KKR will be bracing for what is set to be yet another mouth-watering clash against PBKS at 7.30 PM in Kolkata on Saturday. The last time the two sides met, Shreyas Iyer and co. created history by registering the lowest ever total defended in IPL. The defending champs haven’t enjoyed a great season so far.
KKR predicted playing XI vs PBKS
Quntion de Kock (WK), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (C), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Moeen Ali, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora
Impact player: Chetan Sakariya, Mayank Markande
de Kock in, Gurbaz out
After warming the bench for the first half of IPL 2025, Rahmanullah Gurbaz finally managed to find a spot in KKR’s playing XI in the previous game. However, he squandered the opportunity, managing to score just 1 run against GT. His poor outing could result in KKR reverting back to de Kock in the game against PBKS.
It is imperative for KKR’s openers to start firing as they remain the only team who haven’t had a 50-run opening partnership so far in the season. de Kock and Narine will be hoping to unleash their fury on PBKS bowlers in what will be a spin-favouring surface.
Skipper Ajinkya Rahane has also struggled against spin, although he has been KKR’s most consistent batter. The likes of Venkatesh Iyer and Andre Russell will have to pull their socks up and deliver standout performances in order to fancy any chance of KKR beating PBKS.
Will KKR use Sakariya?
KKR’s spin trio of Varun-Narine-Ali will have to do the heavy lifting in the game against PBKS. What KKR can do is add some more firepower by bringing in medium-pacer Chetan Sakariya as an impact player.
Sakariya was named as Umran Malik’s replacement earlier in March. However, he is yet to get a game in IPL 2025. The contest against PBKS could perhaps be the perfect stage for KKR to use Sakariya.
Another option that KKR can use to enhance their spin department is use Mayank Markande as an impact player.
KKR squad in IPL 2025
Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Moeen Ali, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Anukul Roy, Rovman Powell, Luvnith Sisodia, Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, Spencer Johnson, Chetan Sakariya, Mayank Markande
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