Royal Challengers Bangalore dream run in this IPL continues and it shows in thier position on the points table. They have moved second on the points table moving past Mumbai Indians. Although they are still fourth, but plenty to think about for Eoin Morgan if they have to qualify for the playoffs.
Tomorrow Rajasthan Royals take on Sunrisers Hyderabad. The match is importnat for both the sides as the winner would keep the hopes of a playoff spot alive.
Join us for the coverage of that match. Goodnight for now.
Mohammed Siraj: Was bowling with the new ball a lot in practice, got the opportunity today. Mood in the camp is great. Everyone is supporting each other, talking to each other. Cherished the delivery to Rana, came out exactly as I had thought.
Player of the Match
For bowling a superb spell of 4-2-8-3, and for the first time in the history of IPL bowling back to back mainden overs, RCB's Mohammed Siraj is the Player of the Match.
Virat Kohli: It was a late call to be honest (to give Siraj the new ball). Was thinking of giving Washy. I obviously have thought about the things we can do on the field. Management have brought in a proper culure. We have plan A, we have plan B, and people are executing it that's why it's looking good. Don't think lot of people have belief in RCB. Guys in the changeroom do and that's all that matters. Can have the best players in the world but if you don;'t have the belief it's no good. Morris is loving the responsibility. He likes to be in a leadership role in the team. Even against Kings, he tried to york Gayle. His energy is amazing. A great, great addition to our squad. Last year he had a tough year. Lot of people went hard at him. But he worked hard. He's seeing the result now and we want him to continue.
Eoin Morgan: Being 4/5 down early on isn't the position we wanted to be in. RCB bowled well and probably looking at the conditions, we should have bowled first. We will learn our lessons and move in in the next game. It was a question of backing the young Indian guys who showed glimpses of talent and potential. They (RCB bowlers) managed to exploit anything that was on offer and given the nature of the tournament every time you have to be at your best against every team. Hopefully they (Narine and Russell) will be available round the corner and we know when guys of that calibre, particularly all-rounders are available, things will be different. Hopefully they will be available soon.
Result
Royal Challenegers Banglore win by 8 wickets.
RCB 85/2 after 13.3 overs.
Krishna to bowl. Kohli is on strike.
13.1 Fuller ball and Kohli flicks the ball to square leg for 2 runs.
13.2 Good yorker and Kohli digs the ball out.
13.3 Short ball outside off stump. Kohli plays the ball down to third man for 2 runs.
RCB 82/2 after 13 overs.
Ferguson to bowl. Kohli is on strike.
12.1 FOUR! Fuller delivery outsdie off. Kohli smashes the ball to deep midwicket for a boundary.
12.2 Fuller delivery outside off. Kohli plays the ball to cover for a single.
12.3 Fulle ball and Mann plays the ball back to Ferguson.
12.4 Fuller ball and Mann hits the ball straight. Ferguson stops the ball.
12.5 Short ball outside off. Mann goes for a cut but misses.
12.6 Fuller ball and Mann pushes the ball to mid-off.
RCB 77/2 after 12 overs.
Chakravarthy to bowl. Mann is on strike.
11.1 Fuller ball and Mann plays the ball to cover.
11.2 Fuller ball and Mann plays the ball to midwicket.
11.3 FOUR! Short ball and Mann plays a late cut down to third man for a boundary.
11.4 FOUR! Fuller ball and Mann sweeps the ball to square leg for a boundary.
11.5 Fuller ball and Mann plays the ball to long-on for a single.
11.6 Fuller ball and Kohli pushes the ball to sweeper cover for a single.
RCB 67/2 after 11 overs.
Ferguson to bowl. Kohli is on strike.
10.1 Short ball outside off. Kohli blocks the ball.
10.2 Short ball outside off. Kohli plays the ball down to third man for a run.
10.3 Short ball outside off. Mann goes for cut but misses.
10.4 Short ball outside off. Mann plays the ball down to third man for a run.
10.5 Good length ball outside off. Kohli plays the ball to leg side for a single.
10.6 Fuller delivery on off stump. Mann plays the ball to min-on for a run.
RCB 63/2 after 10 overs.
Chakravarthy to bowl. Kohli is on strike.
