IPL 2018: Match 49, KKR vs RR- Kolkata Knight Riders Predicted XI

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are currently in the middle of a stop-start season. They are perilously hanging in the fourth position on the points and need to win at least one match in order to fathom any chances of progressing to the next round. Meanwhile, they can’t afford to have even one slip-up as their net run rate severely got dented in the match against the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Eden Gardens.

The Men in Gold and Purple will play their last league match at the venue against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and they won’t want to disappoint the supporters who have rooted for them throughout. Having picked up a limited bunch of players in the auction, the Knights haven’t had a large bunch to choose from. In our article, we take you through their probable eleven.

Openers (Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine)

Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine are expected to be their openers. Lynn hasn’t been at his very best, though he has some decent scores under his belt. He has a couple of half-centuries in his kitty and has threatened at times to take the game away from the oppositions. The Queenslander has to come to the party and take KKR to a brisk start.

Narine notched his highest score of 75 in the IPL against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and looked as destructive as ever. He also piled his second half-century of this season. KKR will again pin their hopes on the Trinidadian to blaze away in the all-important encounter. A handsome opening partnership might just be the tonic the Knights need in order to storm into the ascendancy.

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

The middle order doesn’t have any dearth of talent. Robin Uthappa is a veteran and though he hasn’t been consistent enough, the Knights will be hoping for him to get some useful runs. Dinesh Karthik’s sublime form has been one of the reasons why KKR have been able to get the substantial scores on the board. The franchise needs their leading run-scorer to come out all guns blazing.

Nitish Rana and Shubman Gill have delivered the goods in the opportunities they have got. Both have suffered from injuries, however, they have recovered in time, much to the relief of Karthik’s men. Both are reliable as batsmen and KKR will need their uncapped players to bring forth their A-game against an impressive looking Royals lineup.

All-rounders (Andre Russell)

Andre Russell has been bludgeoning in all departments. The hulk-like Jamaican has got quick runs for his team, which bailed them on a few occasions. Moreover, he has also shown good form with the ball in hand. He picked up three important wickets against Punjab, which eventually won KKR the match. The all-rounder’s role needs to come to the fore against Rajasthan as well.

Bowlers (Javon Searles, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna)

The bowling lineup isn’t in great shape. Albeit KKR managed to restricted KXIP the other night, they conceded 204 runs. Kuldeep Yadav has been in awful form in the earlier matches and batsmen haven’t had to drop much sweat to counter the Chinaman bowler. Piyush Chawla, apart from one or two shoddy performances here and there, has done a decent task.

Prasidh Krishna has played three matches thus far and hasn’t flattered to deceive. Javon Searles made his debut at the Holkar Stadium and bowled with good pace. The 31-year-old Barbados cricketer also picked up the prized wicket of Aaron Finch, which dashed KXIP’s hopes of tracing down the mammoth target of 245 set by the Knights. Sunil Narine and Andre Russell remain to be their strike-bowlers.