Kolkata Knight Riders v Lucknow Super Giants IPL Tips: Rahul to shine for LSG

• KKR favourites

• Rahul a bet at 3/1

• Eden Gardens pretty good for batting

• Read about Ed's Betfair Exchange strategy below

Kolkata Knight Riders v Lucknow Super Giants
Sunday 14 April, 11:00
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Kolkata Knight Riders v Lucknow Super Giants team news

Kolkata look likely to have to wait for Nitish Rana's availability. He has joined training but doesn't appear to be close to fitness following a finger injury. Harshit Rana could also come back into the XI after missing the defeat by Chennai.

Probable XI: Salt, Narine, Raghuvanshi, Shreyas, Venkatesh, Rinku, Russell, Ramandeep, Roy/Harshit (subs), Starc, Varun

How much longer do Lucknow keep faith with Dev Padikkal? He has not made double figures in five innings and keeps getting beaten for pace. Deepak Hooda could take his spot or Prerak Mankad could be given the opportunity. Breakthrough pacer Mayank Yadav is not fit.

Possible XI: De Kock, KL Rahul, Mankad, Stoinis, Pooran, Badoni, Krunal, Arshad, Bishnoi, Yash/Hooda (subs), Naveen

Kolkata Knight Riders v Lucknow Super Giants pitch report

Eden Gardens has a reputation for runs but we need to be careful. For example, both teams for 200 has won three times in the last 17. The par line of 185.5 has been busted nine times in the study period. It's not screaming massive runs, particularly with Lucknow, who are often reliably tight with the ball, bowling first. Both teams for 180 is 11/102.11 and that has won nine times.

Kolkata Knight Riders v Lucknow Super Giants match odds

Kolkata are 1.855/6 for a win which gets them back on track after defeat by Chennai. They will be delighted to be at Eden Gardens on a surface which suits their all-action style. For that reason, defeat at the Chepauk isn't alarming.

Lucknow are outsiders at 2.1211/10 and it could be that they have flattered to deceive. With no Mayank to break open the Delhi batting they succumbed. Perhaps that would have happened in previous matches.

A flatter surface shouldn't worry them, either. Their batting can be a little sluggish so the wicket could help them reduce the gulf in terms of power.

Kolkata Knight Riders v Lucknow Super Giants Exchange strategy

We expect the team batting first to be favourites at the break. If that is Lucknow we could well see the odds flipped.

We do know that Eden Gardens keeps the chasers keen so if the toss were to go against the visitors, that wicket and KKR's economy rate of nine means this could go to the wire.

Kolkata Knight Riders v Lucknow Super Giants player bets

KL Rahul is yet to win on top bat and his win rate has dipped to 27%. But that shows how reliable he has been in the previous two tournaments. Sportsbook's 3/14.00 seems like a bet because he looked a million bucks against Delhi. He also has a good record against KKR, averaging 41 and striking at 137.

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