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Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore will meet at Abu Dhabi for the 31st match of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League. In the first phase, RCB won five and lost matches, while KKR won just two and lost five.
Kolkata need inspiration from their past. They ended the first phase of the league at seventh place, and will be hopeful for the next leg after the break. They also have the potential to turn the table, something they have done before. The good thing is that they do not have to adjust with too many changes, their only addition being Tim Southee in the place of Pat Cummins.
The top and middle-order will have to chip in before the in-form Andre Russell and Sunil Narine accelerate. Their young Indian top order, consisting of Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, and Nitish Rana, looks promising, but they need to deliver consistently. Good partnerships at the top will help hitters like Dinesh Karthik, Eoin Morgan, Russell and Narine to bat at full flow.
In the absence of Cummins, Kolkata are likely to play Lockie Ferguson. Apart from Ferguson and Southee, they have the regulars in the bowling department – Varun Chakravarthy and Prasidh Krishna. Mavi and Nagarkoti have been backed by the franchise for a long, and have started producing results when given opportunities.
Bangalore are at third place with a strong squad to field. They looked in the first phase, when they won more than two games in a row at the start of an IPL season for the first time.
Historically, they have always boasted of a strong batting line-up and this edition is not any exception. Apart from Virat Kohli and A.B. de Villiers with contributions from Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, and all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed. The inclusion of Glenn Maxwell was a big plus for them, as it took pressure off Kohli and de Villiers. On a lucky day, all three can destroy any bowling attack in the world.
They will miss the service of Washington Sundar and Adam Zampa, but they have managed to rope in Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera. Kohli has spoken about the potential of Hasaranga and Chameera in the UAE. Of the two, Hasaranga is likelier to get a call tonight, along with the three other overseas players, de Villiers, Maxwell, and Kyle Jamieson.
Betway fantasy tips
- Bet on Kohli, de Villiers, and Maxwell. This is Kohli's last season as RCB captain and he is expected to have a blast.
- CPL stars Russell and Narine are in good form. Kolkata will expect to see them at their best.
- Chakravarthy and Chahal, the primary spinners in the match, are likely to utilise the conditions well.
Likely XIs
Kolkata Knight Riders: Nitish Rana, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan (capt), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy, Prasidh Krishna
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli (capt), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, A.B. de Villiers (wk), Shahbaz Ahmed, Kyle Jamieson, Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal
Prediction
Royal Challengers Bangalore look favourites.
Blitzpools fantasy XI
AB de Villiers (wk); Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Glenn Maxwell, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi; Sunil Narine; Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, Varun Chakravarthy, Lockie Ferguson
