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Royals Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face off tonight in the eliminator of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Both the teams are high on confidence as they registered a victory in their last group stage match. Whichever side wins today will face Delhi Capitals (DC) in the second qualifier, who tasted a defeat against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) last night.
Before the eliminator, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar backed KKR’s bowling against RCB. According to Gavaskar, KKRs’ spin duo, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy can work in tandem and rattle any opposition on their day.
Despite missing out on the key services of West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell, the Indian great believes KKR are a strong enough side to compete against any opposition.
"There is no news yet about the availability of Andre Russell, but if he is fit, then he will bolster the middle-order for Kolkata. He is just the kind of player who can turn a match with both bat and ball, so Kolkata will be hoping he is fit.
"Lockie Ferguson has been terrific for Kolkata, with his pace rattling the best, and if he bowls as well as he can and with the two mystery spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, Kolkata have an attack that can stifle the opposition,” Gavaskar mentioned in his column for the Times of India.
The slowness of the surface, as well as the fact that the match will be played in Sharjah, may favour KKR's spinners. KKR also enjoys a head-to-head advantage against RCB, having won 16 of the 29 games they've played against them. RCB, on the other side, have only won 13 games. KKR also defeated RCB by 9 wickets in their most recent outing.
