Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) didn’t have the start they would have liked in this eleventh edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, they would be keen to pull things back when they take on a rejuvenated Delhi Daredevils (DD) side on Monday (April 16) at the Eden Gardens.
Meanwhile, Kolkata had a good start beating Bangalore in their season opener.
Since then, they have seen a dip in form as they lost two consecutive matches against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
However, they will look forward towards a fresh start when the meet Delhi.
On the other hand, Delhi-led by Gautam Gambhir is coming back from the from a fantastic win against the Mumbai Indians.
Dinesh Karthik-led KKR has also missed their star fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who has pulled out due to an injury. Recently, they lost their young fast bowler Kamlesh Nagarkoti.
Meanwhile, they will look to leave those negatives behind and push for the turnaround from this match.
Here is the predicted XI of Kolkata Knight Riders against Delhi:
Chris Lynn:
The swashbuckling hitter from Australia Chris Lynn has started to find his touch back which will be a positive sign for the Kolkata side.
Lynn capable of destroying any bowling line-up will bank on his ability and help Kolkata come back to winning ways.
Sunil Narine:
The ploy of sending Sunil Narine up the order has worked well for KKR so far. The southpaw has struck some mighty blows to hurt the opposition bowlers.
With the ball in hand, he is very economical and picks wickets at ease. He has become a complete package for the Kolkata team.
Robin Uthappa:
Robin Uthappa is the mainstay of Kolkata’s batting line-up. He is the senior pro in that batting order and needs to bat with extra responsibility.
The right-handed batsman needs to strike the right chord if KKR wants to turn things around.
Nitish Rana:
The young all-rounder Nitish Rana has chipped in with small contributions so far. However, he needs to score more runs with the bat and help in team’s winning cause.
The added advantage will be Rana’s bowling, who was outstanding against RCB.
Shubman Gill:
The young and exciting batsman Shubman Gill needs some more time to settle in. However, has a lot of prospects and if nurtured can give you positive results.
Although he failed to score runs in the last game, a good knock is on his way.
Dinesh Karthik (c & wk):
Skipper Dinesh Karthik has changed to a whole new person since that last-ball six win against Bangladesh in Sri Lanka during the Nidahas Trophy final.
As the skipper of the side, he has shouldered additional responsibilities and done well.
With the bat, he has held the batting-order with responsible knocks.
Andre Russell:
The big all-rounder from Windies Andre Russell has come to the party early in the league which is a massive boost for the side.
The committed Russell has done well with both bat and ball and will look to continue doing so.
Piyush Chawla:
The wily customer Piyush Chawla was outstanding with the ball against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Although his team didn’t win, he returned with one for 20 in his four overs.
His form will be crucial for Kolkata going into the league.
Mitchell Johnson:
The veteran speedster Mitchell Johnson had an average stint with KKR so far. Meanwhile, he missed one match with a slight niggle but has recovered in time.
Johnson will be eager to light up the tournament with his fiery pace.
Kuldeep Yadav:
The left-arm leggie Kuldeep Yadav has done well for the Knight Riders over the years. However, this year, he is yet to find his golden form.
However, Kuldeep’s form can change the course of KKR’s form in this league.
Shivam Mavi:
The young 19-year-old Shivam Mavi will have a great opportunity for himself – to showcase his talent at this big juncture.
Mavi is well capable of clocking around 145kph and will be interesting to watch for Kolkata Knight Riders.
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