Ipl 2018, rcb vs kxip bangalore to test edgy punjab in must win encounter

IPL 2018, RCB vs KXIPBangalore to test edgy Punjab in must-win encounter In today's IPL match, Royal Challengers Bangalore will look to win their must-win game vs Kings XI Punjab, which will aim to push towards the playoffs with a win over RCB. Catch all live updates here

In the 48th match of Vivo Indian Premier League (IPL 2018) Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will take on Ravichandran Ashwin's Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) at Holkar Stadium in Indore. Having found some light at the end of the tunnel, RCB will be keen to expose the chinks in Kings XI Punjab's armour during their mustwin contest in today’s IPL match. Meanwhile, KXIP will aim to push towards the playoffs with a win over RCB. Kings XI Punjab are at third spot in the Vivo IPL points table with 12 points from 11 matches, while Royal Challengers Bangalore are out of the contention to finish among the top four at the end of the round-robin stage. They are seventh at present with eight points from 11 games.

RCB got a breather after their five-wicket victory against Delhi Daredevils in their pprevious match, while Kings XI Punjab, after a brilliant run at the initial stages, are currently struggling with back-to-back defeats. While Kohli and AB de Villiers anchored an easy chase against Delhi Daredevils with stylish half-centuries, KXIP bowlers were under the pump, being taken to cleaners by Sunil Narine and Dinesh Karthik as KKR scored a mammoth 245 in their previous game.

Such has been the gulf in performance between skipper Kohli and other batsmen in RCB, despite blowing 'hot and cold' throughout IPL 2018, he is his team's top scorer by a distance, with 466 runs from 11 games. AB de Villiers (358 runs) is 108 runs behind the skipper, although he has played two fewer games. Mandeep Singh (245 from 11 games) is third in the list and is another 200 runs (221 runs) behind Kohli. For KXIP, KL Rahul has been in a different league with five half-centuries and a strike-rate of 162 plus and an average of nearly 60.Rahul will be desperate to get some support from Gayle, who has gone quiet after initial carnage. A quickfire 50 from Gayle can change the complexion of the game. Other than the KXIP openers, Karun Nair has been inconsistent with 246 runs scored so far, while veteran Yuvraj Singh and Mayank Agarwal are yet to make their presence felt in the middle-order. The trio's poor form will be a major cause of concern for the team management. However, Kings XI Punjab will be relieved by the fact that Aaron Finch returned to form with a 34 during the loss to Kolkata Knight Riders.

The problem area has been skipper Ravichandran Ashwin's inability to get breakthroughs with only six scalps from 11 games at 8.13 runs per over. Axar Patel, the only player retained by the franchise, has fared even worse. He has got chance in only five of the matches with only three wickets in his kitty at an economy rate of 8.73. Tye's back-up pacers Barinder Sran (4 wickets from 6 games at an economy rate of 10.40) and Mohit Sharma (6 wickets from 6 games at an economy rate of 10.88) have been disappointing and this is where the runs have been leaked.In case of RCB, Kohli's propensity to tinker with bowling combinations after almost every game has had an impact on the performance.

Royal Challengers Bangalore players who could prove handy today: The opening stand has been the major worry for RCB in IPL 2018. In the match against Parthiv Patel played an important knock off 53 but his other opening partner Brendon McCullum failed to deliver. As Quinton de Kock might not available for IPL today’s match the onus will be on Brendon McCullum to give Royal Challengers Bangalore a stormy start. Virat Kohli who was in a sublime touch in IPL 2018 will look to continue his form. While AB de Villiers (ABD) who failed to made any impression in last match against CSK will be itching to hit the ball out of the park again. In the bowling department, Umesh and Chahal bowled superbly but missed support from the other end while Tim Southee and Mohammad Siraj were inconsistent. The major worry for them is the death bowling as their bowlers missed line and length on most of the occasions and got hammered.

At this stage of IPL 2018, better to chase the total, says Virat Kohli: Virat Kohli's love for targets is well-known and it's a no-brainer that Royal Challengers Bangalore captain would ideally like to chase down totals in the remaining games of IPL 2018. Kohli scored a polished 70 off 40 balls as RCB chased down a target of 182 against DD in 19 overs. Still with an outside chance of qualification, Kohli wants to make the most of it as he feels that the table is wide open. "We were not clinical with the ball, but these guys played well. The chase, however, was ideal. Bowling first is better at this stage, because

it's easier for batsmen to take responsibility. You can almost set up the game how you like. That's what works for our boys," Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony. AB de Villiers was also in great touch scoring 72 off 37 balls and Kohli said that there is nothing easier than playing alongside Proteas legend. "It is lovely batting with AB. We have done this many times in the past. It was a stiff chase, but in the midinnings break, AB told me 'don't worry, we'll get this', and that helped me get in the zone. I don't need to say much. It has been an honour for me to bat with him."

Constant public scrutiny of my personal life uncomfortable, says Virat Kohli: In an interview to IANS news agency, India's cricket captain and the icon of the country's youth says it can get uncomfortable, but he is learning to deal with it. From the time he was dating actress Anushka Sharma to his wedding in Italy and even now -- months after the two tied the knot -- prying paparazzi and public scrutiny of Virat Kohli's life has not stopped. Virat and Anushka, fondly called "Virushka" by their fans, dated for four years before tying the knot in an intimate affair in Tuscany, Italy, last December. With celebrity status comes the baggage of being under the scanner all the time. Does he find it easy? "The constant public scrutiny about my personal life can become a bit uncomfortable at times. However, I have learnt how to handle it. Celebrities are also normal human beings -- just like any other person, and I feel people should let them have their space," Kohli told IANS. READ FULL INTERVIEW HERE Kohli's hunger for improvement pleases Kirsten: Virat Kohli's insatiable hunger for improvement is a certain characteristic of a great player, says Gary Kirsten, who had coached the Indian captain during his successful three-year stint with the national team.

Kirsten, who coached India from 2008-11, is once again working with Kohli as assistant coach of the Royal Challengers Bangalore. "He is a great player. He continues to improve and get better. I enjoy working with him because he continually wants to learn about the game and all the great players do that," Kirsten told PTI.The middle order remains a concern, says KXIP coach Brad Hodge: KXIP coach Brad Hodge has made no bones about his team's over reliance on openers Chris Gayle and K L Rahul though he hopes the middle order will deliver going forward in the Indian Premier League. Yes I admit that we rely heavily on Chris Gayle and KL Rahul but that is the case with almost every team. It (middle-order) has been (a concern), for sure," said Hodge after the loss against Rajasthan Royals here yesterday night. "We know that KL is in great form and when Chris Gayle fires, anything can happen." We have got some extremely talented players and we need them to lift a little bit and contribute a little bit more to what they are doing."

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