IPL 2019, Match 35: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Predictions and Probable playing 11 of KKR vs RCB
Kolkata Knight Riders' impact player Andre Russell was forced to skip the practice session on Thursday, owing to a shoulder injury sustained while batting in the nets on Wednesday.
KKR will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in an IPL game on Friday and Russell's possible absence could pave the way for Carlos Brathwaite's inclusion in the playing XI.
The Barbados all-rounder, who is KKR's costliest pick of Rs 5 crore at the auctions, played only one match for KKR, against Delhi Capitals here that they lost by seven wickets.
Fretting over Russell's fitness, KKR skipper Karthik, however, did not rule out the Jamaican who has been a revelation with six explosive 40-plus scores on the trot.
"He's got a preliminary X-ray yesterday and it's not even been 24 hours. By tomorrow, we will a get a much better idea as to how he feels," Karthik said of Russell.
It was during the fag end of the practice on Wednesday that Russell failed to negotiate a rising delivery from net bowler Minad Manjrekar and fell on the ground, writhing in pain.
It was the same left shoulder where Russell was hit by a Harshal Patel delivery during KKR's match against Delhi Capitals at the Kotla.
Russell had also suffered a wrist injury in their away match against Chennai as it remains to be seen whether the team will risk playing the Jamaican.
KKR have suffered a hat-trick of losses as Karthik urged his batsmen and bowlers to buck up.
"I'm not going to shy away from the fact that we can bat better a little better definitely and definitely bowl a little better."
Meanwhile, RCB top-order batsman AB de Villiers also skipped the training, while skipper Virat Kohli took a few throwdowns from coach Gary Kirsten after a game of football.
What to expect:
Expect the pitch to be another belter with little pace on offer for the seamers. However, like Imran Tahir, if bowled properlt, there could be purchase for spinners as well at the Gardens.
Predicted Playing XI:
KKR: Dinesh Karthik (C & WK), Piyush Chawla, Robin Uthappa, Sunil Narine, Harry Gurney, Andre Russell/Carlos Brathwaite, Chris Lynn, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Shubman Gill
RCB: Parthiv Patel (WK), AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli (C), Akshdeep Nath, Marcus Stoinis, Moeen Ali, Yuzvendra Chahal, Pawan Negi, Dale Steyn, Navdeep Saini, Umesh Yadav
