*KKR VS PBKS PREVIEW- MATCH 53*
*THE BUILD UP:*
*HOME ADVANTAGE MINIMAL FOR KOLKATA:*
Very few teams have had a happy and successful homecoming this season with a majority of them failing to adapt to what their home ground offers. None of the sides have a 100% win record at their home venues and on top of that, they have allowed the opposing teams to get away. Even CSK have now lost 2 home games, one against RR and second one against the Shikhar led PBKS. KKR are up against a familiar trouble having lost 3 on the bounce here at the Eden Gardens. With their pacers leaking runs big time without showing any control, their pier hitters have also been extremely inconsistent and haven’t been able to take a toll of this venue and his batting beauty pitches. As a unit, collectively, the Nitish led side will be vary of the threat that PBKS pose, after wracking up so many 200+ totals on the bounce this season. A loss here for KKR should bring about an end to their tournament virtually but a win here could again, spice things up and make this business end of the tourney even more intense.
*KKR PROBABLE XI:*
Jason Roy, N Jagadeesan(wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana(c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, David Weise, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarty
Gurbaz has blown hot and cold this season and with Weise offering allround skill to the KKR lineup, don’t be surprised if the keeper is dropped and replaced by Jagadeesan at the top with Weise forming the core of the lower middle order alongside Russell and Shardul. If these three fire to their potential,it’s one very dangerous (6,7,8)
All pressure will be on the Caribbean mystery spinner, Sunil Narine as he has managed to pick a sole wicket in his last seven outings. On top of that, his batting has been abysmally awful too, without contributing much to the side’s success. Another failed outing today and Narine could see his way to the bench.
*IMPACT PLAYER STRATEGY:*
Suyash Sharma to take up the impact substitute player’s role. The wicket as per the report is expected to be on the drier side, to favour the KKR spinners and make life difficult for the batters. Suyash should enjoy bowling on such a track. If KKR bat second, Jason Roy could come in as the sub.
*PBKS PROBABLE XI:*
Prabhsimran Singh, Shikhar Dhawan(c), Liam Livingstone, Sikandar Raza, Jitesh Sharma, Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Nathan Ellis/Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh
Nathan Ellis has been a revelation and has been able to produce stunning performances on flatter tracks where most other bowlers would fail. Given KKR’s home ground, the Eden Gardens is a high scoring venue, expect Ellis to feature in the XI ahead of Rabada who hasn’t been in his best touch so far this season. His special ability could prove to be trump to keep the power hitters of KKR quiet.
Arshdeep Singh vs Venkatesh Iyer is what I will keep a tab on closely. The former has added a spicy bouncer to his arsenal and Iyer’s inability to tackle the surprise bouncer should make up for a feisty battle between these two. Punjab could use Ellis in front of Iyer as well because the latter’s strike rate drops down to under 125 while facing right arm pacers.
*IMPACT PLAYER STRATEGY:*
Atharv Taide could feature as the impact sub if PBKS are behind a stiff total. He could bat ahead of Jitesh Sharma, being a top order player naturally. If Punjab bat second, Arshdeep Singh could play a similar role.
*MY PREDICTIONS FOR THE GAME:*
*FOR KKR:*
Highest run getter- Jason Roy/Nitish Rana
Highest wicket taker- Varun Chakravarty/Suyash Sharma
*FOR PBKS:*
Highest run getter- Shikhar Dhawan/Liam Livingstone
Highest wicket taker- Arshdeep Singh/Nathan Ellis
*FOR THE GAME:*
50:50 about this one but for the tournament to get even intense, I would like a KKR victory. Though, on paper PUNJAB are the stronger side and should fancy their chances.