Schooled at the Eden Gardens by Kolkata Knight Riders and their assortment of ‘mystery’ spinners, Royal Challengers Bangalore will be hoping a return to familiar environs will revive their Indian Premier League campaign on Monday. The high of having brushed mighty Mumbai Indians aside in their opening game last Sunday was met with a reality check mid-week when KKR recovered from an iffy start to blast their way past Faf du Plessis’ side. Shardul Thakur did the damage with the bat with an innings of rare brutal beauty, and once RCB had allowed their opponents to post upwards of 200, there was only one winner after du Plessis and Virat Kohli failed to reprise their heroics against Mumbai.

Lucknow need Rahul to fire

Back at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB’s next challenge is against Lucknow Super Giants, helmed by local hero KL Rahul, himself formerly of RCB vintage. Rahul hasn’t exactly set the tournament alight yet, but his team has certainly made a strong statement with victories in two of its first three games. That both those wins came at their home base in Lucknow will not be lost on the RCB management, which will, however, also have taken note of the fact that in their only defeat in Chennai, LSG came within 12 runs of the home side’s intimidating 217 for seven.