9.1 Fuller ball outside off. Kohli plays the ball to cover.
9.2 FOUR! Short ball outsdie off stump. Kohli cuts the ball through backward point for a boundary.
9.3 Fuller ball and and Kohli plays the ball to off side for a single.
9.4 Fuller ball and Mann pushes the ball back to the bowler.
9.5 FOUR! Good length ball and Mann plays the ball over extra cover for a boundary.
9.6 Short ball and Mann goes for sweep but misses.
RCB 54/2 after 9 overs.
Ferguson into his second over. Mann is on strike.
8.1 Fuller ball and Mann pushes the ball back to the bowler.
8.2 Good length ball outside off. Mann plays the ball towards the fielder at short midwicket.
8.3 Short ball outside off. Mann gets on the top of the bounce and plays the ball to leg side.
8.4 FOUR! Good length ball outside off. Mann punches the ball through cover for a boundary.
8.5 Short ball and Mann plays the ball to leg side for a single.
8.6 Short ball outside off. Kohli guides the ball down to third man for a single.
RCB 48/2 after 8 overs.
Chakravarthy to bowl. Kohli is on strike.
7.1 Fuller ball and Kohli drives the ball down to long-off for a single.
7.2 Short ball and Mann pushes the ball to cover.
7.3 Fuller ball and Mann plays the ball to leg side for a run.
7.4 Fuller ball and Kohli drives the ball back to the bowler.
7.5 Short ball and Kohli plays the ball to leg side.
7.6 Fuller ball and Kohli drives the ball to cover.
RCB 46/2 after 7 overs.
Lockie Ferguson to bowl. Padikkal is on strike.
6.1 Good length ball outside off stump. Padikkal plays the ball to off side for a run.
6.1 WIDE! Poor ball by Ferguson as he bowls down the leg side.
6.2 WICKET! Finch c Karthik b Ferguson 16(21)
Good length delivery outside off stump. The bal swings back in. Finch goes for cut. The ball takes the thick outside edge and flies to the keeper.
Gurkeerat Singh Mann is the new batsman.
6.3 Good length ball on middle stump. Mann blocks the ball.
6.4 WICKET! Devdutt Padikkal run out (Cummins) 25(17)
Good length ball. Mann plays the ball to leg side. There is a mix up between the two batsmen. Padikkal is half way down the track. The fielder at leg side collects the ball and goes to non striker's end and runs-out Padikkal.
Virat Kohli is the new batsman.
6.5 Fuller ball and Mann plays the ball to leg side.
6.6. Fuller delivery and Mann drives the ball to cover.
RCB 44/0 after 6 overs.
Varun Chakravarthy to bowl. Padikkal is on strike.
5.1 Short ball outside off. Padikkal plays the ball to leg side for a run.
5.2 Short ball outside off. Finch sweeps the ball to short fine for a single.
5.3 FOUR! Short ball outside off. Padikkal cuts the ball through backward point for a boundary.
5.4 Short ball and Padikkal plays the ball to mid-on for a run.
5.5 Fuller delivery outside off stump. Finch drives the all to cover.
5.6 Fuller delivery and Finch blocks the ball.
RCB 37/0 after 5 overs.
Cummins to bowl. Padikkal is on strike.
4.1 Good length ball and Padikkal plays the ball to leg side for 2 runs.
4.2 Fuller delivery and Padikkal flicks the ball to square leg for a single.
4.3 Good length ball outside off. Finch pushes the ball through cover for 2 runs.
4.4 Short ball outside off. Finch plays the ball to point.
4.5 Good short ball. Finch ducks and leaves the ball for the keeper.
4.6 FOUR! Fuller delivery on off stump. Finch takes a step out of his crease and flicks the ball to square leg for a boundary.
RCB 28/0 after 4 overs.
Prasidh Krishna continues. Padikkal is on strike.
3.1 Fuller ball outside off stump. Padikkal guides the ball down to third man for a single.
3.2 Good length ball on middle stump. Finch blocks the ball.
3.3. Fuller ball and Finch plays the ball to leg side for a single.
3.4 FOUR! Fuller delivery outside off stump. Padikkal lifts the ball over mid-off for a boundary.
3.5 Fuller delivery outside off. Padikkal plays the ball down to long-off and gets 3 runs.
3.6 FOUR! Short ball outside off stump. Finch gets an inside edge and the ball rolls down to fine leg for a boundary.
RCB 15/0 after 3 overs.
