Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey
Massive stakes game.
Royal Challengers Bangalore are desperate to put more IPL disappointment behind them and get their tournament headed in the right direction. Time is running out for them. Kolkata Knight Riders not long ago were top of the IPL table, but with two straight defeats, including a crushing one at the hands of DD two nights ago, they could find themselves out of the top four with eight games played.
Both sides need to win.
Royal Challengers Bangalore continue to make their fans want to pull their hair out in frustration. They continue to promise plenty, but deliver little, and now face must-win territory as they will be four points outside the top four if they lose tonight. Their death bowling is nothing short of horrendous, throwing away another possible victory against CSK. They have now conceded 200+ in three of their six games; no matter how good your batting is (and it has been very good), winning will always be difficult. This game is the time to make changes.
Kolkata Knight Riders will want to get their season back on track after channeling their inner RCB and conceding a 200+ total of their own against DD. Their fielding was also pretty awful too, which is something they can’t afford against a strong RCB batting side on a ground made for big runs. Their bowlers will want to hit form again, and if they can do that in Bengaluru, they are a chance of victory.
Key to a Royal Challengers Bangalore win
Good death bowling.
RCB’s batting and powerplay bowling gives fans enough confidence that they can fare well. AB de
Villiers in particular continues to show off his freakish skills. However, where they have really struggled is at the death.
Since the onslaught by Sunil Narine against them, RCB have done relatively well with the ball in powerplay overs. In these overs, they have conceded 8.14 per over, with 10 wickets taken in five matches – these overs have actually helped keep them in matches.
However, their death bowling is a massive concern, which will surely force them into changes for tonight’s match. They concede well over 13 an over in this period, and has cost them matches, such as the last game v CSK. They must improve, and they must start now if they have any dreams of making an impact in this competition.
Key to a Kolkata Knight Riders win
Expose RCB’s frailties with the ball, especially at the death. This game is made for an Andre Russell onslaught.
However, before Andre Russell can launch effectively, good groundwork needs to be laid by the top order. Chris Lynn remains inconsistent in IPL 2018, but this is his chance to shine, with support of Sunil Narine who simply loves RCB. Robin Uthappa and Nitish Rana will also be keen to get in the runs after quiet outings against DD
If KKR’s top order gets going, providing the platform for Russell to launch, you can almost kiss RCB’s chances goodbye…
Possible teams
Time for RCB to ring in the changes. There is surely no way Corey Anderson will play, struggling with the bat, and then being tasked with bowling at the death. Expect both Kiwis Colin de Grandhomme and Tim Southee to come in to provide more bowling cover, as well as hitting ability with the bat.
Royal Challengers Bangalore XI: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Manan Vohra, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. AB de Villiers, 5. Mandeep Singh, 6. Colin de Grandhomme, 7. Pawan Negi, 8. Washington Sundar, 9. Tim Southee, 10. Umesh Yadav, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal
For KKR, I can’t see them making any significant changes like RCB, despite their heavy defeat against DD.
Kolkata Knight Riders XI: 1. Chris Lynn, 2. Sunil Narine, 3. Robin Uthappa, 4. Nitish Rana, 5. Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), 6. Andre Russell, 7. Shubman Gill, 8. Piyush Chawla, 9. Mitchell Johnson, 10. Kuldeep Yadav, 11. Shivam Mavi
Stats and Facts
- Head-to-Head: Matches: 21, RCB 9, KKR 12
- KKR’s opening partnerships have averaged just 12 this season. This is an opportunity for RCB to exploit.
- Good luck RCB. KKR have scored 64% of their runs in boundaries (most in IPL), whereas RCB have conceded 64.57% runs in boundaries (most in IPL).
- AB de Villiers in IPL 2018: 280 runs, avg. 56, SR: 184.21
- RCB concede 13.29 an over at the death, the worst of any team in IPL 2018.
Prediction:
Desperation time for RCB. They can’t afford to be four points behind the top four at the halfway point of their campaign.
I think the additions of Tim Southee and Colin de Grandhomme, while not T20 superstars, will be positive ones. With RCB’s batting quite strong, and the focus on improved death bowling, I expect them to sneak through in a tight, high-scoring affair.
