IPL 2016, RCB vs KKR Playing 11(Confirmed 11): Probable XI for Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders Match
We can expect another cracker of a game as the Royal Challengers Bangalore take on the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on Monday. RCB have been struggling to get things right this season particularly due to their struggling bowlers. KKR, on the other hand, were performing pretty well but have suddenly hit a bad patch with 2 back-to-back losses in their last 2 games. However, the Knight Riders are still well placed on the points table at the 3rd spot whereas the Challengers are languishing at the bottom on 7th. It is a good opportunity for both teams to sort out their issues before they enter the business end of the tournament.
Also read: IPL Live Cricket Score: RCB vs KKR Live Scoreboard and Commentary for Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL Today's Match
Here's a look at the likely team for the Royal Challengers Bangalore against KKR:
Batting
Despite not having the services of Chris Gayle in their batting line-up for the past few matches, RCB have hardly struggled with the bat. Skipper Virat Kohli has been sensational for them with 381 runs in only 6 innings at an average in excess of 76. AB de Villiers has also played a stellar role with 316 runs so far, scoring at a rampaging strike rate of 166.31.
Having been drafted into the team as a wicket-keeper, KL Rahul has also settled down quite quickly in the batting line-up with a couple of quickfire fifties. The batting other than these three has not fired too much but this can be justified by the fact that the top-order batsmen have faced most of the overs during the innings.
Gayle had missed out on a place in the final XI in Bangalore's previous match; however, he should be back for the match against Kolkata in all probability.
Also read: IPL 2016, Match 30 Preview: A Royal Challenge for the Knights
All-rounders
The RCB all-rounders have certainly not worked wonders for the team in this season of the IPL till now. Shane Watson has been bowled well but has been found wanting with the bat in most innings. Other all-rounders like Stuart Binny and Parvez Rasool have not been able to capitalize on any of the chances that they have got so far. The Challengers will desperately need their all-rounders to come good if they want to get back to winning ways.
Also read: RCB vs KKR Match Prediction: Who will win the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2016, Match 30
Bowling
The root cause behind all of Royal Challengers Bangalore's troubles this year has been their pedestrian bowling. Barring Watson, who has picked up 8 wickets in 6 games, none of the bowlers has made an impression. Pacer Kane Richardson has claimed 7 wickets, too, but has been far too expensive, conceding his runs at 9.71 per over.
RCB's trusted bowlers from previous editions like Harshal Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal have also failed their team this year with a string of poor performances. Their latest recruit Tabraiz Shamsi, though, has been quite decent with 3 wickets in 3 matches and a respectable economy rate of 8.
The Bangalore side will require a superlative effort from the bowlers to help them stay in the race for the playoffs.
Probable Playing XI
Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, KL Rahul (wk), Shane Watson, Mandeep Singh, Kedar Jadhav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Chris Jordan, Abu Nechim, Iqbal Abdulla.
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