IPL 2021: Punjab Kings (PBKS) Predicted Playing XI Against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Punjab Kings (PBKS) managed to cease their three-match losing streak after beating five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) by six wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

They also improved their net run rate after getting over the line with as many as 14 deliveries to spare. Their next game is against cellar-dwellers Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Monday, April 26 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Though on head-to-head, the Knights have an advantage over their opponents, keeping in mind KKR’s current form, KL Rahul and Co will fancy their chances.

Here’s PBKS’s Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2021 Match 21:

Openers (Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul (C and WK))

KL Rahul, without much of a doubt, has been the standout batter for the Punjab-based team in the tournament. The right-hander has 221 runs from five games at an average and strike rate of 55.25 and 133.13 respectively.

In the last game, he got a run-a-ball fifty, taking his team over the line. His partner, Mayank Agarwal, has started to find rhythm as well. In five games, he has notched 130 runs with a top score of 69.

In the last game, he got out while trying to clear the boundary downtown. Going into the next game, PBKS would be hoping for them to come out all guns blazing.

Middle-order (Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Shahrukh Khan)

In the middle-order, Chris Gayle has shown a lot of maturity. The Jamaican has taken his time early on but has managed to press the accelerator. The left-hander, thus far, has notched 119 runs and his top score of an unbeaten 43 came in the last match.

PBKS would want him to continue his form. Nicholas Pooran has nine runs from four games and it’s high time for the southpaw to get amongst the runs.

Bearing in mind his quality, it’s only a matter of time before the left-hander strikes form. Shahrukh Khan hasn’t flattered to deceive by any means. He has shown his potential to play the big shots.

All-rounder (Deepak Hooda, Fabian Allen, Moises Henriques)

Deepak Hooda has displayed the damage he can do with the bat in hand. But with the ball in hand, he hasn’t disappointed either. Having bowled nine overs, Hooda has an economy rate of 6.11 and has also picked up one wicket.

He would be looking to contribute more to his side going forward. Fabian Allen had an off-day last time around and he would want to make amends. Allen is no mug with the bat and can play the big shots.

Moises Henriques bowled with a lot of accuracy and has an economy of 4.75, though he is yet to get a wicket. He can also use the long handle to good effect.

Bowlers (Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami)

In the bowling department, Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh have shouldered the mantle more often than not. Both have picked up six wickets each and have similar economy rates.

However, in the last match, they couldn’t get a wicket. The duo can’t afford to drop their guard. Ravi Bishnoi had to sit out in the first four games as PBKS preferred Murugan Ashwin over him.

But in his first game, the young leggie didn’t flatter to deceive. In four overs, he gave away a mere 21 runs and picked up two important wickets. He’s most likely to retain his place in the playing eleven.