With the playoffs race looking intense, KKR are all set to face RCB. Although both teams are well placed a lose for KKR could create a spicy and tricky situation. The last time these two teams met in IPL 2020, an ABD-inspired RCB thrashed KKR by a whopping margin of 82 runs. However, KKR, with a rejuvenated bowling attack in place, should prove to be a tougher test this time around, and this should make for an absolutely brilliant contest in IPL 2020 this Wednesday.
Match Details:
Match:
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Match 39
Date:
21st October 2020, 7:30 PM IST
Venue:
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
What To Expect:
As seen in the previous IPL 2020 game in Abu Dhabi, the bowlers will play a massive role with ample help on offer in the middle overs. Although run-scoring is relatively easy in the powerplay overs against the new ball, the pacers have enjoyed some swing upfront, which has kept the batsmen on their toes.Teams have generally opted to see out the initial phase, with wickets in hand being quite handy at this venue. Although teams have notched up scores of over 170 at this venue, anything in between 150-160 should be very competitive given the slowness of the track.With the pitch expected to slow down as the game progresses, both teams would ideally want to bat first upon winning the toss.
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
Royal Challengers Bangalore have done incredibly well this season with the likes of Chris Morris and Devdutt Padikkal starring with ball and bat respectively. While the duo of AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli continue to plunder oppositions with their exquisite shot-making, RCB have finally found a balance between bat and ball, which has reflected in their form as well. With six wins in nine games, RCB need two more to qualify for the playoffs, and they would love to get the job done as early as possible.
RCB Predicted Playing XI:
Aaron Finch, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers (WK), Gurkeerat Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Chris Morris, Washington Sundar, Isuru Udana, Yuzvendra Chahal and Navdeep Saini
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Despite all the chaos surrounding the captaincy and Sunil Narine’s bowling action, the Kolkata Knight Riders sit happily in the top half of the points table with ten points in nine games. Despite their batsmen yet to fire collectively in IPL 2020, KKR have managed to come through in close encounters, which should hold them in good stead in the coming weeks. With Lockie Ferguson their bowling looks settled as well.
KKR Predicted Playing XI:
Rahul Tripathi, Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Eoin Morgan (C), Andre Russell/Sunil Narine, Pat Cummins, Shivam Mavi, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav/Siddhesh Lad