KKR vs GT is the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 reverse fixture between defending champions and two-time winners. The Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) would be keen to take revenge against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the stunning defeat at home. Kolkata’s Eden Gardens will host the IPL match 39 on Saturday at 7:30 PM.
Kolkata Knight Riders
KKR will be looking to replicate their miraculous win against GT in Ahmedabad. Rinku Singh was the hero of that game, smashing 29 runs off the last over to chase down a mammoth target of 205 runs. However, KKR has been inconsistent, winning three of their eight matches.
The middle order has been a major concern, with only Nitish Rana and Venkatesh Iyer consistently scoring runs. Jason Roy has been outstanding, as he has struck back-to-back half-centuries.
The team’s success largely depends on the performance of their spin trio – Varun Chakrawarthy, Suyash Sharma, and Sunil Narine. The pace attack consisting of Umesh Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee, and Vaibhav Arora has been disappointing.
Gujarat Titans
The Titans grabbed an emphatic win against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Tuesday. It was a complete performance from the Ahmedabad-based outfit, who also clinched their fifth win. Shubman Gill is in sublime form, scoring three half-centuries. Meanwhile, David Miller and Abhinav Manohar made significant contributions against MI. Rahul Tewatita, too, showed his worth again with a rapid knock in the match.
Rashid Khan has been Hardik Pandya’s go-to bowler this season. The Afghanistan captain has taken 14 wickets, including a hat-trick against KKR. Noor Ahmad, another Afghan spinner, has six wickets in three matches. On the other hand, Hardik has picked up a wicket in the powerplay against Rajasthan Royals and MI. Pacers Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma, too, have been reliable.
KKR vs GT Head-to-Head stats
KKR and GT have faced each other only twice. Both teams have won one match each. In the last meeting between the two franchises, Sai Sudharsan and Vijay Shankar hit half-centuries, while Venkatesh Iyer top-scored with 83.
KKR & GT IPL 2023 Stats
Top Run-scorer: Venkatesh Iyer – 285 runs (KKR); Shubman Gill – 284 runs (GT)
Most Wickets: Varun Chakravarthy – 12 wickets (KKR); Rashid Khan – 14 wickets (GT)
Most Sixes: Rinku Singh – 18 sixes (KKR); David Miller – 8 sixes (GT)
KKR vs GT – Who Will Win?
KKR is playing at home and ended their four-game winless run with a victory over RCB in Bengaluru. But the Titans have a solid batting and bowling unit and will likely clinch maximum points on Saturday.