(Cricket news) KKR will face Royal Challengers Bangalore for another run-fest at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. KKR have conceded three 200-plus in their seven games this season, with the recent injury to Shardul Thakur, the team balance also looks like a worry for the KKR management. KKR’s top order has been the most inconsistent this season; they have used five different opening pairs in seven matches. They have subsequently lost 17 wickets in the powerplay at a run rate of 7.80 which is the worst in the tournament. KKR are the only side who have used all their eight overseas players so far, and are still searching for the best 11.

For RCB, their top order has been the best opening pair this season as Faf du Plessis has now raised his game to the next level while Virat is back to doing what he does best. Both the batters have amassed a total off 500 runs, including two century stands. Glenn Maxwell has also been in red-hot form at the Chinnaswamy. But their main concern would be their misfiring middle order as they haven’t lived up to their expectations. In the bowling department Mohammed Siraj has been the best bowler, he’s not only taking wickets in the powerplay but also at the death.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Du Plessis is still nursing a rib injury, and will be substituted which means that Virat will continue to captain the side. If they bat first, Faf could be subbed out for seamer Vijaykumar Vyshak or leg spinner Karn Sharma depending on how the pitch acts.

Possible XII: 1 Virat Kohli (capt), 2 Faf du Plessis, 3 Mahipal Lomror, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Suyash Prabhudessai, 6 Shahbaz Ahmed, 7 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Harshal Patel, 10 David Willey, 11 Mohammed Siraj, 12 Vijaykumar Vyshak/Karn Sharma

Kolkata Knight Riders

Jason Roy is all set to open the inning but the mystery will be, who will be his opening partner. Thakur bowled at the nets and most likely will be available to play. Meanwhile, KKR’s are very consistent on their Impact Player player as wrist spinner Suyash Sharma comes into the lineup when they bowl first, or Venkatesh Iyer starts if they bat first. 

Possible XII: 1 Jason Roy, 2 N Jagadeesan (wk), 3 Venkatesh Iyer, 4 Nitish Rana (capt), 5 Rinku Singh, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Sunil Narine, 8 David Wiese/Lockie Ferguson/Tim Southee, 9 Umesh Yadav, 10 Kulwant Khejroliya/Vaibhav Arora, 11 Varun Chakravarthy, 12 Suyash Sharma

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