KKR vs RCB Match Prediction: IPL 2024 Match 36, Who Will Win Today’s IPL Match?

KKR vs RCB Match Prediction: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will have their task cut out when they face the high-flying Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match at Eden Gardens on Sunday afternoon. This will be the first match of the doubleheader day, followed by the game between Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans in Mohali.

Match Preview

Virat Kohli is the leading scorer in IPL 2024, despite his team being last on the table.

What’s happening with RCB this season is all too familiar—a script we’ve seen unfold season after season. Before the start of every IPL campaign, there’s unflinching hope from the RCB fan base that their team can go all the way and lift the elusive title. However, every campaign ends in bitter disappointment.

A similar story is unfolding for RCB in the IPL 2024 season. On current form, RCB is the worst-performing team in the league, having lost six out of their first seven matches. Their latest defeat was a 20-run loss against the hard-hitting Sunrisers Hyderabad team, who set a record-breaking total of 87/3. A late surge from Dinesh Karthik (83 off 35) narrowed the defeat margin, but the game was already out of reach long before the Indian wicket-keeper came to bat.

Also Read: KKR vs RCB Dream11 Prediction

RCB’s Achilles’ heel is their bowling unit, which lacks an X-Factor player like MI’s Jasprit Bumrah or CSK’s Matheesha Pathirana, making it hard to score against them during the batting surge.

But all is not lost for Virat Kohli and Co. They can still make it to the top four, provided they play flawlessly until the end of the season and win every match. On current form, however, this seems like a distant dream.

KKR bowlers couldn’t find a way past Jos Buttler

Kolkata Knight Riders must be feeling bitterly disappointed after letting the match slip from a winning position against Rajasthan Royals.

The match started perfectly for KKR. Sunil Narine played a brilliant 56-ball 109-run innings, with Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Rinku Singh also making significant contributions as KKR posted a daunting 223/6 in 20 overs. The hosts were in control when both Yashasvi Jaiswal (19 off 9) and Sanju Samson (12 off 8) were dismissed early, with RR’s score at 47/2 in 4.2 overs.

Then came Riyan Parag, playing a blinder of an innings with 34 off 14 balls. But it was Jos Buttler who did most of the scoring after Parag departed in the 8th over. KKR couldn’t find a way past the England batter as he led an unlikely chase, handing Shreyas Iyer his second defeat in three matches.

However, the two-time IPL champions remain in a strong position, having won four out of their first six games. Here’s KKR vs RCB Match Prediction.

KKR vs RCB Match Details

Eden Gardens Pitch Report

KKR batted first in two of the three matches they played at Eden Gardens this season, and crossed the 200-run mark in both those games. In the first match when they posted 208/7 against SRH, the margin of win was just four runs, while RR successfully chased KKR‘s 223/6-run target in 20 overs. This data is enough to show that the pitch favors the betters, with little of no help for the fast bowlers. The spinners, however might get some purchase of the deck.

But expect the team batting first to score in excess of 180 runs to stand any chance of cracking the team batting in the 2nd innings.

KKR vs RCB Head-To-Head Record

This is one of the most played fixtures in the Indian Premier League, with the latest encounter 35th meeting between KKR and RCB. Kolkata won 20 times in those 34 encounters against RCB, while the Bangalore outfit won 14 games against the two-time IPL champions.

However, the reverse fixture was won by KKR. RCB batted first in that match and posted 182/6 in 20 overs, riding on Virat Kohli‘s 59-ball 83-run innings. But KKR made the mockery of that target and chased the target down in only 16.5 overs.

