IPL 2019 – Match 17: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders – RCB Predicted Playing XI

With four consecutive losses in the first four games of the tournament, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have already placed themselves in quite a tough spot. They have ten games left in the tournament and they need to win at least seven of them to be in the contention for the playoffs. The team should look to get back to the winning ways as soon as possible before it is too late.

As a part of their home encounter, they’ll face the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the next game. RCB is yet to find the perfect balance to their eleven and there is no point sticking to similar combinations even now. The management needs to take some tough calls, rejig the eleven and focus on the strengths rather than looking to overcome the weaknesses.

Here is the Predicted Playing XI for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB):

Openers (Parthiv Patel (wk), Marcus Stoinis)

RCB might have missed a trick by not opening the innings with Marcus Stoinis in the last match. He hogged all the limelight opening the innings for his BBL team and seems to fit in best at this position. Stoinis is very powerful and can easily clear the 30-yard circle in the powerplay. In the last game, the idea would have been to strengthen the middle and the lower middle order.

However, RCB has always been a top-heavy team and that is how they found whatever success they had over the last few years. The top four, including Parthiv Patel who played a great knock last game, should take the complete onus and deliver for the team. They can leave the rest to their bowling attack.

Middle Order (Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Akshdeep Nath)

Virat Kohli seems to be trying too hard at the moment. He is taking a lot of pressure on himself and it isn’t working out for him. This is not the kind of pressure that Virat revels in. He needs to take things easy, bat at his usual number three position and be the anchor. If Virat is in the middle for the first 15 or 16 overs, he is sure to make a massive impact.

Likewise with AB de Villiers. The South African is trying to take the attack to the bowlers right from the first ball. Instead, he should take some time initially like he usually does. He is destructive once he gets his eye in. RCB roped in Akshdeep Nath as a surprise pick in the last game. He didn’t bat and they might give him another opportunity to prove his potential. The UP cricketer has had an excellent domestic season.

All Rounders (Moeen Ali, Washington Sundar)

Shimron Hetmyer is clearly out of the contention now and RCB has got quite a few options to consider. Washington Sundar seems to be the front-runner for the spot in the eleven at the moment. It is quite baffling that he hasn’t been picked in the side as yet. Sundar is guaranteed to give his captain four overs. He can both open the batting as well as play lower down the order.

The Tamil Nadu cricketer can get some big shots out if required. Moeen Ali will have to take up the role of the finisher in this side now. He does that job decently for England as well and can clear the fence easily. He showed us glimpses of his capabilities in the last encounter and will hope to repeat the same. Ali will have to step up with the ball for his team.

Bowlers (Nathan Coulter-Nile, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj)

Nathan Coulter-Nile has joined the RCB camp and he must be drafted straight into the eleven. He bowls well at the death and that is the need of the hour for the Bangalore team. With Coulter-Nile coming in, one of the pacers has got to be dropped and it must be one between Umesh Yadav and Navdeep Saini. Even though it is a tough call, Umesh Yadav has got a good record against the KKR.

Thus, RCB can do nothing but leave Navdeep out for the next game. Yuzvendra Chahal and Mohammed Siraj will complete the line-up for the home team. The duo has been the best bowlers for the team this season. They must maintain the consistency going forward.

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