The Indian Premier League 2024 (IPL 2024) will witness ongoing excitement as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) face off in Match 36 on Sunday, April 21, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
KKR vs RCB: Match Preview
KKR enters the match after a loss to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their previous fixture by two wickets. Despite this setback, they have performed well this season, securing the second spot on the points table with four wins from six matches, totaling eight points. In contrast, RCB enters the game on a streak of five consecutive losses, placing them at the bottom of the table with just one win from seven matches, accumulating two points. Faf du Plessis-led RCB must win every encounter to sustain their playoffs aspirations.
With their playoffs hopes at stake, RCB is fighting against elimination, especially facing KKR. A defeat on Sunday would further jeopardize their position in the tournament.
To counter KKR’s spinners, particularly Sunil Narine, RCB’s batsmen, led by Virat Kohli, must rise to the challenge. Kohli, historically challenged by spin in T20s, has shown improvement this IPL season, scoring at a respectable rate of 130.09 against spinners. Despite his improvement, facing Narine at Eden Gardens poses a significant challenge, with Kohli’s past record against Narine not being favorable. Other RCB batsmen like Faf du Plessis and Dinesh Karthik have also struggled against Narine, further emphasizing the challenge ahead.
Narine’s impact extends beyond bowling; he has been exceptional with the bat, scoring 276 runs at a striking rate of 187.75. Despite facing difficulties against short balls, Narine has managed to thrive, as demonstrated in previous encounters with RCB.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have won three out of their last five matches, with their most recent result being a victory. On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have faced consecutive losses in their last five matches, indicating a struggling form.
KKR vs RCB: Pitch Report & Conditions
Eden Gardens has proven to be a batsman’s haven in the ongoing tournament, with two out of three matches being won by teams chasing. The average first innings score stands at a formidable 197, with the highest successful chase being 224 by Rajasthan Royals. Captains winning the toss are likely to opt for batting first, aiming to set a substantial target and put pressure on the opposing team.
In the three games hosted at Eden Gardens this season, the 200-run mark has been surpassed in all four innings on two occasions. In the third match, KKR successfully chased down 162 against Lucknow Super Giants in just the 16th over. However, with the game scheduled for the afternoon, there might be a temptation to bat first upon winning the toss, although it remains to be seen if the pitch conditions will favor another high-scoring encounter or if KKR will prepare a slightly different surface for the match.
KKR vs RCB: Head-to-head
- Total Matches Played: 33
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru Wins: 14
- Kolkata Knight Riders Wins: 19
- First Played: April 18, 2008
- Last Played: April 20, 2024
KKR vs RCB: Team News and Impact Player Strategy
Kolkata Knight Riders
In light of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s historical difficulties facing spin bowling, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) may consider incorporating a third spinner, Suyash Sharma, into their lineup, potentially replacing Vaibhav Arora. This strategic adjustment aims to capitalize on RCB’s vulnerability to spin and apply additional pressure on their batting lineup. The choice between Suyash Sharma and Ramandeep Singh as the impact player for KKR hinges on the match situation, with their roles shifting depending on whether KKR is batting first or bowling.
Predictable XII:
- Phil Salt (wk)
- Sunil Narine
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi
- Shreyas Iyer (capt)
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Andre Russell
- Rinku Singh
- Ramandeep Singh
- Mitchell Starc
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Harshit Rana
- Suyash Sharma/Vaibhav Arora
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
In light of Glenn Maxwell’s absence, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are likely to maintain Will Jacks at the No. 3 spot in their batting order. Considering their bowling lineup, RCB may opt to introduce Mayank Dagar into the team, potentially replacing Yash Dayal. Anuj Rawat and Mayank Dagar are earmarked as the potential impact players for RCB, tasked with leveraging their skills to influence the match’s outcome positively.
Predictable XII:
- Virat Kohli
- Faf du Plessis (capt)
- Will Jacks
- Rajat Patidar
- Saurav Chauhan
- Dinesh Karthik (wk)
- Mahipal Lomror
- Anuj Rawat
- Vijaykumar Vyshak
- Reece Topley
- Lockie Ferguson
- Mayank Dagar/Yash Dayal
KKR vs RCB: Match Prediction
Scenario 1:
- Kolkata Knight Riders win the toss and bat
- Powerplay score: 55-65
- KKR score: 200-220
- Prediction: Kolkata Knight Riders win the match
Scenario 2:
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru win the toss and bat
- Powerplay score: 50-60
- RCB score: 180-200
- Prediction: Kolkata Knight Riders win the match
KKR vs RCB: Dream 11 Fantasy Prediction
Team 1:
- Keepers: Philip Salt, Dinesh Karthik
- Batsmen: Virat Kohli (vc), Faf du Plessis, Rinku Singh
- All-rounders: Andre Russell (c), Sunil Narine, Will Jacks
- Bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Harshit Rana, Lockie Ferguson
Team 2:
- Keepers: Philip Salt, Dinesh Karthik
- Batsmen: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (vc)
- All-rounders: Andre Russell, Sunil Narine (c)
- Bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Harshit Rana, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakravarthy
When and Where to Watch the Match: Streaming & Broadcast Details
What: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL 2024
When: 3:30 PM IST, Sunday– April 21
Where: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Where to watch KKR vs RCB Live Streaming: JioCinema app for FREE
Where to watch KKR vs RCB Live Telecast: Star Sports
