I continue my ‘today IPL match prediction’ series with a preview of the upcoming IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
As a sports enthusiast, I am very curious to see how this match will unwind. While KKR are former champions, RCB have come close – on more than one occasion — to winning the IPL trophy. IPL 2022 was kinder to RCB who managed to reach the playoffs. In the event they finished third overall. However, KKR had one of their worst IPL seasons and ended up in seventh position.
RCB have brilliant talent in every department of the game. Importantly, Virat Kohli has regained his best T20 form as evident in his recent matches for India.
Like RCB, KKR have a balanced side. Their batting may not be quite as explosive. However, they have some good all-rounders at their disposal. Their bowling line up has experience and variety.
Most teams enjoy an advantage while playing in front of their home audience. However, I expect this to be a tight game, with KKR edging out RCB.
| Match | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore |
|---|---|
| Where | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| When | 6 April 2023 |
| Start Time | 19:30 IST |
Who will Win Today's IPL Match?
Votes
Current Odds
KKR vs RCB: Prediction & Tips
In this segment of my KKR vs RCB match prediction analysis, I name the best elevens the two sides have at their disposal. I look at the head-to-head comparison as well as at the last meeting of the teams. I then comment on the players likely to do well in the upcoming IPL game. I go on to make several forecasts. I name the players likely to score the most runs, hit the most sixes, take the most wickets. I also predict who will snare the most catches. Additionally, I make my IPL toss prediction for the game under review. I intend my IPL predictions 2023 as assistance to IPL punters frequenting the best IPL betting offers.
KKR Team Review
N Jagadeeshan and Venkatesh Iyer are expected to open for KKR. The middle order slots will be filled by Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer, and Andre Russell. Four all-rounders – Ferguson, Shakib, Shardul and Sunil Narine – will follow in turn, underscoring the great batting depth the team has. I will consider the best eleven complete after adding Varun Chakravarthy and Umesh Yadav.
Interestingly, KKR have nine players who can bat and six that can bowl a full quota of four overs, if required. Moreover, every bowler offers something unique. All in all, a well-balanced side with a surfeit of talent. What can possibly go wrong? Look closer and you will find many ageing players. Narine, Russell, and Shakib al Hasan are all past 35. KKR would also want some key players – such as Venkatesh Iyer and Nitish Rana — to display form this season.
Below is their latest Performance:
RCB Team Review
Virat Kohli and Du Plessis will continue to open the RCB innings as they did in IPL 2022. The revelation of last year’s competition, Rajat Patidar will follow the openers in the batting order. With Lomror, Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik, Shahbaz Ahmed and Hasaranga to follow, RCB have batting depth too. The inclusion of Hazlewood, M Siraj and Harshal Patel will complete the eleven.
The return to his best T20 form by Virat Kohli is great news for RCB. Du Plessis played a major role in CSK’s title win in 2021. The RCB skipper would want to regain that form in the 2023 IPL season. Karthik as a finisher is every team’s envy. Glenn Maxwell has had a lean patch in recent times. IPL 2023 could provide him the best platform to get back to his winning ways with bat and ball alike.
Below is their latest Performance:
KKR vs RCB Head-to-head
KKR and RCB have met in 30 IPL matches so far. KKR have a slight edge in the h2h comparison, with 16 wins against 14 losses.
KKR vs RCB Last Meeting
The two sides last faced each other on 30 March 2022, in Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium. RCB won the toss and invited KKR to bat first. KKR did not have the best start to their innings. They lost three wickets for 44 within the powerplay overs.
The bloodletting continued even after the powerplay overs were completed. A regular fall of wickets saw them reduced to 9/101 in the 15th over. It was left to the last wicket pair of Umesh Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy to provide some semblance of respectability. The tailenders helped KKR reach a final score of 128 in the 19th over.
Interestingly, most KKR batsmen got into double figures, but failed to convert on the starts. Andre Russell with 25 of 18 balls was KKR’s best batsman of the match. RCB bowler Hasaranga did the most damage with the ball by taking 4/24.
Though it was a relatively low target, RCB did not find it a walk in the park. After losing opener Anuj Rawat’s wicket in the first over, they went on to lose two wickets over the next couple of overs. Mini partnerships helped RCB to recover from 3/17 in the 3rd over to 5/101 in the 16th. After reducing RCB to 7/111 in 17.5 overs, KKR had a sniff.
However, some big hitting from Dinesh Karthik and Harshal Patel saw 21 runs scored from the next nine balls. Sherfane Rutherford, who made 28 from 40 balls. was RCB’s highest scorer. Southee (3/20) was KKR’s most successful bowler on the night.
Players to look out for
Gurbaz’s brilliant form in the first game was a great sign for KKR. The opener could play an anchor role, allowing others to accelerate the scoring around him. The likes of Venkatesh Iyer and Andre Russell must give KKR fans some mental comfort. These are experienced campaigners who can hold things together in bad times and good. Among the bowlers, Narine has always proved hard for rival batters to negotiate. Shardul Thakur is renowned for his golden arm. Southee brings his experience to the table.
Virat Kohli could prove to be the inspiration this season with some match winning innings. Du Plessis could carry on from where he left off in the first match. Maxwell’s return to winning form is overdue, while bowlers Md Siraj and Harshal Patel are expected to compete for honours.
Toss prediction
I believe the law of averages will favour KKR who lost the toss in the last IPL match versus RCB. Hence, I expect KKR to win the toss in the upcoming game.
Highest scorer
I expect KKR opener Gurbaz to record the highest score of the game versus RCB.
Highest wicket taker
KKR seamer Shardul Thakur will probably take the most wickets in his side’s match against RCB.
Highest sixes hitter
KKR all-rounder Andre Russell will probably register the most six-hits in the match versus RCB.
Most economical bowler
KKR leg break googly bowler Sunil Narine will concede the fewest runs in a full quota of overs. Over the years, IPL batters have found Narine hard to score against.
Most catches
Given the quality of RCB’s pacemen, I expect RCB keeper Dinesh Kartik to grab the most catches in the match against KKR.
KKR vs RCB: Dream 11 Predictions
In this segment of my KKR vs RCB match prediction, I name my ‘today IPL match prediction dream 11’:
- Wicket keeper: Dinesh Karthik, Gurbaz
- Batsmen: V Iyer, du Plessis, Kohli
- All-rounders: Maxwell, Narine, Russell
- Bowlers: Shardul Thakur, Harshal Patel, Md Siraj
My Dream 11 team will be captained by Kohli, with Shardul Thakur as the vice-captain.
(Disclaimer: This dream11 prediction is a rough guideline. I expect to make changes when the tournament starts.)