Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders Playing 11, IPL 2024: Royal Challengers Bengaluru did register their first win against Punjab Kings but a sterner challenge lies ahead for them as they will face off with Kolkata Knight Riders at the M Chinnaswamy on Friday. Follow our RCB vs KKR Live Blog The power-packed batting lineup of KKR has troubled RCB many times in the past and this time it will be no different either. Andre Russell played a blistering inning against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Kolkata's first game at the Eden Gardens and looks in good touch. With the small dimensions and batting-friendly pitch at the Chinnaswamy Russell would be licking his lips to put on another brutal hitting display against what seems to be relatively weaker bowling attacks in the tournament. Let us have a look at predicted XI's of both sides Alzarri Joseph needs to step up The West Indian fast bowler in the couple of games he has played looked good in patches but needs to step up his game. With the options available of Lockie Ferguson and Reece Topley on the bench for RCB, Joseph needs to deliver a solid performance. The franchise predominantly used him in the middle overs and at the death to execute quick bouncers. While Joseph overdid the tactic against Chennai Super Kings on the opening night he got the balance just about right in their game against PBKS. Can RCB bounce out Russell? The big West Indian has had a fair share of troubles when a quick bowler at a high pace bowled bumpers to him and against Punjab Kings RCB was clinical in using the two-bouncer per-over rule at the death and can expect the same tactic used against Kolkata and Russell. However, the catch for RCB is the boundaries are shorter at the ground with the power Russell possesses even mishits can fly hence the bouncer strategy needs to be done judiciously. Mitchell Starc returns The left-arm seamer during his tenure at RCB was a force to reckon with both the new ball and the old ball. Though his powers might seem to be waning in T20 cricket in the last few years if he can get his rhythm right there are not many bowlers in the world of cricket who can do as much damage as he does. With the right-handers lined up one after in the RCB batting line against the left-arm angle of Starc RCB needs to be cautious in not giving him any early wickets. Predicted XI RCB XI: Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammed Siraj, Mayank Dagar, Yash Dayal Impact Player: Mahipal Lomror KKR XI: Shreyas Iyer, Philip Salt, Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Nitish Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Mitchell Starc, Varun Chakaravarthy Impact Player: Suyash Sharma
