Bangalore, Punjab set to snatch two points from each other
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium will host a match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings today at 3:30 pm (IST). Both teams are coming off a victory and will look to strengthen their position in the table and get a place in the playoffs.
The last time they met, Punjab Kings won the game comfortably and defeated the Bangalore side by 34 runs. This time around, RCB has the momentum and will try to cease control from the Kings from the get-go.
On the other hand, Punjab Kings have confidence that they can defeat the Challengers as they did the last time.
Expected playing XI
RCB
Virat Kohli (C), Devdutt Padikkal, KS Bharat (WK), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Daniel Christian, George Garton, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal.
PBKS
KL Rahul (C & WK), Mayank Agarwal, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Fabian Allen, Harpreet Brar, Nathan Ellis, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh.
Probable best performers
KL Rahul
Punjab Kings skipper KL Rahul has been in supreme form in this season of IPL. Having scored 489 runs with an average of 54.33 and a strike rate of 130.74, the skipper is a force to be reckoned with and a player RCB will look out for.
What’s more astounding is that KL Rahul plays best against RCB as he has scored a total of 462 runs at an average of 92.40 and a strike rate of 156.08 in a total of 10 matches.
An early wicket of KL Rahul will be a big blow for the Kings and exactly what RCB will try to do, but this won’t seal the deal as Mayank Agarwal too has been providing the team with big innings.
Skipper Rahul is an extremely dangerous player who understands the situation very well and putting pressure on him doesn’t work as he swiftly takes his team out of tough situations.
Harshal Patel
Medium fast-bowling all-rounder, Harshal Patel, has been in red-hot form in IPL 2021. In the 11 matches he’s played, Patel has taken 26 wickets averaging 13.30.
Patel has been important when it comes to breaking long partnerships and the skipper will try to utilize him here once more.
The pacer has been an underrated player and his rise in the IPL has been sensational. From once a bench warmer to now a regular starter, he’s the one to look out for.
Match prediction
The toss will play a big part in the result, with the team batting first will be favourites to take the game home. RCB have won the last 2 games comfortably meanwhile PBKS have lost 1 and won 1.
The last match they played against each other resulted in the Kings’ victory. RCB will have a slight advantage with the run of form they’re in, hence they are favourites to win the game in a nail-biting contest.
