IPL 2018: Match 37, MI vs KKR- Kolkata Knight Riders Predicted XI

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) must be brimming with confidence following their thumping wins in the last two games. They have been clinical in all departments and have been able to get their opponents by the scruff of their necks. They were jolted by the injury of Nitish Rana, but haven’t allowed the same to unnerve them.

They will now be up against Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians (MI) who have a superb record against KKR. Moreover, the Knight Riders haven’t beaten them at the Wankhede Stadium ever since 2012. The odds are heavily stacked against the visitors, however, they have the firepower in the armoury to emerge victorious. As of now, we take you through the predicted XI of the franchise.

Openers (Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine)

Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine are the openers. Lynn had been a tad off colour earlier in the tournament and strained to find his timing. However, he played an impressive knock against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), which also fetched him the Player of the Match award. The Queenslander also looked good against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) but fell prey to Lungi Ngidi.

Sunil Narine has been excellent at the top of the order. He has given blistering starts on almost every time. Even against CSK, he wielded his willow and scored 32 runs in double quick time and that set the tone for a brilliant run-chase. On a good batting strip at the Wankhede, the onus will again be on the duo to get runs inside the power-play.

Middle order (Robin Uthappa, Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (capt & wk))

Robin Uthappa has scored runs at a brisk rate but hasn’t got enough runs at the top of the order. Nevertheless, the Knights would still be banking on him, being an experienced campaigner. Shubman Gill was promoted up the order and the move turned out to be a masterstroke as he compiled a match-winning knock, which took KKR over the finishing line.

Nitish Rana, who was replaced by Rinku Singh against CSK, might return to the eleven. His return will definitely strengthen their middle-order. Dinesh Karthik is the leading run-scorer for the franchise and has played some breezy cameos. When the field spreads after the power-play, the four batsmen’s role would be crucial in order to build the launch-pad for the death overs.

All-rounder (Andre Russell)

Andre Russell’s belligerence with the willow has been a worrying factor for the opponents. He has scored rate a strike-rate of 202.94 and has smacked 23 sixes, which has propelled the Knights’ score to a significant extent. The Jamaican has been a little shoddy with the leather and has been taken for runs. If KKR are to turn the tables on the hosts, Russell has to fire on all cylinders.

Bowlers (Tom Curran, Shivam Mavi, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav)

The bowlers haven’t been overwhelming, but they have been good enough to keep a check on the batsmen. Mitchell Johnson has been expensive and hasn’t been amongst the wickets either. Hence, Tom Curran might be roped in place of the retired Australian fast-bowler. Piyush Chawla has been excellent in the power-plays with an economy of 8, which is commendable.

Kuldeep Yadav has also picked up wickets in the middle overs. The onus will again be on Sunil Narine, who is currently their leading wicket-scorer in the tournament. His ascendancy over the batsmen can be understood from the fact that even the CSK batsmen didn’t go after him and preferred to see him off.

Here’s KKR Predicted XI for the game against MI