How Royal Challengers Bangalore could line up against Kolkata Knight Riders

Royal Challengers Bangalore have started another IPL in a horrendous manner losing all of their first four games and they welcome KKR at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on the 5th of April as the RCB-KKR rivalry resumes.

Both these team come in this match on the back of contrasting fortunes and results as KKR have looked one of the best sides in IPL this year and RCB just cannot find a way to win. This is down to many reasons and one of them is the team balance and RCB haven't got their team combination right so far.

The batting looks one dimensional as once you get rid of the top order of RCB, there is not a single batsman in good nick in that RCB middle order. Their bowling is also a problem as only Yuzvendra Chahal seems to be capable of picking wickets.

There are a lot of problems at RCB currently and the combination that Kohli decides to go for against KKR will be interesting to see, but it's a guarantee that there will be changes in that RCB XI. So, in this slideshow, we pick the strongest XI for RCB against KKR:

#1 Openers ( Parthiv Patel and Virat Kohli)

Virat Kohli (Image Courtesy: IPLT20/BCCI)

The RCB openers along with de Villiers have looked the most in-form batsmen in the Banglore lineup so far and this is the combination that may not be tinkered with by the RCB management. Parthiv Patel has looked in brilliant touch so far and he has been RCB's best batsman this year.

He scored a brilliant 67 off just 42 balls against RR, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to get RCB their first win.

On the other hand, Virat Kohli has blown hot and cold in the IPL so far and he was dismissed by Shreyas Gopal on 23 runs against RR. The RCB skipper has to pick his form up as he is the most important batsman of RCB.

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#2 Middle Order (AB de Villiers, Heinrich Klassen, Marcus Stoinis, Shivam Dube, and Pawan Negi)

AB de Villiers ( Image Courtesy: IPLT20/BCCI)

In at number 3 will be AB de Villiers. The South African was brilliant against the Mumbai Indians, but he has faltered in the last couple of games for RCB. Just like Kohli, de Villiers is the backbone of this RCB batting lineup and he has to start performing for them, starting with against KKR.

In at number 4 will be Heinrich Klassen. Klassen should replace Shimron Hetmyer in RCB lineup as the West Indian has found life difficult in the IPL so far. The South African wicketkeeper is a good enough replacement as he can also strike a long ball and Klassen also has better experience than Hetmyer in the IPL.

In at number 5 will be Marcus Stoinis. Stoinis returned to the IPL this week and he played a good hand with the bat for RCB against RR as he scored a decent 31 runs off 28 balls to take RCB to a respectable total. Stoinis is a brilliant asset to have as he can also give Kohli a few overs with the ball.

In at number 6 will be Shivam Dube. Dube hasn't really got going in the IPL after having a brilliant domestic season with the bat. Also, Kohli hasn't trusted Dube with the ball yet, but he can bowl and he may get his chance to bowl against KKR.

In at number 7 will be Pawan Negi. Negi hasn't featured yet in the IPL, but he may get his chance against KKR. Negi will add a lot of balance to this RCB side as he can be very handy in the slog overs with the bat, and he can also give a few overs to Kohli.

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#4 Bowlers (Nathan Coulter-Nile, Umesh Yadav, Washington Sundar and Yuzvendra Chahal)

Yuzvendra Chahal ( Image Courtesy: IPLT20/BCCI)

In at number 8 will be Washington Sundar. Moeen Ali has been preferred over Sundar in the first four matches of RCB in this year's IPL and Sundar might get the nod against KKR. He was brilliant for RCB last year and there was no reason whatsoever to drop him from the starting XI this year and he simply has to play against KKR.

In at number 9 will be Nathan Coulter-Nile. Coulter-Nile has joined up with RCB camp after returning from the Pakistan-Australia series. RCB have been missing a spark in their pace battery and the lanky Australian might be that much needed spark for Kohli. The Australian can also strike a long ball and he may come handy in the slog overs with the bat.

In at number 10 will be Umesh Yadav. Yadav hasn't shown the form with new ball this year like he did last year for RCB, but still, his experience in this format is indispensable to this RCB side and Kohli will be hoping that Yadav provides a couple of early breakthroughs against KKR.

In at number 11 will be Yuzvendra Chahal. The Indian leg spinner has been RCB's best bowler and arguably RCB's best player of the tournament so far. Chahal is as important as Kohli to this RCB lineup and he will be looking forward to continuing his good form against KKR.

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