Last Updated on 3 weeks by Charbel Coorey

KKR vs LSG Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 66 | KKR vs LSG Dream11 Prediction Today | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants Key Players | DY Patil Pitch Report

The final round of league matches begin today, with Kolkata Knight Riders entering their final chance to make a miracle qualification to the IPL 2022 playoffs. Big wins in their past two matches, courtesy of the brilliant Andre Russell, have kept the door slightly open for KKR, but they need one more big effort and hope other results go their way.

Also, net run rate is an issue for KKR. Shreyas Iyer’s team is on +0.160 compared to Delhi’s +0.255. DC still have to play against Mumbai, so KKR need to put the pressure on with a good performance today.

Also in need of a good performance is Lucknow Super Giants. KL Rahul’s team have lost their last two matches, with the batting in the spotlight. The skipper himself is averaging just 23 with a strike rate of 117 against teams other than Mumbai Indians, so the onus is on him to set the tone. In addition, LSG’s batsmen from numbers 3-6 are averaging just 21.88, so today is an opportunity to build confidence in the quest for a top-two finish.

Possible Playing 11

Ajinkya Rahane is out of the tournament with a hamstring injury. KKR could bring B Indrajith back into the XI.

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1. B Indrajith, 2. Venkatesh Iyer, 3. Shreyas Iyer (c), 4. Nitish Rana, 5. Sam Billings (wk), 6. Rinku Singh, 7. Andre Russell, 8. Sunil Narine, 9. Umesh Yadav, 10. Tim Southee, 11. Varun Chakravarthy

LSG are settled, but will want more from their batting.

Lucknow Super Giants: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. KL Rahul (c), 3. Deepak Hooda, 4. Krunal Pandya, 5. Marcus Stoinis, 6. Ayush Badoni, 7. Jason Holder, 8. Avesh Khan, 9. Mohsin Khan, 10. Ravi Bishnoi, 11. Dushmantha Chameera

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Kolkata Knight Riders:

• Andre Russell has had a dream season. He has scored 330 runs at a strike rate of 182.32 and has taken 17 wickets at a strike rate of 8.8. This includes 45 off 19 and 2/22 vs LSG.
• Russell has smashed 66 off 29 vs Holder (one dismissal) and 34 off 19 vs Avesh Khan (two dismissals).
• Shreyas Iyer has crossed double figures 11 times in 13 games this season. This includes six 25+ scores, but has crossed 50 just twice. Today would be a great day for the KKR captain to deliver.
• Nitish Rana (26 off 16) and Sam Billings (34 off 29) played well in the last game vs SRH. Rana is striking at 150 vs spin this season (147 off 96 balls), but has been dismissed four times. However, LSG have a four-man pace attack to contend with.
• Umesh Yadav is the second-most economical pacer in IPL 2022 (min. 15 overs) with an economy of just 6.9. He has taken eight wickets in the powerplay and has conceded just 6.1 per over in this phase.
• Tim Southee is the third-most economical pacer in IPL 2022 (min. 15 overs). He took 1/28 against LSG earlier this season, where he was particularly good at the death. He dismissed Jason Holder.
• Also, Southee has been excellent at DY Patil, with seven wickets in three matches at an economy rate of 4.9.

Lucknow Super Giants:

• KL Rahul has scored just 101 runs in his last five innings at an average of 20.20 and strike rate of 104.12, with scores of 0, 8 and 10 in his past three outings. He does have good numbers vs KKR’s key bowlers: 60 off 49 vs Umesh (one dismissal), 116 off 90 vs Southee (two dismissals), 48 off 24 vs Russell (no dismissal), and 131 off 72 vs Narine (two dismissals).
• Rahul has struck five 50+ scores in 12 innings vs KKR. His overall numbers vs KKR: 383 runs, avg. 34.82, SR 138.77.
• Quinton de Kock scored 50 off 29 balls against KKR earlier this season. He has struck 49 off 35 balls against Umesh (one dismissal) in the IPL.
• Deepak Hooda is in fine touch. He has struck scores of 59, 27, 41, 52 and 34 in his past five matches. Also, he is now the fifth-highest scorer this season with 406 runs in 13 matches.
• Marcus Stoinis has been striking the ball well. He has scored 28 (14), 2 (run out) and 27 (17) in his last three knocks. In fact, LSG have the best run rate in the death overs this season (11.30).
• Avesh Khan was player of the match against KKR earlier in IPL 2022. He took 3/19, dismissing Nitish Rana and Andre Russell along the way. Also, Avesh has taken at least five wickets in all three stages of the innings (powerplay, middle, death) in IPL 2022.
• Jason Holder has taken six wickets at the death this season. Interestingly, KKR have the lowest scoring rate in overs 16-20 in IPL 2022 (9.82).
• Mohsin Khan had an off day last game vs RR, but he took nine wickets in his previous five games including 1/6 in three overs vs KKR. He has the best economy rate (6.1) of any pacer who has bowled at least 15 overs in IPL 2022.

Other Stats and Facts

• LSG (176/7) smashed KKR (101) earlier in IPL 2022.
• In each of LSG’s five losses, both openers failed to reach 40. In all their eight wins, at least one of Rahul and de Kock crossed 40. So, KKR in the powerplay can help decide the result.
• KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock and Deepak Hooda have scored 61% of LSG’s runs this season.
• Rinku Singh struck scores of 35 (28) and 23* (19) at DY Patil in IPL 2022. He has also taken nine catches and effected a run-out this season.
• Nitish Rana has scored 176 runs in his last five games at an average of 44.
• Avesh Khan to be used against Nitish Rana? The seamer has dismissed Rana twice in 17 deliveries in the IPL, whilst conceding just nine.

DY Patil Pitch Report and Weather

KKR have won their past two when batting first. LSG have the best record when batting first in IPL 2022, with their last four losses coming when chasing. So, the captain who wins the toss could look to bat first despite the possibility of dew.

The team batting first has won three of the past four matches on this ground. The average first innings score in these four matches is 173.

LSG vs KKR Dream11 Prediction 18 May 2022

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article as well as your own instincts to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

• Wicket-keepers: KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock
• Batsmen: Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer
• All-rounders: Andre Russell, Jason Holder
• Bowlers: Avesh Khan, Tim Southee

Match Prediction

The team batting first will likely win this match. LSG start as favourites.