The IPL 2020 points table is one of the most interesting ones at the moment, which sees one team out of the playoffs race and one team qualified for the playoffs. The rest of the 6 teams are still in the fray for the remainder of three spots in the playoffs.
Two of those teams Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) will clash in the 54th match of the IPL 2020 in Dubai in the second match of the doubleheader on November 1, 2020. The winner of this match will be in a better position for playoffs' qualification but will need some other results to go their way.
IPL 2020: Match 54, KKR v RR - Statistical Preview of the Match
KKR had beaten RR in their previous meeting on the same ground but then RR didn’t have the services of Ben Stokes, who has completely changed the dynamics of the team as an opener. For this important match between RR and KKR in Dubai, check out the TEAM COC presented Predicted Playing XIs.
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS (KKR)
KKR have themselves to blame for this situation. For a team that had won 4 out of their first six matches, and was sitting pretty in the top half of the points table, Dinesh Karthik gave up the captaincy to Eoin Morgan in the middle of the ongoing IPL 2020 and that turned the tide against the team.
Since then, KKR has won just two matches one via super over, out of their last six games. This includes two losses in their last two games to Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings. Now they find themselves in a position of not only winning this crucial encounter but winning it in a good way to boost their NRR.
KKR might get a huge shot in their arm with Andre Russell coming back into the playing XI for this match. Though Sunil Narine has done his bit with the bat, his performances with the ball have been largely ineffective with 5 wickets in 9 matches. Russell, who has been a shadow of his 2019 self, has struggled with fitness and has missed a few matches to deal with a knee injury.
Apart from that, Kuldeep Yadav might also get a look in if KKR decided to bring in Russell, at the expense of Narine, especially seeing that he might not bowl owing to that dodgy knee. Apart from these changes, not much is expected from the team which was strong on the paper, but couldn’t really perform in the field to their potential.
RAJASTHAN ROYALS (RR)
Rajasthan Royals have won three out of their last four matches to come into contention for the playoffs. And all of the three wins have been chasing including one score of 195 and another of 185, which was done with ease.
IPL 2020: ‘Race for reaching the playoffs will go down to the wire’, says RR all-rounder Ben Stokes
The experiment with Ben Stokes opening the innings didn’t work at first, but now he and Uthappa are giving RR flying starts and their batting looks set for a chase of any total. Sanju Samson has found his lost form as well, while Buttler playing as a finisher has resulted in a new lease of life for the RR team.
Their bowling is still contentious with only Jofra Archer doing the damage, while others trying to contain the run flow as much as possible. That is why they have succeeded in chasing so well, while have lost a few matches while defending a total, off late.
In this match as well, Steve Smith would like to win the toss and chase, giving his team the best of the opportunity to win and book a place in the playoffs and knock KKR out of the tournament.
KKR COC Predicted Playing XI:
Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan (C), Dinesh Karthik (WK), Andre Russell, Pat Cummins, Lockie Ferguson, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy
RR COC Predicted Playing XI:
Ben Stokes, Robin Uthappa, Steve Smith (C), Sanju Samson (WK), Jos Buttler, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Shreyas Gopal, Jofra Archer, Kartik Tyagi, Varun Aaron
