RCB eyes playoffs spot, KKR hopes to keep chances alive

KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane at a practice session ahead of the IPL match between RCB in Bengaluru on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

Playoffs qualification beckons Royal Challengers Bengaluru while elimination stares Kolkata Knight Riders in the face as the two sides meet in an Indian Premier League fixture at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Saturday.

A win for RCB over the defending champion will guarantee a top-four berth and clear the course for it to stake claim for a top-two spot. For KKR, a defeat will send the outfit crashing out.

The home side will certainly fancy its chances, for it has all overseas personnel – except injured pacer Josh Hazlewood – back after the week-long break, and has also seen skipper Rajat Patidar make significant progress after suffering a hand injury in the game against Chennai Super Kings on May 3.

RCB has won four matches on the trot, the last of which was the nerve-wracking two-run win over CSK. Though it came nearly a fortnight ago, it is the kind of victory that shows a team’s championship mettle.

RCB’s star batter Virat Kohli trains on the eve of the IPL match against KKR.
| Photo Credit:
K. MURALI KUMAR

Another boost come with the news that all-rounder Romario Shepherd, hero in that win over CSK, will be available for the full tournament running up to June 3 despite being named in the West Indies squad that will meet Ireland and England for six combined ODIs starting May 21.

For KKR, its overseas contingent, with the exception of Rovman Powell and Moeen Ali, has arrived but there is a back-breaking job at hand. And not only does it have to win its remaining two matches, it needs favourable results elsewhere.

“There is nothing much to lose from here,” said KKR’s Manish Pandey, on match-eve. “We could have had a better tournament but we lost a few games in the middle. But with two more games, everybody is wanting to perform.”