Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey

IPL 2020 Match 46: KKR vs KXIP Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KKR vs KXIP Dream11 Prediction Today | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report

A playoff before the playoffs. A match that has the potential to entertain and enthrall in equal measure. Battles within the battle with the stakes so high.

These factors (and more) makes the 46th match of IPL 2020 one of the most important to date. Indeed, this clash is a crucial one in the playoff race, with both teams after a win here to significantly boost their chances of qualifying.

Should Kolkata Knight Riders win, they will move four points clear of fifth place with two games remaining. Up until the halfway mark of their batting innings against Delhi Capitals, it was fair to say that KKR had underperformed in IPL 2020, in spite of sitting in the top four. However, what happened afterwards was KKR at their very best, with Nitish Rana and Sunil Narine orchestrating a superb counterattack, which was then followed up by Pat Cummins and man-of-the-match Varun Chakravarthy. Can they repeat that kind of performance to not only lock in a top four spot, but even look at a possible top two finish?

That Kings XI Punjab are in this position is remarkable. Firstly, they sat bottom two weeks ago, with just one win out of their first seven matches. Secondly, their miracle win over Sunrisers Hyderabad helped them keep in touch with the top four thanks to four straight wins – a welcome change from clutching defeat from the jaws of victory from the first half of the season (including this vs KKR). Now, KXIP, a side that has qualified just twice in 12 years, will have to hold their nerve again as the pressure increases. Can they do it?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• The addition of Chris Gayle has certainly helped KXIP, but KL Rahul remains a key player. The 2020 Orange Cap holder (567 runs, avg. 63.00) scored 74 (59) vs KKR earlier this season, but came in for criticism due to his strike rate. Can he play a match-changing innings this time?
• Overall, Rahul enjoys playing KKR, with 269 runs in eight innings at an average of 38.42 and SR 152.84.
• Chris Gayle’s record vs KKR is even better. The “Universe Boss”, who has contributed well in IPL 2020 so far, has scored 649 runs in 17 innings at an average of 46.36 (SR 150.58).
• Dinesh Karthik has struggled for form in IPL 2020, and this game is a worry for him given that KXIP possess two capable legspinners. However, he won player of the match against KXIP earlier this season with 58 (29).
• The brilliance of Sunil Narine took KKR to another level last game vs DC. His 64 (32) turned the game. Also, Narine has the most wickets in KKR-KXIP matches, with an excellent 28 in 18 games. In fact, his 2/28 at the death vs KXIP earlier this season helped KKR get over the line in a heist.
• Can Nitish Rana build on his 81 (53) vs DC? Remarkably, Rana’s two best scores in IPL 2020 have come against DC (58 and 81). Against everyone else, he has scored 24, 26, 22, 9, 2, 9, 5, 29 and 0.
• So, can the likes of Mohammed Shami test Rana’s insecurities against the short ball? Shami is having a brilliant tournament, with the equal second-most wickets (17 in 11 matches).
• Mayank Agarwal missed the last game due to bruising. He could be back in this game, and KXIP would welcome him with open arms (10 inns in IPL 2020, 398 runs, avg. 39.80, SR 155.46).
• Can his opposite number, Shubman Gill, build on his starts? Gill has made nine double-figure scores in IPL 2020, with just the two fifties so far. One of them did come against KXIP earlier this season (57 off 47 balls).
• Nicholas Pooran has hit the most sixes in IPL 2020 (22). His 327 runs have come at an excellent average of 40.87 and SR of 173.01.
• It was a welcome return to form for Chris Jordan last time out against SRH. He took 3/17 and crucial catches in the field. Arshdeep Singh was also excellent at the death with 3/23. Can they produce the goods again today?
• The same applies to Pat Cummins. He was superb against Delhi Capitals, taking the same figures as Jordan (3/17), dismantling the DC top order. Can he and Lockie Ferguson (five wickets in three games) deliver today?
• But, the star man was Varun Chakravarthy (5/20). His ability to turn the ball both ways was too much for DC, and he has the potential to take more wickets on a slowish Sharjah pitch.

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 26, KKR 18, KXIP 8.
• KKR pulled off a stunning heist vs KXIP earlier this season, with Prasidh Krishna (3/29) and Sunil Narine (2/28) starring at the death.
• Narine has a superb record against Chris Gayle. He has bowled 177 balls to him in T20s for a total of 153 runs and five dismissals.
• KXIP have transformed their death bowling in the second-half of IPL 2020, going at just 8.8 runs per over at this stage. In fact, this is the best among all teams during this period.
• KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal have hit 623 runs in 10 innings together in IPL 2020, which is the most of any opening partnership this season.
• Murugan Ashwin and Ravi Bishnoi have taken a combined 19 wickets in IPL 2020. They will be key today.

Possible Playing 11

If Andre Russell is fit enough to play, where do KKR fit him in?

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1. Nitish Rana, 2. Shubman Gill, 3. Rahul Tripathi, 4. Eoin Morgan (c), 5. Dinesh Karthik (wk), 6. Sunil Narine, 7. Pat Cummins, 8. Kamlesh Nagarkoti, 9. Varun Chakravarthy, 10. Prasidh Krishna, 11 Lockie Ferguson

Mayank Agarwal is reportedly a good chance of returning in this game. If he does, he will replace one of Deepak Hooda or Mandeep Singh. Also, will KXIP persist with the out-of-touch Glenn Maxwell, or do they believe this is the game where he will fire?

Kings XI Punjab: 1. KL Rahul (c & wk), 2. Mayank Agarwal, 3. Chris Gayle, 4. Nicholas Pooran, 5. Glenn Maxwell, 6. Mandeep Singh, 7. Chris Jordan, 8. M Ashwin, 9. Ravi Bishnoi, 10. Arshdeep Singh, 11. Mohammed Shami

Sharjah Pitch and Weather Report

After all the 200+ scores at Sharjah earlier this season, we have seen no 200+ scores in the past five games at the venue. The surface has slowed down as the tournament has progressed, which makes placement all the more important for the batters.

The chasing team has won the past three matches on this ground, which might prompt the captain who wins the toss to bat second, especially given that dew is likely.

Dream11 Prediction

Also read: How to create multiple teams in Dream11 and its benefit

Option 1:

Option 2:

Match Prediction

What a tough match to predict. Both sides are very capable of producing good cricket on their day, which makes this a very highly-anticipated match. However, if KKR produce the kind of cricket they did against DC, they will be mighty hard to beat. Interesting game awaits.

Thanks for reading!