In the 30th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be locking horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Monday. Virat Kohli and his men have managed to win 5 out of 7 matches they have played so far, while KKR is completely opposite as they have won just 2 out of 7 matches.
Both teams lost their previous matches and it is almost certain that both will be desperate to improve their record. Virat Kohli would not like to waste the hard work that his team has done so far with another defeat. For Kolkata Knight Riders, they have been losing the opportunities more often than not. As KKR and RCB face-off on Thursday, Here are 3 player battles to watch out for.
#3 Virat Kohli vs Pat Cummins
Right-handed batsman Virat Kohli’s hit and miss form this season is now becoming a concern and the team cannot afford him to continue like that. However, despite that, there is no denying the fact that he is one of the best batsmen in the team and sooner than later he will be getting his consistent form back.
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That’s what makes his battle with Pat Cummins interesting, who has taken 9 wickets in 7 matches. In international cricket, both of them have met each other many times. Cummins will be bowling to Virat Kohli since 2020 in T20 and the record so far: 4 runs off 8 balls in 2 innings without a boundary and a dismissal.
#2 AB de Villiers vs Varun Chakravarthy
Right-handed batsman AB de Villiers will not forget Harpreet Brar’s brilliant spell in the previous match but this season’s record of 207 runs in 6 innings will see him in new zeal. However, the mystery spinner, Varun Chakraborty would like to take advantage of the pressure on him. Varun has taken 7 wickets in 7 matches in IPL 2021 and bowled at an economy rate is less than 8. AB de Villiers’ record of bowling by Varun Chakraborty in T20: 13 runs on 10 balls in 2 innings with two boundaries and no dismissals.
#1 Andre Russell vs Kyle Jamieson
The fiery all-rounder, Andre Russell seems to have got his form back, but he is yet to win a name for the team through his individual performance. This has happened to him earlier in the IPL as well. This season he has scored 163 runs in 7 matches at a strike rate of more than 155. Russell will be facing the likes of the lanky pacer, Kyle Jamieson and the battle will be very interesting.
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In the last match, Russell scored 7 runs off the first 14 balls but scored 38 runs in the next 13 balls. Jamieson has got 9 wickets in 7 matches in his debut IPL season. It will not be easy to stop Russell. Jamieson’s bowling record by Andre Russell in T20: 8 runs off 5 balls in one innings with one six.
