IPL 9 Match 39 Preview – Struggling teams aim survival

The Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on the Kings XI Punjab at Mohali. Both teams have come into the game with a win in their previous encounters. While Kings XI Punjab defeated the Delhi Daredevils in a close encounter, RCB cruised to a victory over the Rising Pune Supergiants riding on a scintillating knock from skipper Virat Kohli.

The match at Mohali would be the clash for the survival. A defeat for the Kings at home will mean a tournament ouster from the race to playoffs while on the other hand if RCB loses, they will have to win all their remaining games to stay in the hunt. RCB have a strong side at hand but Kings XI Punjab will have an upper hand playing at home. Moreover, the RCB middle order remains untested and at the same time, the Kings have a formidable death bowling. So in essence, it will be RCB batting against the Kings XI bowling.

Team News

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

Skipper Virat Kohli has been hogging all the limelight with the kind of form he is in. RCB will be hoping for him to click one more time and add to his tally of run-mountain. All-rounder Shane Watson came up with a good all-round show which makes things slightly easier for skipper Kohli. Watson bowled well in the previous match and was economical at the death overs. Chris Gayle is likely to miss out another game. Inclusion of Chris Jordan has bolstered the weak bowling lineup.

Considering the nature of the wicket, RCB might go in with an extra pacer in place of Parvez Rasool. Harshal Patel might get a game. However, there are chances that Kohli will not tinker with the playing XI.

Kings XI Punjab:

Skipper Murali Vijay described their win against Delhi Daredevils as a ‘badly’ needed win. The Kings XI Punjab recently released 3 domestic players, Shardul Thakur, Armaan Jaffer and Pardeep Sahu, from their squad. However, that will not make much of a difference as Kings XI are likely to field an unchanged XI.

The addition of Hashim Amla will lend stability to their batting. Punjab bowlers have been in a great rhythm in the last couple of matches. Mohit Sharma has been mixing it up well in the death overs and shelled out just 3 in the 19th over of a crucial run chase against Delhi. Sandeep Sharma has also found his lines right at the correct time.

Probable XI-

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

Virat Kohli (C), KL Rahul (wk), AB de Villiers, Shane Watson, Travis Head, Sachin Baby, Stuart Binny, Parvez Rasool/Harshal Patel, Chris Jordan, Varun Aaron, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Kings XI Punjab:

Murali Vijay (C), Marcus Stoinis, Hashim Amla, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Glenn Maxwell, David Miller, Axar Patel, Gurkeerat Mann, Mohit Sharma, Sandeep Sharma, KC Cariappa.

StAttack

1. Sandeep Sharma has bowled 82 dot balls in this season so far, next to only Mitch McClenaghan’s 91.

2. Mohit Sharma has an economy of 7.65 this season, the third best after Mustafizur Rahman and Amit Mishra.

3. Royal Challengers Bangalore have an economy rate of 9.43, the worst among all the teams this season.