The Kolkata Knight Riders saw the Gujarat Lions lose on Tuesday and on Wednesday that means they can move to the top of the Indian Premier League table when they host the stragglers Kings XI Punjab at the iconic Eden Gardens.
Kolkata Knight Riders
The Knight Riders came through a belting match in Bangalore last time out when they chased down a total thanks to their powerful middle order. That should have set them up nicely for a long run of home matches which are to come.
It is fair to say that Kolkata’s bowling has struggled in recent matches although on small grounds we shouldn’t be too harsh on them but I thought they bowled well in the main against Bangalore and that should give them plenty of confidence.
Kings XI Punjab
The immediate signs are that changing the captaincy is going to work for the Kings XI. They won their first game under Murali Vijay and David Miller looks to be finding form again with the bat so that is a win win situation.
Kings XI know they will need to build on that win over Gujarat last time out if they are to push on and get among the playoff places. In that match their bowlers showed that they can perform so if they keep doing that and the batting finds a consistency there might yet be life in the Punjab side.
Team news
On a traditionally slow Eden Gardens track you would think Chris Lynn is a sitting duck to be rested. Shakib can probably better him with the bat and he adds a bowling option so that looks an obvious change to make.
Kings XI Punjab will be without Shaun Marsh for the remainder of the season as he has been ruled out through injury. That could open the door up for Farhaan Berhardien to deputise until Hashim Amla arrives as Marsh’s replacement.
Form
Kolkata Knight Riders: WLWWWLLW
Kings XI Punjab: LLWLLLW
Head to head: Kolkata Knight Riders 12-6 Kings XI Punjab
In Kolkata: Kolkata Knight Riders 5-2 Kings XI Punjab
Eden Gardens
This is just the third match of the tournament on this ground. The first two were early in the tournament when the wicket was recovering from the T20 World Cup but even then it played well apart from Delhi had a shocker against the Kolkata spinners.
We know the wicket will turn but the boundaries here are pretty small especially straight, as Ben Stokes can sadly testify for. I don’t think this will be as low scoring as people make out especially with near enough three weeks without a match here now.
Betting
I’m expecting the home side to get the job done but there is little value in them at the prices especially as we don’t know if Kings XI’s win last time out was a sign of change or just a one off so it is the side markets for me here.
Bookmakers seem to have fallen into the trap of thinking you can’t score runs on this ground but I’m not sure I’m having that. I’m not having that actually. Take out that Delhi horror show where even then they hit three sixes in only making 98 all out and this has been a high scoring ground recently.
Kolkata couldn’t defend 187 in the last match here while England couldn’t defend 155 in the T20 World Cup final. Earlier in that tournament Pakistan blasted 200 here so you can score on this ground if you’re not reckless.
Unfortunately the Kings XI have a reputation for being reckless but they have enough batting depth now that they can afford to be a little bit gung ho. That said I fancy Kings XI to bat much better with David Miller freed up. He looks to be coming back to form while Glenn Maxwell made 50 two matches ago.
With that in mind we’re going to have Uthappa, potentially Shakib, Yusuf Pathan, Andre Russell, S Yadav, Mohra, Maxwell and Miller all smacking it big for us and I believe that is just too much batting talent for there not to be at least 11 sixes in this match.
Tips
WON – Back 11 or more sixes for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Bet365
Back it here:
