The second match of IPL 2023 on Saturday will feature Punjab Kings facing off against Kolkata Knight Riders in the first of a doubleheader.
The Punjab Kings, led by Shikhar Dhawan, faced a few setbacks before the start of their IPL 2023 campaign, including Jonny Bairstow’s injury ruling him out for the entire season. Despite this setback, they have a solid team with a good mix of experience and youth. Dhawan will captain the side, with Arshdeep Singh leading the bowling attack. Sikandar Raza and Sam Curran provide excellent stability to their XI. Punjab has failed to qualify for the playoffs since making it to the final in 2014. They will be looking to turn things around this season and start with a win at home.
On the other hand, the Kolkata Knight Riders will be without their skipper Shreyas Iyer due to a back injury, and Nitish Rana will stand in as captain. Venkatesh Iyer and the two seniors, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, will also have key roles to play. Tim Southee will lead the bowling attack alongside Umesh Yadav. KKR failed to make it to the playoffs last season and have a point to prove this time around. Despite facing multiple issues with their squad, they have the potential to surprise other teams, starting with their match against Punjab.
Also Read – IPL 2023: Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders : Top 3 Fantasy Team Picks for Match 2
As Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders prepare to face each other in the IPL 2023, fans and fantasy team managers alike will be looking for the top-performing bowlers from both teams. Here are the three best bowlers to consider picking for your fantasy team ahead of this exciting match.
1. Umesh Yadav
The upcoming match at IS Bindra Stadium is expected to be pace-friendly, making Umesh Yadav a potentially valuable pick for fantasy team managers. In the previous season, he played in 12 matches and took 16 wickets, with his best figures being 4 for 23. Yadav’s performance in the last season showed that he has the ability to make an impact in similar conditions, and he will likely be a key player for Kolkata Knight Riders in this match. His pace and accuracy with the ball can trouble even the best of batsmen, and he will be eager to replicate his success from the last season. Therefore, Umesh Yadav is a strong contender to be one of the top-performing bowlers in the match between Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2023.
2. Lockie Ferguson
Lockie Ferguson of Kolkata Knight Riders had a decent performance in the previous season of IPL, taking 12 wickets in 13 games at an average of 35.58, an economy rate of 8.95, and a strike rate of 23.8. One of the highlights of his performance was delivering the fastest ball of IPL 2022, with a speed of 157.3 km/h. With his impressive speed and accuracy, he can be a valuable pick for fantasy team managers for the upcoming match against Punjab Kings. The conditions at IS Bindra Stadium are expected to favor the pace bowlers, which further increases his potential to make an impact. His ability to generate bounce and swing can trouble even the best of batsmen, and he will be determined to continue his good form from the previous season. Therefore, Lockie Ferguson is one of the top bowlers to consider picking for your fantasy team ahead of this match.
3. Shardul Thakur
KKR has added another experienced player to their squad in the form of Shardul Thakur, a 31-year-old bowling all-rounder. Thakur has previously played for four other franchises and made his IPL debut back in 2015. He played for Delhi Capitals in the last season where he picked up 15 wickets in 14 games at an average of 31.53, an economy rate of 9.78, and a strike rate of 19.3. Thakur’s experience and versatility will be valuable assets to KKR’s bowling attack, and he will look to make a significant impact for his new team in the upcoming season.
