Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

IPL 2020 Match 6: KXIP vs RCB Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KXIP vs RCB Dream11 Prediction Today | Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report

Heading into IPL 2020, two of the big questions were whether Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab would finally escape from the depths of underachievement. However, after a game each in IPL 2020, one can safely say that both teams still have significant flaws.

For example, did RCB’s playing XI against SRH suggest that there is enough quality in the middle-lower order in case the top four doesn’t have a great day? Is Josh Philippe, a player who bats at the top in T20s, the answer at five? What about the likes of Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar as the finishers? Also, is the death bowling in good hands, especially if Chris Morris is unable to play due to a lingering side strain?

Similar applies to Kings XI Punjab. After a crazy match against DC, where the momentum ebbed and flowed throughout the contest, KXIP also have questions about their death bowling and middle order batting. These are areas they looked to rectify in the auction with the additions of the likes of Chris Jordan and Glenn Maxwell, but both had underwhelming returns first up. So, will KXIP stick with Jordan for this match, after going for 30 in a game-changing over last time out? How well can the middle order – which looks good on paper – perform?

However, it’s not fair to just harp on the negatives. RCB’s fightback with the ball vs SRH, courtesy of the brilliant and smart Yuzvendra Chahal, was a sight to behold. As was Devdutt Padikkal’s glittering debut, before the great AB de Villiers added the finishing touches. For KXIP, Mohammed Shami’s great spell of 3/15 vs DC, Ravi Bishnoi’s own promising debut, and Mayank Agarwal’s superb knock means that KL Rahul’s men also have positives to build on.

It makes for a cracking contest; one where you can’t be exactly sure which way the game will go, even if one team looks to be well on top. Bring it on.

Also read: Will RCB and KXIP make the playoffs in IPL 2020? CricBlog’s tournament predictions!

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• One of RCB’s biggest mistakes was letting KL Rahul go. The talented keeper-batsman is now just two runs away from 2,000 in IPL cricket, at an average of 41.63.
• Also, Rahul has had a superb last couple of seasons in the IPL. His 2018 and 2019 campaigns saw him muster 1,252 runs, at 54.43, SR: 146.60. Plus, he has 178 runs in six innings vs RCB, at an average of 35.60 and SR of 147.11.
• How impressive did Devdutt Padikkal look on IPL debut? His 56 (42) set up RCB’s innings vs SRH. However, the extra pace of Mohammed Shami makes for an interesting battle. Can the pacer build on his excellent 3/15 last game?
• AB de Villiers’ 30-ball 51 vs SRH was a thing of beauty. And, there is every chance he could perform vs KXIP, as his record against them is simply outstanding: 21 matches, 680 runs, avg. 52.31, SR 160.76.
• de Villiers and Virat Kohli still have a key role to play for RCB. One feels that Ravi Bishnoi’s googlies vs Kohli/ABD will make for interesting viewing. Kohli has 632 runs at an avg. 30.10 (SR 131.12) vs KXIP.
• Mayank Agarwal, another KXIP player who used to play for RCB, was outstanding last game (89 off 60 balls). His overall record vs RCB isn’t too flash (avg. 18.71 in 7 matches), but he has the quality to deliver today.
• If Glenn Maxwell fires, then KXIP looks a completely different unit. Like Agarwal, Maxwell needs to build on an underwhelming record vs RCB (8 matches, 98 runs, avg. 14.00). He recently scored an ODI century for Australia.
• Yuzvendra Chahal has the most wickets in RCB-KXIP matches (19). He was player of the match vs SRH with 3/18, with his excellent mind combining well with his superb control.
• Sheldon Cottrell will have a key role to play in both the powerplay and death overs for KXIP. He is coming off 2/24 in his four overs vs DC, but will need to improve on his death bowling.
• If KXIP stick with Chris Jordan, he needs to repay the faith after a tough outing a few nights ago vs DC.
• Navdeep Saini bowled beautifully in RCB’s opening game, taking 2/25. Dale Steyn (1/33) and Umesh Yadav (0/48) will look for more polished performances this time around. Umesh has a great record vs KXIP: 29 wickets in 18 games.

