KKR vs RR: Live Streaming, Match Preview, Timings, Stats, Pitch Report and more for Dream11 IPL, Match 54

The Rajasthan Royals’ win over Kings XI Punjab has kept them alive, but that result has been a lifeline for the Kolkata Knight Riders too.

Published - 01 Nov 2020, 11:15 IST | Updated - 01 Nov 2020, 11:15 IST

2 Min Read

Independent and yet interdependent is this Indian Premier League (IPL). The teams compete and how, and then suddenly comes the business end of the tournament, and starts the if-this-then-that. All of a sudden, the foes become friends, and they become foes again! It is such a symbiotically competitive tournament, this IPL. My apologies if the above rambling make little sense, but where on earth do we see such insane scramble? Two competing teams relying on each other’s results to proceed. That is what the last week of IPL has been all about.

The Rajasthan Royals’ win over Kings XI Punjab has kept them alive, but that result has been a lifeline for the Kolkata Knight Riders too, who are their rivals in the last Sunday doubleheader clash. So, a couple of days ago, KKR must have been praying for RR to win. A couple of days later, they will meet their life-savers in a knockout clash. Read above, hopefully, the ramble would now make sense!

Well, to talk business, KKR needs to win, and so does RR. The former not only need to win but win big given their tanked net run rate. And for neither of them does a win ensure a spot in the top four. For KKR, the only chance of qualification is to beat RR, and then hope that no other team ties with them at 14 points. That is to say, KXIP loses to CSK, and SRH lose to MI. If RR wins against KKR, then KKR’s equation becomes theirs, and their best-case scenario, too, becomes KXIP and SRH losing their last fixture.

Although, for RR, who has a better net run rate than KKR, the battle is slightly easier. As even with an NRR clash, RR can make it to the top four if one among DC or RCB lose their last game and stay on 14 points. So, in short, both the teams will have their eyes glued on KXIP’s game. For now, KKR would want to take inspiration from their 37-run victory over RR, when they last met.

Pitch and conditions

An even contest between the bat and ball awaits both the teams. Though there has been some initial movement for the quicks, the spinners are becoming increasingly dominant as the tournament is progressing. Thrice in the last five games has the chasing team won, though considering that this a high-octane clash, the teams might want to look to get runs on the scoreboard.

Playing Combinations for KKR vs RR

Kolkata Knight Riders

The KKR think-tank will have plenty to ponder as barring Nitish Rana, their top-three, has not been able to score consistently. Although Gill and Rana put on KKR’s best first-wicket stand in the last game, Rahul Tripathi and Dinesh Karthik have not been able to click.

One positive for them, however, has been the performance of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, who both have contributed to the team’s success quite consistently in the recent past. Pat Cummins has constantly misfired and has just eight wickets from 13 games, while the likes of Prasidh Krishna, Shivam Mavi, and Kamlesh Nagarkoti have lacked consistency too.

Probable XI- Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Eoin Morgan (C), Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh/Kuldeep Yadav, Pat Cummins, Lockie Ferguson, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Varun Chakravarthy

Rajasthan Royals

For RR, things have started to work all of a sudden. Ben Stokes, after some struggle, has hit form in some style, whereas Sanju Samson has been able to get into the groove as well. With Smith getting some runs and Jos Buttler adopting his role as a finisher, the only concern for the team remains is Robin Uthappa’s patchy form.

Jofra Archer has been the leader of the pack and has been utterly consistent. Getting into the knockout clash, he would not mind if Shreyas Gopal, Ankit Rajpoot, and Kartik Tyagi could come to support him.

Probable XI- Robin Uthappa, Ben Stokes, Steve Smith (C), Sanju Samson (WK), Jos Buttler, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Ankit Rajpoot, Kartik Tyagi