IPL 2020 – Match 6 – KXIP vs RCB Betting Preview

Match Details
Kings XI Punjab v Royal Challengers Bangalore
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Thursday, 24th September
16:00 SA Time

Preview

Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) face Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in match number six of IPL 2020. Both teams have had contrasting starts to this tournament so far.

KXIP lost a thrilling game against Delhi Capitals. They managed to tie the game but faltered big time in the Super Over. However, they would be kicking themselves for not finishing the game off in the final over. They had to get one run off the last three balls and they lost a couple of wickets to go into the Super Over. The 2014 finalists started the game very well and dominated with the ball before Marcus Stoinis stole it away in the last three overs. With the bat, the top order crumbled and it was only Mayank Agarwal’s blitz that helped them reach that far. Hence, they will want to get better.

Meanwhile, RCB finally got off to a winning start in an IPL season. In fact, it was the first time since 2016 that the three-time finalists won the first game of the tournament. Their openers, Devdutt Padikkal in particular, batted really well and laid the platform. AB de Villiers finished the innings well. However, they managed to escape with the ball. Umesh Yadav and Dale Steyn had an off day and it was on the back of Yuzvendra Chahal’s 3/18 and Navdeep Saini’s discipline with the ball at the death that helped them defend 163. They will want to improve especially with the ball and they have the rare opportunity to make it two wins in a row at the start of the tournament.

Injury and Availability News

None of the two sides have any major injury concerns. However, there are questions over Chris Morris’ fitness status as he didn’t start in the last match despite him being one of the top all-rounders in the league.

Probable Playing XI

Kings XI Punjab

Lokesh Rahul (c), Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, Nicholas Pooran, Sarfaraz Khan, Glenn Maxwell, Krishnappa Gowtham, Chris Jordan, Sheldon Cottrell, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Aaron Finch, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Josh Philippe/Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Umesh Yadav, Dale Steyn, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal

Key Players to Watch Out For

AB de Villiers: The retired South African superstar batted beautifully in the first game for RCB this season. De Villiers scored 51 in just 30 balls and helped the team finish with a flourish. Moreover, he has a fine record against KXIP, scoring 680 runs at an average of 52.30 and a strike-rate of 160.75.

KL Rahul: The KXIP skipper looked in good touch in the first game but was dismissed for 21. Rahul has been in superb form with the bat and has scored big in the last couple of IPL seasons. He will be a key batsman for KXIP once again.

Ravi Bishnoi: There was quite a bit of talk around some of the Under-19 players this season and Ravi Bishnoi was one of them. He was very good on debut as he picked up 1/22 from his four overs, which included the wicket of Rishabh Pant. The challenge now for the young leggie would be consistency and it’ll be interesting to see how he goes against some of the biggest superstars of world cricket.

Value Bets

Kings XI Punjab

KL Rahul to be KXIP’s top batsman at 2.25.

Mohammed Shami to be KXIP’s top bowler at 2.50.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Virat Kohli to be RCB’s top batsman at 2.00.

Yuzvendra Chahal to be RCB’s top bowler at 2.50.

Prediction: Royal Challengers Bangalore to win at 0.68

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