RCB welcome KKR to yet another home game after their tight win against RR after another terrific display from Maxwell and Faf while Harshal sealed the game for the home team. KKR were thrown out of the game with the CSK batsman depositing their bowlers to all parts of the ground. Their batting continues to disappoint with no consistency as their spinners are the only positive of this campaign.
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Kolkata Knight Riders
A fragile pace attack has been the main reason why KKR has struggled so much. With their pacers being taken to the cleaners by the batsmen, their new addition in Weise hasn’t helped their case. This pace attack will go up against one of the best pace-hitting teams in the league. KKR look to be disciplined with the pitch and ground helping the batsmen and will look to maintain a low run rate even if they are not able to look for wickets. Their spin trio in Narine, Suyash and Varun will have their job cut out with small boundaries. KKR should look to open with their spinners who are more likely to contain the RCB batsmen with Suyash and Varun being used as their main wicket-taking options in the middle overs. The Bengaluru pitch has been on the slower side in the day games but has been an absolute belter in the evening games. RCB’s head coach talked about how they picked a slightly slower pitch last game and will look to do the same again meaning that the 12 overs of spin that KKR bowl will decide the game as they go up against the batting lineup of RCB where their 2 openers struggle to kick off against spin and the rest of their batting lineup barring Maxi haven’t scored any runs.
Despite being in poor form, Narine can give them valuable overs in the powerplay and death overs. Their batting has been very inconsistent with wickets falling from all ends and no partnerships being built. Their batsmen are swinging their bats from ball 1 and with any help from the surface, their batting order collapses like a house of cards. With Big hitters in Russel, Rinku and Roy. The onus will be on Rana and Iyer to build a stable partnership and to set a platform for their big guns to pop off.Â
This pitch is more likely to suit the batting of KKR where runs will come easy and big shots are less risky. The bowlers will have to be more disciplined on a small ground which will be their biggest challenge.
Royal Challengers Banglore
With yet another hundred-run partnership, RCB played the conditions and bowlers really well to get their 4th win of the season. Maxi-Faf-Kohli are running riots and helping this team stand up but their other batsmen are a huge concern. Having tried Shahbaz at 3, I think they will back out of this plan with the KKR spin trio bowling with Lomror and Suyash taking up numbers 3 and 5. With Suyash having the ability to play both spinners and pacers and build a solid partnership, Suyash at 3 looks like the best choice with Lomror playing after Maxi at 5. With good numbers in the SMAT against spin, Lomror will want to put his long levels to use and hit some big shots for RCB as time seems to be running out for him. Having tried Anuj in different spots, RCB will not hesitate to replace the underperforming Lomror who is yet to bowl this season and is playing as a specialist batsman. With no clarity over their role just yet, at the very least RCB will want to know what these batsmen could potentially do. Hasaranga could be their X-factor player and could help counter their spinners.
Harshal bowled brilliantly last game picking the key wicket of Samson and bowling a terrific last over executing his slower balls. If RCB dish out another slowish pitch, he will be an important bowler. Siraj continues to wreak havoc with the new ball and has been the leader of the attack. We expect Willey to play another game after a terrific outing and could be a possible backup to DK who has been failing with the bat with Hazlewood who has just recovered from a long injury.Â
RCB will have to use Shahbaz and Hasranga more efficiently. With the management being scared to deploy these bowlers against LHB batsmen, they will have to make changes to their plan as these 2 are the bowlers who can limit their run rate. With KKR having 3 left-handers in their batting order, how RCB use Shahbaz and Wanindu will decide the fate of the game.
RCB vs KKR Dream11 Team
Note: This is not our final Dream11 Team as we are not aware of the Toss Result/Final Playing XI of both teams at this moment.
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