Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be looking to make it two wins in two games against Mumbai Indians (MI) and solidify their position in the top two of the IPL 2024 points table.
Expected Playing XIs
- KKR: Phil Salt (wk), Sunil Narine, Angkrish Raghuvanshi/Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Mitchell Starc, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora
- MI: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk/c), Suryakumar Yadav, Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Tim David, Nehal Wadhera, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah/Akash Madhwal, Nuwan Thushara, Piyush Chawla
Match Preview
While KKR are currently in top form, having won three out of their last four matches, MI have already been eliminated from playoff contention. This could lead MI to experiment with their line-up, keeping the 2025 season in mind.
KKR’s Batting Strength
KKR’s aggressive batting approach has been key to their success this season. Sunil Narine’s explosive batting in the middle overs is a particular threat, and MI might consider using Jasprit Bumrah early against him to negate his impact.
MI’s Bowling Woes
MI’s overseas contingent has been a major concern for the team, with the second-worst bowling average, economy rate, and batting average among all teams in IPL 2024.
Starc’s Experience Crucial
KKR will be hoping that Mitchell Starc, their experienced pace bowler, can continue his good form and provide crucial breakthroughs.
Rohit Sharma’s Form a Worry
Rohit Sharma, a key player for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup, has been in a slump recently, with only one significant score in his last twelve innings.
Stats that Matter
- MI’s away record is dismal, with the lowest win percentage among all teams in the last two seasons (2023-24).
- MI’s overseas players have struggled with both bat and ball in IPL 2024.
- Rohit Sharma has a poor record against Sunil Narine, dismissed ten times in 25 T20s.
Pitch and Conditions
The pitch at Eden Gardens is expected to be batting-friendly, but recent rain might affect the outfield and increase the chances of a shortened game or even a washout.
Advantage KKR
Despite a historically dominant record against KKR, MI’s current form makes them clear underdogs. KKR’s strong batting lineup and potent bowling attack should secure them a comfortable win, solidifying their position in the top two.