IPL 2016, Match 51 GL vs KKR Preview: Can Kolkata ride to victory against the Lions?

Andre Russell will be key for the KKR

The Kolkata Knight Riders may have lost their previous match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in VIVO IPL 2016, but they are still in a comfortable position to make it to the playoffs. The biggest headache for the Knight Riders from the game though was the injury to their highest wicket-taker Andre Russell. The extent of Russell’s injury is yet to be disclosed by the staff of the Kolkata Knight Riders, but one thing that is for sure is he will not take part in the match against the Gujarat Lions. 

The Gujarat Lions will be happy with the return of their captain Suresh Raina to the team and hope he can safely guide them to the playoffs. The Lions were beaten comprehensively by the Royal Challengers Bangalore in their previous game by a massive margin of 144 runs. The Lions will have to put on a courageous display against the Knight Riders and claim a victory to seal a spot in the top 4.

The Match 51 of VIVO IPL 2016 will take place at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Gujarat Lions. 

Match Date and Time: 19 May 2016, 8 pm (IST)

Match Venue:  Green Park, Kanpur. 

Weather:

Temperature: Max 42°C, Min 36°C

Humidity: Max 27%

Wind: 13 km per hour

Pitch Report: Par-score 170. The batsmen will have a good time on this wicket.
 

In-Depth Analysis:

The Gujarat Lions need to address their batting issues. Openers Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum will need to bat freely and set the tone for the match. The Lions have failed to perform on a consistent basis after a brilliant start to their campaign.

It is high time that Raina starts performing to his full potential and takes responsibility for the Lions’ middle order. Raina season thus far has been disappointing, scoring 286 runs in 11 innings including a single fifty.

Another star batsman who has not lived up to the expectations is Dinesh Karthik with 268 runs in 12 innings. Karthik will need to use his expertise in scoring quickly in the mid overs and make sure that the scoreboard is ticking. 

Placing Aaron Finch in the middle order was a good move by the Lions as he can be used as a catalyst to improve their scoring rate. The Caribbean all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has been the highest wicket-taker for the Lions, picking up 12 wickets in 11 matches in this season. The Lions will need the assistance of Bravo to stabilize the bowling department and stop the Knight Riders batsmen from running away with the game.

Skipper Gautham Gambhir has been in fantastic form for the Knight Riders this season, gathering 449 runs in 12 innings with 5 fifties and a decent strike-rate of 124. Robin Uthappa has complemented Gambhir really well at the top of the order, getting runs at a brisk rate. These 2 batsmen will be the key players for the Knight Riders.

A major plus for the Knight Riders has been the form of Yusuf Pathan. The explosive batsman has made a mockery of the opponent bowlers and has been an important figure in the Knight Riders unit. With the absence of Andre Russell, the Knight Riders will be needing the all-around services of Jason Holder, who can good with the ball and can also hit the cricket ball a long way.

Manish Pandey has been batting at the number 3 position and has scored a total of 152 runs in 9 matches. He will have to bat with even more care in the absence of Russell. With Suryakumar Yadav in the middle order, the Knight Riders should be able to do well in the batting department. 

The Knight Riders will be favorites to win against the Lions as they have a composed bowling line-up with Sunil Narine, Piyush Chawla, and Morne Morkel rearing to go for them. A win here for the Knight Riders and the Gujarat Lions might be facing a shock exit from the top 4.