IPL 2019: Key battles to watch out for as KKR take on RCB

Kolkata Knight Riders will look forward to halting their slide in momentum when they host Royal Challengers Bangalore who are languishing at the bottom of the table at the Eden Gardens. At one point, it seemed like a certainty that Kolkata would qualify for the playoffs, but three consecutive defeats have meant that the team will have to up their game big time if they are to qualify for the final stages of the tournament. The match will also provide the perfect opportunity for Banglore to play party-poopers and deliver a big dent to KKR’s hopes of progressing further in the tournament. KKR currently occupy the sixth spot in the table with 8 points in 8 matches, while RCB are at the bottom with only 2 points in the 8 matches which they have played.

Here we take a look at the key battles which will be massive factors in deciding the result of the contest:

Virat Kohli vs Dinesh Karthik

It will be interesting to see who comes out on top between the two skippers as far as the strategic battle is concerned. Karthik and Kohli will also have to lead their sides from the front with the bat in order to snap the losing streak which both the sides currently are on. It has been an underwhelming season with the bat for both the players, who have not lived up to their usual high standards. Karthik has scored 118 runs in 8 matches so far at an average of 18.50 and a strike-rate of 118.08. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli has scored 278 runs at an average of 34.75 and a strike-rate of 124.66. While that would classify as a very good record for other batsmen, comparing to Kohli’s high standards and the impact which he can have, the statistics are underwhelming, to say the least. Both Karthik and Kohli would be highly motivated to set the record straight.

AB de Villiers vs Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine is expected to be back in the Kolkata Knight Riders line-up after struggling with an injury for the past few games. Kolkata have heavily missed his presence both with the bat as an opener and as a bowler in the middle overs. Back in the scheme of things, Narine will immediately have a big task in his hands, containing the devastating AB de Villiers, who has been in good form and one of the few bright lights for RCB in a turbulent season. In 8 matches so far, de Villiers has scored 307 runs at an average of 51.16 and a strike-rate of 154.27 with four half-centuries. Narine has picked up 5 wickets so far in the tournament and there lies a big performance under his locker with the ball in his hands. What better time than when his team is in an urgent need of a victory?

The battle of the spinners

Both the teams rely heavily on their spinners to get crucial breakthroughs for them at any stage in the innings. Both the units have a much stronger spin attack, compared to their pacers. While Kolkata have Kuldeep Yadav, Piyush Chawla and Sunil Narine, the Bangalore attack is led by Yuzvendra Chahal with Moeen Ali and Pawan Negi providing the back-ups. The pitch at the Eden Gardens always provides some assistance to the spinners and whichever bowling unit extracts more out of the surface, will be in a pole position to walk out of the contest as the winners.