Match Preview - KKR vs RCB thirty sixth Match, IPL

Match particulars

Kolkata Knight Riders (2nd; W4, L2) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (tenth; W1, L6)Kolkata, 1530 IST (1000 GMT)

Huge image – Narine vs RCB

With 5 defeats in a row, and simply two factors from seven video games, RCB are combating for survival. They’re on the backside of the factors desk and a defeat in opposition to KKR on Sunday will push them to the brink of elimination.

To keep away from that, their batters must win the battle in opposition to KKR’s spinners, particularly Sunil Narine.

Virat Kohli has been the torch-bearer of RCB’s batting for years, however in the previous couple of years, spin has confirmed to be his kryptonite in T20s. Because the begin of 2020, his strike fee in opposition to spin is 113.52. Throughout the identical interval, he has struck at 145.79 in opposition to tempo.

Nonetheless, Kohli appears to have addressed this subject considerably and has scored at a way more respectable 130.09 in opposition to spin in IPL 2024. He even dominated Narine (21 off 12) when these two sides met earlier within the event. But it surely is not going to be simple at Eden Gardens, particularly if the pitch is on the slower aspect. Kohli’s total file in opposition to Narine just isn’t nice both: 162 runs off 157 balls with 4 dismissals.

And it is not simply Kohli. Faf du Plessis and Dinesh Karthik have additionally struggled to attain freely in opposition to Narine. Du Plessis has a strike fee of 77.14 in opposition to him and Karthik 119.29. To date this season, Narine has seven wickets in six video games at a wonderful economic system of 6.87.

Narine has been simply as distinctive with the bat. Again as opener, and regardless of the two-bouncer rule, he has scored 276 runs at a strike fee of 187.75. Beforehand, quick bowlers would get him out with the brief ball. This time, too, he has not appeared in management in opposition to the brief ball always, however has managed to outlive and has made oppositions pay. RCB already have a style of that of their earlier assembly with KKR.

Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli have their jobs reduce out•BCCI

Type information

Kolkata Knight Riders LWLWW (final 5 matches, most up-to-date first)Royal Challengers Bengaluru LLLLL

Earlier assembly

Earlier within the season, KKR thrashed RCB by seven wickets on the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Batting first, RCB posted 182 for six with Kohli scoring an unbeaten 83 off 59 balls. In response, Narine smashed 47 off 22 balls and Venkatesh Iyer 50 off 30 as KKR chased down the goal within the seventeenth over.

Group information and affect participant technique

Kolkata Knight Riders
Given the RCB batters’ sub-par file in opposition to spin, there’s a case to play a 3rd spinner, Suyash Sharma, instead of Vaibhav Arora. One among Suyash and Ramandeep Singh may very well be the affect participant, relying on whether or not KKR are batting first or bowling.

Possible XII: 1 Phil Salt (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 4 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 5 Venkatesh Iyer, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Rinku Singh, 8 Ramandeep Singh, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Harshit Rana, 12 Suyash Sharma/Vaibhav Arora

Possible XII: 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Faf du Plessis (capt), 3 Will Jacks, 4 Rajat Patidar, 5 Saurav Chauhan, 6 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7 Mahipal Lomror, 8 Anuj Rawat, 9 Vijaykumar Vyshak, 10 Reece Topley, 11 Lockie Ferguson, 12 Mayank Dagar/Yash Dayal

Mitchell Starc has started to pick up wickets but is still KKR's most expensive bowler this season

Mitchell Starc has began to choose up wickets however remains to be KKR’s most costly bowler this season•BCCI

Within the highlight – Mitchell Starc and Faf du Plessis

Mitchell Starc, the most costly purchase in IPL historical past, began the season poorly however has began to point out indicators of settling in. General, although, in six video games, he has simply 5 wickets and his economic system of 10.54 is the poorest amongst KKR’s frontline bowlers. With no different skilled seamer within the squad, KKR will want Starc to show his season round sooner slightly than later.

In the meantime, Dinesh Karthik is having a dream season. He has constantly supplied RCB with robust finishes and is their third-highest run-scorer with a tally of 226 in six innings. Amongst those that have scored at the very least 200 runs this season, his strike fee of 205.45 is the very best. In truth, in 4 of his six innings, he has struck at greater than 230. If he continues in the identical method, he may even discover himself in India’s T20 World Cup squad, which he stated shall be “the best feeling” for him at this stage of his profession.

Pitch and situations

To date this season, Eden Gardens has hosted three video games. In two of these, 200 was breached in all 4 innings. Within the third, KKR chased down 162 in opposition to Lucknow Tremendous Giants within the sixteenth over. But it surely must be seen whether or not it will likely be one other run fest or KKR will dish out a barely completely different floor. Given it is a day sport, there shall be a temptation to bat first on profitable the toss.

Dinesh Karthik has brought out his best finisher's self this IPL

Dinesh Karthik has introduced out his finest finisher’s self this IPL•Related Press

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Quotes

“It is not essentially the most proficient group that goes on to win the IPL. It is essentially the most brave group, that is keen to struggle until the final drop of blood, will go on to win the IPL.”Gautam Gambhir on what makes an IPL-winning group

“The idea is unquestionably there. If you do not have perception, there isn’t a level taking part in a event just like the IPL. Yearly there shall be a few groups at this stage looking for their toes and there have been so many cases after they have picked up and gained the matches. We consider that if we will do one thing particular and win a couple of matches, we may get that momentum – that attention-grabbing phrase that all the time occurs within the IPL – and use that to our confidence.”Dinesh Karthik on RCB’s playoff possibilities

Hemant Brar is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

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