Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Virat Kohli will hope for a winning start in the IPL opener against Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata on Saturday.
Credit: PTI photo
Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s newly installed skipper Rajat Patidar will get a foretaste of how arduous that job could be when he leads the side against a dangerous-looking defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening clash of IPL Season 18 on Saturday.
Right from the very first clash of the biggest franchise T20 tournament in the world way back in 2008 when they were hammered out of sights by a possessed Brendon McCullum, the Knight Riders have been a hard nut to crack for the Royal Challengers. And the task may not get any easier at the iconic Eden Gardens where the hosts would be looking to extend their supremacy over the visitors.
Apart from winning 20 of the 34 clashes between them, three-time champions Knight Riders have bossed the last four clashes against the Royal Challengers, including a thrilling one-run win last season where RCB’s Karn Sharma almost threatened to do the impossible in a high-speed chase with three sixes in the final over off Mitchell Starc before being dismissed with 3 needed off 2 balls. RCB tail fumbled thereafter, KKR yet again proving to be a thorn in their flesh.
Although that hurt may linger in the hearts of the fans, many of the personnel in RCB have changed from last season and the fresh arrivals will be keen to right the wrongs of the past. One such person whom RCB will be banking big is former KKR opener Phil Salt.
The English wicketkeeper-batter is one of the most explosive willow wielders in the world and gave an ample demonstration last season when he paired up with Sunil Narine to constantly give KKR fiery starts that the robust middle-order built upon beautifully. He scored 435 runs in 12 matches at a scorching strike rate of 182.01 and was also a star in the one-run win over RCB, hammering 48 off just 14 balls. RCB will be hoping Salt is able to continue his demolition job, starting with KKR.
A lot will hinge on how Virat Kohli bats. Last season the talisman took his time at the start but eventually made up for it as the innings progressed, scoring 741 runs at a strike rate of 154.70. Yes there’s Salt, Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Romario Shepherd and Tim David — depending on who features in the XI — to play the big shots, but if the veteran can amp up his game a few notches — something which Mumbai Indians’ Rohit Sharma has done for the sake of club/ country — it could make a world of difference.
RCB bowlers Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya — the likely ones to start — will have to be at their best considering the firepower KKR possess in their batting. Quinton de Kock, Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh and Andre Russell can destroy any attack and RCB bowlers will simply have no margin for error, especially at the unforgiving Eden Gardens.
Royal Challengers and Patidar will be hoping for a positive start but Knight Riders have the power to quell it.