RCB vs LSG Prediction: Batting line-up gives hosts the edge

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore have made a solid start to the new season, winning three of their four games. They host Lucknow Super Giants on Wednesday (15:00 BST, Sky Sports Cricket) looking to make it four from five against a LSG team who have lost two and won two of their four outings.

Below are my RCB vs LSG predictions, alongside team news and match odds.

RCB vs LSG Odds

Royal Challengers Bangalore are 8/15 to win this one, while Lucknow Super Giants are 6/4. Virat Kohli is 12/5 at the head of the market to top score for RCB, while Mitch Marsh is 14/5 favourite to top score for the visitors.

Team News

Royal Challengers Bangalore seamer Josh Hazlewood was rested against Mumbai Indians as he returns from injury but could come back into the team in place of Jacob Duffy here.

Rasikh Salam is an injury doubt for the home team.

For Lucknow Super Giants, Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament, with South African George Linde replacing him.

Royal Challengers Bangalore to hit the most sixes @ 4/5

Royal Challengers Bangalore finally got the monkey off their back with a first ever IPL title last season and that seems to have given them a real sense of freedom coming into the new campaign.

They have won three of their four games and their only defeat came against an impressive Rajasthan Royals side who chased 202 in 18 overs.

The backbone of RCB’s success is their batting, with Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, Phil Salt and Tim David all impressing in the early part of the campaign.

That quartet are all in the top 20 for runs scored in the tournament at the time of writing while Lucknow do not have a single player to have broken into the top 20.

Six-hitting is another department where RCB have a clear advantage, having smashed 52 sixes in four games compared to just 26 for LSG. That discrepancy is likely to be played out on the pitch in this one.

Phil Salt top Royal Challengers Bangalore batter @ 7/2

Phil Salt has long been one of the most effective openers in T20 cricket and he has already put together some impressive knocks in this year’s IPL.

The England star has made 46, 0 and 78 in his last three innings and could star once more against a Lucknow Super Giants side who do not have the best bowling attack.

Salt can get his side off to a flyer and is fancied to be the home team’s top scorer, just as he was against Mumbai Indians last time out.

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