IPL 2020 Match 39 KKR v RCB Betting Preview

Match Details
Kolkata Knight Riders v Royal Challengers Bangalore
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Wednesday, 21st October
16:00 SA Time

IPL 2020: Match 39 -KKR v RCB Preview, Prediction, Probable Playing XI and Value bets.

Betting Preview

We are nearing the end of the group stage and there still hasn’t been stability in terms of the points table. Which still keeps the tournament open to at least six teams. This makes the 39th game of Dream 11 IPL between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) crucial. Both teams will be looking to cement their places in the play-offs.

KKR had looked the most inconsistent and vulnerable side in the tournament until the last match with both batting and bowling departments failing miserably. But a few changes in the bowling line-up, mainly the addition of Lockie Ferguson, have breathed a new life into their attack. That was very evident in the game against SRH where they defended a sub-par total. Ferguson was also brilliant in the super over, picking up both the wickets by giving away just two runs. This change in the dynamics of KKR’s gameplay is surely going to help them advance in the tournament. But their batting woes continue with Gill finding himself amongst the runs but taking time to get there.

These slow starts have put their middle-order under huge pressure and with Rana out of form, the batting depends heavily on Morgan and Dinesh Karthik. Both had to work incredibly hard to get their team to a respectable total in the last game. Andre Russell’s possible unavailability is going to hurt the side even though he was misfiring with the bat. Their last outing against RCB was disastrous. They looked clueless in front of an in-form de Villiers and ended up losing the game by 82 runs. But with their current bowling attack looking strong, the runs aren’t expected to flow as easily.

RCB certainly looks a much stronger side on paper and has performed better in the tournament. They come into the game after clinching a victory from the jaws of defeat with ABD’s heroics yet again making the difference. Even Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli have looked in fine touch and with a batting-line up that strong. RCB on their day can thrash any bowling attack. AB de Villiers has been the highlight of RCB’s campaign and has won them multiple matches almost single-handedly. Their bowling, that looked has looked very thin in last three seasons, now looks complete and gives Virat a wide range of options. Morris, Chahal, Sundar, Saini and Udana have all impressed with the ball and are expected to trouble a weak KKR batting.

Kohli’s captaincy against KXIP came under a lot of scrutiny as he demoted an in-form de Villers down the order. He even made blunders with his bowling choices that allowed Punjab batsmen to settle down. Kohli would look to learn from his mistakes and be more efficient with his decisions. The only major concern for RCB is Aaron Finch’s form. Even though he has scored a lot of runs, they have come at a SR that has hurt them. He has failed to make an impact on the side that he was expected to and Kohli will be looking at the likes of Moeen Ali or Josh Phillipe as potential replacements.

Injury and Availability News

Andre Russell isn’t completely fit and may miss out.

Probable Playing XI

Kolkata Knight Riders

Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan, Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), Andre Russell/Sunil Naraine, Lockie Ferguson, Pat Cummins, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Aaron Finch, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers (wk), Shivam Dube, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Washington Sundar, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Chris Morris, Yuzvendra Chahal

Key Players to watch out for

Eoin Morgan: KKR’s newly appointed captain had a good start to the season but has been inconsistent. He comes into the game after playing two crucial knocks in his last two games- 39 off 29 against MI and 34 off 23 against SRH. Both the knocks came at a time when his team was struggling and he helped them get to a respectable total. He has shown character and his form might make a difference in the middle overs.

AB De Villiers: RCB’s star batsman, he is their gamechanger and has won multiple games for them almost single-handedly this season. He has scored 285 runs in the nine games he has played so far at an average of 57.00 and an impressive strike rate of almost 200. His innings saved RCB in crunch situations and they will depend on him heavily to finish their innings. He is the third-highest run-scorer for RCB behind Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal.

Virat Kohli: The highest run-getter for RCB this season, Kohli has been in a phenomenal form after looking off-coloured initially. He has consistently scored invaluable runs for his side and led them from the front. The skipper has scored more than 30 runs in each of his last six innings. He has 347 runs in his nine games with the help of two 50+ scores, at an average of 57.83. His consistency is the key to hold the innings together in the middle overs so that ABD can come and play his natural game later. He is 5th in the list of highest run-scorers this season.

Value Betting

Kolkata Knight Riders

Shubman Gill to be KKR’s top batsman at 2.25

Lockie Ferguson to be KKR’s top bowler at 2.50

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Virat Kohli to be Royal Challengers Bangalore top batsman at 1.90

Yuzvendra Chahal to be Royal Challengers Bangalore top bowler at 1.90

Prediction: Royal Challengers Bangalore to win at 0.68.