Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

IPL 2020 Match 12: RR vs KKR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | RR vs KKR Dream11 Prediction Today | Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report

Courtesy of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s solid win over Delhi Capitals, every team in IPL 2020 has won at least one match, highlighting just how competitive this tournament looks.

After Delhi’s first loss, Rajasthan Royals have the opportunity to push ahead at the top of the table. After a miraculous run chase against KXIP – the highest in IPL history – Rajasthan move away from Sharjah to the larger Dubai International Stadium, where six-hitting is still very much common, but an adjustment is required. The likes of Sanju Samson and Steve Smith have been superb at the top, and who will ever forget Rahul Tewatia’s amazing turnaround, hitting five sixes after labouring his way to 14 off 21 balls? So, can they take their great batting form from Sharjah and implement it at Dubai?

This match certainly has the makings for a beauty, with Kolkata Knight Riders possessing power of their own. KKR’s batting lineup has yet to fire in terms of big hitting, but Shubman Gill’s class was the talking point in an easy win last time out against SRH. This was after their bowlers put in a fine shift, and more of the same will be needed here against a Rajasthan side full of confidence.

So, will RR remain the only unbeaten team in IPL 2020, or will KKR become the fourth team to have four competition points?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• Sanju Samson has been one of the players of the tournament so far. His 159 runs to date come at an unbelievable strike rate of 214.86. While Dubai is a larger stadium, there have been 200+ scores in recent times, so watch out for Samson.
• However, can he improve on his modest record vs KKR (8 matches, 196 runs, avg. 24.50, SR 118.07)? He was able to improve on a modest record vs CSK earlier, and is capable of doing so here.
• Steve Smith has been excellent in T20 cricket over the past 12 months. Like Samson, Smith has two fifties in two matches so far in IPL 2020. Also, Smith has a decent record vs KKR, with 216 runs in nine matches, at an average of 36.00 (two fifties).
• Can Shubman Gill build on his 70* vs SRH? He has a very solid record as an IPL opener: 8 matches, 313 runs, avg. 52.17, SR 129.88.
• Jos Buttler also has a superb record as an IPL opener (25 innings, 1,015 runs, avg. 44.13, SR 156.88). Also, Buttler has been consistent vs KKR, with 184 runs in six matches at an average of 36.80 (SR 138.35). However, he is yet to score a fifty against them – will today be the day?
• Dinesh Karthik has the most runs of any current KKR player against RR. His 232 runs come at an average of 232, courtesy of a superb 97* (50) against them last season.
• Sunil Narine has had a quiet start to IPL 2020, but enjoys an excellent record vs the RR top order. Narine has dismissed Samson three times, while conceding runs at a strike rate of just 87 in 45 balls. Also, Narine has dismissed Steve Smith twice, with Smith striking at just 115 against him.
• The combination of Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell is a dangerous one. Morgan is coming off a strong 42* (29) vs SRH. Russell strikes at 167.16 for KKR vs RR.
• Rahul Tewatia’s all-round ability will be key for RR. In the first game against CSK, he took 3/32. In the second against KXIP, he hit a memorable half-century, including five straight sixes vs Sheldon Cottrell.
• Jofra Archer will be key with the ball against KKR’s batting lineup. He will need to improve on his record of just two wickets in four matches vs them (bowling average 59, econ. 7.87).
• Also, Archer has an incredible batting strike rate in IPL 2020 (363.63 in 11 balls faced).
• Pat Cummins is coming off an excellent spell of 1/19 vs SRH, and is two short of 100 T20 wickets.

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 21, RR 10, KKR 10, 1 abandoned.
• KKR have won four of the past five matches against RR.
• Kuldeep Yadav’s form is a concern for KKR. He has taken just four wickets in his last 11 IPL games, and is wicketless in six overs so far in IPL 2020. Can he deliver today?
• Shreyas Gopal and Rahul Tewatia vs Dinesh Karthik? Karthik has been dismissed three times by the googly since IPL 2019 – the most of any player.
• The last time these two sides played in the UAE, RR beat KKR on a boundary count after the Super Over also ended in a tie. If a Super Over ends in a tie today, there will be another Super Over.
• There have been two Super Overs in five matches at Dubai in IPL 2020.

Possible Playing 11

Robin Uthappa meets his old franchise for the first time, which could make for an interesting battle.

Rajsthan Royals: 1. Jos Buttler (wk), 2. Steve Smith (c), 3. Sanju Samson, 4. Robin Uthappa, 5. Riyan Parag, 6. Rahul Tewatia, 7. Shreyas Gopal, 8. Tom Curran, 9. Jofra Archer, 10. Ankit Rajpoot/Varun Aaron, 11. Jaydev Unadkat

The battle between Pat Cummins and the RR top order has the makings for a beauty. Cummins was terrific against Warner & Bairstow in the powerplay against SRH, and if he can achieve similar here, KKR will be held in good stead.

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1. Shubman Gill, 2. Sunil Narine, 3. Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), 4. Nitish Rana, 5. Eoin Morgan, 6. Andre Russell, 7. Kamlesh Nagarkoti, 8. Pat Cummins, 9. Shivam Mavi, 10. Kuldeep Yadav, 11. Varun Chakravarthy

Dubai Pitch and Weather Report

The Abu Dhabi track in the SRH vs DC match showed signs of slowing down. That wasn’t the case at Dubai for MI vs RCB, with a memorable 200 vs 200 match. These two sides have plenty of six-hitting ability, and with some grass still expected on the pitch, batsmen who get in should score well.

Dew will again be a factor, so the captain who wins the toss will likely choose to field. However, the team batting first has won all five games in IPL 2020 (including two Super Overs).

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

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Match Prediction

A cracking match in store. Can KKR stop the early RR juggernaut? They have the ability to, but their big guns need to lead from the front. Also, it remains to be seen how RR adjust to the bigger ground of Dubai. KKR to win in a tight one.

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