Kolkata Knight Riders are set to continue their IPL 2024 journey as they face off against Punjab Kings. The 42nd match of the tournament will unfold at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Friday, April 26.
Read More: Javier Tebas, La Liga President Wants La Liga Matches in U.S. by The 2025-26 Season
KKR vs PBKS: Match Preview
In IPL 2024, Punjab Kings find themselves in familiar territory, grappling with inconsistency and lingering at the lower end of the table with just two wins out of eight matches. Despite their struggles, they’ve shown resilience, often remaining competitive until the end, even in matches they’ve lost.
One notable aspect of PBKS’s performance is their bowling strength, standing out amidst a season dominated by batsmen. They haven’t allowed any team to breach the 200-run mark in an innings yet, boasting the best bowling average in the league. Their prowess extends to the death overs, where they’ve been the most effective, frequently taking wickets while maintaining an impressive economy rate.
However, their upcoming match at the Eden Gardens poses a challenge, given the venue’s high-scoring nature. PBKS’s batting lineup, which has been relatively sluggish, will need to step up, especially against KKR’s formidable bowling attack. While PBKS’s bowling has been a stronghold, there’s still room for improvement, particularly in adapting to the conditions at Eden Gardens.
On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders have enjoyed success at home, with three wins out of four matches at Eden Gardens. Their batting, led by Sunil Narine and Phil Salt, has thrived on the favorable surfaces. With contributions from emerging talents like Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Ramandeep Singh, KKR’s batting depth has strengthened.
In terms of bowling, KKR hasn’t solely relied on spinners, adapting well to the pitch conditions. Players like Harshit Rana and Andre Russell have been instrumental in containing opposition batsmen. Overall, KKR has presented a formidable challenge for opponents, both with the bat and ball.
Heading into the match, KKR holds a slight advantage due to their recent form and home ground advantage. However, both teams possess well-rounded squads, promising an exciting contest between two competitive sides.
In Terms Of Recent Form:
KKR WLWLW (last five matches, most recent first)
PBKS LLLLW
KKR vs PBKS: Pitch Report & Conditions
The Eden Gardens has been a batsman’s paradise this season, with an average first innings score just shy of 204. The pitches have facilitated fluent stroke play, and the short boundaries have further favored the batsmen. However, as the heat wave persists in the city, the tracks might start to dry out, potentially altering the dynamics slightly.
KKR’s batsmen, particularly the openers, have relished the high-scoring conditions in Kolkata. Anticipate a similar surface for Friday’s match. Interestingly, fast bowlers have found it slightly more challenging, with an economy rate of 10.74 compared to the spinners’ 9.31. This can be attributed to the effectiveness of bowlers like Sunil Narine (16 overs, six wickets, economy 6.25) and Varun Chakravarthy (16 overs, five wickets, economy 9.81) on these tracks.
KKR vs PBKS: Head-to-head
- Total Matches Played: 32
- Kolkata Knight Riders Wins: 21
- Punjab Kings Wins: 11
- No Result: 00
- First Match: May 3, 2008
- Last Match: May 8, 2023
KKR vs PBKS: Team News and Impact Player Strategy
Kolkata Knight Riders
In terms of team news and player strategy for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), they have adhered to a flexible approach in their team composition, often substituting a batter for either a fast bowler or a spinner based on the game’s conditions and situation. Notably, Rinku Singh hasn’t been utilized in the fielding innings, with players like Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy, or Suyash Sharma being brought in instead. This tactical adaptability is likely to persist in the upcoming match.
However, KKR’s lineup might face a setback as Mitchell Starc’s participation remains uncertain due to a reported finger injury sustained during the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Starc didn’t bowl in the nets, raising doubts over his availability for the upcoming clash.
Predictable XII:
- Phil Salt (wk)
- Sunil Narine
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi
- Shreyas Iyer (c)
- Rinku Singh
- Andre Russell
- Ramandeep Singh
- Mitchell Starc/Dushmantha Chameera
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Harshit Rana
- Suyash Sharma
- Venkatesh Iyer
Punjab Kings
Shikhar Dhawan’s potential return to the playing XI for Punjab Kings (PBKS) is on the horizon as he continues his recovery. However, according to spin-bowling coach Sunil Joshi, Dhawan is expected to be fit for PBKS’ next game, suggesting he might miss this fixture. This leaves uncertainties regarding the opening combination, with possibilities of Sam Curran continuing to open or one of Rilee Rossouw and Jonny Bairstow partnering with Prabhsimran Singh.
- Prabhsimran Singh
- Rilee Rossouw/Jonny Bairstow
- Sam Curran (captain)
- Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper)
- Liam Livingstone
- Shashank Singh
- Ashutosh Sharma
- Harpreet Brar
- Harshal Patel
- Kagiso Rabada
- Arshdeep Singh
- Harpreet Singh
KKR vs PBKS: Players To Look Out For
KKR – Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc faces a unique challenge at Eden Gardens in IPL 2024, where fast bowlers have struggled with economy rates under lights. Starc, known for his ability to swing the ball from fuller lengths, has mirrored these statistics. Despite his best performance of 3 for 28 against Lucknow Super Giants at this venue, his overall economy rate this season stands at 11.48, the poorest among bowlers who have bowled at least 25 overs. As one of the most expensive bowlers, Starc needs to live up to his reputation and adapt to the challenging conditions at some point in the tournament.
PBKS – Harshal Patel
Harshal Patel had a rough start to IPL 2024, with only four wickets in the first four games and an economy rate over 11. However, his performance has significantly improved since then, with nine wickets, including seven at the death, at an average of under 11 and an economy rate of 7.46. Patel’s effectiveness lies in his variations of pace and angles, evident in his performances across all three phases of the game in recent matches. Notably, about 80% of his wickets are against right-hand batsmen, presenting a challenge for KKR’s right-heavy batting lineup, including the likes of Andre Russell, whom Patel has dismissed twice in just 26 balls in all T20 matches.
KKR vs PBKS: Match Prediction
Scenario 1:
- Toss: Kolkata Knight Riders win the toss and opt to bat first.
- Power Play Score: Kolkata Knight Riders score 60-70 runs in the power play.
- First Innings Score: Kolkata Knight Riders post a total of 210-220 runs.
- Result: Kolkata Knight Riders win the match.
Scenario 2:
- Toss: Punjab Kings win the toss and choose to bat first.
- Power Play Score: Punjab Kings score 50-60 runs in the power play.
- First Innings Score: Punjab Kings manage to set a target of 180-190 runs.
- Result: Kolkata Knight Riders win the match.
KKR vs PBKS: Dream 11 Fantasy Prediction
Team 1:
- Keeper: Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma
- Batsman: Shreyas Iyer
- All-rounders: Andre Russell (VC), Sunil Narine (C), Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran
- Bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patell
Team 2:
- Keeper: Phil Salt, Prabhsimran Singh
- Batsman: Ashutosh Sharma(C), Shashank Singh (VC), Shreyas Iyer
- All-rounders: Sam Curran, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine
- Bowlers: Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patell
When and Where to Watch the Match: Streaming & Broadcast Details
What: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Punjab Kings (PBKS) IPL 2024
When: 7:30 PM IST, Friday – April 26
Where: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Where to watch KKR vs PBKS Live Streaming: JioCinema app for FREE
Where to watch KKR vs PBKS Live Telecast: Star Sports
