Back Punjab's Lokesh Rahul to hit a half-century

Kings XI Punjab v Royal Challengers Bangalore
Sky Sports Cricket, 3.30pm Monday

Royal Challengers Bangalore need back-to-back wins for the first time in this season's IPL when they visit Kings XI Punjab to keep playoff qualification hopes alive.

Virat Kohli, Brendon McCullum, AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock still command the respect of bookmakers even though their victory on Saturday was against basement boys Delhi Daredevils, who they eliminated. That success at Feroz Shah Kotla was their first on the road this campaign.

Most firms are struggling to separate the teams after the well-placed hosts suffered successive defeats and conceded 245 runs to Kolkata Knight Riders at the Holkar Stadium on Saturday.

Kings XI made a respectable 215 in their chase, though, and keeper-bat Lokesh Rahul, who top-scored with 66, is worth backing to make a fourth straight fifty. He cracked 95 not out and 84 not out in consecutive clashes with Rajasthan Royals.

Earlier this campaign, Rahul hit 60 in Kolkata and 47 when Royal Challengers won the teams' first meeting in Bangalore by four wickets.

De Villiers top-scored for RCB with 57 and he also led the way against Delhi with unbeaten knocks of 90 and 72.

The ace South African is a nice price to top-score for his side even given the sensational quality of his top-order colleagues.

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