Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have a title to defend, and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have never wandered far enough in the tournament to worry about such burdens. But despite their contrasting legacies, this clash has never failed to deliver some edge-of-seat stuff over the years. It all started with Brendon McCullum’s unbelievable 158, long before Bazball was even a thing.
Like any good rivalry, this one has witnessed its fair share of heated bits, some very ugly, some less so. That is precisely why it was a clever move by the management to open the season with an RCB vs. KKR game.
Kolkata has responded accordingly to this searing rivalry. Every single game ticket has been snapped up. Is it, really, more than just an inter-city rivalry? At this point, it seems something greater than that. But rivalries, besides all the drama, need another thing to truly endure, and that is even competition. And what better representation of this balance than last year’s down-the-wire one-run victory by KKR over RCB?
Now, however, one side has to fight to protect its title, and the other fights to get rid of years of agony. With this as the subplot, both teams will meet under the lights of Eden Garden to kickstart the first chapter of what is probably going to be a blockbuster season.
Team Overview:
KKR could not hold on to their trophy-winning captain Shreyas Iyer but broke the bank to secure a different Iyer, albeit as their vice-captain. Ajinkya Rahane will lead the side whose core largely remains somewhat intact. There is no Mitchell Starc this time, but bowling would be the least of their issues with many of their last year’s highest wicket-takers including Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, and Andre Russell still around. Spencer Johnson will be banked on to undo the impact, at least in some part, that Starc’s absence will cause.
Like KKR, RCB have a new captain too. But unlike KKR, their new captain is not a seasoned player instead has only 27 IPL caps under his belt. Many believe, though, that he has what it takes to lead a side like RCB. However, do RCB have what it takes to be a side ending its misfortunes? They have gathered a batting line with real depth this time which could help them be more proactive against teams like KKR with a lethal bowling attack. Phil Salt’s presence at the top will take their powerplay batting a step further. All eyes, though, would be on Virat Kohli who was able to overcome his spin struggles last season. Could he continue doing that this time too? Mohammad Siraj isn’t with them this season but Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar make the attack as well-oiled as ever.
Head-to-Head Record:
RCB and KKR have played 35 IPL games against each other. Of these 35, KKR managed to get home in 21, while RCB was the better side in the rest 14.
Weather and Pitch Report:
There is one thing that can dampen all the excitement of IPL’s El Clasico and that is Kolkata’s rain. There was steady but light rain on the eve of the match day. If the weather ceases to create any problems, Eden Gardens will dish out a high-scoring track with plenty for batters to cash.
Prediction:
Rivalry games are rarely easy to call, especially, when it’s a tournament opener. However, KKR have quite a lot of reasons to help them believe they can kick off their campaign with a victory.
Where to Watch:
India: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar
UK: Sky Sports, SkyGo
USA: Willow TV
Australia: Kayo TV, FoxTel Go
Bangladesh: T Sports, Toffee app
New Zealand: Sky Sports NZ
Afghanistan: ATN
South Africa: SuperSport
Sri Lanka: Dialog
MENA: Cricbuzz
