Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals Predictions: This is a crucial match for both teams in their quest for playoff spots

Playing in their twelfth game of the season Kolkata Knight Riders will welcome Rajasthan Royals in the 56th game of the season at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on 11th May. This is a crucial match for both teams in their quest for playoff spots. Who will win this game?

Before the start of their latest campaign, Kolkata Knight Riders suffered a few setbacks with some of their key players, such as Shreyas Iyer and Shakib Al-Hasan, being unavailable to play. Their inconsistent start to the season also didn't help matters. However, the team has made a strong comeback in their last few matches, winning three out of their last four games, and are now vying for a spot in the top four. Nonetheless, there is still a lot of work left to be done, as other teams are also fighting for the coveted spot.

Jason Roy's inclusion in the team has given a boost to their underpowered batting lineup. With two half-centuries in five outings, Roy is averaging 43.60 and, along with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, will aim to give KKR a solid start.

The middle-order batsmen, especially Nitesh Rana, are in good form, and Rinku Singh has excelled in his role as a finisher, almost single-handedly winning KKR two matches this season. Andre Russell, who has had a relatively quiet season so far, finally managed to score some runs in the last match.

KKR's spin attack, led by Varun Chakaravarthy, has been impressive, with Chakaravarthy taking 17 wickets in 11 matches, while Suyash Sharma and Sunil Narine have picked up 10 and 7 wickets respectively.

However, their seam attack remains a weak point for the team, with Umesh Yadav, Vaibhav Arora, and Harshit Rana failing to make an impact.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana (c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Suyash Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy

The recent performances of the Rajasthan Royals would have disappointed their captain, Sanju Samson. After a promising start to the season that saw them take the top spot for a brief period, the team has lost five of their last six matches and will now have to fight with several other teams for a spot in the playoffs.

In their latest fixture, the opening partnership of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler performed excellently, putting up a quick 54-run partnership for the first wicket. Buttler managed to score his highest individual score of the season, and Samson supported him well as the Royals posted their highest-ever total at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

However, the home team's bowling effort, particularly that of the seamers, was poor as they were unable to defend the target. Although Yuzvendra Chahal bowled well, taking four wickets, the rest of the bowlers conceded crucial runs. The Royals will be hoping that their middle order performs well in the upcoming matches.

Shimron Hetmeyer, Devdutt Padikkal, and Dhruv Jurel have played vital innings in the past, and the team will be counting on them once again. While Chahal, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Trent Boult are the most experienced bowlers in the team, the others, including Sandeep Sharma and Kuldip Yadav, will need to improve their line and length.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Joe Root, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Sen, Sandeep Sharma, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal

The playing surface at this venue seems to have dried out somewhat and has become more conducive to batting, as evidenced by the previous match. Teams batting first will aim to score over 200 runs, giving their bowlers a decent chance. Although the pacers may face difficulties, the spinners will find some assistance due to the cracks and rough patches on the pitch. The forecast for the weather is hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from 29 to 32 degrees Celsius. We expect RR to win as they will bounce back.