As the Indian Premier League 2024 heats up, the 36th T20 match is poised to be a captivating encounter with Royal Challengers Bengaluru aiming for redemption against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Sunday. When these teams last met at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kolkata emerged victorious, placing them as the favorites for the upcoming fixture.

The Kolkata team, captained by Shreyas Iyer, recently experienced a setback when they failed to defend a substantial total of 223 runs against Rajasthan Royals, which could have enhanced their position in the league. Currently, they have four wins from six matches, securing the second spot on the points table, sharing the position with three other teams. Eden Gardens, known for its vibrant atmosphere and passionate crowds, could give the home team that extra push they need to regain their momentum.

On the contrary, Faf du Plessis-led RCB is under pressure after suffering their sixth defeat of the season. Despite setting a hefty target of 288 runs by Sunrisers Hyderabad, Bengaluru fell short by 25 runs. Nonetheless, the batting lineup has shown promising signs of resurgence in recent games, suggesting a potential turnaround in performance despite the team’s ongoing issues with bowling consistency.

The upcoming clash at Eden Gardens promises high stakes and intense action. Scheduled for April 21, the match will begin at 3:30 PM IST with the toss occurring half an hour earlier. Fans can catch the live broadcast on Star Sports and stream the match on the JioCinema website and app.

Key players to watch in this Dream11 lineup include wicketkeepers Dinesh Karthik and Phil Salt. The batting lineup looks strong with Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Faf du Plessis, and young sensation Angkrish Raghuvanshi likely to make significant impacts. Kohli particularly stands out this season, having amassed 361 runs in just seven innings and is currently leading the Orange Cap race.

From the all-rounders, Sunil Narine is a vital asset for Kolkata. Besides scoring his first T20 century in the previous game against Rajasthan, Narine has also snagged seven wickets this season. Andre Russell, another formidable all-rounder, brings depth to the team with his explosive batting and effective bowling.

Bowlers such as Mitchell Starc, Lockie Ferguson, and Yash Dayal are set to lead the bowling attack, contributing their pace and precision to an already competitive lineup.

Predicted playing XIs offer a glimpse into team strategies. Kolkata is expected to field Philip Salt (wk), Sunil Narine, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Shreyas Iyer (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Harshit Rana. Royal Challengers Bengaluru might lineup with Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Will Jacks, Rajat Patidar, Saurav Chauhan, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Mahipal Lomror, Reece Topley, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Dayal, and Mohammed Siraj.

With both teams loaded with potential match-winners and high stakes in the points table, this match promises to be an exhilarating contest that could shape the playoff prospects for both Kolkata and Bengaluru. As the clock ticks down to the epic showdown, fans are braced for what could likely be one of the most thrilling matches of IPL 2024.

By IPL Agent

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