Indian Premier League 2019 Match 6, Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Kolkata Knight Riders will host Kings XI Punjab for the sixth match of IPL 2019. Both sides had started with wins, but it was not easy for either: KKR chased down the target set by Sunrisers Hyderabad with only 2 balls to spare, while KXIP, helped by a Rajasthan Royals collapse, won by 14 runs.

The Kolkata bowling attack – especially their famed spin trio – fell apart in the first match as David Warner went after them. Dinesh Karthik could get only 8 overs out of his three spinners. That is something they will need to address, for this time they will have Chris Gayle and KL Rahul to contend with.

KKR had also tried holding Sunil Narine back, a decision that almost backfired against SRH. Nitish Rana batted well but he let the asking rate mount. That may be rectified if Narine is sent at the top to partner Chris Lynn.

Punjab has looked better in comparison. Mohammed Shami and Ankit Rajpoot bowled well, and while Sam Curran went for runs, he picked up two crucial top-order wickets. R Ashwin and Mujeeb Ur Rahman are an excellent pair of experimental bowlers.

And then, there is a ferocious batting opening pair of Gayle and Rahul, followed by Nicholas Pooran and Sarfaraz Khan.

Head to head

Kolkata enjoy a 15-8 lead over Punjab in IPL history (this includes a win in the 2014 IPL final). The teams had met twice last year.

KKR put up 191/7 in the first of these, at home, Lynn’s 74 taking him 41 balls. KXIP needed 125 in 13 overs according to the DLS rule, and they got there with 11 balls to spare. Rahul (60 in 27) and Gayle (62* in 38) added 116 for the opening stand in just 58 balls.

KKR won the return match, in Indore. They posted a humongous 245/4, Narine scoring 75 in 36 balls and Karthik 50 in 23. Despite Rahul’s 29-ball 66, Punjab could reach only 214/8.

Key players

Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders): Russell found form in KKR’s tournament opener, going for runs but picking up two out of three of the SRH wickets to fall. Then he smashed an unbeaten 49 off 19 balls to convert a hopeless 52-in-3-overs to a win. He is tremendous form, and is the one Punjab should be really wary of.

Chris Gayle (Kings XI Punjab): Life has been good to Universe Boss of late. He got 79 off 47 balls in Punjab’s tournament opener, the highest score in the match, and will want to continue with the tremendous form.

Likely XIs

Kolkata Knight Riders: Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Nitish Rana, Robin Uthappa, Shubman Gill, Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), Andre Russell, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Sandeep Warrier.

Kings XI Punjab: Chris Gayle, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Sarfaraz Khan, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Mandeep Singh, Sam Curran, R Ashwin (c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammed Shami, Ankit Rajpoot.

Prediction

Kolkata to bank on home advantage and win.