Kolkata Knight Riders v Punjab Kings IPL Tips: Power-packed Punjab to deliver

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Monday 6 April,15:00
TV: Sky Sports

Kolkata Knight Riders v Punjab Kings IPL team news

Kolkata Knight Riders have lost their first two and are in danger of collapsing into a full-blown crisis. Some of it is not of their own making. But some decisions are baffling.

The loss to injury of Harshit Rana, Akash Deep and Matheesha Pathirana is a hammer blow, of course. Pathirana may yet make it to play a part. But those three would be a first-choice bowling attack and it is almost impossible for a team to cope with such player churn, particularly as two are domestic players.

But the selection of Cameron Green deserves no sympathy. Skip Ajinkya Rahane moaned that Green wasn't allowed to bowl after defeat by Mumbai. yet there he was in the XI again for the loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad when they needed an all-rounder for extra bowling support. Rachin ravindra simply has to lay. They have ignored Tim Seifert, too. 

Possible XI: Rahane, Allen (Sub Muzarabani), Green/Ravindra, Raghuvanshi, Rinku, Anukul, Ramandeep, Narine, Tyagi, Arora, Vaurn

Punjab Kings have two wins from two and look every inch the team that made the run to the final last season. They were nerveless in the chase against Chennai last time out. They got after 209 with eight balls to spare. 

The batting depth is frightening. Marcus Stoinis, their best six-hitter in terms of balls faced, is down at No 7 with Marco Jansen and Xavier Bartlett still to come. Yuz Chahal has also found crucial early form with the ball. 

Possible XI: Arya (sub Chahal), Prab Singh, Connolly, Shreyas, Wadhera, Shahshank, Stoinis, Jansen, Bartlett, Vyshak, Arshdeep

Kolkata Knight Riders v Punjab Kings IPL pitch report

Sunrisers made 226 against KKR on Thursday, reinforcing the view that Eden Gardens is a road. KKR didn't find it so easy, ruining both teams to score 200 vouchers, falling in a heap at 161 all out. The three-year RPO still ticked up towards 10, though in night matches. 

With Punjab far more reliable with the bat it might be smart to swerve KKR's involvement and just back the visitors for runs. Their line on the 20-over market is an overs play in the mid 190s. 

Kolkata Knight Riders v Punjab Kings match prediction

As stated previously in these pages, Punjab look like the real deal and they should too much for a poorly balanced Kolkata team. In terms of momentum, skill and confidence these two are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Last time Punjab played Chennai there was a similar mismatch. We had a lovely winners at 4s on Punjab to win the match and hit most fours and sixes.

We can bet the same outcome but this time at 10/34.33 with the market recognising that gulf between the two. It does seem the best way to get with a Punjab side who are most likely going to be bullying plenty of sides. Hitting the most fours and sixes is what one might call a related treble. It is rare that a team manages both and loses. 

As said before, there is a gap in IPL this season of the haves and have nots. the latter group could well be headed by KKR who need to get a grip quickly. 

Kolkata Knight Riders v Punjab Kings IPL player bets

Prab Singh is one of the top IPL batters to follow for win rate. He is yet to win this term so has moved an innings closer to the win zone. Sportsbook offer 10/34.33. On a road, however, we do fear two or three batters getting in and an absolute whopping score may be required. Therefore the Prab Singh for a 50 market at 9/43.25 takes the stress (and others) out of the wager. 

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