Powerplay on the cards as Virat, Gayle come to party
Small ground gives RCB good chance to get first win
BANGALORE : Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore will hope power-hitters play to potential against Kings XI Punjab, who have a point to prove in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 clash at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday.
Though RCB have always enjoyed great batting strength, they have been caught out whenever rivals have pegged them down and then targetted a relatively weaker bowling attack.
Though the 2018 player auction has strengthened bowling, Nitish Rana’s part-time off-spin that netted AB de Villiers and Kohli in two successive deliveries saw their opening game against Kolkata Knight Riders end in defeat. The first home match of the season for RCB gives a great opportunity to show they have found that balance, against another team searching for its first IPL title. A small ground with great batting conditions give Virat Kohli’s side a great chance to get the first win in IPL 2018.
The India skipper has pinned faith in wrist spin over fingerspin in the national team in the shorter formats, and Kings XI Punjab skipper R Ashwin, the man who lost his limited-overs spot last year, gets a great chance to prove a point.
On captaincy debut, Ashwin guided KXIP to an easy win over Delhi Daredevils in Mohali, even bowling four leg-breaks to show his variation can be an effective weapon. Picked over Ashwin in limited-overs cricket, leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal will be RCB’S main spinner, but will have to rediscover his form after leaking runs for country and IPL team in recent games. for the Karnataka batsman as KXIP look to respond in kind. Australia batsman Aaron Finch is expected to be back, having missed KXIP’S first game due to his wedding on April 7. He is likely to partner KL Rahul.
However, it remains to be seen whether Chris Gayle gets to play at his favourite Chinnaswamy Stadium. The Jamaicaan was one of the batting heroes of RCB until last season, and was a late buy for KXIP in the player auction in January. Teams had chased the target in each game in IPL 2018 until Rajasthan Royals defended a score against Delhi Daredevils on Wednesday.
However, DD were at a huge disadvantage in Jaipur after the stoppage due to rain left them chasing 70 in just six overs.
Total matches
12
Royal Challengers Bangalore lost 11 successive matches when AB de Villiers was in the playing XI. Their last victory with Abraham de Villiers in the team was the first Qualifier against Gujarat Lions at Bangalore on May 24, 2016.
Virat Kohli who scored 4449 runs at a strike rate of 129.48 in 142 innings of 150 matches, needs 51 runs to become the second batsman after Suresh Raina ( 4558 runs in 163 matches) to complete 4500 runs in IPL.