Agarwal has a massive task as PBKS captain. The franchise have not made the playoffs since 2014, when Punjab finished runners-up. However, they got the best of deals at the auction, picking up match-winners like Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada and Liam Livingstone. On the other hand, RCB will be without their talisman AB de Villiers, who retired from all forms of the game after last season
Agarwal and Dhawan should open the innings for Punjab. It would be interesting to see where Livingstone bats. Shahrukh Khan is another X-factor batter while there is West Indian all-rounder Odean Smith as well. In Kagiso Rabada’s absence, Arshdeep Singh and Sandeep Sharma will have bigger roles to play in the pace department. Leggie Rahul Chahar is also likely to get a game.
PBKS Predicted XI: Mayank Agarwal (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Odean Smith, Benny Howell, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Chahar, Sandeep Sharma
Like he did for Chennai Super Kings, Du Plessis should open the innings for Bangalore as well. His predecessor Virat Kohli is likely to be his opening partner. Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik will have to prove that he can still deliver the goods. Wanindu Hasaranga will bring in the mystery element in the spin department while Harshal Patel and Mohammad Siraj will again take care of the pace bowling
RCB Predicted XI: Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahbaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey, Harshal Patel, Karn Sharma, Mohammad Siraj
Top fantasy picks for PBKS vs RCB clash: Mayank Agarwal, Shikhar Dhawan, Arshdeep Singh, Faf du Plessis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel
--Renin Wilben Albert