IPL 2021: Aakash Chopra picks his ideal playing XIs for RCB vs KKR match

The Eliminator of the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be held between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). This marquee clash will take place at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

And, cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has picked his ideal playing XIs of both sides for this encounter. Chopra feels that the Bangalore side is ‘coming together’ nicely and added that Srikar Bharat should definitely bat at No.3. as the right-hander has been playing well.

Chopra also feels that Glenn Maxwell has been extremely consistent with the willow in hand in IPL 2021. The 43-year-old did not suggest any particular change that the RCB side should make for this match.

Aakash Chopra picks his ideal KKR playing XI for the clash against RCB

Aakash Chopra has stated that the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have turned around their campaign in the IPL second half. Chopra added that Shakib Al Hasan might not be available for the KKR side for this match as Bangladesh will be gearing up to play the T20 World Cup Qualifiers, and Shakib might have to go to offer his services for his nation.

The former Indian batsman added that if Andre Russell is fit, he can replace Shakib Al Hasan in the playing XI. Other than that, Chopra did not suggest any other changes to be made to the KKR playing XI.

The RCB side finished at 3rd place in the points table and won 9 out of their 14 matches in the league stages. On the other hand, the KKR side finished the league stages at the 4th spot, emerging victorious in 7 out of their 14 rubbers.

Aakash Chopra’s Predicted RCB Playing XI: Virat Kohli (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Srikar Bharat (wk), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dan Christian, Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, George Garton

Aakash Chopra’s Predicted KKR Playing XI: Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan (c), Shakib Al Hasan/Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakravarthy, Shivam Mavi