IPL 2024: Kolkata Knight Riders' strongest predicted playing XI against Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be up against each other in the 42nd match of the IPL 2024. Both teams have had a contrasting journey in the league so far. While KKR are placed in the second position in the points table from the top whereas PBKS are placed in the 9th position. KKR have a good chance of nearly sealing their spot in the playoffs if they beat PBKS in the upcoming match. Things will get worse if the visiting side loses their match.

In their 8 matches, PBKS have managed to win just two and lose 6 of their matches. A loss against PBKS can further drown them in the league. It is a must-win game for PBKS to stay alive in the league. That promises to be an exciting match between the two sides. The 42nd match of the league is set to take place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on the 26th of April 2024 at 7:30 PM (IST). The wicket has been flat this season with nearly nothing in it for the bowlers. 

Both teams have some of the best players in the world in their lineup. PBKS has not been able to come together as a team and deliver the results. Their batting has been mostly dependent on the emerging duo of Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma. As the match is set to take place in Kolkata, they need their batters to come good. In the bowling attack, PBKS has some good names like Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, and so on. KKR has a good set of players as well.

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Here is the strongest predicted playing XI of KKR for the 42ns match of the IPL 2024 against PBKS:

Openers - Sunil Narine and Phil Salt

KKR will continue to back their openers. The duo of Phil Salt and Sunil Narine has been one of the best in the ongoing league. At one end, they have Sunil Narine who can go bonkers at the top. Barring the last game against RCB, he looked comfortable and played good shots against all other sides. In some of the games, he played impactful cameos and helped his side. In other games, he played a bit longer, applied himself in the middle and went after the bowlers to set a good platform for his side.

Not to forget, Narine is at his best with the ball. The right-arm spinner has been highly economical and has taken wickets if the batters tried to take risks against him. At the other end, KKR have unleashed the fury of Phil Salt. The right-handed batter has been phenomenal in the league. With his aggression at the top, Salt can smash the best bowlers in the world. Even as a WK, Salt has been good. His glove work was good against RCB and helped KKR to return to winning ways.  

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Middle Order - Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Shreyas Iyer (C), Rinku Singh, and Ramandeep Singh

In the middle order, KKR are filled with a lot of emerging batters. Angkrish Raghuvanshi will continue to bat at number 3. He has been one of the finds of the league so far. At number 3, he can act as a bridge between the top order and the middle order. He can bat aggressively and anchor the innings. Shreyas Iyer will bat at number 5 in KKR. The middle-order batter returned to form by scoring a fifty against RCB in the last match. His captaincy has been appreciable. But Iyer needs to be consistent with the bat. 

At number 6, Rinku will be the first designated finisher of KKR. In the last 7-8 seasons, KKR's batting was heavily dependent on their finishers. In the ongoing season, while they have a settled opener, finishing is still the key factor in KKR's lineup. Rinku is the prime finisher in KKR. To follow him, the home side has a talented batter like Ramandeep Singh. He has played a few cameos that have changed the complexion of KKR's innings. The 2-time champions would hope him to continue his consistent run.

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All Rounders - Venkatesh Iyer and Andre Russell

KKR have a good set of all-rounders. Venkatesh Iyer bats at number 4 for KKR. At his position, Iyer has played a few good knocks. But he does not seem to be at his best. The Southpaw needs to be consistent with the bat. While he can be handy with the ball, KKR might not need his services consistently. His batting form will be important for KKR going into the fag end of the tournament. Venkatesh is a good fielder in the outfield and can save some runs with his efforts. 

At number 8, KKR have an ever-reliant Andre Russell. The giant has been in great form as an all-rounder in the league. One can never keep the Carribean player out of the game. He either finishes the innings with the bat well or is handy with the ball. At his best, Russell can win matches on his own both with the bat and ball. In the last match against RCB, his spell changed the complexion of the chasing side's innings completely which resulted in a thrilling win for KKR.

Bowlers - Mitchell Starc, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, and Vaibhav Arora (Impact substitute)

The home side has some of the best bowlers in the world in their lineup. With the new ball, they have a world-class pacer like Mitchell Starc. Unfortunately, his form is a concern for the 2-time champions. But given the class of the left-arm pacer, he can be trusted to return to form at any stage in the league. He is also a key death bowler for KKR. Harshit Rana has been a revelation as a bowler for KKR. He tries to outfox the batters with a change in lengths and pace. His ability to bowl in the death has been crucial for KKR. 

With the new ball, they have an option like Vaibhav Arora who can be in the side as an impact player. With the new ball, he can swing either way and take wickets. In the middle overs, the spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy is likely to operate. Narine can also bowl at the death. Varun can bowl in the powerplay overs and take wickets. Harshit also operates in the middle overs. KKR has a dynamic bowling line where the bowlers can perform different roles.

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KKR's predicted XI against PBKS : 

Sunil Narine, Phil Salt (WK), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (C), Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Mitchell Starc, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy.

Impact substitute - Vaibhav Arora