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Royal Challengers’ fate hangs in the balance
- Updated: May 15, 2016
Match facts
Monday, May 16, 2016 Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)
Big Picture
With 1215 runs between them this season, including four centuries and eight half-centuries, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers have been Royal Challengers Bangalore’s key men. They have complemented each other perfectly, keeping their side in the hunt for the playoffs. Royal Challengers are fresh off the biggest win in IPL history, and currently have the best net run rate (+0.627) in the tournament. But they need to win their remaining three games to confirm their place in the playoffs. A defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday would push them to the brink, leaving their fate out of their hands.
While the batting line-up has been in top form, there are still questions over Royal Challengers’ bowling attack. Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa, who have added five fifty-plus partnerships this season, would aim to exploit that. Knight Riders also have firepower in the form of Yusuf Pathan and Andre Russell.
But it is Knight Riders’ attack that gives them the edge. Russell and Morne Morkel have been hard to get away in the Powerplay. That Piyush Chawla and Sunil Narine found appreciable turn on Saturday would buoy Knight Riders further. Umesh Yadav’s injury, perhaps, is the only worry for them. Knight Riders may head into the game, having lost their …
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