IPL 2017 Player Battles: Top 4 player encounters to look for in Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad match

#2 Chris Gayle vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Gayle will be looking to get his side off to a flier

If RCB end up batting first, IPL 2017 will kick off with one of the most anticipated player contests. After losing Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers to injuries, RCB will be banking heavily on Chris Gayle to provide a great start. However, he will have to fend off one of the most consistent IPL bowlers and an old rival – Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Their rivalry peaked during IPL 6 when Kumar played for the Pune Warriors. When the teams clashed, it was absolute carnage as Gayle clobbered 175 runs off 66 balls. It is interesting to note, though, that Kumar was the only bowler who survived unscathed in spite of the Gayle storm. He finished his quota of four overs conceding 23 runs.

To put that into perspective, the other bowlers had economy rates of 16.50, 12, 18.66, 22.50 and 29 against his 5.75. The bowler denied Gayle absolute dominion that day.

In the final of the last edition, they faced off against each other once again. Kumar played a significant role in controlling Gayle after he took charge with 76 off 38 balls. In a game where more than 400 runs were scored, he gave away just 25 in his four overs including the crucial final over of the game and helped SRH become champions.

As they meet again, he will try to keep it tight in the first couple of overs and not give too much room for Gayle to swing his arms. Gayle will be tested by the Indian’s ability to move the ball away from the batsman and will have to play it safe for a few overs.