3 things RCB needs to do right to beat KKR at the Eden Gardens

The highly anticipated clash between the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is set to get underway at the iconic Eden Gardens on April 21.

Both teams come into the game with contrasting defeats the last time they took the field. While RCB was handed a comprehensive 25-run defeat against SRH, KKR lost a thriller to RR off the final ball despite dominating much of the contest.

The loss was RCB's fifth straight of a disastrous IPL 2024 campaign that saw them relegated to the bottom of the points table with only two points in seven games. The usual issues of inconsistent team selection and lifeless bowling have been their Achilles heel yet again this season.

Meanwhile, KKR have won four out of their six games this season and are sitting pretty on third in the standings. RCB's degree of difficulty is further increased by the fact that they have lost their previous three meetings against KKR.

The two teams faced each other earlier this season and KKR came out on top with a convincing seven-wicket win in Bengaluru. KKR has also won two of their three home games, making it a tall order for the struggling RCB side to pull off the upset victory.

In desperate need of a win to keep their dwindling playoff hopes alive, here are three things RCB needs to do to upstage KKR at Eden Gardens.

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#1 The 'Virat Kohli' factor

To say Virat Kohli holds the key to RCB's fortunes is like saying 2+ 2 = 4. Yet, his performance with the bat will be crucial for RCB in this KKR for reasons other than the obvious.

For starters, unlike seasons in the past, the RCB batting hasn't exactly been their strong suit barring a few individuals. Kohli has been at his usual best, leading the 2024 IPL in runs scored with 361 runs at an average of over 72 in seven outings.

However, Kohli aside, only Dinesh Karthik has delivered with the bat, averaging an impressive 75.33. Apart from the duo, no other RCB batter averages even 34 with the bat, and the middle order has seen constant chopping and changing.

Also worth mentioning is King Kohli's staggering impact on RCB's results against KKR at the Eden Gardens in the past. The 35-year-old has averaged a Bradmanesque 109 at a strike rate of over 148 in RCB's wins against KKR at Kolkata.

The numbers take a massive dip in the losses, with Kohli averaging a mere 18.30 at a strike rate of 102.80 in six innings.

Furthermore, the former RCB captain was their top scorer in the earlier meeting against KKR this season with an unbeaten 59-ball 83. Thus, Virat Kohli will have one of his match-winning performances again if RCB stands a chance against KKR in Kolkata.

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#2 Dismiss KKR's openers cheaply

KKR have built some of their stellar batting performances this season on their devastating opening partnership of Phil Salt and Sunil Narine.

While the former has amassed 201 runs at an average of over 40 and a strike rate of 151.12, the latter has been an even bigger revelation with 276 runs at an average of 46 and a strike rate of 187.75.

The duo were central to KKR defeating RCB in the previous meeting between the sides earlier this season, with a partnership of 86 from 39 deliveries in their successful hunt down of 183.

In KKR's two losses this season, the opening partnership added only 0 and 21 against CSK and RR, respectively. Salt, in particular, has been in sensational form at the Eden Gardens, with two quick-fire half-centuries in three innings.

And with Narine being given the license to take on the bowling from the first ball, the duo staying in the middle for any length of time will reduce RCB's chances of pulling off the upset.

RCB suffered heavily at the hands of the SRH openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma in their previous outing, with the duo adding 108 from 49 balls. Hence, the combination of their bowling woes in the powerplay and KKR's high-impact openers make it a must that the visitors strike with the ball immidiately.

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#3 Negate KKR's spin duo

Much like how RCB fans breathe easy when Virat Kohli is batting, KKR supporters feel the same when the spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy perform their magic with the ball.

While Narine has been as solid as even throughout the IPL 2024 season, Varun has bounced back from a slow start. The pair have picked up seven wickets each at an economy of around 8 to stifle opposition teams in the middle over.

The mystery tweakers could be an even bigger threat than usual, considering the struggles of the RCB middle-order this season. Yet, to pull off a victory and silence the Eden crowd, they must ensure Narine and Varun do not go on wicket-taking sprees.

If the RCB middle-order tackles the duo, it could create doubts among the KKR ranks and go a long way in emerging victorious.