Cummins continues. Finch is on strike.
2.1 WIDE! Poor ball by Cummins as he bowls down the leg side.
2.1 Good length ball on middle stump. Finch takes a step out of his crease and plays the ball to off side.
2.2. Fuller ball and Cummins plays the ball to cover for a single.
2.3 FOUR! Fuller ball on leg stump. Padikkal makes room and plays the ball over mid-off for a single.
2.4 Fuller ball outside off stump. Padikkal plays the ball down to third man for a run.
2.5 Good length ball on middle stump. Finch comes out of his crease. The ball hits his pads and goes to leg side.
2.6 Fuller ball just outside off stump. Finch pushes the ball to cover.
RCB 8/0 after 2 overs.
Prasidh Krishna to bowl. Finch is on strike.
1.1 Short ball outside off stump. Finch blocks the ball.
1.1 WIDE! Poor ball by Krishna as he bowls down the leg side.
1.2 Fuller delivery on middle stump. Finch plays the ball to mid-on and takes a run.
1.3 BEATEN! Fuller delivery on off stump. Padikkal goes for a wild swing but misses.
1.4 Fuller delivery outside off stump. Padikkal flashes the ball down to third man for a single.
1.5 Good length ball outside off stump. Finch looks to play the ball but the ball goes through the gap between the bat and the pad.
1.6 Fuller delivery and Finch plays the ball to mid-on for a run.
RCB 4/0 after 1 over.
Pat Cummins to bowl the first over. Padikkal is on strike.
0.1 Good length ball outside off stump. Padikkal leaves the ball for the keeper.
0.2 Good length ball outside off stump. Padikkal plays the ball down to third man for a single.
0.3 2 Leg Byes! Fuller delivery on middle stump. The ball hits the pads and goes to leg side. Finch completes 2 runs.
0.4 Fuller delivery and Finch flicks the ball to leg side for a single.
0.5 Good length ball outside off stump. Padikall drives the ball to off side.
0.6 Good length ball on middle stump. Padikkal blocks the ball.
So, RCB's chase is about to begin. Devdutt Padikkal and Aaron Finch to open the innings. This should be an easy chase.
KKR 84/8 after 20 overs.
Morris to bowl the last over. Kuldeep is on strike.
19.1 FOUR! Good length delivery. Kuldeep swings his bat and sends the ball down to midwicket for a boundary.
19.2 Fuller delivery. Kuldeep makes room and plays the ball to sweeper cover for a single.
19.3 Short delivery. Ferguson goes for a big shot. The ball takes the top edge of the bat and goes high in the air. The ball goes in no man's land and Ferguson takes 2 runs.
19.4 Fuller delivery and Ferguson plays the ball to long-off for 2 runs.
19.5 Good length delivery and Ferguson goes for big shot but misses.
19.6 WICKET! Kuldeep Yadav run out (Gurkeerat Singh/Chris Morris) 12(19)
Fuller ball. Ferguson plays the ball to leg side. He takes first run quicky. He wants the second run. The thrown from the deep is good and Kuldeep is short of his ground.
KKR 74/7 after 19 overs.
Siraj to bowl his last over. Ferguson is on strike.
18.1 Full delivery fired on the blockhole. Ferguson plays the ball to cover for a single.
18.2 Fuller delivery and Kuldeep plays the ball to midwicket for a single.
18.3 Good length delivery and Ferguson plays the ball to long-on for a run.
18.4 Good length ball and Kuldeep plays the ball to midwicket for a single//.
18.5 Fuller delivety and Ferguson plays the ball for a single.
18.6 Fuller deliveyr and Kuldeep plays the ball to off side for a single.
KKR 68/7 after 18 overs.
Morris to bowl. Ferguson is on strike.
