In the upcoming Indian Premier League 2024 (IPL 2024) Match 12, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will play Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Shreyas Iyer, captain of KKR, won the toss and chose to invite the potent RCB batting team to bat first on the surface. The KKR captain forgot his starting XI for the game, which attracted the attention of supporters during the toss.
Commentator Ravi Shastri questioned Iyer about his team’s roster, but he couldn’t remember the changes. After a little silence, he revealed that Anukul Roy had been added to the squad. In the midst of flipping between the two team sheets, the captain of KKR appeared confused.
“Remaining in the here and now is crucial. We need to make sure we make the most of the beginning. Anukul enters the bowling game. I really don’t understand.
Shreyas Iyer said, “I’ve been given two teams,” during the coin toss.
🚨 Toss 🚨@KKRiders win the toss and elect to field against @RCBTweets
Follow the Match ▶️ https://t.co/CJLmcs7aNa #TATAIPL | #RCBvKKR pic.twitter.com/hUcwrrKilK
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 29, 2024
Shreyas Iyer said, “Anukul Roy comes in. I am seriously confused. There are two teams given to me”. pic.twitter.com/9BDuTgafHi
— Yudi ( युधिष्ठर स्वामी) (@legal_dost_Yudi) March 29, 2024
KKR drops Nitish Rana.
The management of the team also made the decision to bench Nitish Rana, their captain from the previous campaign, and give 18-year-old Angkrish Raghuvanshi his first cap. Notably, Rana scored just nine points (11), meaning that his performance in the season opener was forgettable.
Also read: What makes the IPL match between KKR vs RCB known as “El Primero”?
In addition to Rana, Suyash Sharma was another conspicuous absence from the team’s starting XI; nevertheless, the wrist spinner was added as an impact replacement. Sharma conceded eighteen runs in two overs, but he gained notoriety in 2023 for his incredible bowling display. In the meantime, RCB kept their starting lineup unchanged.
Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Philip Salt (w), Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Mitchell Starc, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Cameron Green, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Anuj Rawat (w), Dinesh Karthik, Alzarri Joseph, Mayank Dagar, Mohammed Siraj, and Yash Dayal