The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are moving like an express train in this Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Shouldering on their purple patch of five vital wins in the first half of the 17th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), KKR’s second position has almost booked their playoff position.
Four wins in the next half of the season will take the two-time champions to the qualifiers. However, three of those games won’t be easy for them- One against Rajasthan Royals (RR), who are at the top of the ladder, and two against Mumbai Indians (MI), who have an upper hand over the Knights with a 23-9 winning margin.
But on the flip of the coin, Mumbai hasn’t found its mojo this season and still seems to be looking for the right combination. Because Kolkata have got five wins in the first half, they could afford to slip a little in the business end of the competition, unlike Punjab Kings.
Punjab have made their next half of the season so much tougher to handle. With four defeats, they are in the penultimate position of the points table. What’s more hard for them will be the upcoming events in this IPL 2024. Except for the game against Roya Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), all of their five games are against the top five-positioned franchises of the points table.
Also Read: Harbhajan Singh Feels This Keeper-Batter Should Be The Next India T20I Captain
They have struggled so much in the top and middle order with the bat in hand, and are still finding their right combination, besides hoping for the captain to get back into full fitness. Only a miracle or some superb performances could take them even closer to the playoffs equations.
Their last defeat by three wickets against Gujrat Titans (GT) was a prime example of the whole scenario. If Punjab comes second in the KKR vs PBKS clash, they have to depend on many aspects for qualifications.
IPL 2024: KKR vs PBKS Weather And Pitch Report- Match 42
As the AccuWeather, the temperature in Kolkata on April 26 will be in the early 40s. There might be some relief with close to 29° C in the evening. The humidity level is expected to be around 76%, which confirms the presence of dew during the game.
KKR vs PBKS Weather Report |
|
| Temperature | 29° C |
| Weather Forecast | Clear Sky |
| Dew Point | 25° C |
| Humidity Level | 76% |
Also Read: IPL 2024: SRH vs RCB Weather And Pitch Report- Match 41
KKR vs PBKS Pitch Report
The boundaries are so short behind the wicket at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The curator of the ground, Sujan Mukherjee has prepared good batting and pace bowling surfaces of late.
Since the start of 2020, the chasing team has won 53.8% of the games, while the teams batting first have gained victory in 46.2% of the clashes. The average first innings total has increased in every other season. During 2021, the average score was just over 140, while this year, the number has flown over the 200-run mark.
When it comes to the economy of the bowlers, the pacers have leaked runs at an expensive economy of close to 12, while the Chinaman has an economy of less than six. The spinners have bowled well with an economy of around eight to ten.
Rinku Singh is the highest T20 run-getter with 347 runs in 10 innings at an average of 69.40 on this ground since 2020. Varun Chakaravarthy is the leading wicket-taker with 15 scalps, while Sunil Narine has an economy of just 6.69.
Looking at the conditions, the KKR vs PBKS clash too is expected to be another high-scoring affair of this IPL 2024.
