The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to play against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on May 15. As we move closer to the end of the IPL tournament, each game becomes crucial for teams to make it to the playoffs, and this match is no exception.
KKR has had a mixed season, with some impressive performances and disappointing losses. However, they have recently found some form, winning three out of their last four games. They will want to build on their success and secure another win against RR. One of KKR’s key players in this match will be Rinku Singh, who won his first Player-of-the-Match award in the IPL against RR last year. Singh has been in good form recently, and his contributions with both bat and ball could prove crucial in this game.
KKR will be relying on their spinners to make an impact, particularly on the slightly dry pitch at the Eden Gardens. The spinners played a crucial role in restricting Punjab Kings to a low total in KKR’s previous game while the batsmen comfortably chased down the target. KKR will be hoping for a similar performance against RR.
On the other hand, RR has had a disappointing season so far, with only three wins in their ten matches. The team has struggled to find consistency, and many key players have failed to perform. However, they have two of India’s best spinners in their squad – Rahul Tewatia and Tabraiz Shamsi – who could cause problems for KKR’s batsmen.
RR will be hoping that their batting lineup can make a big impact in this match. The likes of Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, and Evin Lewis are all capable of scoring quick runs, and they will be looking to take advantage of the bounce on offer at the Eden Gardens.
This match will be crucial for both teams as they play their third-last league game of the season. The winner of this match will move one step closer to securing a playoff spot. KKR is currently in fifth place in the table, while RR is in seventh place. A win for either team would give them a much-needed boost in the points table.
In their head-to-head record, KKR has a slight advantage over RR, having won 13 of the 24 matches they have played against each other. However, in their last five encounters, KKR has won three games, while RR has won two, showing that this could be a closely contested match.
As for the weather, there is some uncertainty due to the deep depression forming in the Bay of Bengal. The conditions 24 hours out from the match were cloudy, but it didn’t rain, and teams were able to practice. No dew is expected, although the last couple of games at the venue have been won by the chasing teams. No rain is forecast during the match, but that could change quickly given the cyclonic conditions in the vicinity.
KKR will be starting as favorites, with the crowd firmly behind them. But in T20 cricket, anything can happen, and RR will be looking to pull off an upset and keep their playoff hopes alive. This promises to be an exciting contest between two teams who have a lot to play for.
Probable 11:
KKR: Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan (C), Sunil Narine, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Andre Russell, Pat Cummins, Varun Chakravarthy, Shivam Mavi, Prasidh Krishna.
RR: Jos Buttler, Evin Lewis, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson(c), Liam Livingstone, Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Chris Morris, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Chetan Sakariya.
Overall, it’s expected to be a closely contested match, with both teams fighting hard for a win that could potentially make or break their playoff hopes. In terms of prediction, RR seems to have a slight edge over KKR, but given the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, anything can happen on the day of the match.
Therefore, based on the current form and strengths of both teams, it can be predicted that RR has a 52% chance of winning, while KKR has a 48% chance of winning. However, the actual result of the match will only be known once both teams take the field and battle it out.
