KKR vs RR Preview: Kolkata aim to hoodwink Rajasthan with spin
The 56th match of the Indian Premier League will witness a clash between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Rajasthan Royals as the two teams will square off at the iconic Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata on Thursday, May 11. While the host will be aiming to keep their winning momentum alive, the visitors would be keen on winning the upcoming clash, having lost three games in a row.
Rajasthan Royals have had forgettable outings in the past couple of weeks. In their most recent game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, they came very close to a victory but a no-ball by Sandeep Sharma cost them the game on the final delivery. Having lost three games in a row, the Sanju Samson-led side would be eager to get back into the top four.
Kolkata Knight Riders, on the other hand, pulled off a heist when they defeated the Punjab Kings in their most recent game at home. Just when it looked difficult for the home side to clinch a victory, Andre Russell’s knock followed by Rinku Singh’s finishing skills help Kolkata script a memorable win. The middle-order has finally found momentum and skipper Nitish Rana would be confident going into the upcoming clash.
Pitch Conditions
The surface at the Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata has been a level-playing field, providing equal opportunities for both batters and bowlers. A score between 170-190 can be a competitive total on this field.
Venue details: Eden Gardens Stadium, Kolkata
Last T20 match at the venue: PBKS- 179/7 (20) | KKR- 182/5 (20)
Probable playing XI for Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals clash:
Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders were finally able to strike the right momentum in their previous game and hence would be unlikely to make any changes to their playing combination. The Nitish Rana-led side showed brilliance both with the bat and the ball and would want to repeat similar heroics.
Rajasthan Royals
The Men in Pink had been dominating when the tournament started this year, but somehow lost their mojo and went on to lose six games. As a result, they lost their spot in the top four, and with three games in hand, they need to gain big victories so as to better last year’s results.
