Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will resume their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 campaign on September 20 by wearing a blue jersey against the Kolkata Knights Riders in Abu Dhabi.RCB had announced in May that they would be sporting blue jerseys to honour the frontline workers fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic in India. However, before their next fixture, the IPL was suspended due to positive Covid-19 cases in the bio-bubbles of franchises in Delhi and Ahmedabad.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shifted IPL out of India and said that the remaining season will take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 19 to October 15."RCB to wear Blue Jersey v KKR on 20th. We at RCB are honoured to sport the Blue kit, which resembles the colour of the PPE kits of the frontline warriors, to pay tribute to their invaluable service while leading the fight against the Covid pandemic," RCB said in a statement.RCB to wear Blue Jersey v KKR on 20thWe at RCB are honoured to sport the Blue kit, that resembles the colour of the PPE kits of the frontline warriors, to pay tribute to their invaluable service while leading the fight against the Covid pandemic.#PlayBold #1Team1Fight pic.twitter.com/r0NPBdybAS— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) September 14, 2021Instead of the flagship "Go Green" campaign jersey, RCB will wear a blue this year. The blue jerseys will also have important health messages engraved on it.Virat Kohli and Mohamed Siraj arrived in the UAE on a chartered flight from Manchester were India played a test series against England. The fifth and last test of the aforementioned series has been canceled after the Covid-19 scare in the Indian camp.The likes of AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell also arrived in the UAE earlier this month to prepare for the rest of the season.Mike Hesson, who has doubled as coach after Simon Katich's withdrawal, has been overseeing the training with the available RCB players in the UAE.RCB will be looking to reach the play-offs for the second successive IPL season. Virat Kohli's men are currently in third place with 5 wins from 7 matches, tied on 10 points with the Chennai Super Kings, who are in second place. Delhi Capitals leads the points table with 12 points from 8 games.Also Read- T20 World Cup: Shikhar Dhawan, Yuzvendra Chahal among big names missing from India's 15-man squad
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) even before they kickstart their campaign in the second leg of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was in the news as their skipper Virat Kohli is all ready to step down from captaincy after the 2021 edition.While the news has certainly gained all the limelight, they will be looking to give their captain a proper farewell as they will take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Abu Dhabi.Royal Challengers Bangalore had the perfect opportunity to lift the IPL trophy this year. The group of foreign players they possess will hand them a big advantage in the UAE leg. Wanindu Hasaranga, who is likely to make his IPL debut in this match, was in a good form for Sri Lanka. RCB are currently placed at the third spot in the standings with 10 points.As for the Kolkata Knight Riders, they will hope to start fresh in the league as they failed to pose any threat in the first half. They are currently second-last in the standings with just two wins and five losses.Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore will face each other in the 31st match of the IPL 2021. Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi will host the contest between the sides.Match Details:Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Match 31Venue:Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu DhabiDate & Time:September 20th at 7:30 PM IST, and at 6:00 PM local timeLive Streaming:Star Sports Network and Disney+HotstarPitch Report:The surface here at Zayed Cricket Stadium has got good carry and bounce, and the quick bowlers can make most of the conditions. The par score on this wicket is 160-170. Bowling first is an excellent option.KKR vs RCB Probable Playing XIsKolkata Knight RidersNitish Rana, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan (c), Sunil Narine / Shakib Al Hasan, Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Shivam Mavi / Kamalesh Nagarkoti, Lockie Ferguson / Tim Southee, Varun Chakravarthy, Prasidh KrishnaRoyal Challengers BangaloreVirat Kohli (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers (wk), Shahbaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasaranga/Tim David, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammad Siraj, Yuzvendra ChahalDream11 Prediction – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore – Match 31, IPL 2021KKR vs RCB Dream11 Team: Fantasy cricket predictions and tips for Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers BangaloreTop Picks for KKR vs RCB Dream11 Match:Top Picks – BatsmenVirat Kohli is a right-handed batsman from Royal Challengers Bangalore who leads the team. He has achieved 193 runs in this season so far.AB de Villiers is a right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman from Royal Challengers Bangalore. He has hammered 207 runs in this season so far. He stacked 76 runs against KKR in the last head-to-head game.Glenn Maxwell is a right-handed