No matter how optimistic you are, you can’t post a 111-run target and expect the result to fall your way. Such totals not only bring defeats, but also the kind that keep stinging for long. Unless, of course, you have a combination of Mullanpur’s tricky surface, Punjab Kings (PBKS) hitting the form of their lives, and Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) batters treading causally down the wrong path. And that’s exactly what happened the last time KKR and PBKS faced off.
KKR still have a realistic chance of making it to the playoffs, but if they don’t, their night in Mullanpur will be remembered as one of the major reasons. The other reasons, of course, would include the lack of contributions from their batters, particularly their middle order.
PBKS have their own nuts to tighten within the batting line-up, but they’ll be pleased their issues aren’t as deep as KKR’s. Punjab have won five games and lost three, with most of their defeats coming while batting first, something even their captain, Shreyas Iyer, admits they haven’t quite aced yet. They can take comfort, though, in boasting the joint-best away record and the highest scoring rate per over this season.
Team Overview:
KKR finally made the call to bench Quinton de Kock and bring in Rahmanullah Gurbaz. While Gurbaz wasn’t exactly a breath of fresh air in his first game back, he is likely to retain his place. The real rot lies elsewhere. KKR have averaged the worst from positions No. 4 to No. 7 this season (just 20.47), and even if you drop the filters, their overall batting average is still below 22, which is hardly inspiring. They now need to win five of their next six games, but that will only stay within reach if their middle order takes things into their hands.
PBKS’ middle order has had its own issues, and it’s only slightly better than KKR’s. However, their condition isn’t as desperate. Their early-season victories have allowed them to cut some slack. Part of the reason they’re not gasping for air like KKR is that their openers take their jobs very seriously. Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh have struck at the highest rate among opening pairs this season, rarely failing to give Punjab the quick starts that set the tone for their innings.
Of course, the overseas players not firing the way they’d hoped might still be keeping Shreyas Iyer awake at night, but Shashank Singh’s consistent cushioning performances have, more often than not, absorbed the impact of their failures quite effectively.
Head-to-Head Matches:
KKR have a better record against PBKS, having won 21 out of 34 games and losing only 13 to Punjab.
Weather and Pitch Report:
In eight innings played at Eden Gardens this season, 200 was reached (or breached) only thrice. The venue has a reputation for supporting batters plenty, especially with the dew for teams batting second, but spinners and slow bowlers are known to find something to work with in Kolkata. However, with true bounce and short boundaries, strokemaking won’t really be a challenge.
Prediction:
KKR seem to be muddled in way more problems than PBKS right now, and that answers the question as to who might be the better side tonight.
Where to Watch:
India: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar
UK: Sky Sports, SkyGo
USA: Willow TV
Australia: Kayo TV, FoxTel Go
Bangladesh: T Sports, Toffee app
New Zealand: Sky Sports NZ
Afghanistan: ATN
South Africa: SuperSport
Sri Lanka: Dialog
MENA: Cricbuzz
