IPL 2021 Match 31 KKR vs RCB: Preview, predicted playing XI, fantasy picks

Tags: Indian T20 League 2021, Kolkata XI vs Bangalore XI, 31st Match at Abu Dhabi, Sep 20, 2021, Bangalore XI, Kolkata XI

Published on: Sep 20, 2021

Scorecard | Commentary | Graphs

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in match 31 of IPL 2021 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Monday. KKR had a forgettable run in the first half of the season held in India, winning only two of their seven games. RCB, on the other hand, were highly impressive. In fact, they were table-toppers at one stage before losing their way a bit. Still, they were third in the points table, with five wins from seven games, when the event was halted.

The match will be significant for Virat Kohli since he confirmed on Sunday that this season will be his last as skipper of RCB. Kohli’s decision comes just a few days after he announced that he will be stepping down as T20 captain of India following the T20 World Cup. The RCB skipper’s personal form has dipped significantly in recent times so he will be keen to start on a bright note from Monday.

RCB have made quite a few changes in their squad with the likes of Adam Zampa, Daniel Sams, Kane Richardson and Washington Sundar unavailable for various reasons. They have some smart replacements though in Tim David, Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera. Hasaranga, in particular, has been excellent for Sri Lanka in recent years. RCB will be wearing a special blue jersey for their match on Monday

Looking at their possible playing XI, Hasaranga should come into the side in place of the injured Sundar. Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers and Kyle Jamieson should be their other foreign players. Yuzvendra Chahal will be keen to make a point after not being picked in the T20 World Cup squad

RCB Predicted XI: Virat Kohli (C), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers (WK), Shahbaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal

KKR will be without their lead pacer Pat Cummins. Experienced Kiwi Tim Southee is a smart replacement. The trio of Dinesh Karthik, Andre Russell and skipper Eoin Morgan had a poor run in the first half. They will have to lift their game for sure.

They are weak in the bowling as well. Varun Chakravarthy has proved to be a match-winner but Prasidh Krishna and Shivam Mavi are too young to be expected to win games consistently. Also, Lockie Ferguson might get a go ahead of fellow Kiwi Southee owing to his experience with the franchise.

KKR Predicted XI: Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan (C), Sunil Narine, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Andre Russell, Lockie Ferguson, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy, Shivam Mav

Top Fantasy picks for KKR vs RCB clash: Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Kyle Jamieson, Varun Chakravarthy, Andre Russell

--Renin Wilben Albert

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