IPL 2021 Highlights, KKR vs RCB.

KKR vs RCB, IPL 2021 Highlights, Today’s Match:  A top-class show from Kolkata Knight Riders as they excelled in every department for a comprehensive nine-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in Abu Dhabi. In reply to RCB’s 92-all out, KKR made 94/1 in 10 overs with Shubman Gill (48) and Venkatesh Iyer (41*) starring.

The opening pair of Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer is sprinting towards the target of 93. Gill is nearing a fifty.

#Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer have made a strong start to the chase of 93 in Abu Dhabi.

Andre Russell and Varun Chakravarthy shared six wickets between them as Royal Challengers Bangalore were bowled out for 92 in 19 overs. For RCB, Devdutt Padikkal was the top-scorer with 22 off 20. Seven of RCB batters failed to score in double digits.

#Now, a double-wicket over from Varun Chakravarthy too as he dismisses Glenn Maxwell and Wanindu Hasaranga off successive deliveries. RCB are in deep trouble.

#A double-wicket over from Andre Russell has put Kolkata Knight Riders. He first dismissed debutant KS Bharat and then delivered a perfect yorker to crash through the defenses of AB de Villiers, sending him back for a first-ball duck.

#Last ball of the Powerplay and Kolkata Knight Riders have another success with Lockie Ferguson removing Devdutt Padikkal. Royal Challengers Bangalore lose both their openers in the Powerplay overs after opting to bat first.

#An early jolt to RCB as Virat Kohli has been dismissed lbw by Praisdh Krishna on 5.

So Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli has won the toss and opted to bat first. There will be two debutants for them – KS Bharat and Wanindu Hasaranga. Kolkata Knight Riders also have a debutant in Venkatesh Iyer.

Enduring a forgettable outing in the first half of this year’s IPL, two-time former champions Kolkata Knight Riders would look for reversal of fortunes when they resume their campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the second phase of T20 league in Abu Dhabi today.

While Virat Kohli’s RCB is third in the eight-team standings with 10 points from seven games, 2012 and 2014 champions KKR are languishing at the seventh spot with just two wins out of seven ties.

And Eoin Morgan-led KKR would be hoping to make a turnaround, just like 2014 edition when they won nine games in a row to claim the title.

KKR chief mentor David Hussey also exuded optimism about scripting a turnaround, despite a nightmarish first half.

“All we have to do is win this … We have done it before and so we can do it again… I feel we have the squad to do it also. You qualify for the finals and whole competition starts again,” the Australian said.

Even though KKR leads in head-to-head record against RCB, winning 18 and losing 13 out of 28 fixtures played between the two sides, the 38-run defeat against Kohli’s team in the first half of the event in Chennai would be fresh on their players’ minds.

KKR’s two wins earlier this year came against two under-performing sides — Punjab Kings, who are placed just a rung above them, and bottom-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad.

KKR would be relying heavily on the pair of Subhman Gill and Nitin Rana to deliver the goods in their batting department, even though the duo did not have the best of outings in the first leg.

KKR’s bowling department will be on the shoulders of Kiwi Tim Southee, who came in as a replacement for Pat Cummins for the second half.

RCB, on the other hand, are currently placed in a comfortable position and would be hoping for Kohli to play freely and score big runs, especially after taking the big call of relinquishing T20 captaincy.

With Glenn Maxwell (223 runs from 7 games) and AB de Villiers (207 runs from 7) leading the run scorers chart till now for the team, RCB’s batting unit looks ominous.

The additions of Sri Lanka duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera, who replaced Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson, will also hold the team in good stead as they have a good understanding of the UAE conditions.