IPL 2020: Match 16, DC vs KKR- KKR Predicted Playing XI

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) have had pretty similar starts in the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Both teams have won two out of their first three matches and have decent net run rates of +0.483 and +0.117 respectively.

However, they experienced contrasting fortunes in the last matches. Dinesh Karthik’s Knights decimated the Rajasthan Royals by 37 runs. The Capitals, on the contrary, lost to the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 15 runs. KKR and DC are now set to lock horns in the second of Saturday’s doubleheader.

It will also be the first time when both the teams would be playing at the Sharjah Cricket Ground. KKR didn’t change their winning combo from their win over SRH and it remains to be seen whether or not they persist with the same lineup.

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

Openers (Shubman Gill, Sunil Narine)

The Knights are almost sure to persist with their opening combination of Shubman Gill and Sunil Narine. Gill is currently the leading run-scorer for KKR, having scored 124 runs at an average of 62, though he needs to work on his strike-rate a tad that is currently at 115.88.

He failed against the MI, but got an unbeaten 70 in KKR’s victory over SRH followed by a quick-fire 47 in the previous match. Narine, on the other hand, gave a glimpse of the damage he can do in the last match. He smashed two fours and a six, and was looking good for a big score.

But then Jaydev Unadkat castled him with a slower ball as the batsman went for an agricultural hoick over the on-side. Shubman and Narine aren’t peas in a pod and rather they complement each other. KKR would love big knocks from them.

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

KKR’s middle-order is in more than decent form. Nitish Rana has gotten scores in the 20s and has played at a strike-rate of 150, batting at number three. The southpaw is most likely to bat at the top of the order even in the upcoming encounter. Eoin Morgan has found quite a bit of momentum as well.

The left-handed batsman had a torrid time against MI, scoring at less than a run-a-ball. However, in the last two games, he played two important knocks that helped his team immensely. That he didn’t get out in the previous two matches showed his dominance.

He is averaging 92, the highest among the Knights’ batters thus far. Dinesh Karthik’s form remains concerning though. The skipper scored 30 against MI, but has faltered from there on. It’s high time for him to step up.

All-rounders (Andre Russell)

There’s no stopping Andre Russell when he’s in full flow. The Jamaican stayed quiet in the first two matches and then came into his own in the match against RR. He smashed three massive sixes on the on-side, scoring 24 before Ankit Rajpoot accounted for his wicket, much to the Royals’ relief.

In Sharjah with the short boundaries, Russell can unfold mayhem if he gets his eye in. The West Indies all-rounder hasn’t had much to do with the ball though. In three games, he only bowled four overs, picking up two wickets. Nevertheless, his utility with the ball in hand can’t be undermined.

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

Kolkata’s bowling department has been exceptional, mostly. Pat Cummins has found his mojo after the hammering he took against MI. In the last two games, he has conceded 32 runs in seven overs with the wickets of Jonny Bairstow and Steve Smith.

Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti breathed fire last time around, picking two wickets each at crucial stages of the match against the Royals. In the spin department, Varun Chakravarthy has been tough to get away.

In the eight overs he has bowled thus far, he has picked three wickets at an economy of 6.25- the best among all the Knights’ bowlers. Kuldeep Yadav also opened his account, though he has been a bit on the expensive side. Sunil Narine leaked quite some runs last time and he’ll wish to make amends next time around.