Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey

IPL 2021 Match 45: KKR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KOL vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Today | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | Dubai Pitch Report

Time is running out for Punjab Kings. Yet again, the Kings have not performed up to scratch in an IPL tournament, and are on the brink of missing out on the playoffs.

After their disappointing loss in a crucial game vs MI, KL Rahul spoke of how his team has struggled to handle pressure in IPL 2021. Today, the pressure intensifies even further, as this is effectively do-or-die given the difference in net run rate between they and their opponent.

And that opponent is the in form Kolkata Knight Riders. Victory here for KKR puts them four points clear of Punjab, and given how superior their net run rate is already, it will almost certainly come down to they and Mumbai Indians for the final playoffs spot.

Eoin Morgan’s team will be aiming to continue their fine run, with three victories in four matches since the restart. Last time out, Sunil Narine led the way as KKR beat high-flying Delhi in a tough match. Will they take a huge step towards playoffs qualification here?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Punjab Kings:

• Punjab Kings have lost seven out of nine games in which KL Rahul has scored below 25. So, the PBKS skipper is crucial to his team’s hopes.
• Rahul has four half-centuries in 10 innings vs KKR, with an overall average of 35.11 and strike rate of 142.99. Also, he loves batting at Dubai, with 441 runs in nine innings at an average of 55.13 and strike rate of 138.68.
• Mayank Agarwal is expected to return after missing the last match due to back soreness. He has scored 183 runs in six innings for PBKS vs KKR at an average of 36.80 and strike rate of 134.56, including the top-scorer earlier this season (31).
• Aiden Markram will be key in the absence of Chris Gayle. The Protea has scored 26*, 27 and 42 in the UAE leg of the tournament, part of 560 runs at an average of 32.94 and strike rate of 135.27 in 21 T20s this year.
• Ravi Bishnoi has also been excellent in the UAE leg of IPL 2021 (3/24 and 2/25). He enjoys bowling at Dubai, with nine wickets in 24 overs at an average of 18.33.
• Against KKR, Bishnoi has taken three scalps in as many matches at an average of 21.33 and economy rate of 5.33.
• Mohammed Shami was expensive against MI (1/42), but was in fine form in his previous two matches (3/21 and 1/14). His 3/21 was at Dubai, part of 14 wickets in 10 matches on this ground (avg. 20.43, SR 16.57).
• Shami has taken seven wickets in five matches for PBKS vs KKR (avg. 21.29, econ. 7.83), including 1/25 earlier this season.
• Arshdeep Singh loves bowling at Dubai. He took a five-wicket haul against RR earlier this season, part of 12 wickets in five matches on this ground at an average of 12.75 and strike rate of 8.92.
• Arshdeep will be aiming to improve on his record vs KKR, which reads: 4 inns, 2 wickets, avg. 47.00, econ. 8.81.

Kolkata Knight Riders:

• He is bowling well, and has been a breath of fresh air with the bat. The stage is set for Venkatesh Iyer to deliver once again. He took 2/29 in four overs last game vs DC, and has made scores of 41*, 53, 18 and 14 in the UAE leg of IPL 2021.
• Shubman Gill has a superb record against PBKS. In six innings against them, Gill has struck 218 runs at an average of 72.65 and strike rate of 132.62.
• At Dubai, Gill has 109 runs to his name in three innings (top score 47).
• Rahul Tripathi missed out against DC (9), but looked in fine touch in the previous two matches (74* and 45). He scored 41 (32) vs PBKS earlier this season.
• Eoin Morgan has been in horrendous form, but this could be the match he rediscovers his touch. He was player of the match against PBKS earlier this season, with 47* (40) and three catches. In six innings for KKR vs PBKS, Morgan has struck 228 runs at an average of 45.60 and strike rate of 136.53.
• Sunil Narine is on fire. He has sent a reminder of his talent after being left out of West Indies’ World Cup squad, with figures of 0/20, 1/20, 3/41 and 2/18 in the UAE leg. He also helped seal a tough chase vs DC with a 10-ball 21.
• And the good news may continue for Narine. No bowler has more wickets in KKR-PBKS matches than Narine, with 30 scalps in 20 matches at an average of 17.70 and strike rate of 15.40, including 2/22 earlier this season.
• If Lockie Ferguson is fit, watch out. The fast bowler has taken figures of 2/24, 2/27, 1/33 and 2/10 in the UAE leg.

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 28, KKR 19, PBKS 9.
• KKR (126/5) beat PBKS (123/9) with 19 balls to spare earlier in IPL 2021.
• Two games ago, Dinesh Karthik struck an excellent 11-ball 26 vs CSK. Karthik, the finisher, could be key here against a team he enjoys playing against (7 inns, 185 runs, avg. 46.25, SR 188.78).
• Rahul Tripathi is averaging 53.8 and striking at 154 in the middle overs in IPL 2021.
• Prasidh Krishna took 3/30 vs PBKS earlier this season.

Possible Playing 11

Chris Gayle has left the IPL bubble citing bubble fatigue. He is aiming to be fit and firing for the T20 World Cup.

Punjab Kings: 1. KL Rahul (c & wk), 2. Mayank Agarwal, 3. Aiden Markram, 4. Nicholas Pooran, 5. Deepak Hooda/Shahrukh Khan, 6. Fabian Allen, 7. Harpreet Brar, 8. Ravi Bishnoi, 9. Nathan Ellis, 10. Arshdeep Singh, 11. Mohammed Shami

Andre Russell is expected to miss this game as well as he has a hamstring injury. Also, Lockie Ferguson is in doubt after failing to complete his overs against Delhi Capitals.

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1. Shubman Gill, 2. Venkatesh Iyer, 3. Rahul Tripathi, 4. Nitish Rana, 5. Eoin Morgan (c), 6. Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7. Sunil Narine, 8. Tim Southee, 9. Ben Cutting/Lockie Ferguson, 10. Prasidh Krishna/Sandeep Warrier, 11. Varun Chakravarthy

Dubai Pitch Report and Weather

The chasing team has won three of the last four matches on this ground. The average first innings score in these four matches is 153, which calls for the team batting first to get closer to 170 on a good batting pitch.

More warm and clear weather is forecast.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?

Match Prediction

Even with the absence of key players, KKR look good for a win against a team they have a great record against. Punjab’s hopes mostly lie with KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal (if fit) at the top.