Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has broken the record for highest number of runs scored by a batsmen in a single IPL season with 752 runs in 12 matches Getty

Royal Challengers Bangalore take on Kings XI Punjab in the 50th match of the 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on 18 May (Wednesday).

Where to watch live

Match starts at 3.30pm BST/8pm IST. Live coverage of the game is available on Sky Sports 2 and Sky Sports 2 HD in the UK. Sony Max, Sony Six and Sony ESPN will telecast it live in India.

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Overview

The Royal Challengers have built up a winning momentum just at the right time as they enter the latter stages of the IPL. They are still in with a chance to qualify for the knockout stages, but have to win their final two games against the Kings XI and Delhi Daredevils, who are also one of the contenders for a playoff place.

Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers have led from the front with the duo putting on a virtuoso batting performance, first against the Gujarat Lions, when both scored hundreds, and then against Kolkata Knight Riders, when they chased down 183, without breaking a sweat against the competitions best bowling lineup. Chris Gayle's return to form at the Eden Gardens will also bode well for the Bangalore team, who face two knockout games in the coming week. Their bowling, however, still struggles to contain the opposition, but the batting is carrying them over the line. The trio will have to keep their form for RCB to have any chance of progressing. Also, Kohli's 752 in the tournament is the highest amassed by a batsman in a single season.

Kings XI, meanwhile, are out of the running for a place in the playoffs, but will be baying for revenge when they visit the Chinnaswamy Stadium after they recorded a one-run victory over the Lions at Mohali earlier in the campaign. The Murali Vijay-led team have failed to find the consistency this campaign despite registering wins during the course of the season. They have not been able to maintain the momentum and win consecutive games, which has hampered their progress. But they will be keen not to finish at the bottom of the league for two consecutive seasons, and a win over the Pune Supergiants in their final game will guarantee they finish one place above M S Dhoni's team.

Prediction

Royal Challengers to win

Betting odds (betfair)

  • RCB to win: 1/2
  • KXIP to win: 13/8

Team news

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Possible XI: Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers, Chris Jordan, KL Rahul (wk), Sachin Baby, Yuzvendra Chahal, Iqbal Abdulla, Shane Watson, Stuart Binny, Chris Gayle, Sreenath Aravind.

Kings XI Punjab

Possible XI: Murali Vijay (c), Marcus Stoinis, Manan Vohra, Glenn Maxwell, David Miller, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Gurkeerat Singh, Axar Patel, Mitchell Johnson, Mohit Sharma, Sandeep Sharma.