Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will host Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Eden Gardens on Friday. Both teams have come across one time in this season, where Kolkata hammered Bengaluru bowlers to chase the mountainous target. This match is expected to be similar to the last one with both teams have strong batting arsenal and they lack at the bowling front. KKR is currently on the sixth place in points table despite a good start in IPL 2019 while RCB is intact with a wooden spoon in hands.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
KKR is on a three-match losing streak and must be itching to get back on winning track. Their last game was against Chennai Super Kings, who defeated them by five wickets. No batsmen, except Chris Lynn, looked to play big innings. As a result, they were reduced to 161/8 in 20 overs. Bowlers tried their best to pull a win but death overs seem to be KKR’s Achilles heels as well.
Also Read: Who will be the X factor for KKR in IPL 2019?
There can be only one potential change in the team. Harry Gurney wasn’t up to the mark with the ball and can be replaced by Lockie Ferguson in the playing XI. Rest of the team is expected to remain the same.
Probable XI: Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (C/WK), Shubhman Gill, Andre Russell, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Lockie Ferguson.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
Also Read: Who will be the X factor for RCB in IPL 2019?
RCB won their first match against Kings XI Punjab after losing their first six in IPL 2019. Everyone thought this is the turnaround they were looking for but it didn’t last long as Mumbai Indians almost knocked them out of IPL 2019 by handing them a defeat by five wickets. AB de Villiers and Moeen Ali starred with the bat while spinners are the lone bright ray of hope in the bowling department.
Dale Steyn will play against Kolkata at Eden Gardens. He is likely to replace Mohammad Siraj in the team. If the Kolkata’s pitch seems to assist the pacers, Pawan Negi will make way for Shivam Dube as well.
Probable XI: Parthiv Patel (WK), Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers, Moeen Ali, Marcus Stoinis, Akshdeep Nath, Shivam Dube/Pawan Negi, Umesh Yadav, Dale Steyn, Yuzvendra Chahal, Navdeep Saini.