batsman and right-arm off-break bowler from Royal Challengers Bangalore. He has scored 223 runs in this season so far. He smacked 78 runs against KKR in the last head-to-head match.Nitish Rana is a left-handed batsman and right-arm off-break bowler from Kolkata Knight Riders. He has smashed 201 runs in this season so far. He scored 18 runs against RCB in the last head-to-head game.Andre Russell is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast bowler from Kolkata Knight Riders. He has smacked 167 runs and picked up 7 wickets in this season so far. He knocked 31 runs against RCB in the last head-to-head match.Shubman Gill is a right-handed batsman from Kolkata Knight Riders. He has piled 132 runs in this season so far.Top Picks – BowlersVarun Chakravarthy doesn’t give any sort of room to the batsmen, while his ability to generate extra bounce from the surface makes him one of the tougher bowlers to face. He is highly deceptive and a must pick player for your fantasy teams.Harshal Patel has an economy of 9.17 in this IPL, it is his wicket-taking knack that makes him the real deal. He is the leading wicket-taker so far, having picked up 17 wickets, with the best figures of 5/27.Top Picks – WicketkeepersAB de Villiers on any day is the saviour number 1 for RCB. He has won plenty of matches single-handedly for his team. In 6 innings in this year’s IPL, de Villiers has scored 207 runs at an average of 51.75 and an excellent strike rate of 164.28.Suggested Playing XI No.1 for KKR vs RCB Dream11 Fantasy Cricket:AB de Villiers (c), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Glenn Maxwell, Nitish Rana (vc), Wanindu Hasaranga, Andre Russell, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Varun ChakravarthySuggested Playing XI No.2 for KKR vs RCB Dream11 Fantasy Cricket:AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell (c), Rahul Tripathi, Shubman Gill, Sunil Narine, Shahbaz Ahmed, Andre Russell (vc), Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Shivam MaviKKR vs RCB IPL 2021 Match 31 Expert Advice:Glenn Maxwell and Virat Kohli will be among the safe captaincy choices for the small leagues. Shubman Gill and Shahbaz Ahmed are the punt-picks hereKKR vs RCB IPL 2021 Match 31 Probable Winners:Royal Challengers Bangalore won the last head-to-head game against KKR and is expected to win this match as well considering their form in this season.
Royal Challengers Bangalore will go head-to-head against Kolkata Knight Riders in Eliminator of the IPL 2021. Royal Challengers Bangalore are still looking for their first IPL title and it is a perfect opportunity for them this year as they have secured the perfect mix of experienced and talented youngsters. They missed the chance to finish the race in the top two spots on the basis of net run rate, as Virat Kohli's men finished third in the standings with 18 points. However, they are still playing an excellent brand of cricket throughout this IPL and will be looking forward to do their best in the playoffs. On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders had an exceptional second leg of IPL, where they bounced back from the bottom half of the table and finished fourth in the standings. They relied mainly on youngsters, who did not disappoint them. They had won their last two matches and look to extend their winning streak. Whoever wins this match will go through to Qualifier 2, whereas the loser will be knocked out of the tournament.Match Details:Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders, EliminatorVenue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, SharjahDate & Time: October 11th at 7:30 PM IST, and at 6:00 PM local timeLive Streaming: Star Sports Network and Disney+HotstarPitch Report:The surface here at Sharjah has become a bowling-friendly one and the batters have struggled to score runs. The highest score registered so far here in the 2nd leg is 171. The surface might get slow down as the game progresses and hence batting first is an excellent option.Probable Playing XIs for RCB vs KKR: Royal Challengers BangaloreVirat Kohli (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Kona Srikar Bharat (wk), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Shahbaz Ahmed, Daniel Christian, George Garton, Harshal Patel, Mohammad Siraj, Yuzvendra ChahalKolkata Knight RidersShubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan (c), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Sunil Narine, Shivam Mavi, Lockie Ferguson, Varun ChakravarthyTop Picks for RCB vs KKR Dream11 Match:Top Picks – BattersRCB skipper Virat Kohli hasn’t fired in the last couple of matches. However, he is a big match player and can deliver in this crucial game. In 14 matches in this edition, he has mustered 366 runs at an average of 28.15. Shubman Gill has scored 2 half-centuries in the last 2 matches, which is a positive sign for the Knight Riders ahead of playoffs. Overall in this tournament, he has scored 352 runs in 14 matches at an average of 25.14.Top Picks – All-RoundersGlenn Maxwell has made a massive impact with the bat for RCB, as he played a vital role in taking them till the playoffs. The Aussie has scored 498 runs in 13 innings at an average of 45.27, with the highest score of 78. Maxwell has chipped in with 3 wickets as well. Venkatesh Iyer is the new sensation of the second leg of the IPL. He has got good reach and can play the shots freely, which is giving him positive results. In 