Last Updated on 3 weeks by Charbel Coorey

KKR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 8 | KOL vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Today | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings Key Players | Wankhede Pitch Report

After the Chennai Super Kings-Lucknow Super Giants match ended as a thriller, we could be in for another in match eight of IPL 2022.

Punjab Kings, with batting talent to die for, will now be boosted further by the inclusion of Protea Kagiso Rabada. One of the most prolific IPL bowlers in recent seasons, Rabada will be tasked with making inroads in the powerplay and, more importantly, hold PBKS in good stead at the death – an area they have really struggled with over the years. This includes the last game against RCB, where they conceded over 200 runs courtesy of leaking plenty of runs at the backend.

However, Odean Smith coming down the order at seven represents a world of opportunity for Punjab. His 8-ball 25*, filled with brute force and extravagant power, tells the top order that if they do their job, Smith and co. are very capable of finishing the job. Indeed, his battle with fellow West Indian Andre Russell, if fit, should be a beauty.

However, it is easier said than done for the Punjab top order with Kolkata Knight Riders’ excellent powerplay bowling. After Umesh Yadav led KKR to an easy win against CSK, he and Tim Southee almost stole the show whilst defending a small total last game. The batting was a let down against RCB, but the powerplay bowling duo of Southee and Yadav, as well as KKR’s spin options, is going to be a tough test for the Punjab lineup to overcome. This should be a good clash.

Possible Playing 11

Andre Russell is in some doubt for this clash due to a shoulder issue. If he is unavailable, he could be replaced by either Mohammad Nabi or Chamika Karunaratne.

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1. Venkatesh Iyer, 2. Ajinkya Rahane, 3. Shreyas Iyer (c), 4. Nitish Rana, 5. Sam Billings, 6. Sheldon Jackson (wk), 7. Andre Russell/Chamika Karunaratne/Mohammad Nabi, 8. Sunil Narine, 9. Tim Southee, 10. Umesh Yadav, 11. Varun Chakravarthy

Kagiso Rabada is now available for the Punjab Kings.

Punjab Kings: 1. Shikhar Dhawan, 2. Mayank Agarwal (c), 3. Bhanuka Rajapaksa (wk), 4. Liam Livingstone, 5. Raj Bawa, 6. M Shahrukh Khan, 7. Odean Smith, 8. Harpreet Brar, 9. Arshdeep Singh, 10. Kagiso Rabada, 11. Rahul Chahar

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Kolkata Knight Riders:

• Although this is a relatively new-look Punjab attack, Ajinkya Rahane is a player who can set up a platform given his past experience against the Kings. He has scored 455 runs in 17 matches against them at an average of 32.50 and strike rate of 114.61.
• Shreyas Iyer will be key as always. The KKR skipper was outstanding against West Indies and Sri Lanka earlier this year, and one feels a big knock is not far away. He has scored 298 runs in 11 matches vs Punjab at an average of 29.80 and strike rate of 121.63.
• Shreyas will be looking to improve on his record at the Wankhede. The KKR skipper has scored 326 runs in 17 innings on this ground at an average of 23.29 and strike rate of 115.60.
• KKR will be hoping Andre Russell is fit. The star West Indian has a strike of 199.24 in nine innings vs Punjab (261 runs). Also, he has a great record against Kagiso Rabada in the IPL: 27 balls faced, 60 runs scored, one dismissal.
• It’s a new look Punjab lineup, so can Sunil Narine keep up his amazing record against the franchise? He has taken 31 wickets in 21 matches against the Kings at an economy rate of just 6.98.
• Narine has taken 11 wickets in 10 matches at the Wankhede at an average of 23.91 and economy rate of 6.71.
• Umesh Yadav has been brilliant so far in IPL 2022, taking 2/20 and 2/16 so far. His powerplay partner, Tim Southee, was outstanding against RCB (3/20).

Punjab Kings:

• Shikhar Dhawan is on the brink of 800 runs against KKR. He has scored 794 runs at an average of 29.41 and strike rate of 117.46 against them. Also, he has solid numbers at the Wankhede: 21 inns, 685 runs, avg. 34.25, SR 127.56.
• Importantly, he has been dismissed just once in 76 deliveries against Umesh Yadav in the IPL (86 runs) but twice in 38 deliveries against Tim Southee (37 runs). Key battles.
• Mayank Agarwal looked in brilliant touch against RCB (32 off 24 balls). Also, he has solid numbers vs KKR (223 runs, avg. 37.17, SR 136.81) and at the Wankhede (296 runs, avg. 32.89, SR 148.00).
• Agarwal has never been dismissed by Southee in the IPL (35 deliveries, 46 runs) and has been dismissed once in 24 deliveries by Umesh Yadav (28 runs).
• Bhanuka Rajapaksa was magnificent against RCB. The Sri Lankan smashed 43 off 22 deliveries to give the innings important momentum in the middle overs. How will he fare against KKR’s attack?
• Odean Smith was magnificent with the bat as mentioned (25* off eight balls), but his partnership with Rabada and Arshdeep with the ball could also be key for Punjab. He bowled a lot of the crunch overs against RCB and was expensive, but he has wicket-taking potential.
• Kagiso Rabada has taken 11 wickets in eight matches against KKR at an average of 24.45 and strike rate of 16.55. He also has solid numbers at the Wankhede, with 10 wickets in six matches at an average of 21.30 and economy rate of 8.88.
  Rabada averages 9.6 runs per wicket at the death in the IPL at a respectable economy rate of 9.3.
• Arshdeep Singh averages 10.3 per wicket in the death overs at a respectable economy of 9.4. He has taken five wickets in as many matches vs KKR (avg. 25.20, econ. 8.59).

Other Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 29, KKR 19, PBKS 10.
• Punjab could look to introduce Rahul Chahar when Shreyas Iyer walks to the crease. The leg-spinner has dismissed Iyer twice in seven deliveries in the IPL. Also, Chahar averages 16 and concedes just 7.1 per over in the powerplay.
• Sunil Narine vs Mayank Agarwal in the IPL: 27 balls bowled, 38 runs scored, two dismissals.
• Narine concedes just 5.9 runs per over in overs 7-11, and players such as Mayank Agarwal (SR 169) and Liam Livingstone (SR 134) strike well at this stage. It could be an interesting battle.
• Shahrukh Khan averages 27 and strikes at 184 in the death overs.

Wankhede Stadium Pitch Report and Weather

In the two games at the Wankhede so far this season, the teams batting first (CSK and LSG) lost 35/2 and 32/4 in the powerplay respectively. A total of eight wickets have fallen in the powerplay on this ground this season at an average of 19.25 and strike rate of 18.

Expect some more movement in this night game, particularly with the bowlers on show who are very good in this period (i.e. Umesh, Southee). The chasing team has won both matches at the Wankhede so far in IPL 2022, and expect the captain who wins the toss to choose to chase.

Another clear and warm night is forecast.

Dream11 Prediction

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: Bhanuka Rajapaksa
• Batsmen: Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer
• All-rounders: Liam Livingstone, Andre Russell, Odean Smith
• Bowlers: Umesh Yadav, Kagiso Rabada

Match Prediction

A lot depends on whether the team batting first can get through the powerplay period without too much damage. In a tournament where the chasing team is dominating, the team batting first needs more than the 131 and 158 that CSK and LSG have put up on this ground so far. 180+ is a minimum.