In the 39th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) locking horns with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Amid all the chaos surrounding the captaincy and Sunil Narine’s bowling action, the KKR has managed to stay in the top half of the points table with ten points in nine games.
Despite their batsmen yet to fire collectively in IPL 2020, KKR has won close games and with Lockie Ferguson in the line-up, KKR is looking much more balanced although they would be sweating over Andre Russell’s fitness. Nevertheless, Sunil Narine can be expected to make a comeback, which will shake the balance for the Knight Riders, who are firmly in the race for a playoff spot.
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On the other hand, the RCB has done incredibly well this season with the likes of Chris Morris and Devdutt Padikkal coming out all guns blazing more often than not. While the duo of AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli smashing the opposition bowlers consistently with their exquisite shot-making. With six wins in nine games, RCB requires two more wins to qualify for the playoffs.
The last time these two teams met in IPL 2020, an ABD-inspired RCB thrashed KKR by a whopping margin of 82 runs and this should make for an absolutely brilliant contest in IPL 2020 this Wednesday. As the two sides prepare for a thrilling encounter, here’s a look at three key player battles to keep an eye on.
#1. Virat Kohli vs Pat Cummins
Virat Kohli has taken it upon himself to deliver the goods for RCB. In 9 matches, Kohli has smashed 347 runs at a strike rate of 127.57. Twice, Virat has crossed the fifty mark, batting in his trademark style. RCB skipper’s ability to build his innings and go berserk in the death overs is a massive plus for RCB.
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The fiery fast pacer, Pat Cumins has not been able to prove his worth for KKR as he scalped 3 wickets in the season so far. Against Kohli, though, Cummins will have his task cut out. The RCB skipper is one of the best players of spin in the world and will look to unsettle the mystery spinner.
#2. Eoin Morgan vs Yuzvendra Chahal
The KKR skipper, Eoin Morgan has had a below-par tournament thus far by his own high standards but on his day remains a formidable opponent regardless of the format, such is his ability to fashion run-scoring opportunities. Yuzvendra Chahal has been RCB’s go-to man whenever they needed wickets and they will hope he can dismiss the KKR skipper early and thus increase their chances of a victory.
#3. AB de Villiers vs Lockie Ferguson
Lockie Ferguson had scalped three wickets in his four scheduled overs and two more from four balls in the Super Over against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). On Wednesday, he will come across the might of RCB veteran, AB de Villiers, whose last inning has been something else altogether. Ferguson has played just one match so far from KKR’s nine and claimed 3/15 for an economy of 3.75 followed by a couple of wickets in the Super Over.
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Ferguson’s economy will surely be challenged by De Villiers, who has so far played nine games for 285 runs at an insane strike rate of 190.00! He has so far hit 19 sixes and 21 fours in IPL 2020. The last time the two teams met this year, De Villiers scored 73 not out off 33 deliveries.
