Salt-Kohli brace for Archer Test as RR, RCB eye win

Openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli will brace for a fiery showdown against thunderbolts from express pacer Jofra Archer as Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru look to get back to winning ways in the IPL here on Sunday.

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Both teams are heading into the contest smarting from defeats.

While RCB went down to Delhi Capitals by six wickets, RR were blown away by Gujarat Titans in a 58-run drubbing.

RCB, with three wins from five matches, are placed in the top half of the table at fourth, while RR, with a win less in a many games, are languishing a number seven.

After co the most expensive spell in [PL history on the opening night, British pacer Archer has managed to turn things around.

Relentlessly bowling over 144 kph, the England speedster had batters gasping before knocking them over.

He delivered a match-defin-ing spell of 3/25 against Punjab Kings, lighting up the game by shattering form ~ batter Shreyas Iyer's stumps with a 148.6 kph thunderbolt.

He cranked it up to 152.3 kph against Gujarat Titans ear-lier this week, and sent back skipper Shubman Gill with a 147.7 kph in-swinger.

Come Saturday, Archer will be tasked with the responsibility of getting the crucial scalps of Kohli (186 runs) and fellow England teammate Salt (143 runs), a pairing that can take the game away in a matter of overs.

Archer's resurgence is a shot in the arm for the Royals as apart from Sandeep Sharma, the rest of their bowling attack has struggled to control the scoring rate, something the RCB batters will look to exploit.

Kohli has blown hot and cold this season, despite two half centuries. But with the explo-sive Salt, who can take off from ball one, for company, the former India captain has had the luxury of showing controlled aggression, He'll be eyeing more consistency with the bat.

Devdutt Padikkal will also be eager to get a big score after underwhelming returns.