As per the reports in NDTV, the clash between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) which is scheduled to take place on May 2 at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru is under rain threat and there are high possibilities that it might turn out to be a wash-out.
It has been raining heavily in Bengaluru from the past four to five days and if the weather reports are to be believed, thunderstorms are expected spoil the much anticipated clash between the two favourites to win the IPL 8. A couple of days ago, continuous showers accompanied with hailstones forced the abandonment of the match between RCB-RR and there are no signs of a let up in the wet weather. With the tournament poised to enter the business end, neither team can afford to lose points from here on. RCB have seven points in as many outings whereas KKR have nine points in eight games and are placed at third position.
After the win against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 30, it looks like that KKR are well back on track. Robin Uthappa, who had lean run in the first seven matches, finally struck form with a well made 80 off just 58 balls with seven 4s and a six. Andre Russell played a blistering innings of 55 and along with Uthappa put on a 112-run partnership to guide KKR to a resounding win against the second placed MS Dhoni led CSK by 7 wickets. Their bowling, led by the 44-year old Brad Hogg, has been disciplined and continuous good shows will guarantee their team a place in the last four.
On the other hand, Virat Kohli-led RCB has done extremely well in posting two wins after suffering three consecutive losses to get back into the tournament and their most recent performances, despite a struggling middle-order, point to a side that is gelling together nicely as a force to reckon with. Mitchell Starc has been the game-changer and he would like to continue in the same fashion and help his team register a spot in the last four.
In their last encounter this season,, RCB won by 3 wickets win at the Eden Gardens in a high scoring game. KKR scored 177/6 courtesy an 81-run opening stand between Uthappa (35) and Gambhir (58), but RCB reached the target with six balls to spare, thanks to Chris Gayle’s swashbuckling innings of 96 off just 56 balls.
Both sides and especially the fans will desperately hope for some clear weather to see some crackling performances from their stars, both the established and new ones.