IPL 2018: Match 13, Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Daredevils - Expectation vs Reality

Kolkata Knight Riders will face Delhi Daredevils in the thirteenth encounter of IPL. While both teams have won only one game out of the three they played, KKR is on the fifth spot while DD is on the seventh because of the NRR. Both sides have plenty of issues to address in terms of their playing XI but DD will take confidence from their win against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede.

Jason Roy stood up for the side in the first game for the franchise itself which was coupled with some clean hitting from Rishabh Pant. Kolkata Knight Riders, are particularly, lagging behind because they haven’t been able to get their Playing XI sorted. Several batsmen were seen playing out of position in the previous match against Sunrisers Hyderabad as a result of experimentation. However, they are a side with multiple match-winners.

We have a few expectations for the game tomorrow, do you too?

Time for Shubman Gill

He played in the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad but batted way out of position. Ideally, he should be playing at 3 and shouldn’t be pushed further down 4 but we saw KKR sending the youngster at 7 which is asking too much of him. However, if KKR has learned anything from the problematic batting order in the game, they will make sure they slot every player where he is best suited.

The U-19 star replaced the promising Rinku Singh after the former could not impress, hence, Gill will have to shoulder the responsibility of doing justice to his selection but also contributing to what was perceived as a side full of young talent. Because of his exploits in the World Cup, the expectations are high from him. If all goes well for KKR against DD with reference to the batting positions, expect a glimpse of why Gill was hyped.

Scenes when GG faces his former side

The former Knight Riders’ skipper knows the team’s strategy well, he knows Eden Gardens well, he knows Lynn, Narine, Kuldeep, Russell, Uthappa and Chawla well and he knows what it is like to carry the momentum forward when leading his side. The familiarity factor and the motivation of playing against him former side will be particularly interesting to watch.

His performance while batting at the top of the order is not the focus, his approach to the match and his leadership will be the one to look out for. It will also be interesting how new skipper DK will go ahead knowing that Gambhir and Co. will come fully prepared against his core team.

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