The M Chinnaswammy stadium in Bangalore will host the 43rd game of the IPL between
Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders and in more
ways than one, this is a must-win game for both the sides. With the clutter in
the middle of the points table it could mean that only one of these may actually
go on to qualify for the semi-finals and that is what both the sides will need
to do; win!
Royal Challengers Bangalore had a good run of victories in the tournament so
far before they lost their way a little. Currently, they have ten points from
the games that they have played but the problem is with the two losses in the
previous three games that would have pegged them back in the tournament. This
also means that the side will need to revamp the playing eleven in order to
try and get back to their winning ways.
Click for Live Score Card of Bangalore Royal Challengers Vs Kolkata Knight Riders KingsFor one, they need to strengthen their bowling line-up. Bangalore cannot expect
to go into the game with only 4 bowlers, and have to get Dale Steyn back
into the line-up. What that means is that is a foreign player comes back into
the side, another foreign player will need to go out, and in all probabilities
that will be Cameron White. White hasn't had the best of performances in the
tournament so far, and he was shuffled to the top of order, where he struggled
to put bat to ball.
With Ross Taylor back into the fold, the side will look to make the
best of his presence, and give White the axe.
On the other hand, the Knight Riders have many more problems than the rest
of the sides. Their batting has never looked like it is a struggle, but it has
not scored enough runs on many of the occasions. This means that the side will
probably look to go after the bowling from the start, as the pair of Sourav Ganguly and Chris Gayle have been doing, but also, in all probabilities,
include Brendon McCullum in the middle order in order to get the momentum going.
If McCullum comes in, the side will need to reshuffle their foreign players
a tad, and that would mean that David Hussey could get the axe, whereas one
also gets the sense that the bowling has been a tad underdone by the presence
of Shane Bond. Instead, I would go in for Charl Langevedlt who can bowl
well in the death overs as well.
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