High-flying KKR meet a stuttering LSG as playoff fight intensifies

If eight-team IPL provided unreal chaos and confusion, the ten-team IPL was only going to increase that intensity. As the teams have found out by now, using their calculators and working up a plan on qualification – the road to qualification was always going to chaotic. 

And this encounter is no different, until a week back, Lucknow Supergiants were comfortably placed at the top of the table, Kolkata Knight Riders were staring at the exit. As things stand, both teams can mathematically still make it to the playoffs or get eliminated, such is the craziness of the league this year. 

Kolkata will approach every game, including this one as a final and a loss will definitely guarantee their elimination. On the other hand, a general high-flyer in the tournament, Lucknow will look to set things straight, following two abysmal losses at the hands of Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals, their direct-rivals for the title. 

The batting woes of the Super Giants

Skipper KL Rahul’s struggle with the bat has been a big telling factor in Lucknow’s two colossal loss at the hands of their direct rivals – Gujarat and Rajasthan. Last three encounters have been a lull period for the dominant Rahul, with scores of just 10, 8 and 0. In fact, this is the first IPL season where the right-hander has registered three ducks in a single campaign. Plus, in six occasions, Rahul has registered a score of ten or fewer runs. 

Lower down the order, the form of Ayush Badoni too is something that the Supergiants would keep a close eye on, considering how the youngster began the season. Since his 54 on the team’s opening day, he has never crossed the 20-run mark in an encounter. When promoted at No.3, the youngster failed to open the scoring, averaging just the 9.8 across his last seven innings, striking at 91. 

While Lucknow might already have 16 points, their batting woes is something that will definitely come back to harm them, if they don’t get a look at it. 

How have Kolkata found their mojo back?

Kolkata Knight Riders are truly the definition of unpredictability. But despite all that stutter in the middle of the season, the side led by Shreyas Iyer have somehow won three out of their last four encounters (in sublime fashion) to have a shot at qualifying for the next stage of the competition. So, what’s changed and how have they done this? 

The Big Man Andre Russell has played a big hand in KKR’s revival this season, with 330 runs in the tournament at a strike-rate of 180 and picking up 17 crucial wickets as well. While Sunil Narine has had the best tournament in terms of keeping the check on the run-flow, Kolkata largely through the various combinations that surround these two stars have made their way back into the tournament. 

Once again, against LSG, all eyes would be on the danger-man, Russell as the Supergiants would be aiming to once again dismiss the all-rounder cheaply. 

All eyes on Shreyas Iyer and Deepak Hooda

Respective No.3 batters with contrasting fortunes – Shreyas Iyer and Deepak Hooda – have both had a tournament that they can never forget. For the major first part of the season, Iyer was scoring runs with ease, averaging 39.3 with the bat at a healthy strike-rate of 148. It is also during the same part of the season where Iyer had notched up two half-centuries in the tournament. But since that burst of enthusiasm, the right-hander had a dismal tournament, with 115 runs in his last six games, averaging 19.2 and striking at 105. 

On the other hand, there is Deepak Hooda. Hooda was good in the first half of the season, improved during the middle-stages and now has shown incredible composure with the bat when the rest of the side has failed. The right-hander has four 50+ scores in his last six appearances, at a strike-rate of 137. 

In most of the occasions, Hooda has walked out to bat in tough situations during the powerplay but has ensured to bail the team out of trouble almost every time. Having walked out to bat in the powerplay, Hooda has scored four half-centuries and has always stitched up invaluable partnership for the Supergiants. In an otherwise struggling middle-order (21.4 average), Hooda has been the biggest positive.

Team Combination and Predicted XI

Just when KKR had seemingly found their best playing XI, Ajinkya Rahane has suffered a hamstring injury. Expect a change at the top of the order for the franchise but who walks in is a big question? Could KKR slot one of Sam Billings or Sunil Narine at the top?

Kolkata Knight Riders: Sheldon Jackson, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer, Sam Billings (wk), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Varun Chakravarthy

For Lucknow, despite two losses in a row, expect no changes in the setup considering how well they played as a unit throughout the tournament

Lucknow Supergiants: KL Rahul (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Jason Holder, Marcus Stoinis, Dushmantha Chameera, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Ravi Bishnoi