West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has wished her home team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 opener match against the defending champion Mumbai Indians.
On Wednesday, the two-time IPL winner, KKR, is set to play against the four-time IPL winner at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. MI has already played their inauguratory match of the season against CSK where they faced defeat.
Taking to Twitter, Mamta Banerjee wished good luck KKR for the 13th edition of the league and hoped they will bring the coveted trophy home. She also sends good wishes to the franchise owner Shah Rukh Khan.
“‘Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo’ has already been India’s spirit in 2020, fighting crises without breaking a sweat. Another set of champions hit the field today, trying to bring joy to every home. My best wishes to @KKRiders & dearest @iamsrk as they begin their IPL campaign.#KKRHaiTaiyaar,” Mamata Banerjee tweeted.
‘Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo’ has already been India’s spirit in 2020, fighting crises without breaking a sweat. Another set of champions hit the field today, trying to bring joy to every home.
My best wishes to @KKRiders & dearest @iamsrk as they begin their IPL campaign.#KKRHaiTaiyaar— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) September 23, 2020
KKR predicted XI:
Last season, Chris Lynn had opened the innings with Sunil Nairne but the franchise has released Lynn ahead of IPL 2020. So, they will go with Nairne and Shubman Gill as their opening combination.
For batting at no.3, Nitish Rana will fit for the job. In the last edition, he scored 344 runs, including three half-centuries, in 14 matches at the strike rate of 146.38. The captain Dinesh Karthik will probably bat at no.4 and will also be the wicketkeeper of the team.
Eoin Morgan is the new addition in the KKR squad. He would form the crux of the batting line up. The England captain already had a successful summer season and would be expected to deliver the same in the IPL 2020.
For the all-rounder role, the towering batsman Andre Russell, as usual, will accelerate the innings and beat the bowlers in death overs. His bowling would also be significant in getting the team across the line. Rinku Singh will be the other allrounder.
In the bowling department, Sunil Nairne, Pat Cummins, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasad Krishna, Kamlesh Nagarkoti is expected to be in the playing XI.