KKR vs PBKS is a clash between two teams desperate for points. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last game, has won only four fixtures this season. On the other hand, Punjab Kings (PBKS) have lost two of their previous three matches.
Eden Gardens will host the match on Monday at 7:30 PM.
KKR vs PBKS Preview | Team Analysis & Squad Details
Here’s a closer look at KKR and PBKS – team analysis, squad, head-to-head record, and prediction.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Jason Roy is the player to watch out for in the KKR batting department. The Englishman has racked up 180 runs at a strike rate of 159. Roy’s opening partner Rahmanullah Gurbaz, too, would be keen to register big scores consistently. The other batters – Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, and Andre Russell – can up the tempo in the middle overs.
With Umesh Yadav benched, Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana are responsible for providing breakthroughs in the powerplay. Experienced players Shardul Thakur and Andre Russell are other pace options. With 14 wickets this term, spinner Varun Chakravarthy has excelled, along with uncapped Suyash Sharma, who has nine.
KKR Squad
- Nitish Rana (captain)
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Narayan Jagadeesan
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Andre Russell
- Rinku Singh
- David Wiese
- Sunil Narine
- Vaibhav Arora
- Umesh Yadav
- Suyash Sharma
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Mandeep Singh
- Shardul Thakur
- Jason Roy
- Kulwant Khejroliya
- Harshit Rana
- Narayan Jagadeesan
- Anukul Roy
- Lockie Ferguson
- Tim Southee
- Litton Das
- Aarya Desai
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
PBKS fans would have been delighted with their team’s batting efforts despite losing to Mumbai Indians (MI) in their last game. Liam Livingstone and Jitesh Sharma stitched together an unbeaten 119 runs in just 53 balls. The England batter’s score of 82* was his highest individual score in IPL.
The bowling unit, especially Arshdeep Singh and the spinners, had a torrid time at Wankhede. Arshdeep went for 66 in 3.5 overs. On the other hand, spinners Rahul Chahar and Harpreet Brar conceded 51 runs in six overs. The spin duo is yet to fire this season. Nathan Ellis was the lone bright spark in the match, picking up 2/34 in four overs.
PBKS Squad
- Shikhar Dhawan (captain)
- Matthew Short
- Prabhsimran Singh
- Atharva Taide
- Liam Livingstone
- Harpreet Singh Bhatia
- Sam Curran
- Jitesh Sharma
- Shahrukh Khan
- Rahul Chahar
- Harpreet Brar
- Nathan Ellis
- Vidwath Kaverappa
- Baltej Dhanda
- Rishi Dhawan
- Raj Angad Bawa
- Mohit Rathee
- Arshdeep Singh
- Shivam Singh
- Sikandar Raza
- Kagiso Rabada
- Bhanuka Rajapaksa
- Gurnoor Singh
KKR vs PBKS – Head-to-Head
KKR has won 20 of the 31 meetings against Punjab Kings in the IPL. However, the Mohali-based outfit had the last laugh in the latest fixture between the two teams. Bhanuka Rajapaksa hit a fifty, while Arshdeep Singh claimed 3/19 in a rain-affected match in Mohali.
IPL 2023 Stats – KKR & PBKS
- Most Runs: Rinku Singh – 316 runs (KKR); Shikhar Dhawan – 292 runs (PBKS)
- Highest Wickets: Varun Chakravarthy – 14 wickets (KKR); Arshdeep Singh – 16 wickets (PBKS)
- Most Sixes: Rinku Singh – 20 sixes (KKR); Jitesh Sharma – 16 sixes (PBKS)
Winner Prediction – KKR vs PBKS
KKR has produced some surprising wins in the 16th edition. The two-time champions twice beat Royal Challengers Bangalore and grabbed a victory against table-toppers Gujarat Titans. This unpredictability gives them the edge in IPL match 53. However, PBKS has won more matches away than at home in IPL 2023. Shikhar Dhawan-led side won in Chennai, Mumbai, Lucknow, and Guwahati.
Final Thoughts on KKR vs PBKS
The IPL match 53 is likely to be a high-scoring game, with the team batting first having the advantage. An exciting match awaits cricket fans because the game is a must-win for both franchises.
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