KOL vs RCB Dream11 prediction, IPL 2023: Fantasy Suggestions, Captain and Vice Captain Options

KOL vs RCB Dream11 prediction: Kolkata Knight Riders will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore for their second match of the season when they host Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Eden Gardens on Thursday (March 6). KOL were a bit unfortunate to lose their opening games as rain intervention left them 7 runs behind on Duckworth Lewis.

Royal Challengers Bangalore, on the other hand, defeated Mumbai Indians by eight wickets in their opening game on home turf. And along with their winning momentum, RCB also have won their last two games against Kolkata, who haven't played at the Eden Gardens since 2019.

KOL vs RCB injury update

Kolkata Knight Riders injury update Kolkata don't have any immediate injury concerns but Shreyas Iyer, who couldn't start the IPL due to a back injury, is out for the entire season as he needs to get operated.

Key players Batting didn't go as planned for Kolkata in the last game as the likes of Nitish Rana (24), Venkatesh Iyer (34), Andre Russell (35) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (22) were out after getting a good start. The likes of Mandeep Singh (2) and Rinku Singh (4) flopped in the game but the rest of the batting did suggest they have runs in them for the season.

Among bowlers, Umesh Yadav (1/27) and Varun Chakravarthy (1/26) were economical and are expected to build on a good start for the season. Overseas bowlers Trent Boult (2/54) and Sunil Narine (1/40) picked wickets but went for runs. Russell didn't bowl in the game while Shardul Thakur went for runs among the all-rounders.

RCB injury udapte After missing out on Josh Hazlewood for the season, English pacer Reece Topley dislocated his shoulder for the last game and is expected to be out for seven games. Batter Rajat Patidar is out for the entire season too as he is yet to heal from his heel injury while Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasarang won't return before April 9.

RCB key players Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli brought their form from the season into IPL 2023 with stunning half-centuries with the duo also opening the innings. Glenn Maxwell, whose form was in doubt in the build-up to the tournament, scored 12 runs in the three balls the team got to face. Michael Bracewell didn't get to bat in the last game but has been in good form as he scored a century in the intra-squad match before IPL.

Bracewell picked a wicket in the last game against MI too while RCB used as many as seven bowlers. Spinner Karn Sharma stood out with a spell of 2/32, including the wicket of Tim David. Left-handed English pacer David Willey is expected to replace Topley in the line-up while Mohammad Siraj led the bowling with a spell of 1/21.

Harshal Patel, who picked 52 wickets in the last two IPLs, gave away runs in the slog overs for just a wicket while young pacer Akash Deep gave away 29 runs in three overs and took a wicket.

KOL vs RCB predicted playing 11

KOL predicted playing 11: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Nitish Rana, Venkatesh Iyer, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Tim Southee, Varun Chakravarthy, Umesh Yadav

RCB predicted playing 11 vs KOL: Faf du Plessis (C), Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Virat Kohli, Michael Bracewell, Glenn Maxwell, David Willey, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel, Karn Sharma

KOL vs RCB pitch report

Eden Garden hasn't hosted Knight Riders since 2019 and has been known to be favourable for batting early in the season. But there's help on the offer for the spinners as the match progresses while pacers find help with the new ball in the evening as well. As far as the ground dimension is concerned, it holds about 65 to 67 metres boundary size on the square while around 69 to 71 metres on the straight.

KOL vs RCB Dream11 prediction

Captain and vice-captain choices: Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis could be wise choices given their recent forms. Also with spin likely to come into play somebody like Varun Chakravarthy could be effective.