KKR VS RCB
Match Preview
The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) take on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Eliminator of IPL 2021 on Monday, October 11th, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah.
RCB finished third in the points table with nine wins from fourteen games, missing out on second place to CSK with an inferior NRR. Nevertheless, they'll take heart from their pretty solid showing in the UAE leg, albeit after a jittery start. They come into this game on the back of a morale-boosting last-ball victory over DC by seven wickets.
Bowling first, RCB had another wicketless first ten overs. However, they pulled things back well once more, restricting DC to 164/5. They stuttered early in their run chase, losing both their openers in the first three overs. AB De Villiers' lean run continued as he fell after a run a ball 26. However, Glenn Maxwell and Srikar Bharat stitched an unbeaten 111-run partnership to take them home.
While Maxwell made the most of three dropped chances, Bharat stole the show for RCB. His 52-ball 78, including a six off the last ball, helped RCB equal CSK on points, though it wasn't enough to secure second place. However, this performance should give him lots of confidence and lend RCB's top order a stronger look.
KKR, meanwhile, would've had some nervy moments after seeing MI blaze away, but they managed to qualify comfortably for the playoffs. Finishing level on points with MI, KKR's superior NRR helped them make the top four. Their significant margin of victory over RR in the final group stage match proved to be crucial.
Batting first on a slow Sharjah track, the KKR batters batted patiently and accelerated at the right moments. It helped them to an above-par total of 171/4. In reply, their accurate bowling was too much to handle for an RR side looking to score runs quickly. In the end, they bowled the Royals out for 85, winning by 86 runs.
While RCB bludgeoned KKR to submission in their meeting at Chennai earlier in the season, KKR hit back in style to win by nine wickets and ten overs to spare at Abu Dhabi. The stage, therefore, is set for an enthralling cricket match in Sharjah.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
Glenn Maxwell has been simply outstanding. The Australian has scored four half-centuries in his last five matches, which could have easily been five had it not been for a run out against SRH.
Maxwell slammed 78 off 49 balls vs KKR earlier in IPL 2021, before falling for just 7 against them in his first match of the UAE leg. Also, Maxwell enjoys batting at Sharjah, with three half-centuries in five games including 57 in his last match on this ground.
Virat Kohli :- :- Fans are waiting for Virat Kohli to hit top form. The RCB skipper has scored just 59 runs in his last four innings, and made just the twin scores of 5 vs KKR in the league stage.
No player has more runs than Virat in RCB-KKR matches, with 735 in 25 innings at an average of 35.00 and strike rate of 128.72.
Srikar Bharat :- What a superb knock it was by Srikar Bharat against Delhi Capitals (78* off 52 balls). Now RCB can focus on playing him in his preferred position of number three in a big game.
AB de Villiers is still seeking his best form in the UAE leg. The great batsman has a strike rate of 163.38 in 18 innings for RCB vs KKR (464 runs, avg. 35.69). He smashed 76* off 34 balls against KKR at Chennai earlier this season.
Harshal Patel :- :- What a season Harshal Patel is having. His 30 wickets are the most ever by an Indian bowler in an IPL season, and he will be a factor on the slow Sharjah surface. He took 2/17 vs KKR on the slow Chennai pitch earlier in IPL 2021.
Yuzvendra Chahal took just four wickets in the first seven matches of IPL 2021. In the UAE leg, Chahal has been superb, taking 12 wickets in seven matches with at least one scalp in each game.
Chahal has taken 17 wickets in 16 games for RCB vs KKR at an average of 26. He enjoys bowling at Sharjah, with figures of 1/26 and 3/29 this season.
Team News
W Hasranga and D Chameera released from squad so they will not available for selection
Probable XI
Virat Kohli (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Srikar Bharat (wk), Daniel Christian, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, George Garton, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Shubman Gill comes into this match on the back of two half-centuries. Encouragingly, he scored his last half-century whilst batting first, which is usually difficult for Gill (average of 26.1 compared to 39.1 batting second).
Gill scored 48 in his last outing vs RCB after KKR rolled them for 92. He will be aiming to continue to improve his record vs RCB that reads: 7 inns, 121 runs, avg. 24.20, SR 134.44.
Venkatesh Iyer has been key to KKR’s rise this season (7 inns, 239 runs, avg. 39.83, SR 129.18). He struck 41* on IPL debut vs RCB earlier this season.
Rahul Tripathi has also been key to KKR’s form even though he hasn’t scored big runs in his last four matches (9, 34, 7, 21). He has scored 377 runs in 13 innings this season at an average of 31.41 and strike rate of 142.80.
Tripathi has a poor record for KKR vs RCB (3 inns, 42 runs), but has a fine career record against them in IPL (8 inns, 238 runs, avg. 47.60, SR 129.35).
Nitish Rana has a solid record for KKR vs RCB: 7 inns, 198 runs, avg. 39.60, SR 152.31. He has made a double-figure score in each of his last five matches (37*, 36*, 31, 25, 12), so will be looking to build on that today if he gets the opportunity.
Andre Russell’s fitness could be a key factor in deciding today’s result. He has an unbelievable record vs RCB, with 339 runs at an average of 48.43 and strike rate of 215.92. He also has 10 wickets in 11 matches, including 3/9 earlier this season where he dismissed AB de Villiers with a great yorker first ball.
Varun Chakravarthy was player of the match vs RCB in the UAE leg (3/13). He has five wickets in four matches against them at an average of 21. Interestingly, though, Chakravarthy has taken just three wickets in five matches at Sharjah, striking every 40 balls.
Lockie Ferguson has been brilliant in the UAE leg of IPL 2021. He has taken 10 wickets in five matches, including 2/24 vs RCB. Genuine wicket-taker. As is Shivam Mavi on this ground, after his haul of 4/21 vs RR.
Team News
A Russell is fit and available for selection if he play then Shakib Al Hasan will miss out
Probable XI
Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan (c), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Shakib Al Hasan/Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakaravarthy
Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 29, RCB 13, KKR 16.
Both teams won a game against each other this season. The latest was a thumping win for KKR by nine wickets, after RCB won the previous four matches.
Virat Kohli has scored just 42 runs off 47 deliveries vs spin in the UAE leg. He hasn’t been dismissed by spin in this period, but KKR could look to employ spin to keep the RCB skipper quiet.
In contrast, Glenn Maxwell has smashed 101 runs off 63 balls vs spin in the middle overs in the UAE leg.
Interestingly, the team who has scored more in the powerplay has gone on to win each match at Sharjah this season. Scoring against the new ball will be key.
Pitch Report
Slow and sluggish is the narrative at Sharjah this season. The fact that all teams who scored more in the powerplay went on to win their matches at Sharjah suggests the scoring gets really tough once the ball gets older.The average first innings score on this ground this season is 137, with the chasing team winning five of the eight matches. Any score in the region of 150-160 should be a tough chase.
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