Indian Premier League 2019 Match 26, Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Kolkata Knight Riders will host Delhi Capitals for Match 26 of IPL 2019, at Eden Gardens. Despite their defeat against Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata are at second spot in the points table, ahead of both Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab on net run rate.

Delhi, on the other hand, are placed sixth, level with Sunrisers Hyderabad, but a win will help them draw level with Chennai, Kolkata, and Punjab on points. They are ahead of Punjab on net run rate, and have also a match in hand.

However, Kolkata’s only defeat this season (barring the Chennai match) has come against Delhi. Kolkata had posted 185/8 that night at Feroz Shah Kotla, with Andre Russell slamming 62 in 28 balls after Dinesh Karthik got a 36-ball 50. Sandeep Lamichhane finished with 4-0-29-1.

Prithvi Shaw led the charge for Delhi, slamming 99 in 55 balls, but Delhi lost momentum thereafter. They needed 6 off the last over, of which they got 4 off the first 4. Then Kuldeep Yadav snared Hanuma Vihari, while Colin Ingram was run out in pursuit of a second run.

And after Prasidh Krishna conceded 10 in the Super Over, Kagiso Rabada gave away just 7.

Head to head

Kolkata have a 13-8 advantage over Delhi. Both sides had won at home last season.

At Eden Gardens, Nitish Rana (59 in 35) and Russell (41 in 12) took KKR to 200/9 despite Rahul Tewatia’s 3/18. Then Sunil Narine (3/18) and Kuldeep (3/36) bowled out Delhi for 129.

Delhi had their revenge at Kotla, thanks to Shaw (62 in 44) and Shreyas Iyer (93* in 40). They scored 219/4 before restricting Kolkata to 164/9. Amit Mishra took 2/23 and Avesh Khan 2/29.

Key players

Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders): Narine had not impressed in this tournament till showing glimpses of form against Chennai, with figures of 3.2-0-24-2. He had also blasted out Punjab and Rajasthan Royals at the top; at this point his tournament strike rate reads 185. There is more to come.

Axar Patel (Delhi Capitals): Axar has tied down some of the hardest hitters with his left-arm spin without much fuss. His economy rate of 6.53 is the best for Delhi in the tournament. He also played a neat cameo against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Likely XIs

Kolkata Knight Riders: Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa (wk), Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), Shubman Gill, Andre Russell, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Harry Gurney.

Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Colin Ingram, Chris Morris, Axar Patel, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Ishant Sharma, Sandeep Lamichhane.

Prediction

Kolkata, the stronger team so far, to make the most of their home advantage.