RCB Faces Tough Challenge Against KKR's Finn Allen After Thrilling Win
RCB's Upcoming Challenge Against KKR
Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], May 13: Following an exhilarating victory over the Mumbai Indians, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the reigning champions, are gearing up for a significant challenge against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). KKR's opener, Finn Allen, recently showcased his explosive batting by scoring a remarkable century off just 47 balls against the Delhi Capitals.
With Allen finding his rhythm again after a slight dip in form, RCB's bowling attack, particularly seasoned players like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Krunal Pandya, must deliver precise and effective performances. Their goal will be to limit Allen's time at the crease to no more than 20 balls.
Allen is known for his aggressive batting style, especially during the power play, where he can inflict significant damage in a short span. His ability to score rapidly within his first 20 balls is unmatched, and once he surpasses that mark, his performance tends to escalate dramatically.
According to statistics from Cricbuzz, the match against DC marked the first time Allen batted outside the powerplay in this IPL season, as well as his first instance of facing 20 or more balls. Since 2024, he has maintained an impressive strike rate of 218.33 after the 20-ball threshold, the highest among T20 players. While he can achieve a similar strike rate in his initial 20 balls, RCB must ensure his innings is cut short.
This season, Allen has accumulated 210 runs across seven innings, averaging 35.00 with a strike rate of 205.88, which includes one century. Out of 102 balls faced, with 47 against DC, he has smashed 21 fours and 16 sixes, averaging 2.6 balls per boundary and 6.3 balls per six.
Currently, Allen ranks as the fourth-highest run-scorer this season, amassing 905 runs in 24 matches and 23 innings, with an average of 45.25 and a strike rate of 195.24, featuring three centuries and three fifties. His standout performance this year was a record-setting 33-ball century against South Africa in the T20 World Cup semifinal, marking the fastest century in the history of both men's T20 and 50-over World Cups.
Squads:
Kolkata Knight Riders Squad: Ajinkya Rahane(c), Finn Allen, Angkrish Raghuvanshi(w), Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Kartik Tyagi, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ramandeep Singh, Tejasvi Dahiya, Navdeep Saini, Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, Blessing Muzarabani, Matheesha Pathirana, Rahul Tripathi, Sarthak Ranjan, Prashant Solanki, Saurabh Dubey, Umran Malik, Daksh Kamra.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad: Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Krunal Pandya, Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Rasikh Salam Dar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Jordan Cox, Mangesh Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Philip Salt, Nuwan Thushara, Vihaan Malhotra, Abhinandan Singh, Kanishk Chouhan, Satvik Deswal, Vicky Ostwal, Swapnil Singh.