Ahmedabad: Two contrasting sides, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will battle in match No 30 in IPL 2021. Both teams will meet on Monday at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Both franchises are coming off comprehensive defeats at the hands of Delhi Capitals (DC) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) respectively. Virat Kohli’s RCB have five wins out of seven games while KKR has managed to win two games out of seven.
Talking about KKR, having started the season with a win under World Cup winning captain, Eoin Morgan, KKR so far have failed to impress, facing five defeats in seven matches. They are at the sixth spot in the IPL 2021 table, staring at early elimination for straight third season.
The biggest failure for KKR this season so far is been their top-order batting. The top three who all are Indian talents: Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi have failed to score big runs on the board. Touted as one of the most talented players in the tournament, Shubhman Gill is struggling this year while his colleagues Nitish Rana and Rahul Tripathi have been occasional.
Down the middle-order, it looks completely in muddle as skipper Eoin Morgan, Dinesh Karthik, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine have failed completely to score big or match-winning knocks for their side. Head coach Brendon McCullum had questioned their batsmen's ‘intent’ after they played Delhi Capitals and lost the game by seven wickets.
Given the current scenario, skipper Morgan needs to take some hard calls with regards to his top-order, something he has stuck to since day 1 of the tournament. It’s time that KKR may bring New Zealand’s Tom Seifert. They also have uncapped batsman Venkatesh Iyer. Sunil Narine hasn’t got going with the bat at all and isn’t as effective with the ball too. Perhaps they can consider bringing back Bangladesh’s all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in place of him. Meanwhile, Pat Cummins, Shivam Mavi, P Krishna can handle the pace department.
On the other side, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) would look to get their winning streak back when they face struggling KKR who need a complete renovate for their IPL revival. The Virat Kohli-led team who enjoyed the number 1 spot in the table slipped to third at the halfway stage after suffering two defeats from their last three games.
Talking about the batting of RCB, the Bengalauru side boasts big names such as Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell while talented opener Devdutt Padikkal will also hope to score big against KKR. So far in the tournament, RCB looks a balanced side. Daniel Sams, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal are easily handling the bowling side for the Challengers.
PROBABLE XI
KKR: Tim Seifert, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan (C), Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik(w), Pawan Negi, Pat Cummins, Shivam Mavi, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy
RCB: Virat Kohli (C), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers(w), Shahbaz Ahmed, Daniel Sams, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal
RCB TO DON BLUE JERSEY
RCB have joined hands with Give India Foundation to provide 100 units of oxygen concentrators in Bangalore and other cities in the fight against COVID-19.
In a show of respect and solidarity with frontline workers, the Virat Kohli-led RCB will don a special blue kit in one of the upcoming IPL matches. The jersey will carry messages on spreading awareness about fighting the disease. RCB will later auction all the signed blue jerseys to raise donation for the cause.