On Thursday, May 11, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 56th IPL 2023 match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. It’s a challenge between different sides with similar number of focuses, however with ridiculously various ways to get to that stage. RR had a better start to the season, but their last six games have only resulted in one victory.
Their flaws in batting and bowling have been brutally exposed. While their batters returned to form against SRH, their death bowling issues from last season have resurfaced and gotten worse. KKR’s spinners, particularly Varun Chakravarty and Suyash Sharma, have helped them make up for their pacers’ arguably even more punishing fate this season.
Because it was a complete team effort, their victory over PBKS may have been their best victory thus far. However, Rinku Singh provided the crucial finishing touch.
While KKR have the breeze behind their sails, RR can beat any given side on their day, so this game vows to be an undeniably exhilarating experience with a lot of importance in the end of the season games race. So, let’s take a look at three unexpected Dream11 picks for the KKR-RR competition.
3) Adam Zampa (RR)
KKR have been dominating their opponents with their spin-bowling trident at Eden Gardens, a surface that favors spin. By adding Adam Zampa, who joins Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin to make them appear stronger, RR will want to win the battle of spin.
So far, Zampa has had a respectable season. Given that the game was already over when Hardik Pandya smashed him for runs, his performance in his most recent outing against GT is not indicative of how well he has performed.
Zampa is difficult to attack, but the hard-hitting KKR team will try to do just that. On a ground where the components of the ground are lopsided, Zampa is a shrewd bowler who could utilize the more drawn out side for his potential benefit.
2) Shimron Hetmyer (RR)
In the IPL 2023, a number of well-known players have had trouble scoring runs recently, but one player’s poor run of form has gone unnoticed.
Since Shimron Hetmyer’s POTM-winning performance against GT, there have been no more runs. He will want to get back among the runs in this game because he has only scored 35 runs in his last six games, averaging only 7.00.
The Eden Nurseries is one of the most mind-blowing scenes for a player, and in spite of its twist accommodating nature, it’s an ideal spot for a hitter like Hetmyer to get once more into structure. On his day, Hetmyer can defeat the bowling attacks of the opposition. Hetmyer may be the star of the show, as KKR is likely to concentrate on Samson, Buttler, and Jaiswal.
1) Sunil Narine (KKR)
It’s surprising to see Varun Chakravarthy and Suyash Sharma outclass Sunil Narine in a season where KKR’s spin attack has done well. This is proving to be a poor season for the IPL legend, who has only taken seven wickets in 11 games and has an economy rate of 8.61, which is his worst ever.
In this game, where he has favorable matchups against most of the RR batters, he will want to rebound and hit big. The fact that Narine bats is a bonus. Despite the fact that we haven’t seen many runs from him, he may be promoted to deal with Chahal and possibly Zampa’s spin.