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Cricket PlayersIPL 2019, RCB vs KXIP: RCB look to build on momentum, Kings XI seek ‘home’ advantage
While three wins in the last five matches have helped RCB give their fans something to cheer about, three losses from five games have left Kings XI Punjab in a daze after their fantastic start to the tournament.
Their chances hang by a thread, but if Royal Challengers Bangalore believe they might just scrape through to the Indian Premier League play-offs, this is their moment to give it their all. When a side’s best run in 10 games is a two-match winning streak, it depicts the season it has had. But morale-boosting wins over Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings have helped build some momentum, which they would like to take advantage of when they meet Kings XI Punjab on Wednesday.
And for once, RCB will step on the field in a better run of form than their opponents this season. While three wins in the last five matches have helped RCB give their fans something to cheer about, three losses from five games have left Kings XI Punjab in a daze after their fantastic start to the tournament.
Familiar foes
But the two names the visitors would bank on to help them return to winning ways are familiar with conditions at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. While Karnataka batsman KL Rahul spent a season with RCB when they reached the final in 2016, Chris Gayle featured for the side in seven editions of the IPL before moving to Kings XI Punjab last year.
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Both openers are in top form and would want to take full advantage against a side whose bowling attack is yet to win them a game. Although Dale Steyn’s inclusion lent some stability in the powerplays, it’s the death overs in particular where RCB bowlers have been consistently sloppy.
Unimpressive bowling
Mahendra Singh Dhoni tossed them around in their last game at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, picking 24 off the last over bowled by Umesh Yadav. However, it wasn’t the worst the hosts had faced at home this season. Andre Russell had picked 28 off an over to help Kolkata Knight Riders scale a 206-run target with five balls to spare despite 66 being required in the last four overs.
And that’s the major concern. Despite AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli not having the best of tournaments, the side has managed to post decent totals, but their bowlers have not done enough to defend those scores.
It’s a similar problem in the opposition dugout as well. Although Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin have chipped away with wickets, among those to have played at least five matches this season, only leg-spinner Murugan Ashwin and his skipper have an economy rate of less than eight. With the form unlikely to improve drastically under the lights with dew expected on Wednesday, it’s expected to be a run-fest between the two lower-table sides.
