With the first finalist of IPL 2021 found in the form of CSK last night, we move on to the eliminator phase of the tournament. The first eliminator will have Royal Challengers Bangalore, who closely missed out on the second spot on the points table due to NRR and Kolkata Knight Riders, who probably have made the most of the UAE leg, grabbing the last place of playoffs. So, let’s look at what do we have in store for this power-packed fixture.
Head-to-head this IPL
The two teams have managed to grab one win each against each other this season. The first game between them was dominated by RCB credit to Maxwell and ABD. KKR returned this favour in the next match by winning the game by nine wickets and ten overs remaining. Speak about pay back with interest!
Players to look forward
Glenn Maxwell
A redemption year for Glenn Maxwell this season. Maxi has notched six fifties this season and has justified the most expensive tag in every right. Bangalore will indeed require Glenn Maxwell’s services to grab their maiden IPL trophy.
Venkatesh Iyer
The find of the UAE leg for KKR, Venkatesh Iyer, is one reason why the team has performed so well in the latter half. His partnership with Shubhman Gill will be the deciding factor for the team’s journey ahead.
Harshal Patel
If Glenn Maxwell is the match-winner for RCB in the batting department this season, Harshal Patel has put the bowling department of the RCB on top. However, this year’s current purple cap holder (and most probably it will stay it him) will be hungry to prove himself in the eliminators as well.
Varun Chakravarthy
This deceptive spinner from Tamil Nadu will be the key for KKR if they want to make the most of this ground. A brilliant season for Varun this year; he will be looking forward to making a mark with the incoming world cup.
What can we expect?
KKR have proved themselves as the dark horse of this season with their exploits in the UAE leg. Even though their batting has depth, it’s still dicey to put money on. They will rely on their formidable bowling unit. Their skipper’s form is another concern which they wish to not create an untimely problem for the team.
For RCB, this is their second consecutive playoff appearance, but anyone will attest that this might be their best shot at that IPL trophy. With the emergence of new match-winners like Maxwell and Harshal Patel, Virat Kohli’s men have a solid team on every front. However, their nerve holding capacity will matter the most, keeping in mind their choking record of the past.
Probable Playing XIs
