IPL 2021: Match 48 RCB vs PBKS: Preview, predicted XI, fantasy picks

Tags: Indian T20 League 2021, Bangalore XI vs Punjab XI, 48th Match at Sharjah, Oct 03, 2021, Bangalore XI, Punjab XI

Published on: Oct 03, 2021

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With the contest for the playoffs heating up, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in match number 48 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The game will be the first match of the double header

RCB are currently in third position in the IPL 2021 points table, with 14 points from 11 games. They will be very disappointed if they do not make it to the playoffs from this point. However, they have a poor net run-rate of -0.200. Bangalore would like to improve on the same just in case it comes down to it.

As for PBKS, although they are fifth, with 10 points from 12 games, they will find it tough to finish in the top four. KKR have a better net run-rate than them while Rajasthan also reached 10 points by stunning CSK on Saturday. Mumbai have a very poor net run-rate (-0.453) but just for the record, they are also on 10 points.

Looking at current form, RCB will go in high on confidence. They have thumped Mumbai and Rajasthan rather emphatically in their two recent encounters, by 54 runs and seven wickets respectively. PBKS, on the other hand, came back strongly after losing to Mumbai and upset Kolkata by five wickets in a close finish.

RCB will be pleased with the form of KS Bharat and Glenn Maxwell, in particular, as the latter has also contributed with the ball. However, they would want AB de Villiers to strike form soon. Openers Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal also need to display better consistency.

RCB’s predicted XI: Virat Kohli (c), Devdutt Padikkal, KS Bharat (wk), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Dan Christian, Shahbaz Ahmed, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammad Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal

PBKS will be happy that KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal have carried on with their great work with the bat. Rahul needs to find ways to finish the match before the last over though. Nicholas Pooran’s form is a worry but the presence of Shahrukh Khan made a massive difference in the last game

PBKS’ predicted XI: KL Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Fabian Allen, Shahrukh Khan, Nathan Ellis, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh

Top fantasy picks for RCB vs PBKS clash: Glenn Maxwell, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Ravi Bishnoi

--Renin Wilben Albert

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