IPL 2019: Unchanged KKR opt to bowl; Steyn returns to RCB after 9 years

RCB have a great opportunity to post a win against a low on confidence KKR, having suffered three straight defeats

Needing at least four wins of their remaining six matches to make the playoffs, Karthik-led Kolkata Knight Riders have had a good IPL season so far and will fancy their chances and seek to get back on track against ‘desperate to win’ Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eden Gardens, on Friday. With the batting line-up in good form, RCB have a great opportunity to post a win against a low on confidence KKR, having suffered three straight defeats. Coming to the Toss, Kolkata won the toss and elected to bowl first against RCB at Eden Gardens. KKR has decided to play with same team and the good news for them is that star all-rounder Andre Russell has recovered in time.

#KKR win the toss and elect to bowl first against the @RCBTweets #KKRvRCB pic.twitter.com/6eNS9JMliK

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 19, 2019

"Sometimes good to have a bit of a break. We have come back now, we feel okay", said Karthik. For RCB, South African veteran pacer Dale Steyn returns to the squad after nine long years as he takes charge as an injury replacement for Nathan Coulter-Nile. However, another experienced player AB de Villiers is not well so Henrich Klaasen replaces him in playing XI. "We haven't been too bad setting a target. We have another opportunity to do so. Another opportunity to do the same. The pitch is outstanding but the bowlers will have something if they put the ball in the right areas. Every game for us now is like a semifinal or final, but the most important thing for us is to enjoy ourselves.", said Virat Kohli. Teams (Playing XI): Royal Challengers Bangalore (Playing XI): Parthiv Patel(w), Virat Kohli(c), Moeen Ali, Marcus Stoinis, Heinrich Klaasen, Akshdeep Nath, Pawan Negi, Dale Steyn, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Nitish Rana, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik(w/c), Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Harry Gurney