RCB vs KKR prediction: Match win, Dream11 and toss – 26/04/2023

• Match Prediction: Royal Challengers Bangalore to win
• Toss prediction: Royal Challengers Bangalore to win the toss and field first

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to face each other in Match No.36 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. The match will take place on Wednesday, April 26 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.

Read our in-depth IPL prediction, as our experts offer up their RCB vs KKR predictions ahead of this match

• Date and time: April 26, 7:30 PM IST
• Venue: Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders match preview

Royal Challengers Bangalore

The Faf du Plessis-led RCB have every chance of breaking into the top four if they beat the Knight Riders in their next match. The three-time IPL finalists are placed fifth in the table with eight points and a net run rate of -0.008 courtesy of four wins from seven matches.

They defeated Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven runs in their previous meeting at the same venue in Bangalore. After being put in to bat first, RCB lost the early wickets of Virat Kohli and Shahbaz Ahmed as Trent Boult dismissed both batters.

But a partnership of 127 runs between du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell got the RCB innings back on track. Even as du Plessis scored 62 runs off 39 balls, Maxwell raced his way to 77 off 44 balls with six fours and four sixes. On the back of their knocks, RCB posted a challenging target of 190 for RR to chase down.

Thereafter, Harshal Patek finished with figures of 4-0-32-3 as RCB went past the finish line. Mohammed Siraj and David Willey picked up one wicket apiece. Devdutt Padikkal scored 52 runs off 34 balls, but his valiant efforts for the Royals couldn’t pay dividends.

RCB possible XI: Virat Kohli (c), Faf du Plessis, Mahipal Lomror, Glenn Maxwell, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Suyash Prabhudessai, David Willey, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohammed Siraj, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Harshal Patel

Kolkata Knight Riders

The Knight Riders won two out of their first three games, but they have struggled off late. Having lost all their last four matches, Nitish Rana’s men are in danger of going to the bottom of the points table. They are placed eighth with four points and a net run rate of -0.186.

They will go into the game after losing to MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 49 runs. After opting to field first, KKR faltered big time as CSK racked up a huge score of 235 for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs.

Ajinkya Rahane’s unbeaten 29-ball 71 blew the Knights away. Suyash Sharma finished with figures of 4-0-29-1. Barring the leg-spinner, all the KKR bowlers were taken to the cleaners.

Jason Roy played a whirlwind knock of 61 runs off 26 balls with five fours and as many sixes. Rinku Singh also raced to 53 off 33 with three fours and four sixes. But their efforts went in vain as the Knight Riders finished with 186 for the loss of eight wickets.

Andre Russell, Narayan Jagadeesan, Sunil Narine and David Wiese had disastrous outings with bat and ball.

KKR possible XI: N Jagadeesan (wk), Jason Roy, Nitish Rana (c), Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, David Wiese, Kulwant Khejroliya, Suyash Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy

Pitch and expected weather conditions

The pitch in Bangalore is expected to be an absolute belter. Bowlers will have to work hard to get the dividends. There is no chance of rain for the time being and temperatures will be around the 29-degree Celsius mark.

RCB vs KKR Dream11 prediction

Our RCB vs KKR Dream11 prediction for this match

• Wicketkeeper(s): Dinesh Karthik
• Batter(s): Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, Jason Roy, Nitish Rana, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh
• All-rounder(s): Glenn Maxwell, Andre Russell, Wanindu Hasaranga
• Bowler(s): Mohammed Siraj
• Recommended captain: Faf du Plessis
• Recommended vice-captain: Mohammed Siraj

Match prediction: Royal Challengers Bangalore to win

The Challengers have a strong batting lineup and they have done well at home in Bangalore. The KKR bowlers aren’t in the best of form and here lies the chance for RCB to cash in.

Toss prediction: Royal Challengers Bangalore to win the toss and field first

The Challengers should opt to field first after winning the toss. The pitch is expected to stay true throughout and the chasing team will have a great chance.

Man of the match prediction: Faf du Plessis  

Faf du Plessis is currently in the form of his life as he is the leading run-scorer of IPL 2023. The right-handed batter has scored 405 runs from seven matches at an average of 67.50 and a strike-rate of 165.31. The KKR bowlers can’t allow him to settle into a rhythm.

Betting Odds

• Royal Challengers Bangalore: 1.730
• Kolkata Knight Riders: 2.104

The bookmakers also believe that RCB have a better chance of winning their match against the Knight Riders. KKR have been in disastrous form and it won’t be easy for them in Bangalore.