The 48th match of the IPL 2021 will see Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) taking on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Sharjah on October 3 in the first match of the double-header. RCB is third on the points table with 14 points and needs a victory to qualify for the playoffs.
PBKS, on the other hand, have kept themselves alive by beating the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and have 10 points from 12 matches. They need to win the remaining of their matches to have a chance to make it into the final four, but also need to win the matches to improve their net run rate.
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Therefore keeping in mind, Team COC presents the Predicted Playing XIs for the RCB v PBKS match.
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE
RCB has been on a roll of some sorts in UAE as they have 7 wins in 11 matches and need only one more victory to qualify for the playoffs. Their batting has done its job most of the time, but the bowlers have been the ones to win matches for them.
Harshal Patel carries the purple cap for the most wickets in this tournament and has help from Yuzvendra Chahal, Dan Christian, and Mohammed Siraj. Batting-wise Glenn Maxwell and Devdutt Padikkal are holding the beacon for them with Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers contributing well to support them.
They will face a PBKS team that has some victories under their belt, but with a shaky and unsure playing XI.
PUNJAB KINGS
Punjab Kings barely managed to beat KKR in their previous match chasing 165 to win. The PBKS modus operandi has been depending on their openers to score runs given their middle order has contributed next to nothing.
Bowling has been their main strength with Mohammad Shami and Ravi Bishnoi leading the way with tremendous support from Arshdeep Singh and Harpreet Brar, who was dropped for the game against KKR.
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The left-arm spinner-batter has impressed one and all with his abilities and might come into the playing XI given that Fabian Allen was seen struggling with his fitness against KKR.
Other change might come in as either Moises Henriques or Chris Jordan coming in for possibly Deepak Hooda, who despite lots of potential has done nothing of noteworthy in the UAE leg of the IPL 2021.
This is a must-win match for the KL Rahul-led side if they wish to remain in the race for playoffs.
RCB COC Predicted Playing XI:
Virat Kohli (C), Devdutt Padikkal, KS Bharat (WK), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Dan Christian, Shahbaz Ahmed, George Garton, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal
PBKS COC Predicted Playing XI:
Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul (C&WK), Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Moises Henriques, Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Nathan Ellis, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh
