KKR vs RR is a do-or-die clash for two teams with the same number of points after playing 11 matches in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. Both Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) have won five games and cannot afford a defeat, which could be a big blow to playoff hopes.
Eden Gardens will host this crucial fixture on Thursday at 7:30 PM.
KKR vs RR Preview | Team Analysis & Squad Details
Here’s a closer look at KKR and RR – team analysis, squad, head-to-head record, and prediction.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
KKR will go into the match with plenty of confidence. The batting unit is the two-time champions’ strength, as Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Jason Roy, and Rinku Singh steered the franchise to a five-wicket victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Monday. Rana, Rinku, and Venkatesh Iyer have racked up more than 300 runs this season.
Uncapped fast bowler Harshit Rana was impressive against PBKS. The 21-year-old provided two crucial breakthroughs in the powerplay, removing Prabhsimran Singh and Bhanuka Rajapaksa. Meanwhile, the spin duo Varun Chakaravarthy and Suyash Sharma apply the brakes in the middle overs. Varun has 17 wickets, and Suyash has ten.
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
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
RR is under pressure after picking up just one win in its last six games. However, the fans will be relieved that Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson have overcome their blip. Last week, the duo stitched together a 138-run partnership against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). With Eden Gardens witnessing high-scoring games, the batters will likely pile up runs on Thursday.
The Trent Boult-less bowling lineup has struggled, as Sandeep Sharma and Kuldip Yadav conceded 98 runs between them against SRH. But Yuzvendra Chahal’s return to the wickets column was positive. The leg-spinner took 4/29 and is one wicket away from becoming the leading wicket-taker in IPL.
RR Squad
- Sanju Samson (captain)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Jos Buttler
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Riyan Parag
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Trent Boult
- Yuzvendra Chahal
- Sandeep Sharma
- Adam Zampa
- Jason Holder
- Navdeep Saini
- Obed McCoy
- KM Asif
- Donovan Ferreira
- Joe Root
- Murugan Ashwin
- Dhruv Jurel
- Kuldip Yadav
- KC Cariappa
- Abdul P A
- Kunal Rathore
- Kuldeep Sen
- Akash Vashisht
KKR vs RR – Head-to-Head
KKR has the advantage over RR in the 27 meetings between both franchises. The Kolkata-based franchise has won 14 matches, RR grabbed 12 victories, and one ended in no result.
IPL 2023 Stats – KKR vs RR
- Most Runs: Rinku Singh – 337 runs (KKR); Yashasvi Jaiswal – 477 runs (RR)
- Highest Wickets: Varun Chakaravarthy – 17 wickets (KKR); Yuzvendra Chahal – 17 wickets (RR)
- Most Sixes: Rinku Singh – 21 sixes (KKR); Yashasvi Jaiswal – 21 sixes (RR)
Winner Prediction – KKR vs RR
With back-to-back wins, KKR has the momentum going into the match. But RR has some champion T20 players who can deliver under pressure. The inaugural IPL champions will likely pick up two points against KKR at Eden Gardens.
Final Thoughts on KKR vs RR
At Eden Gardens, fans can expect yet another high-scoring match, which might go down to the wire.
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