In-form Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face the reinvigorated Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) tomorrow at Pune. Kolkata have won five out of their seven matches while Pune have just got their winning momentum back by winning three consecutive wins against Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore in last three encounters. Of late, Dhoni and Stokes have also regained their forms – a welcome sign for the men-in-purple and RPS fans.
IPL 2017: Rising Pune Supergiant vs Kolkata Knight Riders – Live Score #IPL
KKR are currently placed at the second spot of the IPL points table after Mumbai Indians, while RPS have just broken into fourth spot in the IPL points table. Last time, KKR were bundled out for just 131 against RCB – they came back hard with the ball demolishing Kohli-led RCB at just 49. KKR might have won this match, but considering KKR’s strong batting prowess, they should have scored more. RPS once again will have heavy expectations from the flamboyant MS Dhoni. He has just got his form with a blitzkrieg 61 off 34 balls including five boundaries and three sixes against SRH.
Team News for Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS)
RPS were once standing on the verge of the exit door of play-off then suddenly their dramatic shift in momentum came winning three big matches on the trot. Top-order Rahul Tripathi has already played well this season hitting 178 runs from five games at a strike rate of 152. The 26-year-old hammered 31, 59 and 45 in the last three outings that Pune won. Now, Rahane, Smith, Stokes and Dhoni are also contributing good scores with the bat.
Pune’s bowling department is very strong including the likes of Imran Tahir, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat and Dan Christian. All of them are in good form. The Protea’s leggie Tahir is particularly impressive with his 10 wickets hauls from 7 IPL games. He is 7th in the Purple Cap Contender’s List at IPL 10.
Also Read: IPL 2017: Complete fixtures, schedule and time in IST with venue details
Team News for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
KKR’s strong point would be their fast bowling. It was the concerted effort of Chris Woakes, Trent Boult, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Colin de Grandhomme that 34 out of 47 wickets picked up by KKR at IPL 10 have gone to the credit of their fast bowling unit. Ace spinner Shakib-Al-Hasan will replace Nathan Coulter-Nile in tomorrow’s game as the latter has been rested.
It would be pretty difficult for the RPS to break the troika of KKR batting including big names like Gambhir, Manish Pandey and Uthappa very easily considering their consistent form. Then again RPS will have to dismiss pinch hitter Yousuf Pathan or else the match can go out of their hands for sure.
Predicted Playing XI (Both Teams)
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Sunil Narine, Gautam Gambhir (Captain), Robin Uthappa (Wicket Keeper), Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan, Surya Kumar Yadav, Colin de Grandhomme, Shakib al Hasan, Chris Woakes, Umesh Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav.
Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS): Steven Smith (Captain), MS Dhoni (Wicket Keeper), Ajinkya Rahane, Rahul Tripathi, Ben Stokes, Daniel Christian, Manoj Tiwary, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Imran Tahir and Jaydev Unadkat.
Head-to-Head: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have 2-0 win record against Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS).
Result Prediction: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will win.
Venue: Pune. Match will telecast live on SONY ESPN from 8 PM.
Tags: #IPL, Indian Premier League, IPL 10, IPL 2017, KKR, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rising Pune Supergiant, RPS, VIVO IPL
