IPL Match 24: Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders Prediction and Preview

KL Rahul may have the Orange Cap for the time being, but Kings XI Punjab are nowhere near the top of any list (in last place even in the fair play table). Criticized for his often passive mentality, he was quoted to say that the idea of a high strike rate is overrated. That being said, his team’s position doesn’t reflect his confidence. Trailing the playoff teams by a whopping four points, they will need a miracle to come back. Their next game is against Kolkata Knight riders - a team barely in the playoff zone. After a slow start, KKR have picked up their pace and seem to have found their footing. However, all that could change as they have Royal Challengers Bangalore hot on their heels. Before KXIP vs KKR begins, let’s take a look at how the teams have been doing.

Kings XI Punjab Preview & Form

The weight of having lost seemingly easy wins seems to be settling onto KXIP, as their performances are getting worse and worse. Net run rate, which had been their friend since their (only) win against RCB early in the season has, after their last match, turned against them. After being set an unlikely 202 to win at Dubai from Sunrisers Hyderabad - courtesy of an incredible 97 from Jonny Bairstow, KXIP’s inning was basically a one-man effort by Nicholas Pooran, who got 77 off only 37. To give you a better idea of just how miserable things were, the second highest score was a paltry 11 by both KL Rahul and Prabhsimran Singh. Punjab need a serious change of tactics and perhaps even leadership if they don’t want to go out of contention with several matches remaining. 

Kolkata Knight Riders Preview & Form

Unlike their opponents, Kolkata have had pretty straightforward results - albeit with mostly middling performances. That being said, things were somewhat different in their last game, when Chennai Super Kings threw a game that looked theirs by every metric until the last few overs. After KKR’s inning was spearheaded by a belligerent 81 by Rahul Tripathi (the second-highest score was 17 by Pat Cummins and Sunil Narine), CSK seemed to be firmly in the driver’s seat until the 13th over, when Ambati Rayadu fell with the score at 99. 8 wickets in hand and only 68 to get from 47 deliveries, CSK somehow managed to make a mess of it, and ended up losing by 10 runs. However, KKR still need to work on stabilizing both their batting and bowling. 

KXIP vs KKR Match Prediction

With just about the rest of their campaign on the line, KXIP need to get their act together right now. Expect KL Rahul to continue his good (albeit overly cautious) batting alongside Mayank Agarwal, while Mohammad Shami and Ravi Bishnoi pick up important wickets. 

Kolkata are experiencing a resurgence, and now is not the time to stop. Expect Eoin Morgan and Nitish Rana to whip up some runs, while Andre Russell and Varun Chakravarthy whip some batsmen. 

Who will win the 24th match?

Match Prediction: Kolkata Knight Riders Win (1.73 @ 1XBET)

Additional Betting Tips:

• Toss - KKR

• KXIP top batsman – K Rahul

• KKR top batsman – E Morgan

• Players with most boundaries - K Rahul (KXIP), E Morgan (KKR)

• Players to score a fifty – M Agarwal/K Rahul (KXIP), E Morgan/N Rana (KKR) 

• Players to take most wickets - M Shami (KXIP), V Chakravarthy (KKR) 

• Most fours - KKR

• Most sixes - KKR

Can Punjab finally mount their comeback? Or will KKR continue their march to glory? Find out on Saturday!