KKR
Hungry KKR look to upset smug GT
It will be a match of GT consistency versus KKR hunger when the duo lock horns in the 39th match of IPL ’25 at Eden Gardens tomorrow.
The home team, KKR, is coming off a disappointing defeat to Punjab Kings, where they were bowled out for a mere 95 while chasing just 112. All eyes will be on KKR team management to see whether they stick with the same team or shift to plan B. That could mean Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rovman Powell making their way into the squad for Quinton de Kock and Andre Russell and Moen Ali playing some role in the playing eleven.
Though the bowling unit has looked solid with Anrich Nortje hitting form from his first game, they will have to bowl well to keep the in-form GT batters in leash. The pace trio of Vaibhav-Harshit-Anrich and spin duo of Narine-Chakravarthy make-up for a formidable bowling unit for the home side.
But their opposition is GT, who are in the middle of a red-hot streak and have a well-balanced side. In their bowling unit, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant and Md Siraj form a formidable pace trio while Sai Kishore and Rashid Khan can also spin a web of unplayable deliveries. The batting order also looks to be in good nick with Shubhman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Sherfane Rutherford and Jos Butler all showing they are a handful with the bat.
More importantly, GT are coming on the back of chasing a 200-plus target successfully and KKR have returned home after a batting meltdown chasing 112.
Pitch talk will also come into play with KKR wondering what will be the right pitch at home. The fact that Prasidh and Ishant have been ex-Knights is not helping.
The openers versus Mohammed Siraj will be a battle worth watching, with KKR not being able to string together good batting performances match after match. Venkatesh Iyer has not lived up to his 20-plus crore price tag. Nor has Ramandeep been convincing with his bat. Ajinkya and Sai Kishore the spinner with curly mane will be a treat to watch. However, the GT batting will be under fire from Vaibhav-Harshit pair and that will be a mini battle.
Rain is not expected to play spoilsport, but Norwesters are unpredictable and that has to be taken into account. KKR would like to make a strong comeback after a disappointing performance, while GT, on the other hand, would like to carry the good work the team has been doing.
GT are sitting pretty at the top of the table. So KKR has much more to lose. A win here will catapult them towards the play-off zone, and a loss here would mean winning five of their next six games.
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