IPL 2018, RR vs KKR Match Prediction: Who will come out on top between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders
Today’s match will be between Rajasthan Royals and the Kolkata Knight Riders at Jaipur. Both teams will be heading into this match at the back of victories in their previous games.
While Rajasthan Royals humbled Royal Challengers Bangalore at Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders pulverised the Delhi Daredevils at Kolkata by 71 runs.
Both teams have two wins under their belt although KKR have played four matches while RR three. The franchises will be booming with confidence ahead of the game and it is bound to be a pretty exciting encounter.
This is the first time in five years that KKR are facing RR at Jaipur. Last time when they took on RR at Jaipur, KKR lost the match by 19 runs.
A win for Kolkata Knight Riders will take them to the top of the table as they already have a better net run rate than current table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad.
If Rajasthan win then they will rise to atleast second position in the table.
Date: April 18
Venue: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Time: 20:00 IST
If Rajasthan Royals bat first
Predicted Score: 180+
Rajasthan Royals have a strong batting line-up spearheaded by skipper Ajinkya Rahane who gave the Royals a fiery start in their previous game with his 36 from 20 deliveries.
Rahane has plenty of experience now and his footwork and timing have made him a pretty formidable T20 batsman.
D’Arcy Short is yet to click in the tournament but if he gets settled, he could be a menace for the KKR bowlers.
The Royals’ biggest weapon in the batting department is Sanju Samson who has been in remarkable form so far.
A brilliant timer of the ball, Samson was sensational against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, smashing 92 from just 45 deliveries.
The middle overs will be his responsibility and he will definitely rise up to the task.
The likes of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler have played a couple of cameos in the tournament so far and they are bound to elevate the team’s run rate during the middle and death overs.
Not to forget RR also have Rahul Tripathi who can do the hitting. KKR might have the likes of Sunil Narine and Kuldeep Yadav but the RR batting has the firepower to get the better of them.
If Kolkata Knight Riders bat first
Predicted Score: 190+
KKR have the likes of Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine in their opening department. As aggressive as both may be, there is no guarantee of them staying for long, especially Narine.
Lynn has still played a couple of long innings from opening standards but Narine hasn’t delivered with the bat since his 19-ball 50 against RCB.
The Knight Riders will be hoping Nitish Rana, Robin Uthappa and skipper Dinesh Karthik to score big.
Rana played a sensational knock against Delhi Daredevils and he will probably be KKR’s most crucial batsman as far as durability as concerned.
The experienced Uthappa and Karthik will need to convert their quick starts into big scores which they weren’t able to do against DD.
KKR then have their secret weapon Andre Russell who has been performing in alternate matches so far.
Once Russell gets going, everybody knows what the outcome can be. In fact, Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Daredevils have been at the receiving end of Russell’s antics with the bat this season.
Even though KKR are playing at Rajasthan Royals’ home, the nature of the Jaipur pitch and the fact that RR do not have a very strong bowling department, they can put up a very strong total.
Although, the Knight Riders will be wary of the likes of Dhawal Kulkarni, Jaydev Unadkat and Shreyas Gopal who bowled a brilliant spell against RCB.
Match Prediction
Both teams are evenly matched when it comes to comparing their respective batting departments and quite frankly, the match will come down to which team can accumulate the greater number of runs.
However, KKR have the edge over Rajasthan Royals when it comes to comparing both the bowling departments.
Even though Rajasthan Royals will be playing on their home ground, the Knight Riders are at an advantage and will be entering the game as the favourites to register their third win of the competition.
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