Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will take on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in match 28 of Indian Premier League 2024 at Eden Gardens, in Kolkata on Sunday, April 14. KKR will be playing their second match at home, while this will be the third match on the road for Lucknow.
In the ongoing tournament, the hosts have begun well. KKR won the first three matches but lost the next match they played. A superb start to their campaign saw them get off track after a loss in their latest completed game. As a result, the Shreyas Iyer & Co. would like to come back to their winning momentum.
On the other hand, LSG have won three and lost two of the five they’ve played so far in the ongoing tournament. Thus, the KL Rahul-led side would like to come back to their winning momentum.
Currently, Kolkata are placed in the second spot in the points table while Lucknow are placed fourth. Hence, keeping the cut-throat situation in mind, they would want to get another two points to improve their dire situation in the ongoing IPL 2024.
Also Check: IPL Points Table 2024 | IPL Standings & Team Rankings
These two teams’ last meeting was in match 68 of IPL 2023 at this venue, where the visitors posted 171/5 courtesy of fifties from Nicholas Pooran and defended this target in a high thriller match by just 1 run. But Rinku Singh’s magnificent fifty kept Knight Riders in the game till the final ball.
Eden Gardens Pitch Report
In general, Eden Gardens tends to assist spinners more than pacers, and hence does not always generate very high scores and more often than not presents a two-paced nature. But like all IPL stadiums, dew will impact performances in the second innings. Eden Gardens has only hosted one fixture in the ongoing season, and it turned out to be a run fest, with both KKR and Sunrisers Hyderabad scoring over 200. The wicket for the game on Sunday is also expected to be a similar batting paradise, and the bowlers will have to toil hard for success.
IPL Stats and Records at Eden Gardens
87 matches have been played at the Eden Gardens so far in IPL. A staggering 51 have been won by the team chasing. Not single game has resulted in No Result at this venue. The average first innings score on this ground is only 160.
| Matches Played | 87 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 36 |
| Matches Won Batting Second | 51 |
| Matches Won Winning Toss | 46 |
| Matches Won Losing Toss | 41 |
| Matches With No Result | 0 |
| Highest Team Total | 235/4 |
| Lowest Team Total | 49 |
| Average First Innings Total | 160 |
| Highest Total Successfully Chased | 201 |
KKR vs LSG Strategies and Match-ups
The strategy for both teams in this match would be to use their spinners, especially at the death, and tie down the pace-hitting giants on both sides. Important match-ups for this match are Krunal Pandya vs Shreyas Iyer, Sunil Narine vs KL Rahul and Ravi Bishnoi vs Andre Russell.
KKR vs LSG Player Battles to Watch Out For
Krunal Pandya vs Shreyas Iyer:
In seven innings against each other, Shreyas Iyer has scored 38 runs at an average of 38 against Krunal Pandya, but these runs have come at a paltry strike rate of just 90.47. Pandya has gotten Iyer out only once. This deadlock will decide the way the contest between the two teams goes.
Sunil Narine vs KL Rahul:
Speaking of another sumptuous battle in the upcoming fixture, the match-up between Sunil Narine and KL Rahul will be a crucial one. These two heavily experienced players have had many battles between them. In nine innings, KL Rahul has scored 105 runs at a fabulous average of 52.50 against Narine, but these runs have come at a strong strike rate of 150.0. The Caribbean spinner has also had a hard time dismissing Rahul, having gotten him just two times in 70 balls.
X-Factors for KKR vs LSG
Kolkata Knight Riders:
After showing sublime form in the ongoing tournament with both bat and ball, Andre Russell will be riding high on both confidence and form coming into this game. The star all-rounder’s striking ability in this tournament, especially at the death, is something the Lucknow Super Giants would be wary of.
Lucknow Super Giants:
Nicholas Pooran has been a vital cog in the LSG camp, and poses threat to the position with his mere presence. His ability to hit huge sixes will be planned differently by the hosts. In order to get rid of him early, Shreyas might introduce spin as soon as the southpaw comes to the crease.
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