Preview:
Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab play out what could be the most important game of this season as the qualification for the fourth spot beckons. While Kings XI Punjab come off the back of five successive wins against RCB, SRH, MI, KKR and Delhi, Kolkata are finding some late momentum with key victories.
In the points table, Kolkata are still ahead by two points after 11 games apiece, and have fairly easy games against Chennai and Rajasthan respectively. On the other hand, Punjab, who are ahead of net run-rate could go ahead of KKR if they win today.
Interestingly, Kings XI also have fixtures against the same two teams after this. The first team to blink might be the one missing out of qualification in this key game.
Team news and predicted XI
KKR are expected to bring back Andre Russell, but the question remains at whose expense. Pat Cummins, who was expected to make way, took a three-wicket haul last game and put forward a good case for selection. Will Lockie Ferguson make way? Should Sunil Narine who also clicked last game be left out? Will Russell, who hasn’t found form, be sat out?
KXIP, on the other hand, might go in with the one change of bringing back Mayank Agarwal at the top with Mandeep Singh likely missing out. Glenn Maxwell might get a longer rope given that KKR have as many as three lefties in the top 6.
KKR: Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Sunil Narine, Eoin Morgan (c), Pat Cummins, Shivam Mavi/Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Lockie Ferguson/Andre Russell, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy.
KXIP: KL Rahul (c, wk), Mayank Agarwal/Mandeep Singh, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Deepak Hooda, Chris Jordan, M Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh.
Fantasy tips
- While this is Sharjah, trust in the pacers to make inroads this game. The scores have also come down in Sharjah. Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh are must picks.
- While Narine is a decent pick, if Russell plays, swap him out for Narine.
- Nitish Rana might be a better pick over Gill who has lost his form after criticism over his strike-rate.
- Ravi Bishnoi and Murugan Ashwin pick wickets in the middle overs and are inexpensive. Bishnoi bowls better to lefties and might be a better pick for this game.
- Rahul, Agarwal and Pooran are must picks for any Kings XI game.
- Chris Gayle is a must pick given the short boundaries.
Fantasy XI
KL Rahul
Nicholas Pooran
Mayank Agarwal
Chris Gayle
Nitish Rana
Sunil Narine
Pat Cummins
Varun Chakravarthy
Mohammed Shami
Ravi Bishnoi
Arshdeep Singh