Stats and Facts

• In 24 games, both teams have won 12 times, indicating that this match could be very tight as two evenly matched teams go head-to-head. However, RCB have won the last four matches between the teams.
• RCB could save Yuzvendra Chahal for Glenn Maxwell. Chahal has dismissed Maxwell five times in eight T20s. However, Maxwell has scored well: 80 runs off 52 balls.
• In all T20s since the start of 2018, Virat Kohli has been dismissed by the googly three times in 32 balls. So, could Ravi Bishnoi be KXIP’s go-to man against Kohli, particularly early on?
• Since the start of last season, both RCB (11.4) and KXIP (10.8) are in the bottom three in terms of economy rate in the death overs (16-20).
• Moeen Ali has a strike rate of 158.20 in the middle overs since the start of IPL 2019. Will RCB pick him today?
• If KL Rahul reaches 2,000 runs today, he will become the quickest Indian to 2,000 IPL runs (60 innings), beating Sachin Tendulkar (63 innings). Chris Gayle (48) and Shaun Marsh (52) are the two quickest to the mark.
• Dale Steyn needs three wickets to reach 100 in IPL.

Possible Playing 11

RCB beat SRH, but there are still question marks over whether the XI they picked is indeed their best. Mike Hesson said that Chris Morris’ side strain could keep him out for another game or two, which suggests he won’t be risked for this match. Also, RCB have a decision to make on whether they bring in Moeen Ali, or keep Josh Philippe. Indeed, dropping Philippe would be very harsh considering he only faced two balls vs SRH.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 1. Devdutt Padikkal, 2. Aaron Finch, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. AB de Villiers, 5. Josh Philippe (wk)/Moeen Ali, 6. Shivam Dube/Gurkeerat Singh Mann, 7. Washington Sundar, 8. Dale Steyn 9. Umesh Yadav, 10. Navdeep Saini, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal

KXIP captain KL Rahul admitted they made key mistakes (details here). Will KXIP persist with Chris Jordan? His 30-run over vs DC was very costly, and was in the limelight again in a controversial moment late in the game. If KXIP seek to replace him, either all-rounder James Neesham or mystery spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman could come in.

Also, this is an important game for Nicholas Pooran’s confidence, after scoring 0 twice vs DC (in normal innings and Super Over).

Kings XI Punjab: 1. KL Rahul (c & wk), 2. Mayank Agarwal, 3. Karun Nair, 4. Nicholas Pooran, 5. Glenn Maxwell, 6. Sarfaraz Khan, 7. Krishnappa Gowtham, 8. Chris Jordan/Mujeeb ur Rahman/James Neesham, 9. Ravi Bishnoi, 10. Mohammed Shami, 11. Sheldon Cottrell

Dubai Pitch Report and Conditions

Both teams played their opening matches at Dubai, so they will be familiar with the conditions. RCB successfully defended 163, while KXIP just failed to chase 158. This suggests that a score of 160 batting first could be a tough one to chase. But, given the death bowling worries of both teams, there could be big scores, despite the big Dubai boundaries.

Given it is still early in the tournament, there is still expected to be some grass on the pitch. The pace bowlers can generate some decent pace and movement, along with a little bit of uneven bounce (due to uneven covering of grass). Plus, there has been some turn for the wristspinners in particular.

The weather forecast is hot once again, but dew is likely to be a factor. The captain who wins the toss could choose to chase.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

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Match Prediction

Two exciting but unpredictable teams makes for a very interesting contest. One feels the death overs – an area where both struggle – could be crucial in determining the winner. So, KL Rahul might leave Mohammed Shami to bowl an over or two at this stage, which could help KXIP. This one could go down to the wire, with KXIP winning a close one.

Thanks for reading!

Also read: Will RCB and KXIP make the playoffs in IPL 2020? CricBlog’s tournament predictions!