The 8th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 will see the clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Wankhede Stadium. KKR is currently placed at the fifth position on the points table of this season whereas PBKS standing comfortably in third place on the points table.
Kolkata Knight Riders played two matches this season where they won one game while Punjab Kings played one game in this season where they won that game. KKR played their last game against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and suffered a loss by 3 wickets. Andre Russell scored 25 runs and grabbed 3 wickets for KKR in that game.
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On the other hand, PBKS also played their only game against RCB where they won the game by 5 wickets. Shikhar Dhawan and Bhanuka Rajapaksa smashed 43 runs each for Punjab Kings in that game. PBKS and KKR have played 29 IPL matches against each other in the history of IPL where Kolkata Knight Riders won 19 games while Punjab Kings managed to win 10 matches.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
PBKS’ openers Shikhar Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal will find it difficult to tackle the early swing and seam against KKR and will be expected to have a slow start. It is what KKR will hope Umesh Yadav, their designated PowerPlay enforcer, can exploit for a second game running.
Probable XI: Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer (c), Sam Billings, Andre Russell, Sheldon Jackson (wk), Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Two big selection headaches for PBKS ahead of the first match are the unavailability of Jonny Bairstow and Kagiso Rabada. However, to accommodate these changes, PBKS need to make 3 changes to their squad given there’s no other overseas keeper available with Punjab Kings. Prabsimran Singh will be expected to be the primary keeper of the squad in place of Jonny Bairstow, and he should play at 3 with Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan expected to open.
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Livingstone and Rajapaksa will be batting in the middle order, whole finishing duties will be shouldered by Shahrukh Khan, Odean Smith, and Harpreet Brar. Both Smith and Harpreet will also double up as bowlers. From the bowling standpoint, PBKS would be expected to go with Nathan Ellis. Apart from him, Arshdeep Singh and Rahul Chahar shall complete the rest of the bowling line-up.
Probable XI: Mayank Agarwal (C), Shikhar Raj Bawa, Liam Livingstone, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (WK), Shahrukh Khan, Odean Smith, Harpreet Brar, Sandeep Sharma, Rahul Chahar & Arshdeep Singh
Fantasy Suggestion 1:
Bhanuka Rajapaksa (VC), Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Mayank Agarwal, Ajinkya Rahane (C), Liam Livingstone, Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, Umesh Yadav, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh
Fantasy Suggestion 2:
Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Mayank Agarwal, Nitish Rana, Liam Livingstone (C), Venkatesh Iyer, Odean Smith, Umesh Yadav (VC), Rahul Chahar, Varun Chakravarthy
