Match No 45 PBKS vs KKR Preview: Struggling PBKS take on the rejuvenated KKR
HEAD 2 HEAD
Head to Head between these two sides is heavily in favour of KKR; they have won 19 out of the 28 matches between them with PBKS winning the remaining games. In the first leg, KKR won by 5 wickets. In the last 5 games between them, KKR has won 4.
Punjab Kings
PBKS has an outside chance to qualify if they win all the matches from here on. They have come to a stage where mathematical there is a chance for them to qualify but practically it seems impossible. PBKS batsmen played well in the first leg now the bowlers are doing well. The problem for them is that both their units haven't clicked well together consistently. It's good to see Markram scoring runs. KL Rahul remains their most crucial player and has to get back amongst the runs again. When it comes to bowling M Shami, A Singh and R Bishnoi are doing a decent job in UAE.
Kolkata Knight Riders
KKR side is looking altogether different in UAE, their batting, as well as their bowling, is clicking together. It is more likely that they will qualify for the playoffs, although they cannot afford to lose this match. Currently, they are at the number 4 position and MI at 5th based on NRR. Despite losing this match, they most probably would remain at number 4 position in the table but if MI wins their next game, KKR will move down to the 5th. V Iyer has been a find of the season for them; he has given them consistent starts along with S Gill. Their bowlers S Narine, Ferguson and V Chakravarthy are in good form hence are the bowlers to look out for.
Probable Playing 11:
Punjab Kings: Lokesh Rahul (c) (wk), Mayank Agarwal, Shahrukh Khan, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Harpreet Brar, Nathan Ellis, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh
Kolkata Knight Riders: Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan (c), Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Tim Southee, Varun Chakravarthy, Prasidh Krishna
Top run-scorers:
Punjab Kings: L Rahul 422 (319 balls) & M Agarwal 332 (233 Balls)
Kolkata Knight Riders: R Tripathi 315 (218 balls) & N Rana 279 (220 balls)
Top Wicket-takers:
Punjab Kings: M Shami 311/4 (40.4 Ov) & A Singh 233/13 (30.2 Ov)
Kolkata Knight Riders: P Krishna 351/12 (38.3 Ov), V Chakravarthy 300/11 (44 Ov) & A Russel 188/11 (19 Ov)