IPL 2020: Match 12, RR vs KKR- KKR Predicted Playing XI

Rajasthan Royals (RR), on Sunday, recorded the highest-ever run-chase in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), decimating the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). However, both their victories came in Sharjah and their upcoming game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

The playing conditions in Dubai are different from the conditions in Sharjah. The Knights, on the contrary, have had to fight a wee bit. Following their defeat against Mumbai Indians (MI), Dinesh Karthik and Co rolled over the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by seven wickets at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

KKR will also be playing their first game in Dubai. It now remains to be seen if the Knights resort to making any chances for their upcoming contest, albeit it seems something unlikely.

Here is the Predicted Playing XI for the Kolkata Knight Riders for RR vs KKR game: 

Openers (Shubman Gill, Sunil Narine)

The Knights may not yet tinker with their opening combination of Sunil Narine and Shubman Gill. Apart from a solitary six against the Mumbai Indians (MI), Narine hasn’t done anything of substance in the event.

His shortcoming, facing the short ball, is pretty much an open secret and it’s pretty understandable that bowlers don’t want to bowl the fuller-lengths to the left-handed batsman. The southpaw will be looking for an improved show next time around. Shubman, on the other hand, couldn’t shine in the first encounter, but put his best foot forward against the Orange Army.

He bided his time in the middle and scored an unbeaten 70. The Fazilka-born prodigy puts a price tag on his wicket and is someone, who knows the art of changing gears as per the match situations.

Middle-order (Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (C & WK), Eoin Morgan)

The middle-order remains to be a power-packed one. Nitish Rana got a 13-ball 26 in the last game and that should keep him in good stead. Among the top and middle-order batters, Rana has the highest strike-rate of 161.29. Dinesh Karthik has had a bit of a tough time.

He got 30 in the first match, but got out for a duck in the second, failing to read a vicious googly from Rashid Khan. He has 518 runs against the Royals- the most he has scored against any opponent in the cash-rich league.

The KKR captain will have England’s Eoin Morgan for company. The latter faltered against MI and then performed to expectations last time around. He was involved in a 92-run stand with Shubman and saw his team through. He scored 42 and played the spinners with precision.

All-rounders (Andre Russell)

Andre Russell has pretty much stayed quiet in the tournament thus far. Jasprit Bumrah rattled his woodwork in KKR’s opening match as he could manage a run-a-ball 11. In the second match, he didn’t get a chance to bat.

However, it’s only a matter of time before he starts firing on all cylinders. Even with the ball in hand, Russell hasn’t had much to do. In the two matches, he only has turned his arms over for four overs.

The West Indies all-rounder has a couple of wickets at an economy of 8.25. The Jamaican remains to be an indispensable of the Knights and he is a certainty in the lineup.

Bowlers (Pat Cummins, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Kamlesh Nagarkoti)

Pat Cummins is expected to lead the fast-bowling attack. He was taken part in the first game, but he came back with a superlative spell against David Warner and Co. The Knights would be breathing a sigh of relief that their million-dollar baby found his rhythm.

The Australian pacer will have Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi, who both came through the 2018 U19 World Cup, for company. In the spin-department, Kuldeep Yadav’s form has been a big concern. He hasn’t picked up a wicket in this IPL and didn’t even complete his quota against the Sunrisers.

Narine hasn’t been amongst the wickets either, though he has an economy of 6.62. Varun Chakravarthy made his debut for the Knights in the previous match and picked up Warner’s wicket. Rana’s off-breaks may also be needed.