Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals Prediction: KKR were not able to defend 261

Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad are going head to head in the Match 45 of the Indian Premier League at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India on 29th April 2024. Kolkata were not able to defend 261 in previous game. Who will win this game of cricket?

Shreyas Iyer's squad suffered a significant defeat in their previous match, succumbing by 8 wickets to the Punjab Kings. KKR's captain Iyer will be disappointed by the underperformance of his bowlers. The team failed to defend even a humungous total of 261 runs. 

Philip Salt and Sunil Narine have been formidable against bowling attacks, and the team is counting on them for a solid start in the next match. The middle order, comprising Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, and Shreyas Iyer, has been consistent this season.

The bowling need to bounce back from their dismal showing in the last game. The team will rely on Dushmantha Chameera and Harshit Rana to deliver strong performances. Sunil Narine is the standout bowler for the team along side Varun. Anukul Roy, Russell, and Ramandeep Singh will be crucial in supporting roles.

Shreyas Iyer (c), Philip Salt (wk), Sunil Narine, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Dushmantha Chameera, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana, Anukul Roy (Impact Player)

Rishab Pant's squad has regained its momentum with back-to-back victories. The team showcased a formidable batting performance against the Mumbai Indians in their recent outing, clinching a high-scoring encounter by a margin of 10 runs. Facing a formidable challenge in the upcoming match, Pant anticipates a resilient display from his bowlers.

Jake Fraser-McGurk impressed with a dynamic innings in the previous game and aims to replicate his success alongside Abishek Porel at the top order. The middle order displayed promising form, with contributions expected from Shai Hope, Rishab Pant, and Tristan Stubbs. Axar Patel and Kumar Kushagra will seek to accelerate the scoring in the lower middle order.

The bowling unit needs to rise to the occasion, particularly as the Knight Riders' batsmen have been in stellar form. Lizaad Williams and Khaleel Ahmed, who conceded runs in the last match, must strive for early breakthroughs. Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel are tasked with maintaining pressure during the middle overs. Rasikh Dar Salam's notable performance in the previous game underscores his importance in the upcoming contest.

Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Kumar Kushagra, Shai Hope, Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Lizaad Williams, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Rasikh Dar Salam (Impact Player)

The Delhi Capitals have recently shown improvement in their batting performance over the last couple of matches, although their overall consistency remains a concern. Similarly, their bowling unit has displayed inconsistency, which could pose a challenge against KKR. While the Knight Riders have been formidable in dismantling opposing bowling attacks, their own bowling lineup has struggled to maintain top form. Anticipating a closely contested match, it appears that the Knight Riders hold a slight advantage.