Indian Premier League (Match 39) - 21 October, 2020 - RCB [85/2] beat KKR [84/8] by 8 wickets

[MenInG]

What: KKR vs RCB, Match 39, 6pm local time, 7:30pm IST

Where: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

What to expect:The wicket at Abu Dhabi hasn't been ideal for stroke-making but teams batting second have had better conditions at their disposal in the last two evening matches. If the CSK-RR contest is a marker to rely on, the bowlers can expect to have another good day at the office.

Team news:

Kolkata Knight Riders

A half-fit Andre Russell was unable to defend 18 in the final over against SRH. If the hamstring injury isn't too serious, the think-tank will continue to bank on the allrounder to turn things around with the bat. Bar any forced injury-related changes, KKR should retain the same side.

Probable XI: Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan (c), Andre Russell/Chris Green, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Pat Cummins, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakravarthy.

[RamLakhan]

Probably best way to use Siraj is like a Test Bowler, use him with new ball to pick wickets!

[Rana]

Banton and Gill at the crease now after 3 wickets

What was the reason to not have both open?

[Rana]

Siraj on fire!

[Rana]

14-4

KKR against the ropes here!

[RamLakhan]

Have to say this is the best ever bowling unit for RCB

[King_Kohli]

Absolute carnage. Rattled the top order.
Siraj beautiful lengths troubled batsmen

Never see him like this before.

[Rajdeep]

Absolute carnage. Rattled the top order.
Siraj beautiful lengths troubled batsmen

Never see him like this before.

I am absolutely loving this spell from Siraj. With him and Saini we have 2 very capable new ball bowlers coming up.

[tyron_woodley]

Lol you guys are stupid for underestimating Siraj.
I told you all already he is a very good red ball player. Look at his first class performances and stats. He is not a good T20 player but that doesn't mean he hasn't got the skills to translate into T20 format from red ball cricket.

[King_Kohli]

Excellent bowling from Siraj.
Keeps bowling in the probing areas and is reaping rewards. Test match line and length

[King_Kohli]

Siraj is yet to concede a run

[Rajdeep]

Surprised to see Chris Morris dont get many games for SA. He is a terrific LOI cricketer.

[King_Kohli]

Lol you guys are stupid for underestimating Siraj.
I told you all already he is a very good red ball player. Look at his first class performances and stats. He is not a good T20 player but that doesn't mean he hasn't got the skills to translate into T20 format from red ball cricket.

According to TOI, Mohammad Siraj and Shardul Thakur to fight for the 5th pacer for the test series in Australia.

[King_Kohli]

Mohammad Siraj is the first bowler in the history of IPL to deliver 2 maiden overs in an IPL match.

[Ab Fan]

This is RCB's best bet, I have been saying it from Day 1. Bowling attack is excellent and batting is solid as well.

[King_Kohli]

RECORD:

It is the first time a team's bowler have bowled THREE maiden overs in an IPL match.

And it's RCBT
- Siraj 2 and Morris 1.

[Ab Fan]

According to TOI, Mohammad Siraj and Shardul Thakur to fight for the 5th pacer for the test series in Australia.

Bumrah
Shami
Umesh
Saini
Siraj

Losing both Bhuvi and Ishant is still a concern for us. Not too convinced on Umesh with kookaburra.

[tyron_woodley]

According to TOI, Mohammad Siraj and Shardul Thakur to fight for the 5th pacer for the test series in Australia.

siraj is very good but porel deserves a chance. Porel is a seriously good talent. saini and porel shoild be picked. Definite no to thakur. Thakur has connections i know but it would be blasphemous to pick him over porel or siraj.

[tyron_woodley]

Bumrah
Shami
Umesh
Saini
Siraj

Losing both Bhuvi and Ishant is still a concern for us. Not too convinced on Umesh with kookaburra.

no way umesh is starting over saini.

[King_Kohli]

Bumrah
Shami
Umesh
Saini
Siraj

Losing both Bhuvi and Ishant is still a concern for us. Not too convinced on Umesh with kookaburra.

We should try Porel in ODI's

[King_Kohli]

Beautiful weapon googly from Chahal.


This is a brilliant review from RCB!

[Ab Fan]

no way umesh is starting over saini.

Hope so but you never know with our captain and coach.

Saini in tests can be really good for us in next 5 years.

