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After a vintage finish by MS Dhoni, Qualifier 1 of the IPL 2021 season concluded in the best ways possible. What's next? Well, it's the Eliminator!

Royal Challengers Bangalore will lock horns with Kolkata Knight Riders in the Eliminator of this season's IPL, with the winner of the match playing Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 2.

Bangalore had one of their best group stage finishes in recent years and their squad this season has genuine potential to do what it takes to become the IPL champions.

Kolkata Knight Riders didn't have the best of starts to their season but they turned up with everything they had in the second phase in UAE and consequently, are now a part of the playoffs in the quest of a third IPL title.

What do you think? Will Kohli and co. accomplish their mission of 'Ee Sala Cup Namde' or will Kolkata 'Korbo Lorbo Jeet Bole'?

Match Toss Time: 17:30 Local (19:00 IST)

Match Start Time:  18:00 Local (19:30 IST)

Match Venue: Sharjah Cricket Ground, Sharjah

Head to Head

Matches Played: 28 RCB: 13, KKR: 15

Weather Conditions and Pitch

RCB vs KKR weather and pitch

Team News

RCB produced an exceptional team performance against the table leaders in their last group game, and this is one main reason why we don't expect any changes in the XI for this match.

For Kolkata, Andre Russell's availability will be a huge concern. If he does not play, Shakib Al-Hasan will be retaining his spot.

Probable Playing XI 

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Virat Kohli (C), Devdutt Padikkal, Srikar Bharat (WK), AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, Daniel Christian, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, George Garton, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan (C), Dinesh Karthik (WK), Shakib Al-Hasan/ Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy.

Must Picks 

Venkatesh Iyer, Harshal Patel, Glenn Maxwell are must-picks as the players have been in great form this season. Shubman Gill has performed on many occasions too.

Yuzvendra Chahal, since being dropped from the Indian squad for the upcoming World Cup has looked extremely sharp and accurate with his lengths. You shouldn't leave him out of your team. 

Key stats

#Former KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik is just three dismissals away from recording 150 dismissals in the IPL. The 36-year old will become only the second WK to achieve the feat.  He is also just two-fours away from becoming only the 11th player to smash 400 fours in the league.

#Current purple cap holder Harshal Patel is now well clear of his competitors and the in-form pacer is also on the verge of setting a new record as he is just three wickets away from breaking Dwayne Bravo's record of most wickets in a single season of the IPL,. With 30 wickets to his name already, can the 30-year old set a new record?

#RCB skipper Virat Kohli is four boundaries away from completing 900 fours in the shortest format. If he manages to achieve the feat, Kohli will become only the 7th player to do so in the T20 format. 

RCB VS KKR Fantasy Team

RCB vs KKR fantasy team
Cricwizz fantasy team

 Captain and Vice-captain Picks

Glenn Maxwell Shubman Gill RCB vs KKR
Glenn Maxwell (C) and Shubman Gill (Vc)

Prediction 

RCB will have some bitter memories whenever they face KKR. However, this is one season where Kohli and co. can assert their dominance considering the team's performance and execution of plans this season. Both teams are strong but it is evident that Bangalore will have the edge.

Cricwizz predicts RCB to win the match and advance to Qualifier 2.

Disclaimer 

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