17.1 Fuller delivery. Ferguson goes for big shot but misses.
17.2 Low full toss and Ferguson plays the ball to deep square for 2 runs.
17.3 Juicy delivery on off stump. Ferguson plays the ball to the fielder at backward point.
17.4 Full delivery on good length. Ferguson plays the ball to mid on for a single.
17.5 Short ball outside off stump. Kuldeep goes for a cut but the ball goes past him.
17.6 Fuller delivery outside off stump. Kuldeep makes room and plays the ball to backward point.
KKR 65/7 after 17 overs.
Chahal to bowl. Ferguson is on strike.
16.1 FOUR! Good length ball on off stump. Ferguson gets the outside edge of the bat. The ball goes past Virat Kohli at first slip down to third man for a boundary.
16.2 Fuller delivery and Ferguson plays the ball to leg side for 2 runs.
16.3 Good length delivery and Ferguso is beaten.
16.4 Tossed up loopy delivery. Ferguso plays the ball through cover for a single.
16.5 Good delivery and Kuldeep tries a reverse sweep but misses.
16.6 Fuller delivery and Kuldeep plays the ball to midwicket.
KKR 58/7 after 16 overs.
Sundar to bowl. Kuldeep is on strike.
15.1 Fuller delivery on middle stump. Kulddep blocks.
15.2 Good length delivery outside off stump. Kuldeep pushes the ball to off side for a run.
15.3 FOUR! Fuller delivery and Morgan sweeps the ball to square leg for a boundary.
15.4 WICKET! Morgan c Gurkeerat Singh b Washington Sundar 30(34)
Short ball outside off stump. Morgan pulls the ball. The ball goes straight down the throat of the Gurkeerat Singh at deep square leg.
Lockie Ferguson is the new batsman.
15.5 Good length delivery. Ferguson plays the ball to leg side for a run.
15.6 Fuller delivery and Kuldeep blocks the ball.
KKR 52/6 after 15 overs.
Saini is back in the attack. Morgan is on strike.
14.1 Good length delivery around off stump. Morgan plays the ball to off side for a single.
14.2 Full delivery on off stump. Kuldeep shuffles and plays the ball back to the bowler.
14.3 Good length delivery on off stump. Kuldeep blocks the ball.
14.4 Fuller delivery outside off stump. Kuldeep leaves the ball for the keeper.
14.5 Short delivery around off stump. Kuldeep plays the ball to off side for a single.
14.6 FOUR! Short ball and Morgan pulls to send the ball to square leg for a boundary.
KKR 41/6 after 13 overs.
Chahal to bowl. On strike is Morgan.
12.1 Full ball on middle and leg. Morgan plays the ball to long-on for a single.
12.2 Full and falt delivery and Cummins pushes the ball back to the bowler.
12.3 WICKET! Cummins c Devdutt Padikkal b Chahal 4(17)
Good slow ball outside off stump. Cummins goes for a big shot over long-off. The shot doesn't have much power behind it. Devdutt Padikkal at long-off takes a good catch.
Kuldeep Yadav is the new batsman.
12.4 Fuller delivery and Morgan pushes the ball back to the bowler.
12.5 Fuller delivery spinning into the pads and Morgan plays the ball to square leg.
12.6 Flat delivery and Morgan plays the ball to off side for a run.
KKR 39/5 after 12 overs.
Sundar to bowl. Cummins is on strike.
11.1 Flat delivery aorund off stump. Cummins plays the ball back to the bowler.
11.2 Good delivery which turns back in. The ball raps on the pads. There is appeal for LBW. The umpire is not interested. Kohli takes the review and the review shows that it is Umpire's call.
11.3 Quicker delivery around off. Cummins is beaten.
11.4 Fuller delivery and Cummins pushes the ball back to Sundar.
11.5 Good length delivery just outside off. Cummins goes for drive but the ball beats the outside edge of the bat.
11.6 Short ball and Cummins punches the ball back to Sundar.
KKR 39/5 after 11 overs.
Chahal continues. Cummins is on strike.
10.1 Quick delivery around off. Cummins plays the ball to cover.
10.2 Short delivery outside off. Cummins plays the ball to long-off for a single.
10.3 Short delivery and Morgan blocks the ball.
10.4 Fuller delivery and Morgan sweeps the ball to fine leg for a single.
10.5 Fuller delivery and Cummins plays the ball to midwicket for a single.
10.6 Shortish delivery and Morgan goes on the backfoot to block the ball.
KKR 36/5 after 10 overs.
