IPL 2018: Match 33, KKR vs CSK- Kolkata Knight Riders Predicted XI

The Chennai Super Kings are sitting pretty on the pinnacle of the league table with six wins in eight games. Moreover, they are on the verge of becoming the first team to qualify for the playoffs. On the contrary, Kolkata Knight Riders have a tough job on their hands as they hang in the middle of the points table. The Men in Gold and Purple have been inconsistent and have slumped to four defeats thus far.

The team has an explosive lineup, but somehow they haven’t quite lived up to their potential. KKR have also been hit by some injury concerns, which haven’t helped their cause of stabilizing their lineup. Against an in-form team like CSK, the Knights have to careful while selecting the eleven. For the time being, we take you through the probable players of KKR who might take charge tomorrow against Chennai.

Openers (Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine)

Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine have been consistent and have given the starts KKR require to put the oppositions on the back-foot. Lynn hasn’t been in the best of nicks but has ensured that he stays among the runs. He played till the very end and bagged his maiden Player of the Match award, which would keep him in a positive frame of mind.

Sunil Narine has signalled his intentions of taking the bowlers to the cleaners on every occasion. He hasn’t taken any half-measures and has chipped in with short, yet breezy knocks on a consistent basis. The Trinidadian would be crucial to how Dinesh Karthik’s men utilize the power-play. The Narine-Lynn clicked against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and would be required to replicate the same.

Middle-order (Robin Uthappa, Ishank Jaggi, Dinesh Karthik (capt & wk), Shubman Gill)

Nitish Rana might not play owing to the injury he triggered against RCB, which would be a massive blow to the Knights. The left-hander might be replaced by Ishank Jaggi, the Jharkhand batsman. The remaining batsmen in Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik and the Shubman Gill have been in decent form, which will keep the team in good stead ahead of their next contest.

Uthappa has blown a tad hot and cold, but has ensured that he gets runs on a frequent basis. Dinesh Karthik hasn’t played any major knock, but has definitely churned out match-winning knocks. He pulled KKR out of the pits in the death overs and helped them chase down a competitive score by RCB. Shubman Gill has also shown that he has the temperament to survive the rigours of this level

All-rounder (Andre Russell)

Andre Russell had an impressive day with the leather, though he got out for a golden duck against Virat Kohli’s men. Last time around, he dished out a marvellous knock against the Super Kings at the Chepauk Bearing in mind CSKs batting lineup, the Jamaican might be required to play another blinder. His prowess as a fast-bowler and a safe fielder also need to come to the fore.

Bowlers (Shivam Mavi, Mitchell Johnson, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav)

The bowling lineup has been a tad lacklustre but has done enough to keep KKR on the hunt for a berth in the playoffs. They were torn apart by the Yellow Army in Chennai and failed to defend 200+ runs. Piyush Chawla has bowled fairly decently inside the power-play and would be required to make early inroads to put the skids under CSK.

Kuldeep Yadav and Sunil Narine haven’t been penetrative enough, but on a slow wicket in Eden Gardens, they have a fair chance of restricting the CSK batsmen. The pace bowling trio of Mitchell Johnson, Shivam Mavi, Mitchell Johnson and Russell also need to play their part against a lineup which is brimming with confidence following their victory against the Delhi Daredevils.

Here’s KKR Predicted XI for the game against CSK