IPL 2021: Aakash Chopra shares his predictions for the RCBvsPBKS and KKRvsSRH match

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has put forth his predictions for Sunday’s doubleheader in the 2021 Indian Premier League. The opening game is set to take place between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Both teams are yet to qualify for the playoffs. But it’s the Kings, who are in more strife in terms of qualifying for the next round.

At the Sharjah Cricket Ground, the Kings’ win over the Sunrisers Hyderabad remains the only instance when the chasing team lost. PBKS won the game by five runs after a late blitz from Jason Holder, who smashed five sixes in SRH’s run-chase. Every other game has been won by the team, batting second.

Aakash Chopra shares his opinions

However, Chopra reckoned that the team, winning the toss should bat first. “Team winning the toss to bat first,” Chopra was quoted as saying on his official YouTube channel.

As per the veteran, the batters will find it easier to bat in the powerplay than in the death overs. “12 overs of powerplay to fetch more runs overs 15-20,” he stated. In most of the games in Sharjah, teams have strained to step on the gas in the death overs.

Chopra also backed the fast bowlers to taste a significant amount of success. “Pacers to pick up five wickets,” he stated. Last, but not the least, he backed RCB to come out trumps. “Bangalore to win the match,” he added.

Earlier this year, it was the KL Rahul-led PBKS, who defeated the Challengers after Harpreet Brar’s all-round show.

The second game of the day will be played between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Sunrisers at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. For the match, Chopra predicted the Knights to win. However, he also urged KKR to check the number of bowlers in their lineup.

“I am predicting Kolkata to win. I am predicting them to play better. And I’m also hoping that they check how many bowlers they go in with,” Chopra added.

In the previous game, the Knights included Tim Seifert in their eleven and used Venkatesh Iyer and Nitish Rana as their fifth bowling options. Chopra also was of the opinion that Seifert batted out of position in the previous game.