Washington Sundar to bowl. Cummins is on strike.
9.1 Good ball which beats the outside edge of the bat.
9.2 Another brilliant delivery which goes past the outside edge of the bat.
9.3 Fuller delivery and Cummins pushes the ball to off side.
9.4 Fuller delivery and Cummins plays the ball to long-off for a single.
9.5 Fuller delivery and Morgan pushes the ball back to the bowler.
9.6 Fuller delivery and Morgan drives the ball to cover for 2 runs.
KKR 33/5 after 9 overs.
Yuzvendra Chahal to bowl. Karthik is on strike.
8.1 Good delivery which beats Karthik.
8.2 Fuller delivery and Karthik pushes the ball to mid-on for a run.
8.3 Fuller delivery on leg stump. Morgan sweeps the ball to fine-leg for a single.
8.4 WICKET! Karthik lbw b Chahal 4(14)
Good delivery which spins back in. Karthik streches his front leg forward to defend the ball. The ball goes through the gap between the bat and the front leg to hit the back leg. Chahal appeals for LBW. The umpire is not interested. Kohli takes the review. The review shows three red dots. Karthik has to walk back. KKR have lost half of their side with less than 40 on the score board.
Pat Cummins is the new batsman.
8.5 Great delivery which back in sharply. Cummins come on front foot to block the ball. The ball hits the front pad and the RCB players go up in unison for the appeal. The umpire raises the finger. Cummins takes the review. The review shows that the ball is going down the leg stump.
8.6 Fuller delivery and Cummins plays the ball to fine leg for a single.
KKR 30/4 after 8 overs.
Saini to bowl. Karthik is on strike.
7.1 Good length ball on off stump. Karthik goes for drive through cover. The ball takes the inside edge and goes to leg side.
7.2 Good length delivery outside off stump. Karthik plays the ball to off side. The fielder at point stops the ball.
7.3 Fuller delivery on middle stump. Karthik pushes the ball towards the fidler at mid-on.
7.4 Short delivery on off stump. Karthik jumps and hits the ball into the ground.
7.5 Fuller delivery on middle stump. Karthik flicks and sends the ball to square leg for a single.
7.6 SIX! Short ball and Morgan pulls to send the ball just over the fielder at backward square leg for a maximum.
KKR 23/4 after 7 overs.
Isuru Udna to bowl. Morgan is on strike.
6.1 Fuller delivery on middle stump. Morgan plays the ball to leg side for a run.
6.2 Short delivery on middle stump. Karthik punches the ball through cover and takes a run.
6.3 FOUR! Fuller delivery outside off stump. Morgan drives the ball through extra cover for a boundary.
6.4 Fuller delivery on off and middle stump. Morgan pushes the ball back to Udana.
6.5 Good length ball outside off stump. Morgan drives the ball to cover.
6.6 Short ball outside off stump. Morgan plays the ball to off side.
KKR 17/4 after 6 overs.
Siraj to bowl his third over. Karthik is on strike.
5.1 Fuller delivery on middle stump. Karthik plays the ball to leg side and takes a single.
5.2 Short delivery outside off stump. Morgan goes for cut. The ball takes the inside edge of the bat and goes around the corner.
5.3 Good length delivery on off stump. Morgan hits the ball to mid-off.
5.4 Short ball on off stump. Morgan cuts and the ball goes to the fielder at point.
5.5 Short ball on off stump. Morgan cuts the ball to point. Padikkal puts in a dive and stops the ball. Morgan takes a single.
5.6 Short ball. Karthik ducks and leaves the ball for the keeper.
KKR 15/4 after 5 overs.
Morris is back in the attack. Karthik is on strike.
4.1 Full delivery on off stump. Karthik plays the ball to leg side.
4.2 Good length delivery on middle stump. The ball swings back in and hits the pads. There is a loud appeal for LBW. The umpire gives that as NOT OUT. Kohli takes the review and the review shows that it is umpire's call. Karthik has taken a single.
4.3 Fuller delivery outside off stump. Morgan goes for the ball but the ball beats the bat and goes to the keeper.
4.4 Short delivery outside off stump. Morgan plays the ball to the fielder at point.
4.5 BEATEN! Good length delivery outside off stump. Morgan goes for a shot on the off side but the ball flies past the bat.
