Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey

PBKS vs KKR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2023 Match 2 | PBKS vs KOL Dream11 Prediction Today | Mohali Pitch Report

It’s the first match of a 14-game campaign for Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). So, even with a first up defeat, there is plenty of time to make up ground. However, both these two teams will love to silence the doubters and start the season positively, especially after both missed out on the playoffs in IPL 2022.

PBKS finished in sixth, with KKR just behind them in seventh. It has been nearly a decade since Punjab reached the playoffs, while Kolkata have visions of a first title since the same year – 2014. If either or both sides are to have a successful campaign, they need to nail their team combination right away, as chopping and changing early in the season is never ideal.

On paper, both franchises have magnificent players. Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Sam Curran is just a taste of the overseas talent we’ll be privileged to witness in this match. Arshdeep Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Umesh Yadav and Rinku Singh headline the possible domestic gamechangers, among others. However, how both teams click as a unit is vital, and here is an opportunity to get off to a positive start.

ALSO READ: CricBlog’s Predictions for IPL 2023 – which do you agree with?

Match Details

• Location: Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali.
• Time: 3:30pm (IST).
• For more cricket fixtures around the world, visit Fixture Calendar.

IPL 2023 Match 2: PBKS vs KKR Possible Playing XIs

Punjab Kings have a number of different options when it comes to their team combination. Jonny Bairstow is unavailable and has been replaced by Australia’s Matt Short. He may open because according to ESPNcricinfo, Liam Livingstone is out of the first match as he has not yet received clearance from the ECB regarding his ankle injury.

If PBKS bat first, they may start with three overseas players, and bring in Nathan Ellis for one batsman. If they bat second, they may bring in Matt Short.

Kagiso Rabada is unavailable for this match due to South Africa duty.

Punjab Kings: 1. Shikhar Dhawan (c), 2. Prabhsimran Singh/Matt Short, 3. Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 4. Jitesh Sharma (wk), 5. Sikandar Raza, 6. Shahrukh Khan, 7. Sam Curran, 8. Rishi Dhawan/Nathan Ellis, 9. Harpreet Brar, 10. Rahul Chahar, 11. Arshdeep Singh.

Like Punjab, Kolkata also have a number of options. They may elect to open with Rahmanullah Gurbaz given Litton Das is batting brilliantly for Bangladesh in their current series against Ireland. Also, it remains to be seen if they choose Tim Southee or Lockie Ferguson for the overseas pacer slot.

Nitish Rana will captain the team with Shreyas Iyer out for an extended period due to injury.

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1. Venkatesh Iyer, 2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (OS & wk), 3. Nitish Rana (c), 4. Rinku Singh, 5. Mandeep Singh/Narayan Jagadeesan/Anukul Roy, 6. Andre Russell (OS), 7. Sunil Narine (OS), 8. Shardul Thakur, 9. Umesh Yadav, 10. Lockie Ferguson/Tim Southee (OS), 11. Varun Chakravarthy

Key Players to Watch

Punjab Kings:

• Shikhar Dhawan is crucial in what is an inexperienced domestic core for PBKS. In 29 matches against KKR, he has scored 810 runs at an average of 28.93 and strike rate of 117.22. But, in his last seven outings, he has made five 20+ scores against them: 97*, 26, 6, 46, 24, 36, 16.
• Jitesh Sharma is a key player for Punjab. He has a magnificent record batting at five in T20s, with 406 runs in 14 innings at an average of 58.00 and strike rate of 196.14.
• How will Sam Curran fare as the most expensive player in IPL history? In 12 T20s this year, he has scored just 96 runs and taken nine wickets at an economy of 8.30. A big lift in form is needed.
• Rishi Dhawan has good all-round numbers on this ground. In 11 matches, he has scored 238 runs (avg. 47.60, SR 112.26) and has picked up nine wickets (avg. 26.56, econ. 7.17).
• Nathan Ellis, who has taken 56 wickets in 42 T20s since the start of 2022, took 3/30 for Australia against India on this ground last year.

Kolkata Knight Riders:

• Andre Russell often goes ballistic against PBKS. In ten innings against them, he has belted 331 runs at an average of 36.78 and extraordinary strike rate of 204.32. He also has 14 wickets.
• Last season, Russell hammered 70* (31) to take KKR to victory with 33 balls to spare against PBKS. KKR were in trouble in that match at 51/4 chasing 138.
• Since the start of 2018, Nitish Rana averages just 13.75 in eight innings against PBKS. Will the captaincy bring out the best in him?
• Sunil Narine has the most wickets in PBKS-KKR matches. He has taken 32 wickets in 22 matches at an average of 16.38 and economy of 6.92.
• Narine has enjoyed bowling on this ground in the past: 6 matches, 12 wickets, avg. 12.00, econ. 6.00.
• Shardul Thakur has a magnificent record against PBKS. He has picked up 17 wickets in just nine matches, striking every 11.18 deliveries on average. Umesh Yadav also has fine numbers for KKR against PBKS, with 18 scalps in 11 matches.
• KKR may look to play Tim Southee because of his record against Shikhar Dhawan. The seamer has dismissed the opener four times in 68 balls in all T20s, whilst conceding just 67.

Other Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 30, PBKS 10, KKR 20.
• KKR lead 4-3 against PBKS in matches on this ground.
• Shikhar Dhawan’s T20 record at Mohali: 15 inns, 439 runs, avg. 31.36, SR 127.99.
• Arshdeep Singh has taken five wickets in six matches against KKR at an average of 31.60 and economy of 8.94.
• Rahul Chahar took 2/13 against KKR last season. He has taken 11 wickets in seven games vs KKR at an average of 16.73 and strike rate of 13.09.
• Shikhar Dhawan vs Shardul Thakur in the IPL: 49 balls faced, 74 runs scored, three dismissals.
• Varun Chakravarthy vs PBKS: 5 matches, 4 wickets, avg. 30.75, econ. 6.15.

Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali Pitch Report and Weather

Mohali is typically a magnificent batting pitch. Last year, Australia chased India’s 208/6 with four balls to spare thanks to Cameron Green (61 off 30 balls) and Matthew Wade (45* off 21 balls).

In 14 matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in October 2022, the average first innings score was 153.43 at a run rate of 8.04. The chasing team won eight of these games.

Some afternoon showers are forecast in Mohali. So, this could be a rain-affected match.

ALSO READ: CricBlog’s Predictions for IPL 2023 – which do you agree with?

IPL 2023 Match 2: PBKS vs KKR Dream11 Prediction Today Match April 1 2023

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: Rahmanullah Gurbaz
• Batters: Shikhar Dhawan
• All-rounders: Andre Russell, Sunil Narine
• Bowlers: Umesh Yadav

IPL 2023 Match 2: PBKS vs KKR Match Prediction – Who will win?

KKR’s experience, as well their excellent record vs PBKS, will see them prevail in this clash. This is especially the case with Liam Livingstone set to miss this match.