The 31st match of the IPL 2020 will see Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) taking on Kings Xi Punjab (KXIP) in an important clash for both teams in Sharjah. RCB is ranked third on the points table with 5 wins from 7 matches, while KXIP languishes at the bottom of the table with just one win from 7 matches.
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For KXIP, this match is a must-win by all consideration, as a loss here will mean they are done and dusted in the tournament. The only silver lighting for them is that they had beaten RCB by 97 runs in their first encounter of IPL 13, thanks to KL Rahul's 132* and it remains their only win in this season.
RCB, on the other hand, will be looking to earn a win and consolidate their position in the top half of the points table and get closer to a possible playoff qualification as well.
Both the teams will look to give their best players a go in this crunch match and TEAM COC presents to you the Predicted Playing XIs for the RCB v KXIP match in Sharjah.
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE (RCB)
The Royal Challengers Bangalore earned a quite one-sided victory in their last game against Kolkata Knight Riders, which was also played in Sharjah. The Sharjah pitch, which yielded scores of 200 plus, which were then chased down in a brutal manner, has slowed down a lot, something that KKR learnt the hard way.
RCB will look to bat first and plan a bit when it comes to batting. If it was not for AB de Villiers’ brilliance, they might have been 30-40 runs short. This time, however, they are up against a team whose morale is shot due to a string of poor performances and it will be RCB’s chance to make them suffer even further.
Their playing XI is suited for this type of surface with Chahal, and Sundar leading the spin department, while Siraj and Morris providing the pace. Udana is an asset with his wide array of deliveries and is handy with the bat as well.
KINGS XI PUNJAB (KXIP)
KXIP is a team that looked down and out after their last game against KKR, which they lost by just 2 runs. Captain KL Rahul’s expressions and body language were depressing to see and it rubbed on the team as well, which have been losing match after match in the tournament.
Though Rahul and Mayank Agarwal are the two top run-getters in the team with Rahul holding the Orange Cap, it means little to them as they lie on the bottom of the points table and need to win atleast 6 of their remaining 7 matches to have an outside chance of qualifying for the finals.
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The good news for them is Chris Gayle has recovered from his stomach bug is available for the game against RCB. Another change they can make is bringing in a left-arm spinner in J Suchith to take the ball away from RCB’s plethora of right-handed batsmen in the middle order.
They know it’s a game they need to win or else, their tournament might be well and over after one more loss.
RCB COC Predicted Playing XI:
Aaron Finch, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers (WK), Chris Morris, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj
KXIP COC Predicted Playing XI:
KL Rahul (C), Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Glenn Maxwell, Mandeep Singh, Chris Jordan, J Suchith, Mohammad Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh
