IPL match preview: Kolkata Knight Riders v Sunrisers Hyderabad
The Kolkata Knight Riders want to stay in the top half of the 10-team standings. The Sunrisers Hyderabad are trying to get out of the bottom half.
Rinku Singh.Kolkata will go into this match on the back of a high-scoring win over the Gujarat Titans. They upset the defending champions with cool, calm and collection - and now have the opportunity to build on the momentum.
This, keep in mind, is a KKR outfit minus the services of all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and batsman Shreyas Iyer. Al Hasan is instead playing for Bangladesh and Iyer has been ruled out of the IPL with a back injury.
But its their depth of local talent and international stars such as West Indian duo Sunil Narine and Andre Russell that continue to serve the Knight Riders well. They're chasing their third Indian Premier League title.
Hyderabad are still finding their feet with the leadership of new captain Aiden Markram. He led the Sunrisers Eastern Cape to the maiden SA20 title earlier this year, but captaining the Indian franchise is a significantly tougher task.
The Sunrisers will be buoyed by Sunday's win over the Punjab Kings in Hyderabad, but away from home - at Eden Gardens - will be a much bigger challenge. The Sunrisers will need a lot from Rahul Tripathi and the rest again.
The Sunrisers and Knight Riders have beaten each other twice in their last five outings. They also shared a tie after regular play in 2020, after which KKR won the one-over eliminator.
Rinku Singh was near unbelievable in hitting five consecutive sixes to steal victory from the jaws of defeat against the Titans. All eyes will be on the KKR kingpin again, as he tries to follow up that remarkable innings with another big performance.
There is plenty of pressure on Nitish Rana, who has been named captain in the absence of Iyer. He scored 45 against the Titans before getting out, but really should have gone on to convert such a promising start. Here's another chance to do so.
The Kolkata Knight Riders look the victors here. There is a certain pledge to their approach and within the balance of their squad, playing XI and impact player options that has them primed to beat the Sunrisers.