4.6 Fuller delivery outside off stump. Morgan drives the ball to the fielder at cover.
KKR 14/4 after 4 overs.
Siraj to bowl his second over. Karthik is on strike.
3.1 1 Leg Bye! Fuller delivery on middle and leg stump. The ball hits the pads and goes to leg side. Karthik takes a single.
3.2 Fuller delivery outside off stump. Banton drives the ball to mid-off.
3.3 WICKET! Tom Banton c de Villiers b Siraj 10(8)
Good length delivery pitching outside the off stump. Banton goes for a drive. The ball takes a thick outside edge. AB de Villiers takes the catch to send Banton back in the dug out.
Eoin Morgan is the new batsman.
3.4 Short ball outside off stump. Morgan goes for cut. The ball takes the inside edge and goes to off side.
3.5 Short ball Morgan pulls and sends the ball to the leg side.
3.6 Short ball outside off stump. Morgan cuts and the ball rolls to the fielder at point.
KKR 13/3 after 2 overs.
Navdeep Saini to bowl. Gill is on strike.
2.1 Fuller delivery on off stump. Gill pushes the ball to mid-on.
2.2 WICKET! Shubman Gill c Chris Morris b Navdeep Saini 1(6)
Short ball outside off stump. Gill goes for a big shot. The ball takes the toe end of the bat and lobs high in the air. Chris Morris at mid-on settles under the ball and takes a comfortable catch.
Dinesh Karthik is the new batsman.
2.3 FOUR! Fuller delivery on middle stump. Banton punches the ball down the ground for a boundary.
2.4 BEATEN! Good length delivery outside off stump. Banton goes for a drive but the ball beats him.
2.5 Good length dellivery just outside off stump. The ball takes the inside edge of the bat and goes just around the corner.
2.6 SIX! Short ball outside off stump. Banton pulls and sends the ball over square leg for a maximum.
KKR 3/2 after 2 overs.
Mohammed Siraj to bowl. Tripathi is on strike.
1.1 Full and straight delivery on middle stump. Tripathi blocks the ball with a straight bat.
1.2 Fuller delivery outside off stump. Tripathi pushes the ball to the fielder at cover.
1.3 WICKET! Tripathi c de Villiers b Siraj 1(5)
Good length delivery outside off stump. Tripahi nudges his bat to gudie the ball down to third-man. The ball takes a faint edge and goes to AB de Villiers who makes no mistake in completing an easy catch.
Nitish Rana is the new batsman.
1.4 WICKET! Nitish Rana b Siraj 0(1)
Good length delivery on off stump. The ball swings back in. Rana is surprised. His bat and front leg are no where. The ball goes through the gap between the bat and the pad to hit the stumps.
Tom Banton is the new batsman.
1.5 Fuller delivery on middle stump. Banton blocks the ball.
1.6 Short ball outside off stump. Banton goes on the top of the bounce and blocks the ball.
KKR 3/0 after 1 over.
Chris Morris to open the bowling for RCB. On strike is Shubhman Gill.
0.1 Fuller delivery on off stump. Gill drives the ball towards the fielder at mid-on.
0.2 WIDE! Poor ball by Morris as he bowls down the leg side.
0.2 Fuller delivery on middle and leg stump. Gill flicks the ball to fine-leg for a single.
0.3 Fuller delivery on off and middle stump. Tripahi pushes the ball to mid-off.
0.4 Fuller delivery on middle stump. Tripahi works the ball behind square on the leg side for a run.
0.5 Short ball outside off stump. Gill hits the ball to mid-on. Siraj stops the ball.
0.6 BEATEN! Fuller delivery outside off stump. Gill goes for drive but the ball beats the inside edge and goes to de Villiers.
RCB players are out on the field and in a huddle. Rahul Tripathi and Shubhman Gill to open the inning for KKR. Out walk the two umpires. The action is about to begin.
