Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2020, Fantasy Pick, team predictions

Pro Tip: Make sure you pick the big-hitters from both sides

Our XI: Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill, AB de Villiers, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan, Sunil Narine, Chris Morris, Andre Russell, Pat Cummins, Navdeep Saini

Substitutes: Aaron Finch, Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna

Player availability: All players are available for selection. Andre Russell injured his knee while fielding against the Kings XI Punjab, and though the turnaround time is quick for this game, he should make it.

Kohli has been in good touch and has scored 205 runs in the last three innings at a strike rate of 142.36. Since 2018, Kohli has scored the most runs against the Knight Riders - 283 in four innings at a strike rate of 153.8 including a hundred and two fifties.

Morgan has been among the runs in most games for the Knight Riders. He has scored 167 runs so far at a strike rate of 135.77. Since 2018, in all T20s, Morgan has hit a four or a six every 5.7 balls in the middle overs. In Sharjah, where boundaries have been coming in spades, Morgan should prosper.

Nitish Rana: Rana has been a consistent performer for the Knight Riders over the years. He has been getting starts this season but has failed to convert them into big ones. This small ground and good batting conditions should work in his favour. He also has a good record against the Royal Challengers, having scored 171 runs against them since 2018 at a strike rate of 164.42.

Shubman Gill: Gill is the highest run-getter for the Knight Riders so far this season with 220 at an average of 44. Gill is someone who could play the anchor role and bat through while the ones around him can score quickly. Given his consistency in the tournament and considering the batting conditions in Sharjah, he should come good.

Chris Morris: Morris put up a stellar show in his first match in the tournament, picking up three wickets for just 19 runs. He is a gun fielder, he can smash a few boundaries at the death, and is extremely efficient with the ball, especially towards the end of an innings. Since 2018 in the IPL, Morris has an economy of 8.78 at the death, the third best among all pacers who have bowled 100 or more balls.

Devdutt Padikkal: Padikkal has scored three fifties in six games in the tournament. He strikes at 131.32 in the powerplay in the tournament and that should only go higher at a small ground like Sharjah.

Sunil Narine: Narine had an ordinary start to the tournament but he has gotten into the groove now. He has been bowling in the second half of the innings of late and has been terrific. He becomes doubly effective when batsmen try to go after him. On a smaller ground, batsmen will go after him and that gives Narine a higher chance of getting wickets.