New Delhi: Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 14 Eliminator match on Monday. Virat Kohli's strategic skills and Eoin Morgan's experience will be put to the test when RCB, in their quest for their maiden IPL title, lock horns in the Eliminator match on Monday.
The team that loses in RCB vs KKR Eliminator will be knocked out of the tournament while the winning team will take on Delhi Capitals in the second qualifier on Wednesday. The team that wins in the Qualifier 2 match will take on three-time champions Chennai Super Kings in the final, set to be held on October 15.
Statistics prove that RCB vs KKR Eliminator will turn out to be an exciting thriller. If we talk about the head-to-head record between the two teams, then Kolkata has an upper hand with a 16-13 record against Bangalore.
Bangalore's star batsman AB de Villiers and captain Virat Kohli have spoken openly about the team's preparations ahead of the Eliminator.
De Villiers said in Star Sports' show 'Inside RCB', "Naturally, when you are in rhythm, the pace increases. We put in a lot of effort when we started IPL. The skill is the same and my game plan won't change much. I think the kind of cricket we are trying to play won't change much. There, of course, everyone would have a lot to lose. I mean if you lose you go home. You think about all your preparations. Virat Kohli will make sure we are all in fifth gear once the eliminator starts."
RCB captain Kohli said, "We have a lot of faith in our team. We may not have been in the top two places in the points table, but to reach the final, we have to win two more matches and we are fully prepared for that. You prepare for all kinds of possibilities and the way I see it, qualifiers and eliminators are just words that create more pressure in these matches. When you play cricket, you win or lose, so when you feel like you have two choices (win or lose), your mindset can potentially turn negative. Our focus is on getting on the field, executing on our plans and winning matches. When your only option is winning, and losing is not an option, your performance takes another level and I think our team is on the right track to execute our plans."