Picking a combined RCB-PBKS playing XI for IPL 2024 ft. Virat Kohli, Sam Curran

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in match number six of IPL 2024 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday, March 25.

RCB began their campaign with a six-wicket loss to Chennai Super Kings, while PBKS beat Delhi Capitals by four wickets in their first game. RCB batted first against CSK at Chepauk and put up 173-6.

They began well but were stifled as Mustafizur Rahman claimed 4-29 in four overs. Bengaluru could not make much of an impact with the ball as Chennai chased the target in 18.4 overs. Meanwhile, Punjab bowled first against Delhi and restricted the opposition to 174-9 before chasing down the target in 19.2 overs.

PBKS have a 17-14 lead over Bengaluru after 31 games. As the teams get set to clash in IPL 2024, we pick a combined XI of both sides for the ongoing edition.

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Openers: Faf du Plessis (captain), Virat Kohli

RCB captain Faf du Plessis and senior batter Virat Kohli would open the innings in the combined Bengaluru-Punjab XI for IPL 2024. While both fell after getting starts in the previous game, they have an excellent record in the IPL.

Kohli is, of course, the all-time leading run-getter with over 7,200 runs from 238 games at an average of 37.16 and a strike rate of 129.93, with a record seven hundreds and 50 fifties. Du Plessis has 4,168 runs in 131 games, averaging 36.88 at a strike rate of 134.27.

As a pair, Kohli and Du Plessis have scored 1,366 runs from 27 innings at an average of 50.59, with five century stands.

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Middle-order/ All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik (wk)

Glenn Maxwell was dismissed for a golden duck in the CSK-RCB IPL 2024 opener, perishing to Deepak Chahar.

However, he's a destructive batter who can single-handedly turn games on their head. Maxwell has 2,719 runs in the IPL at a strike rate of close to 158. He's also a handy off-spinner and a brilliant fielder.

Punjab Kings all-rounder Sam Curran was the Player of the Match in PBKS' win over DC. He slammed 63 off 47, hitting six fours and a six as Punjab chased down 175. Curran is also a good left-arm pacer who can also win games with the ball.

Liam Livingstone also played a key role in PBKS' win over DC. He smashed 38* off 21, slamming two fours and three sixes. The big-hitting Livingstone performer the finisher's role after Curran's exit. He can chip in with the ball and is a very good fielder as well.

Although RCB went down to CSK in the IPL 2024 opener, Anuj Rawat's batting effort was one of the big positives for the team. With Bengaluru having lost their way after a bright start, the young left-hander resurrected the innings, smacking 48 off 25, with the aid of four fours and three sixes.

Veteran Bengaluru keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik proved that there's still some fight left in him, smashing a defiant 38* off 26 against CSK. Karthik hit three fours and two sixes, adding 95 for the sixth wicket with Rawat.

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Bowlers: Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Chahar

RCB pacer Mohammed Siraj had a poor game against CSK, going wicketless in four overs and conceding 38 runs. However, he has a good record in the IPL, claiming 78 wickets in 80 games, with two four-fers.

Harshal Patel proved slightly expensive at the end for PBKS against DC but picked up the big wickets of David Warner and Rishabh Pant. Also, he gets the nod ahead of Kagiso Rabada due to the four-player cap on overseas players.

Punjab left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh impressed with 2-28 against Delhi. He dismissed Mitchell Marsh, who was looking very dangerous at the top of the order. Also, Arshdeep has a good record in the IPL, claiming 59 scalps in 52 games.

PBKS leg-spinner Rahul Chahar would be the main slow bowler in the team. He claimed 1-33 against Delhi Capitals, getting the wicket of Tristan Stubbs and keeping things reasonably quiet. Chahar has 66 wickets in 70 IPL games at an average of 28.71 and an economy rate of 7.57.