The match 68 of IPL 2023 between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens Stadium on Saturday, 20th May promises to be an exciting contest. Kolkata is on the seventh position in the points table, while Lucknow is on the third position.
KKR, led by Nitish Rana, have won six and lost seven matches so far, while LSG, captained by Krunal Pandya have won seven and lost five matches in their campaign. In their last match, KKR secured a comfortable win against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Meanwhile, LSG also secured a comfortable win against the Mumbai Indians (MI) in their last match.
Two highly skilled teams are set to collide in what promises to be an exciting match. With both the teams eager to secure their seventh and eighth win in the IPL 2023. Both teams have played thirteen matches in this season. Kolkata has won 0 games, while Lucknow has won 2 games so far in the head to head encounters.
Also Read: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants: Who Will Win Today Match in IPL 2023?
Here are three player battles to watch out for during KKR vs LSG match:
1) Nitish Rana vs Ravi Bishnoi
Nitish Rana, known for his ability to tackle spinners, has faced challenges against wrist spin in the past. He has scored 280 runs in the middle overs of the IPL at a strike rate of 142.85. His primary test will be against Ravi Bishnoi, who has taken 13 wickets this season in the middle overs with an economy rate of 7.72. So far, Bishnoi is yet to dismiss Rana in their two IPL encounters.
2) Quinton de Kock vs Sunil Narine
Quinton de Kock has had limited participation in this season’s IPL, while Sunil Narine has had a relatively below-par campaign. De Kock has amassed 417 runs against KKR in previous matches and will aim to add to his impressive record. His battle against Narine will be intriguing as the West Indian spinner has dismissed him twice in their six IPL meetings, with a strike rate of 100.
3) Nicholas Pooran vs Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakravarthy has showcased his revamped skills this season, claiming 19 wickets, while Nicholas Pooran has also performed well for LSG. However, Pooran has struggled against Varun’s mysterious spin. The KKR spinner has dismissed Pooran twice in their five IPL encounters, while Pooran has managed to score 28 runs off 20 deliveries against him. Pooran holds a strike rate of 155.71 against leg-spinners in the IPL, but has been dismissed six times in 29 innings.