7 matches so far, he has scored 239 runs at an average of 39.83 and picked up 3 wickets as well.Top Picks – BowlersHarshal Patel has been consistently picking wickets for RCB this year. He is the current Purple Cap holder with 30 wickets in 14 matches, with the best figures of 5/27. Varun Chakravarthy has been the pick of the bowlers from Knight Riders in this edition. Tamil Nadu’s deceptive spinner has picked up 16 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of 6.5, with the best figures of 3 for 13.Top Picks – WicketkeepersKona Srikar Bharat became a hero by hitting a last-ball six to win a match for RCB against Delhi Capitals. He was the player of the match for his match-winning knock of 78* runs from 52 deliveries.Suggested Playing XI No.1 for RCB vs KKR Dream11 Fantasy Cricket:Kona Srikar Bharat, AB de Villiers, Rahul Tripathi, Shubman Gill, Devdutt Padikkal, Glenn Maxwell (c), Venkatesh Iyer (vc), Yuzvendra Chahal, Harshal Patel, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy Suggested Playing XI No.2 for RCB vs KKR Dream11 Fantasy Cricket:Kona Srikar Bharat, Nitish Rana, Virat Kohli, Rahul Tripathi (c), Sunil Narine, Daniel Christian, Glenn Maxwell, Venkatesh Iyer, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Lockie FergusonRCB vs KKR Must Picks for Dream11 Fantasy Cricket:Players Statistics Dream11 Points Glenn Maxwell 498 runs 3 wickets 848 Kona Srikar Bharat 182 runs 284 Shubhman Gill 352 runs 547 Venkatesh Iyer 239 runs and 3 wickets 452 Varun Chakravarthy 16 wickets 576 RCB vs KKR Risky Captaincy Choices:AB de Villiers is a finisher for RCB. He has not got adequate chances in this leg, but the South African can be backed to deliver whenever needed. It’s worth a risk to pick him as your fantasy team skipper in the big match. Sunil Narine has picked up 10 wickets in 11 matches in this IPL at an economy of 6.52. You can take a risk and pick him as your fantasy team skipper.Player you should avoid:George Garton has picked up 3 wickets in 4 matches so far in this IPL. Considering his average performances, it’s better to avoid him while making your fantasy teams.Also Read- PCB can collapse if India wants as ICC getting 90 per cent of its funds from there: Ramiz Raja
Royal Challengers Bangalore champion fast bowler Harshal Patel came close to breaking a long-standing Indian Premier League (IPL) but fell 1 wicket short as his team crashed out of the 2021 season after a 4-wicket defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders in the Eliminator on Monday. Harshal picked up 2 for 19 from his 4 overs to finish his IPL 2021 campaign with 32 wickets and equal Dwayne Bravo's record for the most scalps in a single season. The Chennai Super Kings all-rounder had achieved the amazing feat in the 2013 season. The right-arm pacer had the chance to better Bravo's record in his final over when Sunil Narine top-edged his slower delivery towards mid-on but Devdutt Padikkal dropped the catch. Harshal is the only player to pick a hat-trick this season, against the Mumbai Indians in Dubai last month. He is also one of three to pick a five-wicket haul (5 for 27) this season alongside Punjab Kings' Arshdeep Singh (5 for 32) and KKR's Andre Russell (5 for 15) Harshal's performance meanwhile, went in vain as KKR chase down 139 against RCB with 4 wickets in hand and 2 balls to spare to set up Qualifier 2 against Delhi Capitals on October 13.Most wickets in an IPL season: Harshal Patel (Royal Challengers Bangalore) – 32 wickets in IPL 2021 Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings) – 32 wickets in IPL 2013 Kagiso Rabada (Delhi Capitals) – 30 wickets in IPL 2020 Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians) – 28 wickets in IPL 2011 James Faulkner (Rajasthan Royals) – 28 wickets in IPL 2013The match turned out to be the final match for Virat Kohli as captain of the RCB. Kohli, who took over as RCB's full-time captain in 2013 from Daniel Vettori, had said midway during the season that he would give up captaincy after completing of IPL 2021.It was a disappointing end to one of the most talked about captaincy tenures in the IPL as Kohli finished without a trophy despite leading the franchise for 8 seasons.“I have given my best. I don’t know how the response has been, but I have given 120% to this franchise every time, which is something I will now do as a player. It is a great time to regroup and restructure for the next three years with people who will take this ahead,” the outgoing skipper said."I have tried my best to create a culture where youngsters could come in & play with freedom & belief.I have given 120% to RCB every time, which is something I will now do as a player.”You have been an inspiration, role model and the torchbearer of RCB. #ThankYouCaptainKohli pic.twitter.com/tlC0uMH2iW— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) October 11, 2021“I don’t see myself playing anywhere else. Loyalty matters more to me than worldly pleasures. I would be in the RCB till the last day I play in the IPL.”We fought till the end and never gave up but it just wasn’t our night. Thank you, 12th Man Army for all your support this season. We will be back next year with the same Challenger Spirit. #PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #RCBvKKR pic.twitter.com/55qcDByZnu— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) October 11, 2021Also Read- T20 World Cup 2021 Schedule, All Teams, Host, Time Table, Venue
