IPL 2018, RCB vs KKR: 5 player battles to look forward to

#2 Andre Russell v Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal

The KKR all-rounder has a strike rate of 204.95, which is the highest in this year’s IPL (minimum 75 balls faced) and it is Andre Russell’s ability to take the game away in a matter of a few deliveries that makes him such a dangerous batsman. Considering the sort of performances that have been delivered by the RCB bowling attack so far, the West Indian all-rounder’s power-hitting is going to pose one of the biggest threats to the home team.

That being said, RCB’s leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal might just be the bowler to get his wicket. Russell has faced 52 deliveries of leg-spin in the IPL since as far back as 2015 and has managed a strike rate of only 126.92. The leg-spinners have also gotten him out thrice. So, it follows that Russell is not that explosive against leg-spin and in Chahal, RCB have just the right bowler to exploit that weakness. It promises to be an absorbing contest.