IPL2024: Can the spinners for Royal Challengers Bengaluru contain the bats for Kolkata Knight Riders?

BENGALURU: Although it’s early, RCB cannot afford to relax into shape based on previous results. They must ensure every victory, particularly at home. Bengaluru’s batting and bowling groups seem to require reinforcements ahead of their Friday matchup against KKR. With five straight victories in this venue, KKR has the advantage.
RCB will want to maintain the momentum after winning the last game, which gives them confidence.

While Virat Kohli’s explosive performance against the Punjab Kings would be encouraging, the middle and top order have to work together, beginning with captain Faf du Plessis (35 & 3).
Thus far, Rajat Patidar (0 & 18), Glenn Maxwell (0 & 3), and Cameron Green (18 & 3) have all had unimpressive performances. They cannot wait for the tide to turn, particularly when facing a squad like KKR. Dinesh Karthik’s game-defining undefeated innings in both games have been very effective for RCB. Mahipal Lomror and Anuj Rawat, two young players, have also risen up in the bottom order.
But RCB’s well-known bowling problems still plague them. Alzarri Joseph, a West Indies pacer, has struggled, while Mohammed Siraj and Yash Dayal, the newball duo, have performed well. Mayank Dagar hasn’t been able to locate a partner in the spin department.

Bowlers have a little margin of error at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The bowlers for the Royal Challenge of Bengal will face a formidable bowling attack from their hard-hitting, vicious players. Rinku Singh and Andre Russell are experienced contributors for the bowling side, even though players like Phil Salt, Sunil Narine, and Shreyas Iyer may be dangerous in the top order.
“The pitch moved a little bit up and down during the last game. According to RCB batting coach Neil McKenzie, “it should be a good wicket with some pace in it for Friday’s match and that could probably suit the team.”

Mitchell Starc of KKR, who is now the most expensive IPL player at Rs 24.75 crore, will also be experiencing a kind of homecoming. Starc had been an RCB pacer for the two seasons he played in 2014 and 2015 before taking a nine-year break from the competition.

Therefore, the Chinnaswamy is not new to him; rather, the circumstances are. His comeback to the tournament against Punjab yielded just 53 runs in his four overs, making it somewhat forgettable.