Royal Challengers Bangalore finds themselves top of the leagues after two wins out of two and will be gearing up to face Kolkata Knight Riders who have one win out of two games, at the MA Chidambaram stadium tomorrow for the first of the two games being played tomorrow.
Games between KKR and RCB wouldn't have gone down easy in the Kolkata camp last year after losing both the games in the doubleheader. With the Bangalore franchise claiming victory comfortably both times, winning the first game by 8 wickets with more than 6 overs to spare and the second game by 82 runs back off a terrific performance by AB de Villers.
Can Kolkata Knightriders turn the tide with a victory in their third match? Or will Bangalore Royal Challengers claim the win to consolidate their position on the top?
Match Toss Time: 15:00 Local (9:30 GMT)
Match Start Time: 15:30 Local (10:00 GMT)
Match Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Head to Head
Matches Played: 26, RCB: 12, KKR: 14
Weather Conditions
Ideal conditions for cricket as clear skies are expected throughout the course of the day. With temperatures expected to be hovering around 28 - 34 degrees celsius and humidity at its peak is likely to touch the 60% mark.
Pitch
In accordance with the evidence of previous matches, The pitch in Chennai is becoming slower and chasing is becoming a very challenging task. There is something on offer for the pace bowlers, especially those who vary their pace to great effect. With ample turn available, spinners have become lively on this pitch making middle overs very crucial.
Team News
The management wouldn't see much need to tinker with this lineup that has already won two games. Skipper Virat Kohli opening the innings has brought about much flexibility, along with Glenn Maxwell finding his form in IPL with good impactful innings in both matches. The only cause of worry will be the misfiring of Indian batsmen in the middle order and form of Washington Sundar, which they hope will improve in time.
Although starting the first match with a bang, the form of their crucial players in the batting phase has been found wanting. Skipper Eoin Morgan and West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell are the biggest culprits in this regard. The success of Nitish Rana and Rahul Tripathi will inspire confidence that there is yet more to come from this team, with the bowlers very much Wyoming onto their own.
Probable Playing XI
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Shahbaz Ahmed, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Washington Sundar, Daniel Christian, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal
Kolkata Knightriders (KKR): Nitish Rana, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan, Shakib Al Hasan, Dinesh Karthik, Andre Russell, Pat Cummins, Harbhajan Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy
Must Picks
The real Glenn Maxwell has turned up and has been in sublime form in his first two IPL matches for the Bangalore side. So has AB de Villers who doesn't show time away from the game has affected him. Nitish Rana and Harshal Patel have to be other must picks.
RCB vs KKR Fantasy team
Captain and Vice-Captain Picks
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