IPL 2024, RCB vs KKR: Kolkata Opt To Bowl In High-Voltage Encounter At Chinnaswamy

Bengaluru: The stage is set for another explosive encounter in the IPL as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) lock horns with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday.

Fans remember the infamous 2013 altercation between Gautam Gambhir (now KKR mentor) and Virat Kohli, a rivalry reignited last season when Kohli’s RCB faced Gambhir’s Lucknow Super Giants. The narrative thickens with unforgettable moments like Yusuf Pathan’s heroics and Gambhir’s emotional outburst in 2016.

Both teams come off hard-fought victories, seeking to build momentum. RCB might retain their winning combination, potentially including Mahipal Lomror for his late-inning heroics. KKR’s experiment with Sunil Narine as opener under the two-bouncer rule will be a point of focus.

The Chinnaswamy, usually known for high-scoring games, surprised in the previous match. Friday’s encounter will be played on a fresh pitch with a green tinge. Expect hot weather around 30°C with minimal dew.

Playing XIs:

Kolkata Knight Riders: Philip Salt(w), Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer(c), Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Mitchell Starc, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy

Subs: Suyash Sharma, Vaibhav Arora, Manish Pandey, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis(c), Cameron Green, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Anuj Rawat(w), Dinesh Karthik, Alzarri Joseph, Mayank Dagar, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal