IPL Playoffs / Strong fight between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, the journey of the losing team will end

Kolkata. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are in high spirits after Virat Kohli returned to form and reached the IPL playoffs on the strength of luck. The team can give a tough challenge to Lucknow Super Giants (RCB vs LSG) in the match of Eliminator on Wednesday. The team that loses this match will be out of the tournament. After a low score in the initial matches, Kohli scored 73 runs in 54 balls in the last league match against Gujarat Titans. It was his second half-century this season, but in it he played his familiar beautiful shots and kept RCB's hopes alive. This victory was not enough for RCB and they also had to pray for Mumbai Indians' victory over Delhi Capitals in the second match. Mumbai beat Delhi to make way for RCB's playoffs.

Virat Kohli's form, Dinesh Karthik's success as a finisher, Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasranga and Harshal Patel's trio of fast bowlers. And then RCB's enthusiasm has increased manifold on the seam-supporting Eden Gardens pitch. With the captaincy of Faf du Plessis, the team would like to take the next step towards winning the first IPL title. RCB, which has played 3 IPL finals, is such a star-studded team, which has disappointed the fans many times. This time he has 3-time IPL winner Du Plessis, who can prove to be his lucky charm.

Siraj could not do wonders

Fast bowler Mohammad Siraj (8 wickets in 13 matches) could not run this season. But Jess Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasaranga and Harshal Patel took 57 wickets together. They will again be preparing to wreak havoc on the new pitch in the knockout match. Karthik has proved to be a trump card for RCB, winning several close matches and returning to the Indian team ahead of the T20 World Cup. 36-year-old Karthik was bought by RCB for Rs 5 crore 50 lakh. He has scored 287 runs in 14 innings, in which he remained unbeaten 9 times. His strike rate is 191.33.

Mohsin and Avesh will be the challenge

The RCB batsmen will face the young fast bowlers of Lucknow Avesh Khan and Mohsin Khan. Lucknow also has experienced bowlers like Dushmantha Chamira and Jason Holder. But he could not perform consistently this season. It will not be easy to curb the bats of Lucknow openers captain KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock, who have been the most successful opening pair of the season. Together they have amassed 1039 runs, including the highest opening partnership in IPL history of 210 runs against KKR.

The team does not have good batsmen in the middle order and the lower order. No one could walk except Deepak Hooda. Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Ayush Badoni and Holder have failed.

Both teams are as follows

Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (Captain), Manan Vohra, Evin Lewis, Manish Pandey, Quinton de Kock, Ravi Bishnoi, Dushmantha Chamira, Shahbaz Nadeem, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Ankit Rajput, Avesh Khan, Andrew Tye, Marcus Stoinis, Kyle Meyers, Karan Sharma, Krishnappa Gautam, Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Jason Holder.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammad Siraj, Faf du Plessis, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik, Josh Hazlewood, Shahbaz Ahmed, Anuj Rawat, Akash Deep, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Behrendorff, Suyash Prabhudesai, Chama Milind, Anishwar Gautam, Karn Sharma, David Willey, Rajat Patidar, Siddharth Kaul.