KKR Vs RR Preview: Buoyant Knight Riders face floundering Royals in playoffs race

RCB Vs KKR Preview: Both teams will be playing their first game of the season against each other.

The 56th match of the Indian Premier League 2023 will be played at Eden Gardens, where the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face off against the Rajasthan Royals (RR).

KKR managed to turn things around after recording just 3 wins in their first 9 matches, winning two consecutive games, and improving their record to 5 wins out of 11 matches. Their most recent win was a five-wicket victory over PBKS, which has given them a chance to stay in the race for a top-four spot. As they prepare for their upcoming match against RR, KKR will seek to sustain their winning form and secure a vital victory, knowing that every game from now on is crucial for the playoffs qualification.

RR have only managed to win 1 out of their last 6 matches, bringing their total wins to 5 out of 11 matches. They recently suffered a defeat against SRH by 4 wickets, which they could have won. As the tournament nears its business end, it is crucial for RR to secure victories in all their remaining matches to keep their chances of securing a place in the top 4 alive. Their upcoming game against KKR is particularly important, and they will be looking to bounce back from their previous loss and secure a much-needed win.

KKR Vs RR: Pitch Report

Eden Gardens is well-known for its batsman-friendly pitch, allowing batters to score runs easily as the ball usually comes onto the bat effortlessly. Although seamers might find some assistance in the early stages, the pitch predominantly benefits the batsmen. The spinners might get some help as we saw in last match.

KKR Vs RR: Team News

After much experimentation, KKR appears to have settled on a playing XI that they can rely on, as evidenced by their recent victory over PBKS. As they prepare for their upcoming match against RR, KKR may decide to stick with the same playing XI that delivered a positive outcome. Jason Roy will play as an impact player once again.

Winning only 1 of their last 6 games, and with an upcoming match against KKR, RR might consider bringing back Trent Boult into the team if he's fit to play, potentially replacing Obed McCoy. Additionally, they might also bring Murugan Ashwin in place of Kuldip Yadav.

KKR Vs RR: Head To Head

Matches – 27

Kolkata Knight Riders – 14

Rajasthan Royals – 12 

No Result – 1

KKR Vs RR: Players to watch

Kolkata Knight Riders: Jason Roy

KKR have found a new spark in their team with the recent performances of Jason Roy, the England batsman who has scored 218 runs in five matches, including two half-centuries. This has been of utmost importance to the team, given the lackluster performances of their openers. In their upcoming match against RR, KKR will be banking on Roy to continue his good form and provide them with a solid batting performance. His contributions are likely to be crucial in KKR's bid to secure a victory and remain in the hunt for a playoff spot.

Rajasthan Royals: Jos Buttler

It seems that Jos Buttler has found his form again, after having a few disappointing performances in recent matches. He scored an impressive 95 off 59 balls in the last match against SRH, though he missed out on a century in a match that RR eventually lost. However, with the next match against KKR coming up and with the good form of Jaiswal and Buttler, the latter's contributions could be crucial for the team. If Buttler manages to keep his form going and score more runs, it could give RR a big advantage in their quest to win the next match.

KKR Vs RR: Probable Playing XIs:

Kolkata Knight Riders Predicted Playing XI:

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

Rajasthan Royals Predicted Playing XI:

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

KKR Vs RR: Match Facts

In 27 matches between the teams, KKR have won 14 and RR have won 12.

Sanju Samson will be playing his 150th match in the IPL.

In the last 6 matches between KKR and RR, KKR have emerged victorious in 4 matches, while RR have won 2 matches.

KKR Vs RR: Live Broadcasting

IND: Star Sports Network (TV) | JioCinema (Live Streaming)

UK: DAZN, Sky Sports

AUS: Fox Sports, Kayo Sports