MI vs RCB 1st Match, IPL 2021: Who will open with Virat Kohli for RCB?

Virat Kohli’s opening partner for MI vs RCB: Since the news of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) premier opener Devdutt Padikkal testing positive for COVID-19 just two weeks before start of the 14^th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), there is a big mystery over who will be opening the batting with skipper Virat Kohli. In the IPL 2021 season opener, the defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) will be locking horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on April 9 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Will Devdutt Padikkal open with Virat Kohli in MI vs RCB?

There is some great news for all the RCB fans as young Devdutt Padikkal has completely recovered from coronavirus and has also joined the camp ahead of the MI vs RCB IPL 2021 1^st match. The southpaw batsman has finally tested negative for the deadly virus and could be in line to resume his opening duties with Kohli in the tournament opener. Padikkal smashed a fabulous total of 473 runs for Bangalore in his debut IPL season last year and also did extremely well for Karnataka in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy.

T-2 Days: Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers at RCB’s practice session

Full squad training at Chepauk, and some pep talk from the experienced folks, catch what happened at yesterday’s practice session on @myntra presents Bold Diaries.#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/RSXKv6xD6B

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) April 8, 2021

MI vs RCB IPL 2021 Live

Royal Challengers Bangalore will however miss their newest recruit Daniel Sams as he contracted to coronavirus ahead of the start of the IPL 2021 season. Apart from Sams, his Aussie teammates Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson will also not be available for this game as they are yet to complete their mandatory quarantine period. Therefore, RCB are likely to field Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Kyle Jamieson and Daniel Christian as their four overseas cricketers in their playing XI.

On the other hand, Mumbai Indians will miss their premier opening batsman Quinton de Kock while Chris Lynn is likely to replace him. It will be quite interesting to see who will be the four overseas players in Mumbai Indians playing XI.

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