Someday all one has to light the way is a single ray of hope, and that may be enough. Royal Challengers Bangalore are desperately searching for that single ray of hope or a win. Every loss that they are conceding is nothing short of a torture. Last season’s finalists are at the floor of the standings. RCB have been bowled out four times this IPL and are on a five match losing streak. Here are the Preview and Match Result Prediction for Royal Challengers Bangalore versus Kolkata Knight Riders.
The captain Virat Kohli said that his team continued to “let themselves down with the bat” and that he found it “difficult to find motivation” due to their poor performance. Everything they have done has backfired. Can someone in the team put their hands up and get the team over the line for one last time. Their dressing room certainly need that one win, one superb knock or one magical spell to lift their moods up. Can Virat Kohli and co. give the parting gift to the home crowd?
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Kolkata Knight Riders would be feeling like wounded tigers after two successive defeats to Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rising Pune Supergiants. Their juggernaut seems to have halted and even their Eden fortress has been breached. They have slipped out from the top two. And maybe this match against the depleted RCB is their best chance to get the winning momentum back. A win here would ensure that they reach the playoffs and regain the second spot. As Gautam Gambhir quipped “Till the time you are not in the playoffs, you are not in the playoffs.”
PITCH
The pitch at M Chinnaswamy Stadium has been sluggish and slow. Batting under lights would be much easier in a 4 pm start. There’s also the forecast of showers arriving late in the evening, which could bring in Duckworth Lewis into the equation.
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE – STRENGTHS
RCB have found solace in the fact that their bowlers have shown some good performances. Yuzvendra Chahal has certainly moved up further to be the main strike bowler. Pawan Negi has done considerably well especially with the ball. Aniket Choudhary bowled with discipline. Sreenath Aravind and Samuel Badree have done their part well.
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE – WEAKNESSES
Time and again, we have talked about their batting letting them down. And this has been the story so far. Except maybe Virat Kohli, none of the batsmen have showed any considerable intent to stay at the crease. All their overseas players have flopped. And so have the domestic recruits. The last game against KKR was a nightmare that resulted in RCB going spiralling downwards. Maybe Virat is the man who has to play those 20 overs and lead the way. But the biggest question is not whether can he do it, it’s about will he do it?
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS – STRENGTHS
Their bowling is still the biggest asset. Chris Woakes and Umesh Yadav have been consistent in the pace department. Kuldeep Yadav is amongst wickets and can prove to be the game changer at slow Bangalore pitch. Colin de Grandhomme has finally showed some promise with the bat. Manish Pandey is hitting the ball well.
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS – WEAKNESSES
The batting looked bleak without the star batsman, Robin Uthappa. Sunil Narine’s form with the bat and especially ball is also a concern for them. Yusuf Pathan also seems to be running out of steam. Sheldon Jackson hasn’t done justice to his talent. Their biggest worry would be to arrest this losing streak and get back to winning ways. This is the most important thing and that too at the business end of the tournament.
PREDICTED XI
RCB – This might be the last time we see some players in the the RCB kit at their home turf. Chris Gayle may be released from the franchise as his decline has become quite evident. AB De Villears may also leave for International duty after this game. Travis Head may be brought in for Shane Watson.
Chris Gayle, Mandeep Singh, Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Kedar Jadhav (wk), Travis Head, Pawan Negi, Samuel Badree, Sreenath Arvind, Aniket Choudhary, Yuzvendra Chahal
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KKR – If Uthappa is fit, then he will come in for Jackson. If Lynn is indeed fit enough to play, he maybe drafted in for Coulter Nile who took a hit on his helmet in the last game and who will also undergo a fitness test before the match. Piyush Chawla may also get a look in on a slow Bangalore wicket.
Sunil Narine, Gautam Gambhir (c), Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan, Suryakumar Yadav, Colin de Grandhomme, Chris Woakes, Coulter-Nile, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav
HEAD TO HEAD
Overall: Played – 19, RCB – 9, KKR – 10.
At Bengaluru: Played – 7, RCB – 4, KKR – 3.
Earlier this season at Kolkata, KKR were bowled out for 131. And RCB in reply, managed the lowest score of IPL with 49 runs.
MATCH PREDICTION
With RCB playing their last game of this season at home, they would be looking to give their fans something to cheer about. KKR would be raring to go back to winning ways. Here are the Preview and Match Result Prediction for Royal Challengers Bangalore versus Kolkata Knight Riders.
If RCB bats first
1st Innings Score: 130 – 140
KKR wins by 5 wickets.
If KKR bats first
1st Innings Score: 150 – 160
KKR wins by 20 – 30 runs.
