Neither Punjab Kings or Royal Challengers Bengaluru have ever won the IPL, but the pair have a golden opportunity this time after finishing first and second respectively in the regular season, and now they face off in the first qualifier.
The winner will progress to the final while the loser will get another bite of the apple as they take on the winner of the eliminator.
Here we pick out the best bets for what should be an intriguing contest.
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Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru cricket tips
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru to win @ 10/11
- Virat Kohli to be top Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter @ 6/4
- Arshdeep Singh top Punjab Kings bowler @ 2/1
RCB could edge it
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have had plenty of near misses over the years, but they are fancied to progress to the final of this IPL campaign with a win over Punjab Kings in this first qualifier.
The two had an almost identical record in the regular season, but RCB ran out comfortable winners when these two met at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium a month ago.
They have now won four of the last five meetings between these two and could take advantage of some absentees from the hosts’ line-up, namely Marco Jansen, Azmatullah Omarzai and Mitch Owen.
The away team’s strength in depth batting-wise has been demonstrated by the fact that they set an IPL record with ten separate players making half-centuries in the regular season.
RCB’s bowling was an area of slight weakness, but the return of Josh Hazlewood is a massive bonus for the visitors – the Australian quick took nine wickets in four games before his month-long injury absence.
At a ground that will offer plenty for the bowlers, expect Hazlewood to have a major say and his RCB team to move one step closer to a first ever title.
Kohli to shine for visitors
Virat Kohli has been the face of the IPL and RCB since the league’s inception in 2008 and he has continued his impressive performances this year.
Despite his advancing age, the batter has made eight half-centuries this season and sits fifth on the leaderboard for runs scored this term with 602.
RCB have won all eight games in which Kohli has made 50 so it is not an exaggeration to say that their chances in this game are closely linked to the efforts of their talisman.
Side with him to top score for his team once again.
Singh key to hosts’ bowling attack
Arshdeep Singh has been a standout for Punjab Kings again this season, taking 18 wickets, the fifth-most of any bowler in the competition.
He has taken three wickets against RCB and has a strong record this year against opener Phil Salt, dismissing him five times in 32 balls for club and country.
Take Singh to be the home side’s top bowler.
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All odds correct at time of writing.
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