Last Updated on 2 weeks by Charbel Coorey

RCB vs KKR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 6 | BLR vs KOL Dream11 Prediction Today | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders Key Players | DY Patil Pitch Report

There are a few interesting backstories that make this game one to look forward to. Not only do Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders have high aspirations for the respective IPL 2022 campaigns, but the two Kiwi coaches – Mike Hesson and Brendon McCullum – will be aiming to get one over the other. Also, Dinesh Karthik, who was playing an IPL Final for KKR just six months back, will now be leading the RCB team meetings on how to get the better of Kolkata’s key players.

This is an important game for RCB. It is by no means panic stations yet, but losing a match after scoring 200 is a situation you want to bounce back from. Faf du Plessis was outstanding with the bat in his RCB debut against Punjab Kings on Sunday, but his role as captain will come under the microscope as the bowlers will be after an improved showing.

Bowling was no such issue for KKR as Umesh Yadav led them to an excellent win over CSK on Saturday. One of the IPL’s great powerplay bowlers, Umesh put on a show in this stage once again, setting a bit of a trend in this tournament of bowling teams making inroads in the first six overs. If KKR can make inroads into RCB’s top order, it will ask serious questions of their middle order which does look a bit thin compared to other teams in the tournament.

Possible Playing 11

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 1. Faf du Plessis (c), 2. Anuj Rawat, 3. Virat Kohli, 4. Dinesh Karthik (wk), 5. Sherfane Rutherford, 6. Shahbaz Ahmed, 7. Wanindu Hasaranga, 8. Harshal Patel, 9. David Willey, 10. Mohammed Siraj, 11. Sidharth Kaul

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1. Venkatesh Iyer, 2. Ajinkya Rahane, 3. Shreyas Iyer (c), 4. Nitish Rana, 5. Sam Billings/Mohammad Nabi, 6. Sheldon Jackson (wk), 7. Andre Russell, 8. Sunil Narine, 9. Umesh Yadav, 10. Shivam Mavi, 11. Varun Chakravarthy

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

• Faf du Plessis started IPL 2022 with a bang. After a slow start vs Punjab, Faf showed his ability to switch gears to finish with a 53-ball 88. The RCB captain has a great past record against KKR, with 427 runs in 13 innings at an average of 42.70 and strike rate of 131.79, including a magnificent 86 off 59 balls in the IPL 2021 Final.
• Virat Kohli has the most runs in RCB-KKR matches (774) at an average of 35.18 and strike rate of 128.15. In an encouraging sign, Kohli struck at 142 against spin against Punjab compared to his low strike rate last season. How he fares against Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy will be interesting to see.
• As mentioned, Dinesh Karthik will provide some key intel to RCB about the KKR team. The keeper-batsman was superb as a finisher last game, striking a 14-ball 32*. In the IPL, he strikes at 184 in the death overs.
• KKR struck just three boundaries against eight overs of spin against CSK. So, Wanindu Hasaranga will have a key role to play in limiting KKR’s run-scoring and also taking wickets.
• Can Mohammed Siraj bounce back after a tough match against PBKS? The seamer has taken eight wickets in as many matches vs KKR at an average of 24.25 and economy rate of 7.37. RCB could utilise him in the powerplay (econ. 6.8) and death overs (econ. 8.9) specifically, especially given Siraj concedes 10.1 per over between overs 12-16 in the IPL.
• A lot is expected of Harshal Patel, the top wicket-taker from IPL 2021 (32). He took 2/17, 0/13 and 2/19 against KKR last season.

Kolkata Knight Riders:

• Sunil Narine has terrific all-round stats against RCB. He has taken 20 scalps in 15 matches against them at an average/economy rate of 19.60/6.53, along with 220 runs at an average/strike rate of 31.43 and 196.43.
• Narine took 4/21 and struck 26 off 15 balls in an incredible all-round performance vs RCB in last season’s Eliminator.
• Venkatesh Iyer struck 41* (27) and 26 (30) against RCB last season. Harshal Patel dismissed him in the Eliminator, and their battle could be one to watch once again.
• Shreyas Iyer is in terrific form. He smashed three half-centuries in a row in the T20Is vs Sri Lanka last month, and started IPL 2022 in strong fashion both as a captain and batsman (20* vs CSK).
• Shreyas has struck 291 runs in 11 matches vs RCB at an average of 26.45 and strike rate of 118.49. Can he build on those numbers here?
• Andre Russell is always one to watch against RCB. The all-rounder has smashed 339 runs in 11 matches against them at an average of 48.43 and unbelievable strike rate of 215.92. He has also taken 10 wickets.
• Umesh Yadav against RCB’s top order in the powerplay could go a long way to deciding the match. Umesh was superb against CSK (2/20), and he loves bowling in the powerplay in the IPL. In fact, he has the best strike rate (17.60) and second-best average (21.90) among bowlers who have delivered a minimum of 40 powerplay overs since IPL 2018.
• Varun Chakravarthy has taken five wickets in as many games vs RCB at an economy rate of just 6.25. This includes 3/13 in the second leg of IPL 2021.

Other Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 30, KKR 17, RCB 13.
• KKR should look to use Sunil Narine early to du Plessis. The West Indian has a great record against the RCB captain in T20s. He has conceded just 45 runs in 63 deliveries, with two dismissals.
• Umesh Yadav has bowled 14 deliveries to Faf du Plessis in the IPL. He has dismissed him once and conceded just 11.
• Sunil Narine vs Virat Kohli in all T20s: 137 deliveries bowled, 136 runs, three dismissals.
• Nitish Rana for KKR vs RCB: 8 inns, 221 runs, avg. 35.83, SR 142.58.
• Andre Russell has a batting strike rate of 176 in IPL matches in India. Also, RCB should look to go short to him as he has scored an unbelievable 139 off 43 against full deliveries (vs pace) in the IPL.
• Ajinkya Rahane vs RCB: 21 innings, 639 runs, avg. 37.59, SR 129.35.

Dr DY Patil Sports Academy Mumbai Pitch Report and Weather

RCB smashed 205 on this ground vs Punjab on Sunday, but that wasn’t a winning total on a magnificent batting pitch. Expect another excellent batting surface today, with the captain very likely to choose to chase with some possible dew around.

Another clear and warm evening is forecast in Mumbai.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article as well as your own instincts to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

• Wicket-keepers: Dinesh Karthik
• Batsmen: Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer
• All-rounders: Andre Russell, Sunil Narine
• Bowlers: Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj

Match Prediction

Rajasthan Royals broke the trend of chasing teams winning in IPL 2022. Here, the chasing team will have an edge on such a ground, so a score 180+ batting first will be key. RCB, with plenty to prove, will be motivated to put on a good show.