Jonhenry Wilson previews the IPL eliminator which will see the Kolkata Knight Riders go up against the Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens on Wednesday.
The Knight Riders are where they are because they finished in third position in the eight-team standings, while the fourth-placed Royals effectively graduated on the back of Mumbai and Punjab’s inadequacies, rather than their own success.
The winner of this match will be afforded the chance to play Tuesday’s loser between the Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings. If triumphant, they’ll then move into Sunday’s final.
KKR vs RR | Wednesday, 23 May | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 15:30
To Win Match
Kolkata Knight Riders 52/100
Tie 35/1
Rajasthan Royals 31/20
Kolkata Knight Riders
The Knight Riders have plenty going for them heading into the fixture: they beat the Royals on both occasions during the round-robin stage; they have home ground advantage; and they’ve reached the IPL play-offs almost twice as many times as Rajasthan. They also sealed their berth in the next round substantially sooner than the Royals, too, so have a relatively settled lead-up.
There will be a lot riding on the performances of Sunil Narine and Dinesh Karthik. Support as an all-rounder, not just as a spinner, has significantly boosted Narine’s status, while the captaincy has inspired Karthik to hefty contributions with the bat – he is, in fact, the franchise’s leading run-scorer this season. Both will want to ensure their efforts then are replicated, perhaps even bettered, now.
The Knight Riders didn’t beat the Royals at all in 2014 and 2015, while they didn’t compete in 2016 and 2017 due to the latter’s absence from the tournament due to a betting scandal. This year, however, Kolkata won both contests, with Robin Uthappa the star the first time and Chris Lynn the second. Both are brimming with confidence after match-winning cameos against the table-topping Sunrisers last week, too.
Seamer Prasidh Krishna’s role with the new ball has shot into the limelight recently – and Wednesday will bring the toughest test of the 22-year-old’s burgeoning career so far. He’ll be eager to perform well against an opposition order disrupted by the exit of England duo Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes, but inspired by the presence of Sanju Samson and Heinrich Klaasen.
Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan will be mindful that Kolkata haven’t managed to make Eden Gardens a veritable fortress this season, having won only four of their seven matches here. Regardless, the venue has historically been good to the home side – and opportunity to upend this record will bring a big challenge for the visitors. The leadership of skipper Ajinkya Rahane, will be key.
Buttler’s departure for England’s Test series against Pakistan has evidently hampered their preparation. His national recall wasn’t expected – and pretty much took the franchise by surprise. It showed, too, as their attempt to make a makeshift opener out of Jofra Archer recently failed. A more reasonable option at the top of the order, this time, is an absolute must.
Opening the bowling with spinner Krishnappa Gowtham, or at least using him inside the opening six-over powerplay again, would be the right move. Lynn, Narine and company might expect otherwise – and be ill-prepared for the ball coming onto the bat a lot slower. If not, then the recently recalled Ben Laughlin – with cleverly disguised slower deliveries and all – should take the new ball alongside Archer.
Wednesday’s victor has the added advantage of playing their next match at the same venue as well. Weather-wise, we might see a truncated fixture, with a 40 percent chance of rain predicted. This should suit Rajasthan, who would need shorter periods of sustained pressure to succeed, rather than be hindered by prolonged periods of pressure.
Verdict: Kolkata Knight Riders 52/100
There is just too much stacked against Rajasthan, who won’t unlikely pull off a surprise this late in the piece, leaving Kolkata to pursue a third IPL title later this week.
