Kolkata Knight Riders are struggling on multiple fronts, with both selection and tactics under question. Their decision to bat despite looming rain against Punjab Kings raised eyebrows.With key spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy missing, KKR lacked control.
KKR Probable XI: Ajinkya Rahane(c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi(w), Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi, Blessing Muzarabani
Impact subs: Finn Allen, Manish Pandey, Saurabh Dubey, Rovman Powell, Tejasvi Dahiya
Injuries/Unavailabilities: Narine and Varun expected to return
Watch Live Streaming: Fans can watch the KKR vs LSG match live on the app and website of JioHotstar.
Toss Time: 7:00 PM
Pitch report: Weather looks clear during match time, with some early movement seen. The surface offered slight grip for bowlers, but repeated rain may have slowed the outfield. Eden Gardens offers good scoring conditions despite reduced boundaries, but clearing the ropes isn’t easy. The surface still aids spinners, especially those who use flight and vary pace effectively.
Head to head: Overall, LSG lead 4-2 over KKR in six games, with a 2-1 advantage at the Eden Gardens
Lucknow Super Giants bounced back with a win over Sunrisers Hyderabad after slipping against Delhi Capitals, with pacers shining early, Pant scoring a fifty despite slow starts, and Shami also contributing.
LSG Probable XI: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (C & WK), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammad Shami, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Digvesh Rathi.
Impact subs: Prince Yadav,Anrich Nortje
Injuries/Unavailabilities: All players are fit and available for selection
For KKR, they will be desperate to secure their first win, with the positive news that Green may bowl again, and Narine and Varun are expected to return to the playing XI.
For LSG, their last win has given them momentum and a template for the rest of the tournament, and they will aim to win at Eden with a strong pace attack.