The Indian Premier League has provided plenty of surprises to date but for one team the 2019 frustrations will be all too familiar.
Four consecutive losses have left the Royal Challengers Bangalore rooted to the bottom of the table and desperately needing a pair of wins over the weekend.
RCB face two of the form teams of the early season, starting with the visit of the Kolkata Knight Riders to the Chinnaswamy on Friday before hosting the Delhi Capitals on Sunday.
Friday 5 April
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru (16:30)
Royal Challengers Bangalore 92/100
Tie 35/1
Kolkata Knight Riders 92/100
The Chinnaswamy Stadium will offer little in the way of home comforts for RCB, who are likely to find it a cauldron of expectation.
By contrast KKR bring an almost carefree style to Bangalore and their only loss so far in this campaign came in a super over.
Andre Russell has been at his best for the Knight Riders and RCB may find it tough to keep the West Indian out of the game.
By their lofty standards AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli haven’t been able to influence the game as much as they would like despite delivering decent performances.
The Chinnaswamy is a tough ground to defend on and the team winning the toss are likely to insert their opponents.
Verdict: Kolkata ride off into the sunset with a win.
Saturday 6 April
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai (12:30)
Chennai Super Kings 66/100
Tie 35/1
Kings XI Punjab 5/4
The Chennai Super Kings arrive back home keen to show their rabid fans that their blowout at the Wankhede was an anomaly.
Imran Tahir has been in top form for CSK and has taken to the pitch at the Chidambaram Stadium brilliantly.
Their opponents have found a formula for success early on, making the most of an in-form top order that includes Proteas star David Miller.
Ravichandran Ashwin has brought a much-needed ruthless streak to the Kings XI Punjab, who are among the teams never to have lifted the IPL trophy.
After taking a lot of turn in the opening game the Chidambaram Stadium played better for the batsmen when CSK defended 175 for their eight-run win over the Rajasthan Royals.
Verdict: CSK to reign supreme.
Saturday 6 April
Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad (16:30)
Sunrisers Hyderabad 81/100
Tie 35/1
Mumbai Indians Rajiv 21/20
The clash between the Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Mumbai Indians is one that pits two possible title contenders against each another.
Neither side have been able to get on a real roll but both have produced some fantastic spells of cricket.
Lasith Malinga showed that he has still got it when the Indians snapped CSK’s winning streak and his clash with the Sunrisers’ potent batting lineup could be the highlight of the match.
Jonny Bairstow and David Warner embracing is one of the weirdest sights in cricket but the pair are proving to be devastating in tandem for the Sunrisers.
The Rajiv Ghandi ground provides plenty of space to work the field for twos with batsmen rewarded for using a straight bat.
Verdict: The Sunrisers on top.
Sunday 7 April
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru (12:30)
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Tie
Delhi Capitals
This will be a very big weekend for RCB if they are to shake off the suggestion that the rot has set in again. Part of that will be trying to dim the light of the Delhi Capitals.
The Capitals are part of a large group of teams that have made a decent start to the IPL, while RCB and the Rajasthan Royals are the clear duds of the IPL so far.
The Delhi franchise will want to kick on after a decent start and ensure they remain in the playoff mix. Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer hold the key to victory for the Capitals. One of the top three needs to bully the under pressure RCB bowling attack.
Mohammed Siraj hasn’t quite taken to his death bowling task and RCB may want to try out one of their foreign quicks in the role.
Verdict: The Delhi Capitals to pile on the misery for RCB.
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur (16:30)
Rajasthan Royals
Tie
Kolkata Knights Riders
Like RCB the Royals are in dire need of results after making a slow start to the IPL season. They got their first win in their basement clash with the Bangalore franchise but will need to play better to overcome the in-form Knight Riders.
The Sawai Mansingh Stadium pitch might offer the Royals some relief from KKR’s destructive top order. It has proven to be tricky to bat on, though. The dew can be a factor in night matches.
The Royals’ English star Jos Buttler has shown glimpses of what he can do while returning Aussie Steve Smith hasn’t quite hit his straps.
With superstars all around him Nitish Rana could be the force that drives KKR to the playoffs. He has shown the ability to consistently score runs and hold his own against the best.
This could be the fixture that KKR chose to debut left-arm seamer Harry Gurney. The Englishman has made a name for himself in the Pakistan Super League and Big Bash and might come in for Black Caps tearaway quick Lockie Ferguson.
Verdict: The Royals to pinch an upset.
Written by @JonhenryWilson
