IPL 2024: Predicting 3 players who could score the most runs in today's RCB vs KKR match
Two teams at opposite ends of the spectrum, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will clash in a crucial IPL 2024 encounter at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, April 21.
RCB have endured a dismal campaign thus far, losing six out of their seven games to be at the bottom of the points table. They have also lost the last five outings after a home victory against PBKS in their second game.
Meanwhile, KKR has been among the in-form sides of the competition, winning four out of their six games. Yet, they suffered a small blip in their previous encounter against RR, losing a thriller by two wickets. It was their first home loss of the season after winning the first two comfortably at the Eden Gardens.
Sitting on third currently, KKR will realize the importance of winning the RCB clash to finish the first half of the season on a solid note. As for RCB, their chances of playoff qualification will be all but over with a defeat in today's match.
The two teams have already met earlier in IPL 2024 in Bengaluru, with KKR registering a comfortable seven-wicket victory.
With the stakes of the RCB-KKR encounter sky-high, let us look at the three players who could score the most runs.
# 1 Virat Kohli
It would be hard to look past RCB opener Virat Kohli as a possible top-scorer in this high-octane clash. The champion batter is the current Orange Cap holder with 361 runs at an average of 72.20 and a strike rate of 147.34.
In the previous meeting between the two teams, Kohli top-scored for RCB with an unbeaten 83 off 59 deliveries. The IPL's all-time leading scorer has historically done well against KKR with an average of over 39 in 30 matches.
Kohli's numbers at Eden Gardens in the IPL are similarly impressive, with an average of 39.20 in 11 outings. After his breathtaking century against RR, the 35-year-old hasn't scored a half-century in his last two innings.
That makes a Kohli run-fest nearly inevitable in this virtual must-win contest against KKR.
# 2 Sunil Narine
Who would have ever thought Sunil Narine would come in at No. 2 in a batting prediction before this season?
Yet, the West Indian great has been in sparkling form with the bat, scoring 276 runs at an average of 46 and a strike rate of 187.75. Narine scored his maiden T20 century in KKR's last outing against RR with a 56-ball 109.
To further increase RCB's worries, the southpaw smashed a 22-ball 47 against them in the season's first meeting.
Despite boasting an overall batting average of under 18 in the IPL, Narine has often enjoyed tremendous success against RCB. He averages 29 against the Bengaluru-based franchise at a strike rate of 191.70 in 10 matches.
With his massive rise in batting form this season and RCB's consistent bowling woes, it would be hard to bet against the 35-year-old enjoying another day out at the Eden Gardens today.
# 3 Phil Salt
Arguably the most in-form T20 batter over the past year, Phil Salt has started his IPL 2024 stint impressively, scoring 201 runs at an average of 40.20 in six games.
The 27-year-old has especially enjoyed batting at Eden Gardens, with scores of 54 (40), 89 (47) and 10 (13) thus far this season. Given RCB's struggles to bowl in the powerplay, Salt will look to provide KKR a fast start similar to the one in the first meeting between the teams.
The English opener smashed a 20-ball 30 at Bengaluru to settle any nerves during KKR's successful pursuit of 183. Among all other factors, the RCB-KKR clash could be decided in the powerplay based on how the Salt and Narine opening partnership pans out.