Highlights:
- The last five games for Rajasthan Royals have all ended in losses.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, and Sanju Sampson make up the top three scorers for the Rajasthan Royals with a combined 1177 runs.
- The lone bowler to stand out for KKR this season was Varun Chakravarthy, who took 17 wickets.
- In the previous four games, the batsmen for the Rajasthan Royals scored more than 200 runs three times.
The 56th match of the IPL 2023 will feature Rajasthan Royals (RR) vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The match will take place in Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. With five victories and six defeats in their first eleven games, Rajasthan Royals sit fifth in the standings. They suffered a devastating final ball loss in their previous encounter against Sunrisers, losing by 4 wickets. Up until Sandeep Sharma’s costly no-ball on the final ball, they appeared to have the game in hand. The Rajasthan Royals, who had a strong start to the season, have fallen off the pace, losing four of their past five games, and are in a situation where they cannot afford to lose any more games.
Kolkata Knight Riders, on the other side, have five victories and six defeats in their 11 games, placing them sixth in the standings. They have kept their hopes of qualifying alive by winning their most recent matche against Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad. They’ll be playing at home and will try to take advantage of the weather. They have discovered a lineup that appears to be working well for them as they have won three of their past five games. The winner of this match, though, will move into the top 4 of the points table, making it a crucial match for both of these teams. There have been 27 encounters between these two teams, with Kolkata Knight Riders winning 14 of them while Rajasthan won in 12. This contest looks like it will be exciting.
KKR Vs RR Head To Head:
KKR has a marginally better head-to-head record than RR in the IPL. The two teams have played against each other 26 times, with Kolkata Knight Riders winning 14 of those matches, while Rajasthan Royals have emerged victorious in the remaining 12 matches, including two wins in the Super Over.
Having said that, let us take a closer look at their past 5 meetings
KKR Vs RR Last 5 Encounters:
May 2, 2022: KKR won by 7 wickets
April 18, 2022: RR won by 7 runs
October 7, 2021: KKR won by 86 runs
April 24, 2021: RR won by 6 wickets
November 1, 2020: KKR won 60 runs
Expected Top Performers For KKR And RR:
Probable Best Batsman
Yashasvi Jaiswal:
Yashasvi Jaiswal has been having an exceptional season for the Royals, amassing 477 runs in 11 appearances at an impressive average of 43.36, including three half-centuries and a century. He will be looking to continue his fine form in the upcoming matches and produce a big innings against KKR.
Probable Best Bowler:
Varun Chakaravarthy:
Varun Chakaravarthy is likely to be the most effective bowler for KKR. He has been a potent force with the ball so far in the tournament, delivering vital breakthroughs during crucial phases of the game. He will aim to replicate his impressive performance from the last game against Punjab, where he conceded only 26 runs in four overs and claimed three wickets.
Probable Best Wicketkeeper:
Jos Buttler:
Jos Buttler put up a superb performance in his previous IPL match, scoring an impressive 95 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad. With a total of 392 runs in 11 matches at an average of 35.64, Buttler is a formidable batsman and a valuable addition to the team.
Probable Best All-Rounder:
Ravichandran Ashwin:
Ravichandran Ashwin has emerged as one of the leading spinners in this tournament, having captured 14 wickets in 11 matches at an impressive average of 21.64. He has frequently delivered economical spells and is also capable of contributing crucial runs with the bat. Therefore, Ashwin would be a valuable addition.
Additional Stats Of KKR And RR:
KKR highest score against RR: 160
RR highest score against KKR: 175
Most runs for KKR: 202 (Nitish Rana)
Most runs for RR: 340 (Sanju Samson)
Most wickets for KKR: 12 (Sunil Narine)
Most wickets for RR: 5 (Yuzvendra Chahal)
Most catches for KKR: 3 (Rinku Singh)
Most catches for RR: 8 (Sanju Samson)
Lowest total defended by KKR against RR: 169
Lowest total defended by RR against KKR: 144
Match Prediction
Kolkata Knight Riders have primarily depended on their big-hitting batsmen to secure victories, while their bowling unit has been the most unpredictable of the season, causing problems in several matches. As they prepare to face a formidable batting lineup, their bowlers will need to step up their game.
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The Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, have been in outstanding form with the bat, which has been their forte this season. Additionally, they possess two top-notch spinners in their squad, providing them with an advantage over their opponents.