Despite an impressive batting performance against Punjab Kings (PBKS), Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) side failed to register their first win of the season. With hopes of opening their account in the 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday, Virat Kohli-starrer RCB will lock horns with two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match No.6 of the cash-rich league.
Over the years, RCB and KKR have played some of the most memorable matches against each other in the world’s richest T20 league. Kohli’s RCB and Shreyas Iyer-led KKR will meet each other at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Mumbai. While RCB are heading into this blockbuster clash after a defeat at the hands of PBKS, Iyer-led KKR kickstarted their new campaign on a winning note. KKR will arrive at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy with their tails up. The Shah Rukh Khan co-owned franchise defeated MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2022 opener.
Pacer Umesh Yadav was a star turnout for the Knights and his bowling heroics paved the way for KKR to restrict CSK on a below-par total. The Iyer-led side will still be without the services of Australian pacer Pat Cummins and T20 World Cup-winning captain Aaron Finch. Du Plessis & Co. will be without star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, ex-CSK star Josh Hazlewood and pacer Jason Behrendorff.
When it comes to the head-to-head record, KKR have an edge over RCB with 16 wins over the Bangalore-based franchise. Kohli’s RCB side has won 13 matches against KKR in the cash-rich league. Runners-up in the previous edition of the T20 league, KKR have won three of their last two matches against Bangalore. Former CSK opener and current RCB skipper Du Plessis had won two Player of Match awards in IPL 2021. Andre Russell and Sunil Narine have hammered the RCB bowlers at a strike rate of 215.12 and 196.43 respectively in the cash-rich league. Iyer-led KKR are tipped to edge past RCB in a thrilling contest at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy.