RCB Playing XI
Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli(c), AB de Villiers(w), Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Washington Sundar, Chris Morris, Mohammed Siraj, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal
KKR Playing XI
Shubman Gill, Tom Banton, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan(c), Dinesh Karthik(w), Rahul Tripathi, Pat Cummins, Lockie Ferguson, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy
Virat Kohli: We would have batted first. Looks like a good pitch, should be a good chase as long as we bowl well. We bowled them out cheaply in Sharjah. It's all about how we exceute our plans. Siraj comes back. Shahbaz misses out.
Eoin Morgan: We are gonna bat first. The wicket looks good. There's been continuous improvement. Couple of changes. Banton and Prasidh come instead of Russell and Mavi.
Toss
KKR captain Eoin Morgan wins the toss and opts to bat.
Big news ahead of the match is that Andre Russell could miss the match owing to an injury.
Trivia Alert!
RCB's AB de Villiers has won the most Player of the Match awards in the history of the IPL. de Villiers has walked away with 23 Player of the Match awards.
Deccan Herald’s Dream XI
Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers (wk), Dinesh Karthik, Eoin Morgan, Washington Sundar, Chris Morris, Lockie Ferguson, Shivam Mavi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Varun Chakravarthy
Impact player for RCB
Chris Morris: In just four matches, he has reached the second-highest wickets tally for the team. He also has the best bowling figures for RCB. The RCB bowling attack looks revitalised with his presence. If RCB want to get the double over KKR, Morris has to bowl well.
Impact player for KKR
Lockie Ferguson: The Kiwi speedster made an instant impact in his first match with a superb spell of 4-0-15-3 against SRH. He was given the responsibility of bowling the Super Over and delivered the win. He bowls with pace and has mean bouncers in his arsenal. With Pat Cummins failing to impress, Ferguson will play a key role for KKR.
Form Guide (last five matches)
Kolkata Knight Riders: T-L-L-W-W
Royal Challengers Bangalore: W-L-W-W-L
Head to Head
Matches Played: 26
Kolkata Knight Riders: 15
Royal Challengers Bangalore: 11
What happened in the reverse fixture?
AB de Villiers’ stunning 73 from 33 balls propelled RCB to 194/2. RCB bowling attack led by Chris Morris strangulated the KKR batting line-up. Morris and Washington Sundar picked 2 wickets each while all other bowlers picked a wicket as KKR were halted on 112/9 in 20 overs handing RCB a by 82 runs.
Royal Challengers Bangalore are third on the points table with 12 points from 9 matches. Kolkata Knight Riders are fourth in the league with 10 points from 9 games. A victory for RCB will take them level on points with table-topped Delhi Capitals and second played Mumbai Indians. It would pave their way for the playoffs.
KKR would want to spoil the RCB party. If KKR win then RCB and KKR would be level on points and KKR could edge ahead as they have a better NRR.
Good evening and welcome to the coverage of match 39 of the Indian Premier League. Tonight, Kolkata Knight Riders face Royal Challenegers Bangalore at Sheik Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The SWOT for RCB
Strengths: The batting looks well settled. The top four of Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers have collectively got 10 fifties. They have also struck 41 sixes.
Weaknesses: The form of Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube with the bat is worrying. In RCB’s return fixture against KXIP, the two were promoted up the order but could not make an impact. Dube and Sundar are currently averaging 25.50 and 17.50 respectively. If the top order has an off day, they will have to take on the scoring responsibility.
Opportunities: RCB have not been able to do the double over KKR since 2015. With Bangalore's strong current form, this is their best chance.
Threats: Virat Kohli's muddled tactics could rear their head again.
The SWOT for KKR
Strengths: Eoin Morgan seems to have found his captaincy footing. He played Lockie Ferguson and Kuldeep Yadav against SRH and the two bowlers responded with healthy returns. Morgan should continue to innovate with his captaincy for the team to keep improving.
Weaknesses: The batting still has issues. Shubman Gill has hit just two fifties. Dinesh Karthik, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana and Pat Cummins have one fifty each. Morgan and Andre Russell have not made a half-century yet. The batting needs to get much better before the play-offs.
Opportunities: Lockie Ferguson needs to continue his good form in this match and the remaining fixtures.
Threats: KKR need to put some points distance between themselves and the team in fifth place, which is currently the Kings XI Punjab. They can also equal RCB's points with a win in this encounter.
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