Strongest Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Playing XI against Kolkata Knight Riders

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Eliminator of the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on 11th October 2021. This blockbuster battle will be held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The Virat Kohli-led side performed exceedingly well in the league stages of the tournament, and finished at third place in the points table, winning 9 out of their 14 matches. In their previous match, the Bangalore side beat the Delhi Capitals (DC) in a last-ball thriller, winning the match with 7 wickets to spare.

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) emerged triumphant in 7 out of their 14 matches in the league stages of the tournament and finished at the 4th spot in the IPL points table. Eoin Morgan and his men pummeled the Rajasthan Royals by a whopping margin of 86 runs in their final league stage clash. In this article, let us take a look at the predicted playing XI of the RCB side for the match against KKR.

Openers: Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal

Both Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal have been in decent form in the 2021 edition of the IPL. While Kohli has scored 366 runs at an average of 28.15, Padikkal has amassed 390 runs in the 14th season, at an average of 32.50.

In RCB’s previous match, both Kohli and Padikkal failed to get going. While the RCB skipper departed for just 4, Padikkal failed to trouble the scorers. Both Kohli and Padikkal need to give a good start at the top of the order for the RCB side in what is a ‘crunch game’ against KKR.

Middle Order: Srikar Bharat, Glenn Maxwell, and AB de Villiers

Srikar Bharat was the hero of the RCB side with the willow in their previous match against the Delhi Capitals (DC). The right-hander scored a match-winning 78* off just 52 deliveries, and struck a six off the last ball to seal the match for the Virat Kohli led side. Bharat has amassed 182 runs in 6 innings at an average of 45.50 in IPL 2021.

Glenn Maxwell has been the ‘trump card’ of the RCB middle order. The Australian has plundered 498 runs at an average of 45.27 and a colossal strike rate of 147.34. Maxwell scored a whirlwind 33-ball 51* in RCB’s previous rubber against the Delhi Capitals.

AB de Villiers has been off-colour in the UAE leg of the 14th edition of the IPL. The batting maestro has scored just 95 runs in IPL Phase 2 and has not even crossed the 30-run mark in the IPL second leg.

All Rounders: Daniel Christian, Shahbaz Ahmed, George Garton

Daniel Christian has experienced a disastrous run in IPL 2021 with both bat and ball. Christian has scored just 5 runs in 6 innings in IPL 2021. With the ball too, the right arm pacer has scalped only 4 wickets in 8 matches in the 14th season.

Shahbaz Ahmed has scalped 7 wickets in IPL 2021 and has picked his wickets at an average of 13.14. He has also leaked runs at a good economy rate of just 6.57 runs per over.

George Garton has been disappointing with the ball in hand in the UAE leg of the IPL. The left-arm bowler has picked up just 3 wickets in the UAE leg and has leaked runs at a high economy rate of 8.83 runs per over.

Bowlers: Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal

The three specialist bowlers who will take the field for the RCB side are Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, and Yuzvendra Chahal. Patel is currently the owner of the purple cap in IPL 2021 and has picked up a whopping 30 wickets at a strike rate of 10.47.

Mohammed Siraj has picked up 9 wickets in 14 matches in IPL 2021 and has scalped his wickets at an average of 37.11. Siraj has been economical in the tournament and has leaked runs at an economy rate of 6.96 runs per over.

Yuzvendra Chahal has been amongst the wickets in the 14th IPL season. The experienced leg spinner has picked up 16 wickets in IPL 2021 and has scalped them at a superb strike rate of just 18.38.