RCB will be taking on KKR in the second game of the UAE leg of the Indian Premier League 2021. The two teams will be locking horns in Abu Dhabi on Monday with the aim to make a successful resumption to their campaign in the tournament.
Before being brought to a halt in early May due to a cluster of Covid-19 positive cases inside different teams’ bubble in Delhi and Ahmedabad, the IPL 2021 saw RCB and KKR enjoy very contrasting fortunes in terms of the results.
RCB made an ascent to the third position in the points table, while KKR kept slipping below in the standings to be seventh when the competition was suspended. RCB won five and lost only two of their seven matches; KKR lost five and won just two of their seven fixtures.
The win-loss record reflects how teams have managed to amplify their strengths, cover-up for weaknesses, and adaptability. While Bangalore’s Chinnaswamy stadium based RCB adjusted seamlessly to neutral venues during the Indian leg, KKR struggled to cope well outside their home base – the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
This ability to find comfort outside one’s comfort zone will count again as the two teams lock horns at another neutral ground in the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Key Players
Virat Kohli is the biggest key to success for RCB. The captain and the great batsman is heading into the second half of IPL 2021 after showing decent form during the Test tour of England with the Indian team. Kohli didn’t quite get going last year when IPL 2020 was played in the Middle East, but that was more down to the extended pandemic break that he had to endure than any lack of form on his part.
With more cricket under his belt post IPL 2020, Kohli showed encouraging signs towards the end of the Indian leg of IPL 2021. He has made 198 runs from his seven innings this year, albeit at a strike-rate of 121.47. Kohli will be hoping to leave his mark as the tournament resumes in the UAE.
The great South African batsman AB de Villiers showed his class during the Indian leg of the competition. Despite playing the initial few games on a dry, spin-friendly deck in Chennai, De Villiers stood out from the rest and scored his 207 runs at a strike-rate of 164.28 while averaging 51.75.
The only concern for De Villiers heading into the UAE leg is whether he is able to quickly regain his rhythm after a four-month hiatus. But there is no challenge too big from the legendary right-hander. De Villiers has now played 176 IPL matches in his career with 5,056 runs at an average of 40.00 and strike-rate of 152.38. He will have happy memories of playing in UAE, having struck a few game-defining knocks for RCB last season.
Glenn Maxwell has been a surprise package for RCB in IPL 2021. Shedding the notorious tendency to perform inconsistently despite evident ability, Maxwell has been one of RCB’s most frequent run-scorers this year. The Australian right-hander has made 223 runs at an average of 37.16 and strike-rate of 144.80.
Bought for a whopping sum of INR 14.25 crores, Maxwell has repaid the trust shown in him by the RCB think-tank after being released by the Punjab franchise. He has already made a telling impact on multiple of RCB’s matches and Kohli’s team would hope he can continue in this rich vein of form.
Andre Russell is extremely crucial to what is currently a KKR side struggling for form and confidence. Russell, when he gets going, absolutely pulverises the opposition with his willow and can also chip in with useful overs as a right-arm quick, often at the death as well.
During the Indian leg, Russell scored 163 runs at a strike-rate of 155.23 and backed it up with seven wickets from as many matches. KKR will again depend heavily on the Jamaican’s all-round prowess to keep RCB juggernaut at bay and rejuvenate themselves in the competition.
Prediction
In their previous outing of the tournament, RCB comfortably defeated KKR in Chennai, securing victory by a margin of 38 runs. In the last year’s edition, which was played in UAE, RCB defeated KKR in both their league stage encounters.
The recent results and their current standing in the points table reflect how KKR and RCB are two sides that are going in the opposite direction with regards to progress. Not too long back, the scales used to be tilted differently. RCB do look the stronger of the two units and are expected to come out triumphant in the coming fixture.
