RCB vs KKR – A conflict of previous foes with high-voltage historical past
Match particulars
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Bengaluru, 1930 IST (1400 GMT)
Big image – RCB vs KKR, a fiery rivalry
RCB vs KKR on the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. That’s how it began in 2008, when Brendon McCullum’s unbeaten 158 launched the IPL with a dream begin. Over the years, the 2 groups have been concerned in among the iconic, and ugliest, moments within the event’s historical past.
In 2013, it was an evening of altercations in Bengaluru. It began with Gautam Gambhir having a verbal alternate with Moises Henriques after the 2 collided as Gambhir was going for a fast single. Later within the sport, Gambhir and Virat Kohli had a go at one another, and needed to be bodily separated by a 3rd Delhi boy, Rajat Bhatia.
Three years later, on the similar venue, Yusuf Pathan and Andre Russell gave KKR a come-from-behind win, and Gambhir confirmed his feelings by kicking a chair within the dugout, an act for which he was fined 15% of his match fee.
The Kohli-Gambhir rivalry was re-ignited last season when RCB confronted Lucknow Super Giants, who had Gambhir as their mentor. This yr, Gambhir is again with KKR in the identical position.
Both groups are coming off a win, with KKR beating Sunrisers Hyderabad and RCB doing the identical in opposition to Punjab Kings. Though the victories had been removed from comfy, they are going to be eager to construct on that confidence.
Team news – Narine returns as opener
Against Kings, RCB changed Karn Sharma with Mahipal Lomror to increase their batting. The transfer proved to be decisive as Lomror scored a vital 17 not out off eight balls to assist RCB win the sport. They are anticipated to go along with the identical plan, with Cameron Green and Glenn Maxwell doing the fifth bowler’s job. There is a case, although, to herald Reece Topley for Alzarri Joseph, who has had figures of 1 for 81 in 7.4 overs throughout the primary two video games.
Once Sunil Narine’s weak point in opposition to the brief ball was uncovered, everybody thought his days as an opener within the IPL had been over. But KKR made him open of their first game of this season, in opposition to Gujarat Titans, the place he scored 2 off 4 balls earlier than being run out. It will probably be attention-grabbing to see how he fares with the two-bouncer rule in place now.
Impact Player technique
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
If RCB are batting first, Lomror can begin within the taking part in XI and Yash Dayal replaces him within the second innings. If they’re bowling first, Dayal begins with Lomror coming in throughout the chase.
Probable XII: 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Faf du Plessis (capt), 3 Rajat Patidar, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Cameron Green, 6 Anuj Rawat (wk), 7 Dinesh Karthik, 8 Mahipal Lomror, 9 Alzarri Joseph/Reece Topley, 10 Mayank Dagar, 11 Mohammed Siraj, 12 Yash Dayal
Kolkata Knight Riders
Ramandeep Singh begins if KKR are batting first. Suyash Sharma can change him within the second innings. Vice versa if KKR are bowling first.
Probable XII: 1 Phil Salt (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Venkatesh Iyer, 4 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 5 Nitish Rana, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Ramandeep Singh, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Harshit Rana, 11 Varun Chakravarthy, 12 Suyash Sharma
Stats that matter – Narine vs Big Three
- RCB’s Big Three – Faf du Plessis, Kohli and Maxwell – have discovered it troublesome to get away in opposition to Narine in T20s. Du Plessis has scored 54 in 70 balls (two dismissals) in opposition to him, Kohli 141 in 145 balls (4 dismissals) and Maxwell 94 off 86 (4 dismissals).
- Kohli has not been capable of put away Varun Chakravarthy both, scoring solely 31 off 33 balls in opposition to him whereas getting out as soon as in six innings.
- Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer haven’t been capable of rating freely in opposition to Mohammed Siraj. Shreyas has managed solely 32 off 31 balls in opposition to him whereas getting out twice. While Venkatesh has by no means bought out to Siraj, he has solely scored 23 off 30 balls in opposition to him. Rinku Singh, although, has carted Siraj for 22 off 9 balls with out getting out.
- Across all T20s in 2024, Russell has scored 276 runs within the loss of life overs, at a strike fee of 287.50.
- Since the beginning of 2020, Narine has opened eight occasions within the IPL, scoring 34 runs at a median of 4.25 and a strike fee of 79.06, with only one double-digit rating.
Pitch and circumstances – a recent floor
The Chinnaswamy is thought for its placid pitches however the one for the earlier match was not as high-scoring; Kings virtually defended 176. For Friday’s sport, it’s a recent pitch, as soon as once more with a tinge of inexperienced. The temperature will hover round 30°C. There’s little likelihood of dew.
Quotes
“My mindset is very clear, especially coming after a win and getting some runs as well. [But] I am not going to take anything for granted. RCB is an amazing team and they have some great matchwinners, who can take the game away from us. They have a good bowling unit as well. So I hope that if I face five, six, seven, eight balls in the backend, I make the best use of it. But I would love the other batters to come to the party tomorrow and at least get some time in the middle.”
Andre Russell on taking part in in opposition to RCB
“I think the other day’s pitch had a bit of up-and-down movement, but that’s definitely not the norm. So I think it should be a good pitch [tomorrow] with some pace in it, which should probably suit our team.”
RCB batting coach Neil McKenzie on the pitch
Hemant Brar is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo