Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be eying their fifth win when they square off in the 28th Match of the Dream11 Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 in Sharjah on Monday.
RCB are coming into this game on the back of their 37-run win against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). While skipper Virat Kohli-led from the front with the bat, RCB bowlers did a fine job with the ball to seal their team’s fourth win of the season. RCB, in addition to their win against CSK, have three wins against their name, having beaten Rajasthan Royals (RR), Mumbai Indians (MI) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Coming to KKR, they will be targeting a hat-trick of wins, having won against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and CSK in their last two games. The Dinesh Karthik-led unit squeezed out both the wins on the back of their extremely disciplined bowling in the middle overs and at the death. While they did not start off their campaign on a winning note, KKR have since won four games out of five.
As RCB and KKR both eye a move up the points table, here are the five players who could play an important role in the outcome of the game:
Virat Kohli
He scored 90* off 52 balls to set up RCB’s win over CSK and scored 50 of those runs in singles and doubles. Virat Kohli has scored over 200 runs in his last three outings and he will be itching to continue his juggernaut and have another big knock under his belt.
Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik led from the front during KKR’s win over KXIP. The KKR skipper scored 58 off 29 balls and was pivotal in setting up a competitive total on the board for his team. The right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman will be eager to have a repeat of his performance against RCB as KKR seek their fifth win.
Washington Sundar
He has been someone that Virat and RCB have turned to while bowling in and around the powerplay and Washington Sundar once again repaid the faith shown in him by picking two big wickets – Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson – in RCB’s win. The off-spinner has kept things extremely tight every time he has been given the ball and RCB will expect him to continue his good work.
Shubman Gill
The KKR opener scored his second fifty of the season during his side’s last game. While he did not go hammer and tongs, Shubman Gill played a vital knock to help KKR post 160-plus on the board. The promising youngster will once again be someone that KKR will bank on against RCB.
Chris Morris
Playing his first match for RCB, Chris Morris returned with three wickets during his side’s win over CSK. The right-arm bowler opened the bowling for RCB as they were defending the total and also bowled at the death. RCB will be expecting him to continue his form.
Wild Card
Prasidh Krishna
Playing his first game of the IPL 2020, Prasidh Krishna opened the bowling and also bowled at the death against KXIP and returned with figures of 3/29, which included the wickets of KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal – top two run-getters of the season. The right-arm pacer will be looking to continue his form.
Stats
- RCB at this venue: Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1
- KKR at this venue: Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1
Approaching Milestones
- Virat Kohli needs 3 sixes and 7 fours respectively to complete 200 sixes and 500 fours in IPL.
- AB de Villiers requires 3 catches to complete 100 IPL catches.
- Eoin Morgan is 5 sixes away from completing 50 IPL sixes.
- Sunil Narine needs 3 sixes to complete 50 IPL sixes.
Source: IPLT20.com