The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), led by Shreyas Iyer, are aiming to bounce back to their winning streak as they face the struggling Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a pivotal IPL 2024 clash at Eden Gardens this Sunday. KKR’s recent performance witnessed a nail-biting last-ball defeat, despite setting a robust 223 runs against the Rajasthan Royals, leaving them in a precarious position as they cling to the second spot in the points table. Although they have only clinched one victory out of their last three encounters this season, the team still stays ahead as favorites against the beleaguered RCB.
On the other side, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru find themselves in dire straits, languishing at the bottom of the points table with a disappointing record of six losses from their first seven matches. Their recent attempt to chase a monumental 288-run target set by Sunrisers Hyderabad ended in a debacle. This has increased the urgency for RCB to secure a win to revive their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs.
The match venue, Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens, is known for its balanced pitch which typically favors batters as seen in the 2024 season matches. In previous games at this venue, high scores have been a common scene with the Rajasthan Royals successfully chasing a record-setting 224-run target, and KKR themselves pursuing 204 runs against the Sunrisers in the inaugural game of the season here. With all three matches this season at Eden Gardens won by teams batting second, the toss could prove to be a significant factor in determining the outcome of the forthcoming game.
To date, Eden Gardens has hosted a total of 12 T20 International matches. Out of these clashes, the team batting first has won five times, whereas teams chasing have taken the upper hand in seven instances. The average score for the first innings stands at 155, while for the second innings it slightly drops to 137. Records at this ground also tell tales of both highs and lows – the highest total recorded being 201/5 by Pakistan against Bangladesh, and the lowest a mere 70 runs by Bangladesh against New Zealand.
Looking ahead to the match, KKR has drafted a powerful predicted lineup featuring Philip Salt as the wicketkeeper, and a strong middle-order including skipper Shreyas Iyer, and powerhouse all-rounders like Andre Russell. They are supported by bowlers such as Mitchell Starc and Varun Chakaravarthy. Meanwhile, RCB’s predicted playing XI boasts of stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, alongside the dynamic Will Jacks, with Dinesh Karthik adding depth as wicketkeeper-batsman. Their bowling attack, featuring players like Lockie Ferguson and Mohammed Siraj, will be crucial in restraining KKR’s strong batting lineup.
As both teams prepare for the showdown on Sunday, the strategic deployment of players and the decisions taken at the toss will undoubtedly be crucial in shaping what promises to be an enthralling contest at one of cricket’s most revered venues. With KKR aiming to consolidate their position at the top and RCB struggling for survival in the tournament, this match is set to be a key fixture in the IPL 2024 narrative.