RCB vs KKR IPL 2023: Desperately seeking a turnaround, Kolkata Knight Riders visit Royal Challengers Bangalore | Cricket News – Times of India
Struggling in the bottom half of the IPL 2023 table, Kolkata Knight Riders will desperately want to resuscitate their campaign when they visit Royal Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday.
With just two wins in seven matches, KKR are at No. 7 with four points, while RCB are No. 5 with four wins in seven matches.
The two-time champions have looked clueless in their last four outings, losing at home and while also on the road.
IPL POINTS TABLE | SCHEDULE & RESULTS
The losses can largely be pegged down to the shoddy performance by KKR batters. They are missing their regular skipper Shreyas Iyer and star all-rounder Shakib-Al-Hasan.
In the 49-run loss against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday, KKR batters were expected to rise to the occasion, chasing a 230 plus score, instead the top-order, comprising the likes of Venkatesh Iyer, Rana and N Jagadeesan crumbled under pressure.
KKR have also struggled to zero in on their opening pair. The former champions have shuffled around with Sunil Narine, Jagadeesan, Litton Das, Jason Roy and Rahmanullah Gurbaz at the top.
Their decision to send Narine to open the innings along side Jagadeesan against CSK failed as the West Indian departed for a duck.
Had it not been for Roy and Rinku Singh’s fifties the margin of defeat would have been worse.
The duo’s performance is the silver lining in an otherwise dismal show against CSK.
The big-hitting Andre Russell has also failed miserably in his role as the finisher. He hasn’t been able to hit the big shots and the fact that KKR send him at number seven or eight has not been helpful.
The all-rounder’s fitness is also a concern. He hasn’t bowled his quota of four overs even once this season as he often gets injured while bowling.
But KKR will walk into the game with a slight psychologically edge, having defeated RCB by 81 runs earlier this season.
Meanwhile, RCB will be high on confidence after eking out a seven-run win over the then table toppers Rajasthan Royals and would be eager to extend their winning streak.
Faf du Plessis and his troops have won four of their seven games, including the last two, and find themselves just outside of the top four in the fifth spot.
RCB’s wins have come on the back of sensational performers by a few players.
Du Plessis has been in sublime form and has raised several century-stands with Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell, who are also in good nick.
Such is the dependence on the three that only they are doing the bulk of the scoring while the other batters have failed to fire.
More is expected from the middle-order comprising Dinesh Karthik, Mahipal Lomlor, Shahbaz Ahmed and Suyash Prabhudessai.
Among bowlers, Mohammed Siraj has been in sensational form. The Purple Cap holder has conceded at 7.17 runs per over and has bowled the most dot balls — 89 this season.
Siraj is being ably supported by Wayne Parnell and Harshal Patel.
The addition of Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has also done wonders for the previously struggling RCB bowling unit.
Though in form, the RCB batters will be advised to exercise caution against KKR spinners, who foxed them earlier in the season.
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With just two wins in seven matches, KKR are at No. 7 with four points, while RCB are No. 5 with four wins in seven matches.
The two-time champions have looked clueless in their last four outings, losing at home and while also on the road.
IPL POINTS TABLE | SCHEDULE & RESULTS
The losses can largely be pegged down to the shoddy performance by KKR batters. They are missing their regular skipper Shreyas Iyer and star all-rounder Shakib-Al-Hasan.
In the 49-run loss against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday, KKR batters were expected to rise to the occasion, chasing a 230 plus score, instead the top-order, comprising the likes of Venkatesh Iyer, Rana and N Jagadeesan crumbled under pressure.
KKR have also struggled to zero in on their opening pair. The former champions have shuffled around with Sunil Narine, Jagadeesan, Litton Das, Jason Roy and Rahmanullah Gurbaz at the top.
Their decision to send Narine to open the innings along side Jagadeesan against CSK failed as the West Indian departed for a duck.
Had it not been for Roy and Rinku Singh’s fifties the margin of defeat would have been worse.
The duo’s performance is the silver lining in an otherwise dismal show against CSK.
The big-hitting Andre Russell has also failed miserably in his role as the finisher. He hasn’t been able to hit the big shots and the fact that KKR send him at number seven or eight has not been helpful.
The all-rounder’s fitness is also a concern. He hasn’t bowled his quota of four overs even once this season as he often gets injured while bowling.
But KKR will walk into the game with a slight psychologically edge, having defeated RCB by 81 runs earlier this season.
Meanwhile, RCB will be high on confidence after eking out a seven-run win over the then table toppers Rajasthan Royals and would be eager to extend their winning streak.
Faf du Plessis and his troops have won four of their seven games, including the last two, and find themselves just outside of the top four in the fifth spot.
RCB’s wins have come on the back of sensational performers by a few players.
Du Plessis has been in sublime form and has raised several century-stands with Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell, who are also in good nick.
Such is the dependence on the three that only they are doing the bulk of the scoring while the other batters have failed to fire.
More is expected from the middle-order comprising Dinesh Karthik, Mahipal Lomlor, Shahbaz Ahmed and Suyash Prabhudessai.
Among bowlers, Mohammed Siraj has been in sensational form. The Purple Cap holder has conceded at 7.17 runs per over and has bowled the most dot balls — 89 this season.
Siraj is being ably supported by Wayne Parnell and Harshal Patel.
The addition of Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has also done wonders for the previously struggling RCB bowling unit.
Though in form, the RCB batters will be advised to exercise caution against KKR spinners, who foxed them earlier in the season.
(With agency inputs)
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