IPL 2024, KKR vs PBKS: Punjab Kings Win Toss, Opt To Field Against Kolkata Knight Riders; Check Playing XIs

Kolkata: In the 42nd match of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Shreyas Iyer’s Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to face off against Punjab Kings (PBKS) after a nail-biting victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

KKR clinched the win by just one run in their previous match, a result that might not sit well with their mentor and former two-time IPL-winning captain, Gautam Gambhir.

With PBKS struggling, having lost four consecutive matches at home, they expect the return of captain Shikhar Dhawan from a shoulder injury, providing a much-needed boost.

KKR currently hold a strong position in the IPL standings, aiming to extend their successful run in the tournament. They have lost only one home game so far, and with qualification within reach, they seek to maximize points at their home ground. PBKS, on the other hand, have struggled to find stability at the top order but have discovered promising talent in Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma.

In their head-to-head history, KKR have dominated PBKS, winning 21 out of 32 encounters.

The Eden Gardens pitch is expected to favour the batters, with recent games witnessing close contests. However, the teams will have to contend with extreme heat conditions in Kolkata, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.

Playing XIs

Kolkata Knight Riders: Philip Salt(w), Sunil Narine, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Shreyas Iyer(c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Dushmantha Chameera, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana

KKR Impact Subs: Suyash Sharma, Anukul Roy, Manish Pandey, Vaibhav Arora, Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Punjab Kings: Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran(C), Rilee Rossouw, Jitesh Sharma(W), Shashank Singh, Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh

PBKS Impact Subs: Prabhsimran Singh, Rishi Dhawan, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Shivam Singh, Prince Choudhary