Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore have been failing to stand on their feet since the starting of Indian Premier League 2019. They have lost all of their four matches and this takes them to the bottom of the points table.
RCb would find themselves sitting out of the tournament if they don’t change their gears and the style of play to remain alive in the competition. In its 5th match, Royal Challengers Bangalore will square off against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 5 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Virat Kohli would be keen to grab this victory on Friday so that the team get its confidence back. On the other hand, KKR would be feeling worried after losing to Delhi Capitals in the super over. Kolkata Knight Riders will not make a mistake of taking RCB lightly.
KKR vs RCB Preview:
Royal Challengers Bangalore needs to tighten their belts for the upcoming matches to come. How is it possible that a team stuffed with so many talents, yet this team fails to make an impact in the Indian Premier League. It’s hard to digest how a group has never touched the IPL trophy even after a world-class lineup.
RCB played their last match against Rajasthan and had a fair chance to win the game, but we all are aware of RCB’s destiny and lost the opportunity to grab their first win of the season.
Kolkata Knight Riders would be completely relaxed and fit as they are flying for their next match after almost a week. KKR played their last game to Delhi Capitals and had no answers to Rabada bowling in the super over which made them lost their first match in this campaign.
Kolkata Knight Riders have played three matches so far and have won two. Now, let’s see whether things work clockwise or anti-clockwise of KKR.
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
April 5, 08:00 PM IST
Total – 22
Kolkata Knight Riders: 13
Royal Challengers Bangalore: 09
The weather is expected to be friendly. There are changes that it rains a bit. The pitch of Bangalore now has many changes. It gives a full opportunity to the batsmen to score high.
Total matches: 75
Matches won batting first: 31
Matches won bowling first: 40
Average 1st Inns scores: 169
Average 2nd Inns scores: 149
Highest total recorded: 263/5 (20 Ov) by RCB vs PWI
Lowest total recorded: 82/10 (15.1 Ov) by RCB vs KKR
Highest score chased: 207/5 (19.4 Ov) by CSK vs RCB
Lowest score defended: 106/2 (8 Ov) by RCB vs CSK
Kolkata Knight Riders Squad
Dinesh Karthik (c), Piyush Chawla, Robin Uthappa, Joe Denly, Sunil Narine, Shrikant Mundhe, Harry Gurney, Andre Russell, Chris Lynn, Carlos Brathwaite, Kuldeep Yadav, Sandeep Warrier, Nitish Rana, Nikhil Naik, KC Cariappa, Prasidh Krishna, Lockie Ferguson, Rinku Singh, Shubman Gill, Yarra Prithviraj.
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
Parthiv Patel, AB de Villiers, Tim Southee, Virat Kohli (c), Umesh Yadav, Moeen Ali, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Yuzvendra Chahal, Colin de Grandhomme, Pawan Negi, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Akshdeep Nath, Milind Kumar, Marcus Stoinis, Navdeep Saini, Shimron Hetmyer, Heinrich Klaasen, Himmat Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Kulwant Khejroliya, Devdutt Padikkal, Prayas Barman
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik, Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Verma, Lockie Ferguson, Prasidh Krishna
Royal Challenger Bangalore:
Virat Kohli, Parthiv Patel, Ab de Villiers, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Marcus Stoinis, Moeen Ali, Akshdeep Nath, Nathan Coulter Nile, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammad Siraj.
Dinesh Karthik (wk)
V Kohli (vc)
Robin Uthappa
Chris Lynn
Nitish Rana
Muscus Stoinis
Sunil Narine (c)
Tim Southee
Nathan Coulter-Nile
Y Chahal
Lockie Ferguson
Key Players:
RCB:
Virat Kohli
Y Chahal
Lockie Ferguson
Nathan Nile
KKR:
Dinesh Karthik
Nitish Rana
Robin Uthappa
Sunil Narine