Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Indian Premier League (IPL), Today Match Prediction 13 Apr 2019

kxip vs rcb Match Prediction & Analysis

Host Kings XI Punjab will be looking to get back to winning ways when they take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 28th game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Saturday. Both teams will be desperate to register a win in this match after suffering defeats in their previous matches. 

Kings XI Punjab suffered a narrow defeat against Mumbai Indians in their last fixture, whereas Royal Challengers Bangalore lost their previous game to Delhi Capitals. 

With this result, Royal Challengers Bangalore have failed to win a game in this year’s competition and have conceded six defeats in a row so far this season.

On the other hand, Kings XI Punjab is lying at fourth place in the league table with eight points in seven matches.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Kings XI Punjab Preview

Kings XI Punjab will be desperate for a better show as they are currently placed on fourth position on the league table, but a win could lift them to second position. Ravichandran Ashwin-led unit will be looking to produce a strong show with bat and ball in front of their home crowds in Mohali.

The team management will be having their hopes on opening batsman Lokesh Rahul to lead the team’s batting effort, as he has already managed to score 317 runs in seven matches at an average of 79.25. 

Rahul notched up a spectacular century in the previous game played against Mumbai Indians. He smashed an unbeaten 100 runs off 64 balls with the help of six fours and six sixes.Certainly, Rahul will be looking to produce consistency with the bat at the top of the order for Kings XI Punjab.

The responsibility will also be on the likes of Chris Gayle and Mayank Agarwal to produce the goods for the team, as they’ve scored 223 and 184 runs respectively at averages of 37.16 and 30.66. Chris Gayle also played well in the previous game played against Mumbai Indians and scored 63 off just 36 balls with the help of three fours and seven sixes. He added 116-run partnership for the opening wicket to see Kings XI post a daunting score on the board against Mumbai.

Mayank Agarwal, Sarfaraz Khan and David Miller have contributed with crucial performances for the side in this year’s competition. The middle-order trio will be keen to get runs for the side in this game.

In the bowling department, pace bowler Mohammad Shami led the bowling attack for Kings XI in this game. He has topped the bowling charts for the franchise so far this season with 9 wickets in 7 matches at an average of 26.44. 

Captain Ravichandran Ashwin has bowled well this season and claimed eight wickets at a superb economy rate of 7.64. Ankit Rajpoot and Sam Curran will need to improve as they leaked a lot of runs in the previous game played against Mumbai Indians.

Kings XI Punjab Predicted Playing XI:

Ravichandran Ashwin (captain), Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mandeep Singh, David Miller, Mayank Agarwal/Karun Nair, Lokesh Rahul (wk), Chris Gayle, Hardus Viljeon, Sam Curran, Mohammad Shami, Ankit Rajpoot.

Kings XI Punjab Actual Playing XI:

AJ Tye, Sarfaraz Khan, Chris Gayle, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Lokesh Rahul, Nicholas Pooran, M Singh, Murugan Ashwin, Mayank Agarwal, Sam Curran

Royal Challengers Bangalore Preview

For Royal Challengers Bangalore, they will need to win all of their remaining games in order to have any chance of qualifying for the playoffs this season. The franchise have got off to a worse possible start and lost six consecutive games in a row so far this season. Virat Kohli and co. will need to raise their game with bat and ball in order to break their winless streak in this year’s competition.

In the batting department, the focus will be on the likes of Captain Virat Kohli (203 runs at an average of 33.83), middle-order batsman AB De Villiers (183 runs at an average of 34.60) and wicket-keeper batsman Parthiv Patel (172 runs at an average of 28.66). The batting trio will need to deliver runs with the bat in this game as well. Kohli has been consistent at the top of the innings for Royal Challengers Bangalore in this year’s competition. He will be determined to turn things around for the franchise in the next couple of matches.

However, the real cause of concern for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the match will be lack of runs from the middle-order. Marcus Stoinis, Moeen Ali and Akshdeep Nath need to be consistent with the bat in order for RCB to break their losing streak in the competition.

The arrival of Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis was a big positive for the team in the match against Delhi, as he scored 32 off 18 balls with the help of three sixes. 

In the bowling department, Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has topped the bowling charts for Royal Challengers Bangalore in this year’s competition. Navdeep Saini, Pawan Negi and Moeen Ali also bowled well in the previous game played against Delhi Capitals.

Royal Challengers Bangalore Predicted Playing XI:

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

Royal Challengers Bangalore Actual Playing XI:

M Siraj, Pawan Negi, Marcus Stoinis, Virat Kohli, Umesh Yadav, YS Chahal, AB de Villiers, Akshdeep Nath, Moeen Ali, Parthiv Patel, NA Saini

Weather Conditions

Considering the traditional pitch in Mohali, the quick bowlers will get assistance off the pitch. The weather forecast for the game on Saturday is going to be partly cloudy.

Venue

Kings XI Punjab have won three out of three games played in Mohali so far this season. Royal Challengers Bangalore have a decent record at this venue and have won three games out of six played against Kings XI Punjab.

Toss: To Bowl

The side that wins the toss would be keen to bowl first and make first use of the pitch conditions. It tends to get easier to bat in the second half of the innings. Spinners might not play a big role in this game.