Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Indian Premier League (IPL), Today Match Prediction 19 Apr 2019

kkr vs rcb Match Prediction & Analysis

Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore will be looking to start their road to recovery when they will face each other in the 35th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Kolkata on Friday. 

Both teams have lost their previous fixtures in the competition and will be looking to get back to winning ways. Hosts Kolkata Knight Riders will be looking to end their three-match losing streak when they face Royal Challengers Bangalore in their home fixture.

On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore will have to win all their remaining games in order to keep their hopes alive of qualifying for the playoffs. Captain Virat Kohli will be hoping that the side can bring their A-game to the table in this must-win game.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Kolkata Knight Riders Preview

Two-time Champions have lost their way in the last couple of matches and are currently placed at fifth position in the league table. Captain Dinesh Karthik will be hoping that side can get back to winning ways in their home fixture.

For Kolkata Knight Riders, the responsibility in the batting lineup will be shared by in-form opener Chris Lynn, who scored 82 off 68 balls in the previous game played against Chennai Super Kings. The ploy of using Sunil Narine as makeshift has not worked as he has managed to score 89 runs in 6 matches at an average of 17.80. Shubham Gill needs to be given more opportunities at the top of the innings. He certainly showed his talent against Delhi Capitals and smashed a crucial half-century.

Robin Uthappa and Nitish Rana have done a decent job with the bat and chipped in with crucial scores for Kolkata in this year’s competition.All-rounder Andre Russell has been the standout performer for Kolkata so far this season. He has single-handedly won matches for Kolkata in this year’s competition. He is currently the leading run-scorer for the side with 312 run in 8 innings at an average of 78.00. 

In the bowling department, the side will be relying on the likes of Kuldeep Yadav, Piyush Chawla and Sunil Narine to provide breakthroughs. Andre Russell, Prasidh Krishna and Harry Gurney are prominent pace options for the side for this game.

Kolkata Knight Riders Predicted Playing XI:

Dinesh Karthik (c &wk), Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Shubman Gill, Andre Russell, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Harry Gurney.

Kolkata Knight Riders Actual Playing XI:

Sunil Narine, RV Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik, Shubman Gill, Chris Lynn, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Piyush Chawla, Harry Gurney, Andre Russell

Royal Challengers Bangalore Preview

The franchise will need to win this game at all costs in order to stay relevant in this year’s competition. Virat Kohli and co. will need to produce something special in order to beat Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens.

In the batting department, the focus will be on the likes of Virat Kohli, AB De Villiers and Parthiv Patel to produce runs with the bat. Wicket-keeper batsman Parthiv Patel once again failed to get a big score for the side and perished for 28 runs against Mumbai Indians.Kohli will be looking to produce something special with the bat after registering a low score against Mumbai Indians in the previous game.

AB De Villiers was the standout performer with the bat in the previous fixture. He scored 75 runs off 51 balls with the help of six fours and four sixes. He was well supported by All-rounder Moeen Ali, who chipped in with 50 runs off 48 balls with the help of five sixes.The duo put on 95-run partnership to help Royal Challengers Bangalore post a competitive score on the board against Mumbai Indians. The likes of Marcus Stoinis, Akshdeep Nath and Pawan Negi need to score runs for the side in this game. 

In the bowling department, spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Moeen Ali bowled well and picked up four wickets between them. The worry for Royal Challengers Bangalore will be their pace department, that has conceded a lot of runs in the previous couple of matches. Pace trio of Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Siraj and Navdeep Saini need to improve considerably in order for Royal Challengers Bangalore to produce a positive result against Kolkata on Friday.

Royal Challengers Bangalore Predicted Playing XI:

Virat Kohli (captain), AB De Villiers, Parthiv Patel (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Akshdeep Nath, Moeen Ali, Pawan Negi, Mohammad Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, Navdeep Saini, Umesh Yadav

Royal Challengers Bangalore Actual Playing XI:

M Siraj, Pawan Negi, Marcus Stoinis, Virat Kohli, Heinrich Klaasen, YS Chahal, Akshdeep Nath, Moeen Ali, Parthiv Patel, NA Saini, DW Steyn

Weather Conditions

Kolkata Knight Riders have lost their previous two games played at this venue. Kolkata have an excellent head-to-head record against Royal Challengers Bangalore at this venue. Royal Challengers Bangalore last won a game at Eden Gardens in 2016.

Toss: To Bowl

The side that wins the toss would be like to bowl first and restrict the opposition to a lowest possible total. Majority of the games played at Eden Gardens so far this season have been won by sides batting second.