IPL Preview Match 5: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) host perennial underachievers Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday’s second match in the Indian Premier League. KKR defeated Mumbai Indians in the opening match of the tournament without stretching themselves too much. It will be a different ballgame against the Bangalore side. RCB has some of the world’s most explosive batsmen in their ranks: Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, and AB de Villiers. If at least a couple of them get going, it’s going to be a miserable weekend for the KKR bowlers.

Preview – KKR

The Knight Riders dished out a thoroughly professional performance in the opening match, befitting a reigning champion. Everything went according to plan, except perhaps for slog over bowling. Nobody will worry too much about runs leaked in the death over bowling in the IPL. The team batting first tend to score heavily in the final few overs.

Still, KKR will have reasons to worry. Their success in the last few years was built on the terrific death bowling, especially by Sunil Narine. He has remodelled his action recently. Evidence from the first match suggests that he has not regained his best form with the new action. His tussle with Kohli and de Villiers will offer further clues on this matter.

The Knight Riders batting clicked, with almost all their batters getting a start. Gautam Gambhir and company will look for more of the same against Royal Challengers.

Preview – RCB

RCB possesses the best bowler in the planet at the moment: Mitchell Starc. Varun Aaron and Ashok Dinda will offer him good support. In spite of the presence of three international bowlers and a handy spin option of Yuzvendra Chahal, their bowling looks their weaker department.

Perhaps it is because of their omnipotent batting line-up. To the batting troika of Kohli, Gayle and de Villiers, add the brisk scoring prowess of Dinesh Karthik, S Badrinath and Darren Sammy. You have a team that can bat out the opponents in every single game. All they have to do is to find their team combination right.

Prediction

KKR and RCB have played 12 matches against each other, with each team winning six matches apiece. But RCB has won only one of its four matches in Kolkata against KKR. This is a great chance for the team to better that record.