IPL 2017: KKR v KXIP, Game 11– Match Result Predictions

It will be a battle between the finalists of IPL 7 as Kings XI Punjab locks horn with two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 11th match of Vivo IPL 10. It will be a mouth-watering contest on our hands with both teams having some serious names in their line-up. While Kolkata has been pegged back due to Chris Lynn’s injury, the replacement in form of Shakib AL Hasan is equally effective if not as belligerent as Lynn.

On the other hand Kings XI Punjab has been a sensation in all 3 departments in their opening two matches and secured resounding victories against Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rising Pune Supergiant, the form of Glenn Maxwell will certainly be worrying signs for Kolkata given his reputation to hits the big shots on a consistent basis.

Kolkata got a reality check in their 2^nd encounter against the Mumbai Indians when they lost from a winning position. KKR was in front for the majority of the match but a blinder from Hardik Pandya shattered their hopes. For the first time, Kolkata will be playing in front of their home crowd in IPL 10 and they will surely look to begin their home streak on a winning note.

Punjab is looking like a settled unit this time around with the team gelling as a unit. Glenn Maxwell who was given the captaincy duties for the very first time in his senior professional career is handling his troops to perfection but it is still early days and anything can happen over the course of the next 40 days. So with few hours to go for the 11th match to commence let us have a look at the prediction results for the match.

Here is what Crictracker predicts for the game:

Scenario 1:  KKR wins the toss

Toss Prediction: KKR will bat first

First innings prediction: 180-190

2nd innings Prediction: KKR will win by 20 runs

Scenario 2: KXIP wins the toss

Toss Prediction: KXIP choose to bat

First innings Prediction: 170-175

2nd innings Prediction: KKR will win by 7 wickets (with 2 overs to spare)

 Head to Head Record

Overall: Matches – 19, Kolkata Knight Riders Won – 13, Kings XI Punjab Won – 6

In Kolkata: Matches – 8, KKR Won – 6, KXIP Won – 2

Playing Combinations

Kolkata Knight Riders

The shoulder injury to Chris Lyn will force KKR to go back to their previous opening combination of Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa which shouldn’t be a bad move either. This opening combination was instrumental in KKR’S title triumph in 2014 but they will surely want Lynn back in te future matches.

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will be the expected replacement for Lynn which will surely lend the much-needed stability to the Kolkata squad. To go with his hard-hitting abilities, Shakib can also give Gambhir some crucial overs in the middle. CEO of KKR Venky Mysore had tweeted about the possibility of Umesh Yadav’s return for KKR’s first home game tomorrow and he is thus expected to replace Ankit Rajpoot.

The rest of the combination is expected to remain the same. Manish Pandey will definitely look to replicate his heroics from the previous match. Suryakumar Yadav and Yusuf Pathan will look to unleash some big shots and get back to some form.

Predicted XI: Gautam Gambhir ©, Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey, Suryakumar Yadav, Yusuf Pathan, Shakib Al Hasan, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Woakes, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav

Kings XI Punjab

After winning the opening two matches of the tournament, Punjab is unlikely to tinker with the playing combination. The opening combination of Manan Vohra and Hashim Amla looks settled followed by hard-hitters Glenn Maxwell and David Miller. Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha can also hit some lusty blows and can be an option at No.3. His only century in IPL came 3 years against the same opponents when he smashed 115 off a mere 55 deliveries in the final but for a losing cause.

The bowling department also looked settled with a brigade of Indian youngsters. Varun Aaron who made a brilliant debut for Kings XI the other day will be a potent option for Maxwell to go with the Indian Fizz T Natarajan. Mohit Sharma will be the 3^rd seamer to go with Axar Patel. The left arm spinner bagged the Man of the Match award in the previous encounter against the Royal Challengers Bangalore for his impressive returns of 1/13 in his allotted 4 overs.

Predicted XI: Manan Vohra, Hashim Amla, Wriddhiman Saha (w), Glenn Maxwell, David Miller, Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, Sandeep Sharma, Mohit Sharma, T Natarajan, Varun Aaron

The odds are heavily in favour of KKR with a clear edge on the head to head record. To go with that KKR will be playing their first game at the Eden gardens but given the form, KXIP is in a favourable result for them might be on the cards.

Do let us know your predictions in the comment section below.