Their backs against the wall, struggling Royal Challengers Bangalore will look to outgun title-contenders, Gujarat lions in a must-win IPl clash to keep alive their play-off hopes, here on Saturday.
The Royal Challengers will like to forget their last game against defending champions Mumbai Indians, who thumped them in their own backyard.
A loss today, however, will shatter their dreams to make into the playoffs and as usual the onus will be on skipper Kohli, who has come out all guns blazing so far, putting the rivals on the mat.
Royal Challengers will be hoping Chris Gayle to fire all cylinders which could be the best answer to neutralise their pedestrian bowling attack, which has failed to even defend 180-plus scores in some of the matches.
Meanwhile, IPl debutants Gujarat will be coming into the match after defeating the consistent Kolkata Knight Riders with an eye to jump to number one position in the points-table, where Sunrisers Hyderabad are perched for now.
However, they will also be wary about their signs of wilting at the business end of the tournament, and will like to come out of it.
Having relished the success provided by their overseas recruits, Raina is struggling when it comes to his individual contribution with a solitary half-century to show so far.
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Pune look to derail KKR
Kolkata: Out of contention for a play-off berth, a brazen Rising Pune Supergiants will stand in the way of Kolkata Knight Riders’ revival when they clash today.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side is the first team to make an exit in the ninth edition after they lost to SRH in their previous match but left with three matches, the Supergiants will be keen to sign off on a high.
The Pune franchise is owned by a Kolkata businessman and they will make themselves feel at ‘home’ while a rejuvenated Knight Riders back after a five-day break will be desperate to arrest their slide.
From occupying the pole position midway into the season, KKR’s slide begun after their loss to Gujarat lions and they have slipped to fourth place and are now in the danger of slipping out of top four.
On the other hand, Dhoni, who is at the helm of Pune franchise, has drawn a lot of flak for his bizarre decisions of late and it’s high time that he takes more responsibilities.
Thus it remains to be seen how the most successful Indian captain who has pulled out of Tests lifts himself up from such a difficult situation.
live from 8:00pm onwards.