Match 9 of IPL 2023 will be the first of this year’s tournament held at Eden Gardens, as Kolkata Knight Riders host Royal Challengers Bangalore – here are the predicted XIs for both sides for today’s match, team news and match prediction for KKR vs RCB.

KKR vs RCB live score: Follow the live scorecard here.

IPL 2023, match 9, where to watch live: Info on TV channels and live streaming platforms can be found here.

KKR vs RCB: Team news for today’s IPL 2023 match

It was announced yesterday (April 5) that Kolkata Knight Riders have signed Jason Roy on a deal worth INR 2.8 Crore. The deal comes after Shakib Al Hasan withdrew himself from the tournament, with regular KKR captain, Shreyas Iyer previously ruled out of this season due to injury. These two blows have severely limited Kolkata Knight Riders’ batting strength, with Roy set to add some star quality. However, he will not be available for today’s match, and is set to join up with the squad before their next fixture on Sunday (April 9).

Litton Das is still honouring his Test match commitments in Ireland and is therefore unavailable for selection today. Lockie Ferguson is still struggling with injury and is also unlikely to play.

Royal Challengers Bangalore will still be without fast-bowling options Wanindu Hasaranga and Josh Hazlewood, who are yet to join up with the squad. Reece Topley injured his shoulder during the side’s win over Mumbai Indians, and is a doubt for the game – David Willey is likely to be his replacement in the starting XI.

Tomorrow’s IPL match

Lucknow Super Giants v Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow – 7.30pm IST

Yesterday’s IPL match

PBKS vs RR: Punjab Kings beat Rajasthan Royals by 5 runs.

KKR vs RCB: Predicted XI for Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore

Kolkata Knight Riders: Mandeep Singh, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Anukul Roy, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana (c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Michael Bracewell, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, Akash Deep, David Willey, Mohammed Siraj, Karn Sharma

KKR vs RCB: Prediction for today’s match 9 of IPL 2023

Royal Challengers Bangalore come into the match following a dominant victory over Mumbai Indians. They won by eight wickets after an outstanding opening partnership between Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis. The pair both hit half centuries and slammed 11 sixes between them. However, Kohli’s IPL record against Sunil Narine is in KKR’s favour – the all-rounder dismissed him early in the 2021 eliminator to effectively end RCB’s hopes of an appearance in that year’s final.

Kolkata Knight Riders’ problems clearly lie in their batting. They will be without any super star names in their top order, and a collapse against Punjab Kings’ relatively tame bowling attack last week doesn’t bode well. A lot rides on Andre Russell’s shoulders – the veteran all-rounder blasted 35 runs off 19 balls in KKR’s opening match. It might be Kolkata Knight Riders’ first home game of the season, but they will go into it as definite underdogs.

Gujarat Titans are favourites to retain their IPL title with our Match Centre partners bet365. To bet on the outright market of the competition head here.