A Herculean task awaits the Kolkata Knight Riders.
The defending champion, with nine points from 11 outings, not only needs to win its remaining four matches to qualify for the Indian Premier League Playoffs but also has to await favourable outcomes in other games. On Sunday, the first of these tests will be against Rajasthan Royals at the Eden Gardens.
Already out of the reckoning, RR could prove dangerous for KKR.
However, KKR can take heart from its improved showing and a much-needed win against Delhi Capitals. The Ajinkya Rahane-led side, which has been troubled because of its below-par batting, should be happy to see handy contributions from multiple batters against DC.
READ: IPL 2025: Rahane says KKR treating every game like a knockout
KKR will hope that its top run-getter Rahane recovers from a hand injury quickly. Last match’s top-scorer Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rinku Singh and Andre Russell also need to play valuable knocks. It’s high time Venkatesh Iyer made another substantial contribution.
KKR’s bowling looks set with pacers Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana and spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy handling their responsibilities well.
Outplayed by Mumbai Indians in its previous outing, RR will rely on its long batting line-up – prolific scorer Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Rana, Shimron Hetmyer and teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi – to avenge its defeat and redeem some pride.
In the absence of Sandeep Sharma, Jofra Archer and Sri Lankan spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Teekshana will be RR’s main bowlers.
Fans, expecting another run feast, will hope the rain forecast doesn’t come true.