hitter in the format (499), most Man of the match awards won in T20 cricket (35). How then can one look beyond the gigantic Jamaican?

Ajinkya Rahane has been in sublime form in Pepsi IPL 2015 and the 26-year old will feel plenty of positive energy when he walks out to bat at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, for it was the venue where he scored his only century in T20 cricket. Playing conventional cricket, the RR opener has kept the Orange Cap – presented to the leading run-getter in the tournament – for most part of the season, and he will want to keep it with him for much longer.

The match promises to be a run feast, courtesy the small boundaries at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. But the two bowlers who could cause a few troubles are RCB’s Mitchell Starc, who is riding high on confidence returning from a very successful World Cup, and Chris Morris, who generally lands the ball back of a length, and could force the RCB batsmen to take the risk of hitting towards the slightly longer square boundaries.

Contests to look-forward to

Mitchell Starc bowling to his compatriots Shane Watson and Steve Smith promises to be an interesting battle. The RCB left-arm pacer is riding high on confidence and he will know a thing or two about bowling to the two Aussies in the RR ranks.

Previous Meetings

From 14 previous matches between RCB & RR, the honours are split down the centre, with both teams winning seven matches apiece.

While RR won both fixtures - in Abu Dhabi and Bengaluru - last season, when the two teams met earlier this season in Ahmedabad, RCB prevailed thanks to a clinical all-round show. The RCB bowlers made good use of difficult batting conditions to restrict RR to a modest 130 for 9, after which Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers were involved in an unbeaten 98-run second-wicket stand to take their team home with nearly four overs to spare.

Trivia

70.36% - equivalent to 698 runs - of the 992 runs scored off the bat in the three Pepsi IPL 2015 matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru have been through fours and sixes.

This is the first occasion RCB have lost four consecutive IPL matches at home. They lost their final home fixture of Pepsi IPL 2014 against the Chennai Super Kings, and now have defeats in three home matches in Pepsi IPL 2015.

Rajasthan Royals have a 100% record in run-chases in Pepsi IPL 2015; they’ve won all four of their run-chases this season.

Chris Gayle needs to hit one more six to become the first player to hit 500 sixes in T20 cricket.

What Next

RCB will next clash with the Kolkata Knight Riders on May 2 in Bengaluru, while RR head to Mumbai for their clash with Mumbai Indians on May 1.