Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) return to Eden Gardens on Sunday, where they face a do-or-die clash against Rajasthan Royals (RR). With five losses in nine games and just one win at home all season, the defending champions are staring at an early exit unless they win all four of their remaining matches. Against a wounded RR unit, KKR must bring their A-game—especially from the batters who have underwhelmed.
Despite the uphill battle, KKR are likely to retain the same playing XII that took the field in their last outing. However, all attention will be on two of their senior-most players—Venkatesh Iyer and Andre Russell—both enduring torrid campaigns.
Spotlight on Venkatesh Iyer & Andre Russell
KKR’s Rs 23.75 crore investment in Venkatesh Iyer has failed to bear fruit. The left-hander has scored just 142 runs in 7 innings at an average of 20.28, without contributing with the ball. Barring a lone fifty against SRH, Iyer has looked woefully out of touch, raising questions about his place in the XI.
Andre Russell’s decline has been even more dramatic. After explosive knocks early in the season, he’s since managed only 72 runs from seven innings at an average of 10.28—his worst return in any IPL season where he’s batted regularly. Once KKR’s ultimate finisher, Russell now looks like a shadow of his former self and has a strike rate of 130.90 so far.
Yet, with no like-for-like replacements and playoff hopes on the line, KKR are expected to back their experienced stars to deliver when it matters most.
KKR Predicted Playing XI with Impact Sub vs RR
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Sunil Narine | All-rounder (Spin) |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Right-hand batter (WK) |
| Ajinkya Rahane (C) | Right-hand batter |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | Right-hand batter |
| Venkatesh Iyer | Left-hand batter |
| Rinku Singh | Left-hand batter |
| Andre Russell | All-rounder |
| Rovman Powell | Right-hand batter |
| Anukul Roy | Left-arm orthodox |
| Harshit Rana | Right-arm pacer |
| Vaibhav Arora | Right-arm pacer |
| Impact Player: Varun Chakaravarthy (Mystery-spinner) |
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