Things have gone southwards for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in simply no time as last year’s runners-up have looked utterly woeful this time around. The team which won millions of hearts with their mind boggling batting displays last season has looked like a minnow side. You cannot probably defend a side that has time and again failed to chase mediocre totals and despite having the best batting lineup on paper, looked completely dull.
For the Knight Riders, however, a win at the Chinnaswamy Stadium would surely place in the top 2 of the points tally, meaning that they will certainly get a second chance for the playoffs in the form of a qualifier clash at Mumbai.
Overview:
RCB: Kings XI Punjab don’t have the strongest of bowling attacks in this edition, but thanks to the sheer dismal batting performance from the Royal Challengers, that lineup was made to look extraordinary. Needing 139 to win the game, Virat Kohli’s men surrendered from the very offset once Sandeep Sharma bowled a mesmerising spell to bulldoze that much feared top order.
Now playing for just pride, skipper Virat Kohli can use these games in a bid to get back to some form ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. It is hard to believe that Kohli is the same person who amassed an eye-popping tally of 973 runs in the previous edition.
KKR: The Kolkata Knight Riders went through a minor blip at home against Pune as a vicious onslaught from the young Rahul Tripathy left them in a lurch. But more than Tripathy, it was the batting failure of the Knight Riders which stunned everyone. Hopefully, for them, the injured Robin Uthappa should return to the ranks for this crucial clash and his knowledge of the local conditions will be priceless as far as the Knight Riders are concerned.
Strengths:
RCB: The term strengths seems to be a complete oxymoron when associated with the Royal Challengers Bangalore! This season, game after game, the men from Bangalore have come up with an array of soul shattering performances that can break the spirit of the team. With barely a couple of games left for their campaign to end, the side would be eager for the highly sought after batsmen of the side to come good and provide some fireworks.
KKR: On the very contrary to the hosts, the Knight Riders have almost all bases covered in style. The batting looks well set with the likes of Gautam Gambhir, Manish Pandey and Robin Uthappa in the stellar form of late. From the bowling front as well, Umesh Yadav and Chris Woakes have been spectacular, to say the least. The spin twins of Kuldeep Yadav and Sunil Narine have done wonders for the team in the middle overs.
Team Changes:
RCB: After having tried every possible combination, one can expect Travis Head to come in at the expense of Shane Watson or Chris Gayle. If fit, Tymal Mills can come in as well at the expense of Samuel Badree.
KKR: Just one change should be enough for this side as Robin Uthappa should make his way back to the team and should ideally replace Sheldon Jackson.
Head To Head:
The two sides met earlier, in what was surely the most dramatic game of the season when the Knight Riders bowled out the Royal Challengers Bangalore for a paltry 49, in defence of a mediocre target. From there on, Bangalore has been reduced to a laughing stock.
Prediction:
Unless a miracle occurs, it should be the Kolkata Knight Riders all the way and they should dictate terms in this game.