Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders have managed to pull things back and now are in the race to qualify for the playoffs. The team winning this match would stand a better chance to do so. The last time these two teams faced off in the IPL, the Kolkata Knight Riders pulled off a heist, with KXIP unable to chase down 22 off 18 balls. KL Rahul would love to exact revenge upon the two-time IPL champions, but Eoin Morgan and co look well-balanced on paper.This should be a cracking encounter to kickstart the final leg of the league stage in IPL 2020.
Match Details:
Match:
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab, Match 46
Date:
26th October 2020, at 7:30 PM IST
Venue:
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
What To Expect:
The pitch at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium has slowed down considerably, with the new-ball bowlers ruling the roost of late. The likes of Siraj and Boult have enjoyed conditions due to the early swing on offer, which should be the case in this game as well. Although the bowlers will be key to both sides’ fortunes, the batsmen should be able to play their natural game once they get used to the pace of the surface. The dimensions of the ground also play into their hands, with the straight boundaries being very small. With dew expected to play a part later in the game, both teams will look to chase upon winning the toss, with 170 being a competitive total at this venue.
Kings XI Punjab:
KL Rahul and his men would be very confident to turn their fortune around after a thrilling victory against SRH on Saturday. This had led them to the fifth spot on the IPL 2020 points table. With KL Rahul and Chris Gayle in fine form at the top of the order, KXIP look well-equipped to mount a late run for a playoff spot, for which there are quite a few teams in contention.
KXIP Predicted Playing XI:
KL Rahul (C&WK), Mandeep Singh/Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Deepak Hooda, Chris Jordan Ravi Bishnoi, Murugan Ashwin, Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Kolkata Knight Riders, who currently occupy the coveted fourth spot. Despite having a few personnel concerns, KKR demolished the Delhi Capitals in their previous game, with Nitish Rana and Sunil Narine finally striking gold with the bat in hand. With their two overseas pacers firing on all cylinders, the Kolkata Knight Riders can alleviate the pressure on them with a season-defining win in Sharjah.
KKR Predicted Playing XI:
Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Sunil Narine, Eoin Morgan (C), Pat Cummins, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Lockie Ferguson, Prasidh Krishna and Varun Chakravarthy