IPL 9, Match 48 Preview: Kohli & Co. face the Eden test

The mighty Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will look to extend their winning momentum against the rampaging Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) when both teams meet at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The match is set to be a mouth-watering contest with both the teams looking in stupendous form. But despite thwarting their opponent in their last outing, it still is a must-win game for the Royal Challengers. For KKR, it will be about securing just one more win to confirm their berth in the playoffs while, for RCB, who are lying at 6th with 10 points, it would be yet another chance to keep their chances alive in the tournament.

Kolkata Knight Riders:

It would be KKR’s bowling versus RCB’s batting muscle tonight, KKR perhaps have the best spin bowling attack among all the teams. It has been their spinners who have played an important role in the team’s performances so far in the tournament. Similarly, it will be their spin attack led by Piyush Chawla will carry the responsibility of containing the explosive batting lineup. Sunil Narine who looks to have returned to form will be a key man. Umesh Yadav is still doubtful due to a hamstring injury and Ankit Rajpoot may get another game if Umesh doesn’t get fit on time. Both the openers – Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa have begun to blow hot and cold. The pair has an opportunity to get back their rhythm against the relatively weaker RCB bowling attack. Yusuf Pathan seems to be enjoying this season and is putting in match-winning performances more often. Rest of the middle order has also done their job brilliantly.

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

The dynamic Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers carry the batting burden on their shoulders. The duo, fresh from the brutal carnage in the previous game against Gujarat Lions, has a whopping 1215 runs between them, including four centuries and eight half-centuries. They have been a class apart and toyed with the bowlers so far. However, both of them still have a huge charge and need to put yet another blazing performance to keep RCB alive. A loss to KKR would mean that their fate would be out of their hands. A big knock from Chris Gayle is due. He has been struggling big time with 5 single digit scores. If Kohli, opts to rest him, we may see Rahul back at the top and Travis Head getting another go in the middle order. The pace department consisting Chris Jordan, Varun Aaron, Sreenath Aravind had a great time in the last game and must try to emulate the performance. The challenged for them would be to handle the KKR batting order which has some of the best hard-hitting middle order batsmen.

Probable XI-

Kolkata Knight Riders:

Robin Uthappa (wk), Gautam Gambhir (C), Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan, Shakib Al Hasan, Suryakumar Yadav, Andre Russell, Piyush Chawla, Sunil Narine, Ankit Rajpoot, Morne Morkel

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers, Shane Watson, KL Rahul (WK), Sachin Baby, Stuart Binny, Chris Jordan, Sreenath Aravind, Varun Aaron, Yuzvendra Chahal