Kings XI to clear the rope against RCB
Match 6 of this year’s IPL will see Kings XI Punjab looking to bounce back after defeat in their opening game, face the Royal Challengers Bangalore who will be hoping that it will be 13th time lucky for them this year. Virat Kohli will be looking to get their second win on the board after a convincing win over Sunrisers Hyderabad last time out.
Don’t look back in anger
Kings XI will need to dust down and refocus after their narrow super over defeat in their first game against the Delhi Capitals. It was a topsy-turvy match that Kings XI should have won when they needed just one run from the final three balls. But losing two wickets in the final two balls of the match sent the game to a super over, where Kings XI could only set the Capitals three to win. They will need to forget that, and the controversy surrounding Chris Jordan seemingly wrongly being deemed to have run ‘one short’ as they face an RCB side with a very strong batting line up.
Fans will be keen to see the IPL’s record six hitter Chris Gayle return to the side for this one. The 41-year-old missed the first game and fans would like to see him accompany Mayank Agarwal at the top of the order. Agarwal scored 89 last time out and looked like seeing his team home before their middle order collapse.
Can the bowlers step up again?
For Royal Challengers Bangalore they would have been fearing the worst when Jonny Bairstow was striking the ball cleanly for the Sunrisers on Monday, but captain Virat Kohli would have been very pleased in the resolve that his bowling attack shown him. RCB have been known for their power with the bat and have been accused of losing games they should have won when defending a score. But the bowlers, led by Yuzvendra Chahal, who took 3-18, helped restrict the Sunrisers from 121-2 to 153 all out.
They will be looking for more of the same in this one, young opener Devdutt Padikkal impressed with 56 on his RCB debut. They will be hoping that the 18-year-old can excel at the top of the order to allow the likes of AB de Villiers to come to the crease later in the innings to finish the job off. If RCB can win matches like that and continue their good form, without using the likes of Chris Morris, Moeen Ali and Adam Zampa, who watched from the side-lines on Monday, they will be red hot favourites to progress in to the play-offs this year.
Match Tip
Hitting 6 sixes in their first game whilst chasing a moderate target is nothing to be sniffed at for Kings XI, and with Chris Gayle potentially returning to the side, he will only add to that tally.
I am backing Kings XI Punjab to hit the most sixes in this match at 2.10 with LeoVegas.
Post bet chat Jack's Tips:
Seven sixes all from the bat of KL Rahul against only three from RCB as they fall 97 runs short.