Royal Challengers return home for campaign revival

Monday, May 2, 2016
Start time: 2000 local (1430 GMT)

Considering the hype and big-ticket players in their roster, Royal Challengers Bangalore may be thought of as IPL's elite. However, unlike other teams fitting that description - Kolkata Knight Riders, their opponents on Monday, for example - Virat Kohli and his men have yet to lay a hand on the trophy.

With four losses in six matches this year, Royal Challengers are in danger of underperforming again. An unconvincing cast of fast bowlers who have leaked too many runs is the biggest concern.

Only Shane Watson has managed to keep his economy rate below nine. The spinners, led by Tabraiz Shamsi, have only done well in patches. That has put immense pressure on their batting line-up to deliver match after match.

A well-rounded bowling attack along with the form of Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa at the top of the order has been the driving force for Kolkata Knight Riders. However, the dramatic collapse against Delhi Daredevils on Saturday, when they lost 6 for 52 in five overs should serve as a wake-up call for the middle and lower order.

Royal Challengers Bangalore LLWLL (last five matches, most recent first)
Kolkata Knight Riders LLWWW

KL Rahul has scored swashbuckling fifties in Royal Challengers' last two matches. Though they came in losing causes, Rahul has reduced Royal Challengers' dependence on Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. His work behind the stumps too has been impressive for someone who isn't a regular wicketkeeper.

Umesh Yadav has been Knight Riders' unheralded hero with the ball. He has nine wickets in six matches, at an average of 14.88 so far this season. Early strikes from him could set the stage for the Knight Riders spinners to strut their stuff.

As Royal Challengers return to the batsman-friendly M Chinnaswamy Stadium, it is almost inconceivable that they would keep Chris Gayle out of the XI. Kane Richardson will likely make way. Sachin Baby or Kedar Jadhav may have to sit out for an Indian pacer to balance the bowling attack.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (probable): 1 Virat Kohli (capt), 2 Chris Gayle, 3 AB de Villiers, 4 Shane Watson, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Sachin Baby/Kedar Jadhav, 7 Parvez Rasool, 8 Varun Aaron, 9 Harshal Patel, 10 Tabraiz Shamsi, 11 S Aravind/Abu Nechim.

Knight Riders may want to replace chinaman bowler Brad Hogg, who had disappointing returns in Delhi, with Shakib Al Hasan to boost their batting. They might also mull bringing Colin Munro in for Jason Holder.

Kolkata Knight Riders (probable): 1 Gautam Gambhir (capt), 2 Robin Uthappa (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Shakib Al Hasan, 5 Yusuf Pathan, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Jason Holder/Colin Munro, 8 R Sathish, 9 Piyush Chawla, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Sunil Narine

The Chinnaswamy deck has yielded match aggregates of 409 and 383 runs this season and it is expected to be another run-fest on Monday. On the weather front, though, there is a possibility of thunderstorms in the evening.