With another weekend being here we have another double header in the Indian Premier League on Saturday, one which begins in Abu Dhabi as the Kings XI Punjab take on the Kolkata Knight Riders in what is a big match for the former.
The Kings XI go into this match in terrible form and are in danger of getting cut adrift at the bottom of the table while the Knight Riders have found a groove in recent times and will be looking to move up to third with a win here.
Kings XI Punjab
It is now four successive matches without a win for the Kings XI Punjab and it doesn’t seem to matter what they do, they can’t stem the flow of runs that they are conceding. That was the case in their last match when even though they beefed up their bowling attack they still conceded more than 200. That change to their attack came as a detriment to their batting depth and predictably they were rolled over for next to nothing.
It looks like the Kings XI are going to bring Chris Gayle into their side which is probably needed. They are likely to have to fight fire with fire with the way they are bowling at the minute so it makes sense to do it with one of the biggest and cleanest hitters of a ball the game has ever seen. If he can tee off and get them a score it might inspire their bowlers to come to the party. One thing is for sure is they need to find a way to restrict an opposition side, however hard that will be here.
Kolkata Knight Riders
After slipping up to the Delhi Capitals in a Sharjah slog fest a couple of matches ago, the Kolkata Knight Riders bounced back with a win over the Chennai Super Kings last time out in a game they didn’t play particularly well in. That will give them a lot of confidence because there is a lot more to come from them. Only Rahul Tripathi got going with the bat so it was to their credit that they were able to see off a seasoned side like Chennai.
Not for the first time in this tournament the Knight Riders showed a versatility and a willingness for change for the better good and it had immediate dividends. Earlier in the season they needed to make adjustments to their bowling and that came good and in the last match they made the switch in the opening position and that had an immediate impact as well. Now they just need the rest of their order to follow and find some form and they’ll be a real threat.
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Key Men
If Chris Gayle makes his seasonal bow for the Kings XI Punjab in this match he will be a key man. They are going to need a mountain of runs with the way they are bowling so a Gayle special would certainly help in that regard.
Pat Cummins was the big signing for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the close season and if Gayle does start this match they will need someone to shift him on early. The Australian can be that man as well as clouting a few runs at the back end against this dreadful Kings XI death bowling.
Betting
I’m all for the Kolkata Knight Riders in this match. Until we see something from this Kings XI bowling attack it can be the only way to go in their matches. Admittedly their batting is likely to improve with Glenn Maxwell out of the side. He has been in awful form since the tournament began, but in truth it isn’t their batting that is providing the problem, it is very much their bowling and there have been no signs of that bring rectified.
Even then the Kolkata Knight Riders have the better batting line up of the two, even if they haven’t yet worked out their best order, and they have much the better bowling attack and plenty of options to bring into the side to ensure they don’t lose anything in that department. There is always the chance of someone going bonkers like Nicholas Pooran did in the last match but barring that I just don’t see how Kolkata lose this.
Tips
WON – Back Kolkata Knight Riders to beat Kings XI Punjab for a 3/10 stake at 1.73 with Betway
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