KKR vs RR Preview: Table-toppers face each other at Kolkata

After three enthralling weeks of IPL 2024, the tournament is slowly moving towards the halfway stage as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) will take on each other in Match 31 on Tuesday, April 16 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Both teams have had a phenomenal beginning to their respective campaigns having lost just one game in the season so far.

Rajasthan are coming into the game with a three-wicket win over Punjab Kings and are placed at the zenith of the points table with five wins from six matches having ten points to their name. On the other hand, Kolkata is coming into the game with a dominant eight-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants. They occupy the second spot on the points table with four wins from five matches having eight points to their name.

With both teams sitting comfortably in the top two spots, the match promises to be a sumptuous clash between the table toppers. The winner of the game will take the top spot on the table hence there will be a lot to play for both teams.

Probable Playing XI

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Philip Salt (wk), Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Shreyas Iyer (c), Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tanush Kotian, Sanju Samson (C & WK), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Rovman Powell, Keshav Maharaj, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal

Pitch Report

There have been a total of two matches played at the venue in the season so far, with one each being won by teams batting and bowling first. The average first innings score has been 184 while the highest target chased has been 162. The spinners will be able to get good purchase out of the surface which will also aid good stroke-play. The captain winning the toss is likely to bat first as chasing in the second innings under lights can often turn out to be tricky at the venue.