Faf du Plessis and his team showcased a remarkable resurgence in the tournament following an initial setback, clinching a victory against the Punjab Kings by 4 wickets. Their resilient batting display during the challenging run chase has injected confidence, particularly given their track record of success at their home ground. Du Plessis is keen on leveraging this home advantage to ascend the points table.
In the previous match, Virat Kohli exhibited his exceptional form, delivering a match-winning innings against the Punjab Kings. Together with du Plessis, they aim to provide RCB with a dynamic start. However, the middle order, comprising players like Cameron Green, Rajat Patidar, and Glenn Maxwell, struggled in both outings and needs to step up. Nevertheless, the good form of Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik, and Mahipal Lomror adds strength to RCB’s batting lineup.
RCB relies on a strong performance with the new ball, with Mohammad Siraj and Yash Dayal expected to replicate their previous success. However, the middle overs pose a challenge, and Alzarri Joseph and Cameron Green must rediscover their form to counter KKR’s aggressive batting lineup. Maxwell and Mayank Dagar are poised to play crucial supporting roles with the ball.
Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer’s team secured a thrilling victory against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, clinching a narrow win by 4 runs in a tense encounter. However, their bowling unit struggled in the opening game and will need to elevate their performance.
Philip Salt’s impressive form is a positive sign for KKR, relying on him and Sunil Narine to provide a solid start. The middle order, featuring Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer, and Nitish Rana, needs to deliver after a lackluster performance in the last match. Nonetheless, the strong form of Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, and Andre Russell augments the team’s confidence.
Concerns arise from Mitchell Starc and Harshit Rana’s underwhelming performance in the previous fixture, particularly against a formidable batting lineup like RCB’s. Sunil Narine’s confidence-boosting display will be crucial, collaborating with Varun Chakaravarthy to control the run rate during the middle overs. Andre Russell and Suyash Sharma are expected to play pivotal supporting roles with the ball.
