KKR vs RR is a crucial match for the two teams who are vying for a place in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 playoffs. After 11 games, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) have ten points each. KKR have won back-to-back games, while RR managed only one win in their last six matches.
The IPL match 56 will be played at Eden Gardens Stadium, Kolkata, on Thursday at 7:30 PM.
Kolkata Knight Riders
KKR will depend on its batting unit, which has been consistent lately. Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh were the key architects in the victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Punjab Kings (PBKS). Both left-handed batters have scored more than 300 runs. Also, Andre Russell has found his rhythm, scoring 66 runs at a strike rate of 173 in the last two outings.
KKR’s pace attack, consisting of Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, and Lockie Ferguson, has been a disappointment. However, Harshit Rana, an uncapped fast bowler, made an impression against PBKS, grabbing two wickets in the powerplay. The spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Suyash Sharma have a huge responsibility on their shoulders. They have taken 27 wickets between them this season.
Rajasthan Royals
RR captain Sanju Samson will be under pressure after five defeats in the last six games. The Keralite’s captaincy came under severe criticism after the defeat against SRH. However, the RR faithful will be delighted that Samson and Jos Buttler rediscovered their form. With three games left in the league stage, RR needs the likes of Yashsavi Jaiswal, Samson, Buttler, and Shimron Hetmyer to fire on all cylinders.
The RR fast bowlers have struggled to find their line and length since the second half of the 2023 season. Trent Boult has been in and out of the playing 11 due to injuries, while Sandeep Sharma and Kuldip Yadav were thrashed by SRH batters last week. The onus is on the experienced spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin to come up with inspirational performances in the testing times.
KKR vs RR Head to Head
In the 27 meetings between both sides, KKR won 14 matches, RR grabbed 12 victories, and both teams had to share points once.
KKR vs RR Last Five Meetings
KKR & RR IPL 2023 Stats
- Top Run-scorer: Rinku Singh – 337 runs (KKR); Yashasvi Jaiswal – 477 runs (RR)
- Most Wickets: Varun Chakaravarthy – 17 wickets (KKR); Yuzvendra Chahal – 17 wickets (RR)
- Most Sixes: Rinku Singh – 21 sixes (KKR); Yashasvi Jaiswal – 21 sixes (RR)