The 47th match of the ongoing IPL 2022 will see the return clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), which will be played on May 2 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. RR had gotten better of KKR in a tense win last time in Brabourne stadium.
RR is placed 3rd on the IPL 2022 points table with 6 wins from 9 matches, while KKR is 8th with 3 wins from 9 matches, just above the Chennai Super Kings on net run rate. This match is kind of a must-win for them as a loss here will blow out their chances of a playoff qualification.
Keeping this in mind, here is the COC Predicted playing XIs for the KKR v RR match
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS
Kolkata Knight Riders are in need of a big push to win all of their remaining matches; however, they are currently stuck in a five-match losing streak. It has been almost a month since they won in the IPL 2022 and now it is high time for them to start gathering some wins.
However, KKR’s top order is non-existent even as they have experimented with multiple combinations right at the top. Venkatesh Iyer has not shown the same zeal and form he showed the last time and KKR have even resorted to having Sunil Narine open the innings.
Nitish Rana, captain Shreyas Iyer himself, and Andre Russell have been the batters amongst runs for KKR, but none has managed to consistently score big runs. Russell has also been good with the ball as well, though used wisely.
Shreyas Iyer might be enticed to bring back Ajinkya Rahane at the top to bring some stability to the batting core.
Umesh Yadav and Tim Southee have been excellent with the ball, but they are missing Pat Cummins’ expertise as well. Harshit Rana may retain his place after impressing in his initial outing.
RAJASTHAN ROYALS
Rajasthan Royals have balanced their wins and losses well and hence have been in the top three in the IPL points table consistently. With 6 wins in 9 matches, they need 2-3 more wins in the remaining matches to make it into the playoffs.
Sanju Samson has led from the front with Jos Buttler leading the batting charts. He had scored a century when RR last played KKR. Shimron Hetmyer and Riyan Parag supporting him well, Devdutt Padikkal has finally found some form as well and will look to capitalize on it. Even Riyan Parag got into run-making lately and his fielding has been excellent.
Daryl Mitchell got to play two games in a row, but couldn’t do much with either the bat or the ball and RR may bring in Jimmy Neesham, a better bowler than Mitchell to complement their main bowling attack.
R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal have been the heart of the RR bowling lineup with Chahal donning the Purple Cap for most wickets. Chahal had taken a hat-trick and picked five wickets as well against KKR and would want to do a replay of that performance this time as well.
The pace bowling unit of Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna has given RR wickets upfront, while Kuldeep Sen has been the find of the tournament thanks to his ability to bowl really fast.
KKR COC Predicted Playing XI:
Aaron Finch, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (C), Nitish Rana, Sunil Narine, Baba Indrajith (WK), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Harshit Rana
RR COC Predicted Playing XI:
Jos Buttler, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson (C-WK), Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Jimmy Neesham, R Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Sen
