IPL 2018: Match 10, KKR vs SRH, Preview: Sunrisers aim to breach KKR's Eden fortress

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the iconic Eden Gardens on a super Saturday in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Both the sides are going into this game after being part of a heart-wrenching thriller in their previous encounters. While the Knights couldn’t prevail, Sunrisers kept their nerves and are now at the top of the points table. However, this is a great chance for the hosts to get back to the winning ways in front of their home crowd.

Dinesh Karthik might have to come up with different tactics for the game after his move to give Vinay Kumar the final over was severely criticised. Though he has lived up to the expectations so far at the helm as it is not easy to lead KKR given the fan connect and emotions they carry with themselves. It is important for the team to win their home games and Eden Gardens has been their fortress over the years as the players in purple and golden pride on the record.

SRH almost dropped the match from their grasp the other night against Mumbai Indians (MI) and they would be looking avoid such collapses going forward this season. Kane Williamson will be thrilled the way their bowling attack has fared so far and it will be the battle between their bowlers and KKR batsmen. The batters though have to put their hands up now as they face a very tough side which will also be their first away game of the season.

Playing Combinations

Kolkata Knight Riders

KKR is expected to tweak their playing XI as they aim to keep winning at their home ground. Vinay Kumar might have to pay price for his lacklustre bowling in the last two games and should make way for the youngster Kamlesh Nagarkoti. Also, Rinku Singh might be benched to bring in the more enterprising and attacking Shubman Gill. There is no reason tinker much with the others as they are looking red-hot form and the team management will hope that they click together when it matters the most.

Probable XI: Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), Andre Russell, Kuldeep Yadav, Tom Curran, Piyush Chawla, Kamlesh Nagarkoti

Sunrisers Hyderabad

SRH missed their gun bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the last game who had a sore back and is likely to sit out one more game. Though he wasn’t missed much as his replacement Sandeep Sharma did an exceptional job conceding only 25 runs picking 1 wicket. Also, there is no reason to change the winning combination which has worked so well for them in the last couple of matches.

Probable XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Manish Pandey, Shakib Al Hasan, Deepak Hooda, Yusuf Pathan, Rashid Khan, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma, Billy Stanlake

Focus will be on

Chris Lynn (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Chris Lynn’s bat is yet to set the stage ablaze and he would be itching to do the same. He showed the glimpses of his hitting in the last match but failed to continue and it is only a matter of time before he gets going. The strong bowling attack of SRH poses a different threat and he would be aware of that. His explosive batting at the top should help a great deal in denting their confidence in the powerplay overs itself. Once Lynn finds his groove, KKR should be well and truly on their way towards glory.

Rashid Khan (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Rashid Khan has something up his sleeves every time to surprise the batsmen and his performance in the last match proves the same. Imagine a bowler bowling 18 dot balls which are effectively 3 maiden overs in a T20 match. It was a massive achievement by the 19-year-old kid and his four overs would be absolutely gold for SRH if they are to breach Eden Gardens. While the teams are preferring to play him out, Rashid now has to concentrate pick wickets which will make him an absolute match-winner in the shortest format.

Head to Head

Played- 12 Kolkata Knight Riders – 8, Sunrisers Hyderabad – 4, NR/Tie-  0

Stat Attack

TV– Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Jalsha (Bengali), Star Maa Movies (Telegu), Star Sports Tamil

Online– Hotstar & YuppTv

Match Timings: 20:00 IST, 14:30 GMT

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