The upcoming clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2024 promises another thrilling encounter at Eden Gardens on April 14th, marking the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader. Lucknow Super Giants have showcased their strength by securing victories in 3 out of their 5 matches this season, positioning them at 4th place on the points table with 6 points and a net run rate of +0.436.
Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders have also displayed a formidable performance, winning 3 out of their 4 clashes so far and currently holding the second spot in the rankings. In their previous encounters this season, Lucknow Super Giants have emerged victorious in all three matches against Kolkata Knight Riders, setting the stage for another intense showdown between the two teams.
This game marks Kolkata’s first-afternoon fixture of the season, with conditions expected to be hot and humid. Given the absence of dew, the team winning the toss might opt to bat first. Eden Gardens has been a high-scoring venue since IPL 2023, suggesting that fans can anticipate a flurry of runs.
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In their head-to-head record, Lucknow Super Giants have dominated Kolkata Knight Riders, winning all three previous encounters. However, the margin of victory has decreased in each successive match, indicating that Kolkata might be closing the gap. As anticipation builds for this exciting clash, fans can expect an action-packed game filled with intense competition and thrilling moments.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Gautam Gambhir assured that Harshit Rana was fully fit before the previous match, yet he didn’t make an appearance. Nitish Rana, however, was seen practicing, indicating no major injury concerns for the team.
LSG have encountered challenges with their top-order batters – Quinton de Kock, Ayush Badoni, and Devdutt Padikkal – especially against left-arm pacers, with averages of 15.5, 11, and 8 respectively since IPL 2023. This suggests a strategic opportunity to deploy Starc upfront, capitalizing on their vulnerability. Furthermore, de Kock’s struggles against spinners like Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy open avenues for exploiting spin options during the powerplay.
Probable XI: Sunil Narine, Phil Salt, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana/Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Harshit Rana/Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
the absence of pace duo Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan due to injuries poses a challenge. However, Ravi Bishnoi has proven effective in keeping key batters like Rinku Singh and Andre Russell relatively subdued during the death overs. With both batsmen having scored at a strike rate of only 116.7 and 133.33 respectively against him, Bishnoi emerges as a valuable asset in the latter stages of the innings. Considering these factors, LSG may strategize around deploying Bishnoi effectively in the death overs to maintain control and stifle opposition batters.
Probable XI: KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Ayush Badoni, Nicholas Pooran, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshad Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq/Shamar Joseph, Yash Thakur
Fantasy XI Suggestion 1:
Quinton de Kock, Lokesh Rahul (vc), Nicholas Pooran, Philip Salt, Shreyas Iyer, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell (c), Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Yash Thakur, Mayank Yadav
Fantasy XI Suggestion 2:
Quinton de Kock, Lokesh Rahul (c), Nicholas Pooran, Philip Salt (vc), Shreyas Iyer, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Marcus Stoinis, Yash Thakur, Mayank Yadav, Mitchell Starc