[Justcrazy]

36 . 5

10 overs
Pathetic performance by KKR

[Rajdeep]

Morgan is a tiger in internationals but playing so slowly in this IPL.

[Justcrazy]

Morgan fighting a lone battle here , rest have been absolutely pathetic.

[King_Kohli]

Terrific over...maiden Washington

[King_Kohli]

4 maiden overs by RCB bowlers today.

2 by Siraj
1 by Morris
1 by Sundar

[Justcrazy]

47 . 6

KKR ship sinking fast here

[MMHS]

It's Siraj FGS ......... SRK must have lost interest for KKR and I am wasting my time here. He needs to through some Yash Chopra dialogue to the team management and players. If they don't make play-offs, some people need to lose jobs.

[Justcrazy]

52.6

30 balls left

KKR would have to do very well to get 100 from here

[Rajdeep]

Out Morgan out. Last nail in the coffin for KKR.

[Justcrazy]

OUTTT

Morgan Gone

[MMHS]

If I were Kohli, today I would have destroyed KKR’s NRR, so that if they are to make it for the cut, it has to be through higher points.

[Rana]

Pro KKR umpiring in this game

[MenInG]

KKR 84/8 (20) CRR: 4.2
Innings Break


Lowest totals batting all 20 overs (IPL):
84/8 KKR vs RCB Abu Dhabi 2020 *
92/8 KXIP vs CSK Durban 2009
94/8 MI vs RR Jaipur 2011
95/9 KXIP vs CSK Chennai 2015

[King_Kohli]

If RCB Chases this in 12 overs the NRR will be 0.26.

[Justcrazy]

A few wickets here can spice up the game for audience

[Justcrazy]

RCB need 55 runs in 95 balls. RRR: 3.47

No score board pressure for RCB

[King_Kohli]

What exactly Finch is trying for?
Probably practicing for gymnastics for upcoming Olympics.

[Hasan123]

It's Siraj FGS ......... SRK must have lost interest for KKR and I am wasting my time here. He needs to through some Yash Chopra dialogue to the team management and players. If they don't make play-offs, some people need to lose jobs.

Mccullum as a coach is a joke. I remember when he was flopping as captain in PSL you said there was a reason why franchises had never made him captain.

[Hasan123]

Pathetic performance from KKR. SRH, Punjab, and RR will be licking their lips at this.

[Mesozoic]

Can anyone tell me if the number of wickets you lose while chasing matters in calculating the NRR?

[Mesozoic]

Bumrah
Shami
Saini
Siraj

Not a bad attack for down under

[tyron_woodley]

Bumrah
Shami
Saini
Siraj

Not a bad attack for down under

Our bowling is top quality. Ishant and Bhuvi will be sorely missed but it doesn't matter. We can also use porel.

Batting is where we need to focus on. We need Rahul at number 5. Number 6 vihari or pant. 7 pandya or pant.

Yes pandya might not be a great player but he adds balance and gives our bowlers rest. That is crucial. He can bat a bit when the fats bowers get tired.

[Ab Fan]

I would like to see how much KKR run rate will affect with this game. It's anyways bad. They will have to win 3 of 4 games I think.

[King Kong]

Can anyone tell me if the number of wickets you lose while chasing matters in calculating the NRR?

Doesn't matter.

[King_Kohli]

Can anyone tell me if the number of wickets you lose while chasing matters in calculating the NRR?

Wickets are not into consideration for NRR

[Hasan123]

This win probably gets RCB into the playoffs. They have been really good in all facets this season.

Let's see if they deal with the pressure in the playoffs.

[Mesozoic]

Well then RCB would have just gone berserk from the first ball and tried to chase this down in 8 overs or something.

Golden chance of setting the NRR straight (and destroying KKR's) missed.

[Mesozoic]

Our bowling is top quality. Ishant and Bhuvi will be sorely missed but it doesn't matter. We can also use porel.

Batting is where we need to focus on. We need Rahul at number 5. Number 6 vihari or pant. 7 pandya or pant.

Yes pandya might not be a great player but he adds balance and gives our bowlers rest. That is crucial. He can bat a bit when the fats bowers get tired.

Yeah. Bhuvi would have been crucial for the pink ball Test. Don't think Porel is anywhere near the test team.

Agree with Rahul at no.5 instead of Rahane.