Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings, IPL 2021, Match 45: Fantasy Preview

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 45 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 at the Dubai International Stadium, Dubai. KKR have won three out of the four matches since the tournament restarted, while PBKS have lost two out of the three matches.

In the second phase, KKR seem like they mean business and are well with a shout of making it to the playoffs and in fact, are currently in the fourth spot. PBKS, on the other hand, have now lost four IPL matches in a row and will look to bounce back in this game.

KKR have been absolutely dominant in the IPL against PBKS, having won 19 of the 28 matches. Even in the last five matches, KKR have a 4-1 advantage.

IPL head-to-head

Overall matches: 28 | KKR 19 wins | PBKS 9 wins

Last 5 matches: KKR 4 wins | PBKS 1 win

Suggested teamWhile you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.

Ground details

Like the other two venues in the UAE, Dubai too has been a ground wherein the pacers have picked up the higher percentage of the wickets in IPL this season. However, for the spinners, this has proved to be the worst venue this season, having picked up a wicket every 32.6 deliveries, 26.1 deliveries apart. The corresponding numbers for the pacers at this venue in IPL 2021, are 23.2 and 17.5 respectively. 

In the six matches in Dubai this season, the average score batting first is 159, while the number drops to 148 while chasing. Hence, a score in excess of 155-160 could be difficult to chase down. However, not impossible, given that batting has been relatively easier in Dubai compared to the other stadiums.

There could be some interesting match-ups too.

Eoin Morgan’s IPL 2021 could go from bad to worse when he comes up against Ravi Bishnoi as the in-form leg-spinner has dismissed the England captain twice in three innings. Moreover, Morgan has scored at a strike-rate of 54.5 and averages just six against Bishnoi, which further works in PBKS’ favour. Will the KKR captain better his record in this match?

It may not be a good idea to have Sunil Narine bowl at KL Rahul, as the PBKS batsman has demolished the spinner whenever the two have come up against each other. In the eight innings, Rahul and Narine have faced each other the Indian batsman has struck at a strike-rate of close to 200. The West Indies spinner has gotten the better of Rahul just twice in eight innings – both of which were in the IPL in 2018.

Captain

KL Rahul may have been off-colour in the last couple of matches, but PBKS will want him to come good in this game as their chances of qualification hang by the thread. He is one of three players with more than 400 runs this season – 422 runs at 52.75 and strike-rate of 132.28 – which includes as many as four fifties. He has scored 91 runs from this last three innings in this phase of the tournament and will hope to come good in this crucial juncture. 

Our Criclytics Player Projector predicts Rahul could score 22-32 runs in this match.

X-Factor

Nitish Rana is yet to be dismissed in this phase of the IPL and has been a reliable option for KKR in the middle-order. Rana is KKR’s second-highest run-getter for KKR this season and his side will bank on his consistency in this game. Also, only Shubman Gill (672) has scored more runs in the IPL than Rana (631).

Our Criclytics Player Projector predicts Rahul could score 19-29 runs in this match.

Varun Chakravarthy’s four overs could be crucial in determining the outcome of the match. He is the joint second-highest wicket-taker for KKR this season and has done so at an economy rate of 6.81. He is KKR’s leading wicket-taker in the IPL since 2020 – a period in which he has picked up 28 wickets – striking once every 20.6 deliveries.

Our Criclytics Player Projector predicts Varun could pick up 0-1 wickets in this match.

Arshdeep Singh has picked up eight wickets in the last five matches and has been nailing those wide Yorkers, especially at the death. Between overs 16-20, Arshdeep has picked up six wickets at 14.7 and has struck once every 10.3 deliveries, which are impressive. He will look to further add to his tally and give PBKS the advantage. 

Our Criclytics Player Projector predicts Arshdeep could pick up 0-1 wickets in this match.