RCB eager to get its act together against Punjab

RCB, led by star India captain Virat Kohli, lost to Kolkata Knight Riders after Sunil Narine snatched victory with a 17-ball fifty and Nitish Rana removed AB de Villiers and Kohli in the same over and then scored a vital 35. RCB will now want its star batsmen Brendon McCullum and AB de Villiers, who blasted a 27-ball 43 and a 23-ball 44, respectively, to fire.

McCullum reached a milestone by completing 9,000 T20 runs in the last match and that should boost his confidence. Kohli was not in his imperious best in the previous game and he would want to come out all guns blazing against Punjab.

Kohli could depend on Umesh Yadav and Woakes to deliver the goods again as they shared five wickets between them. Coming to the visitor, Punjab is coming into the game on the back of a win, having started the season on a resounding note, beating Delhi Daredevils by six wickets. KL Rahul, who is a local here, smashed the fastest-ever fifty in IPL history. Rahul had smashed six boundaries and four sixes in his 16-ball 51. 

Karun Nair, who scored a 33-ball fifty, also would be keen to continue the good work. Punjab’s bowlers did a fine job by restricting Daredevils with 17-year-old spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman making his IPL debut with a bang, picking up two wickets along with Mohit Sharma.

RCB VS KXIP 8 pm on Star Sports 1, HD 1