Last Meeting Between KKR vs RCB (IPL 2024)
RCB: 182/6 (1st innings)
KKR: 186/3 (2nd innings)

KKR vs RCB Predicted Playing 11:

Kolkata Knight Riders Predicted Lineup:
Phil Salt (WK)
Sunil Narine
Angkrish Raghuvanshi
Shreyas Iyer
Andre Russell
Rinku Singh
Venkatesh Iyer
Ramandeep Singh
Mitchell Starc
Varun Chakaravarthy
Harisht Rana
Vaibhav Arora (IMPACT PLAYER)

Royal Challengers Bangalore Predicted Lineup:
Virat Kohli
Faf du Plessis (C)
Will Jacks
Rajat Patidar
Saurav Chauhan
Dinesh Karthik (WK)
Mahipal Lomror
Anuj Rawat
Vyshak Vijay Kumar
Lockie Ferguson
Reece Topley
Yash Dayal (IMPACT PLAYER)

Best Batters And Bowlers

KKR Probable highest scorer: Sunil Narine or Phil Salt

When a team has some proper batsmen like Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt, you expect them to lead the scoring charts for the team, but it’s Sunil Narine who has done the bulk of the scoring for KKR in IPL 2024 so far. The veteran all-rounder has smashed his way to 276 runs in 6 innings, including a breathtaking century against the Rajasthan Royals in the last match. He should be in your KKR vs RCB Dream11 Fantasy Cricket teams.

With 201 runs in six innings, Phil Salt is the 2nd leading scorer for the Kolkata team this season. One stat that might give Salt a big boost ahead of this encounter is that the two half-centuries that he has scored this season came at Eden Gardens. So the 27-year-old England wicket-keeper batsman will be eyeing another big score here.

RCB Probable Highest Scorer: Virat Kohli or Faf du Plessis

Leading scorer in IPL 2024 with 361 runs in just 7 innings. With big names like Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green struggling for form, the pressure has multiplied for Kohli to deliver this season, and so far, he has done his bit. Considering the nature of the pitch at Eden Gardens, expect King Kohli to reign once again.

Faf du Plessis is also having a good season with the bat. The South African has made 232 runs across six innings heading into this game. The more important thing is that he has made a solid start to every IPL game this season. His strike-rate is also on the higher side, having hit runs at 154.66 this season.

Special mention for Dinesh Karthik, who has been in red-hot form at the moment. If you are looking for batters from RCB’s XI, then Karthik should be one of your picks.

KKR Probable Best Bowler: Sunil Narine

This man can’t do anything wrong. He is scoring runs and is amongst the wickets as well. During the mammoth chase when Jos Buttler was taking every KKR bowler for the cleaners, Narine remained a class apart and gave away just 30 runs in four overs, while taking two wickets. He is too good at the moment and should be in your KKR vs RCB Dream11 teams.

RCB Probable Best Bowler: Lockie Ferguson

Finding the best bowler for RCB is a tough task. Much more was expected from Mohammed Siraj, but he has disappointed with his performance and was even dropped from RCB’s Playing XI in the last match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, who smashed all batting records in that match, scoring 287/3 in 20 overs.

That said, Lockie Ferguson is a seasoned bowler. He has the experience and skill set to deliver here at Eden Gardens. Moreover, he has a point to prove after KKR let him go last season.

Who Will Win Today’s IPL Match Between KKR vs RCB

KKR could have easily avoided the shock defeat they suffered in the last match against the Royals. The batsmen did their bits in that game, but the bowlers failed to turn up, especially the likes of Mitchell Starc (4-0-50-0) and Vaibhav Arora (3-0-45-01) who gave away a jaw-dropping 95 runs in 7 overs. That’s almost 14 runs per over. Those overs really cost KKR that match.

But the two-time IPL winners remain a strong outfit. They are 2nd on the points table and that shows the consistency of this team.

Now consider RCB‘s form, which is the worst team in the league at the moment. Their bowling is their Achilles heal. No target is safe when RCB are defending and the opponents can set any target it seems, when they are batting first. KKR are strong favorite to win this match.

Chances Of A Win
KKR: 58%
RCB: 42%

Disclaimer: The above match prediction is based on the data and instincts of the writer. While picking players for your team, consider the points mentioned above, and make your own wise decision.