Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey

IPL 2019: RCB vs KKR Preview Dream11 Prediction. Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders Preview Dream11 Prediction

Almost two weeks of IPL 2019 have passed (hasn’t that gone quick?), with one team already in must-win territory. With key top four contenders flexing their muscle at stages throughout the tournament so far, room for error is shrinking by the minute.

That is exactly the predicament Royal Challengers Bangalore find themselves in. Ahead of a season where fans dreamed again, RCB have been a major disappointment, losing all four games to stay rooted to the bottom of the points table. Their away record makes for dire reading, which is why a return to Bengaluru is most welcome. Can they overcome a strong KKR side to get their first win?

Kolkata Knight Riders, on the other hand, have shown why they will be thereabouts again. Their never-say-die attitude has held them in good stead, pulling off an incredible win vs SRH and then nearly beating DC when the game was as good as gone. They currently sit in the top four having played less games than everyone else, ahead of a key period where they play three games within the next week. Can they consign RCB to further disappointment?

Also read: Funny Cricket Tweets March 2019 Edition! 20 hilarious cricket tweets.

Key to a RCB win

Much concern was made about RCB’s bowling stocks. However, much optimism was made about their batting lineup. Disappointingly, their batting has been poor, with Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers under par, in conjunction with Shimron Hetmyer suffering a terrible start to IPL 2019. Hetmyer could be replaced, but Kohli and de Villiers certainly won’t be, so the onus is on the two big guns, along with Parthiv Patel, to get RCB into a position where they can get a big total. However, can RCB finish the innings strongly? With all-rounders in their ranks, RCB need someone to play the Hardik Pandya role to have a say in this game. Will it be the case?

Also, Umesh Yadav’s struggles have hurt RCB. He was IPL 2018’s premier powerplay bowler, but has failed to replicate that form in IPL 2019. It has put RCB behind the eight ball as a result, and he must step up vs a KKR top order that is looking to fire after their poor outing vs DC. Can RCB get the better of the top order, which can then enable them to put some pressure on the dangerous Dinesh Karthik and Andre Russell? Can they take their chances – an area they have been very poor in? Will Yuzvendra Chahal continue his good season, and what support will he get from the likes of Mohammad Siraj and Marcus Stoinis?

Key to a KKR win

KKR’s top order hold the key to unlocking more pain for RCB. Chris Lynn has been underwhelming, but he and Sunil Narine could be a fantastic opening combination against a side struggling in the powerplay. With Nitish Rana and Robin Uthappa showing good form so far in IPL 2019, and Shubman Gill due a good knock, KKR have it in them to set a platform for Dinesh Karthik and Andre Russell, who put on 95 in 8.4 turn the DC game on its head. Will KKR put together the complete batting performance?

Also, RCB have struggled badly against spin. KKR have a battery of spinners to attempt to exploit those struggles. However, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch is expected to be a belter for batting, which puts the onus on the bowlers to provide a good powerplay with the ball. Sunil Narine was a loss for KKR last game, and he can be a key man in keeping RCB quiet in the key early overs. With Prasidh Krishna and Lockie Ferguson enjoying some good periods so far, setting a platform for the spinners to build pressure in the middle overs is crucial for KKR. Can they get the better of AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli, building pressure on everyone else?

Possible Playing 11

Mohammad Siraj has been one of RCB’s better bowlers in the last couple of games, so he could line up again, with Navdeep Saini to wait in the wings if Tim Southee is picked. Also, Shimron Hetmyer, bought by RCB for INR 4.2 crore, is in danger of being dropped.

RCB: 1. Marcus Stoinis, 2. Parthiv Patel (wk), 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. AB de Villiers, 5. Shivam Dube, 6. Akshdeep Nath, 7. Washington Sundar, 8. Tim Southee/Navdeep Saini, 9. Umesh Yadav, 10. Mohammad Siraj, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal

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Sunil Narine is expected to come in for Nikhil Naik for KKR.

KKR: 1. Chris Lynn, 2. Sunil Narine, 3. Nitish Rana, 4. Robin Uthappa, 5. Shubman Gill, 6. Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), 7. Andre Russell, 8. Piyush Chawla, 9. Lockie Ferguson, 10. Kuldeep Yadav, 11. Prasidh Krishna

Dream11 Prediction

Opinion: Pros and cons of Dream11’s deadline time decision.

Key stats and points:

• Parthiv Patel has been RCB’s best batsman in IPL 2019 (138 runs in four games). Dinesh Karthik is also worth considering if KKR bat first, given his good form.
• Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine enjoy playing against RCB. Both won a man of the match award each last season against Kohli’s team. Will Lynn finally fire in IPL 2019?
• AB de Villiers has been out to offspin or the googly in all games this season. However, the Bangalore track should suit him, even though he averages less than 25 vs KKR. Virat Kohli averages 30 vs this opposition in IPL.
• Both de Villiers and Kohli looked good against MI at this ground earlier this season (Kohli 46, de Villiers 70*). Kohli also scored 68* (44) vs KKR at Bengaluru last season.
• Nitish Rana in IPL 2019: 68, 63, 1.
• Andre Russell has been unstoppable in IPL 2019 (159 runs at SR of 248.43). He took 3/31 at Bengaluru last season, and is a key pick despite scoring a golden duck in that game.
• Marcus Stoinis averaged over 60 when opening for Melbourne Stars in BBL 08. Will RCB go with him at the top?
• Yuzvendra Chahal leads the IPL 2019 wicket taking list (eight wickets in four games).
• Lockie Ferguson has been on the expensive side in IPL 2019. Kuldeep Yadav was excellent at Bengaluru last season, taking 1/20 in four overs.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-Head: Matches 22, RCB 9, KKR 13
• KKR have won all four matches vs RCB since IPL 2017.
• Virat Kohli needs 17 runs to reach 8,000 in T20s.
• RCB have dropped nine of the 19 attempted catches this season.

Match Prediction

RCB at home are a different proposition. The facts support this, as they have won just four of their last 15 away from the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

However, picking them to win depends on the team they select. KKR, with a much more settled lineup and strong recent record vs RCB, start as favourites.

KKR to win.

Thanks for reading!

Also read: Funny Cricket Tweets March 2019 Edition! 20 hilarious cricket tweets.