It has been an IPL of contrasting fortunes for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR). Sitting pretty at the top end of the table, RR look primed for a place in the playoffs while a promising start has given way to an underwhelming middle phase for KKR who suddenly find themselves with more questions than answers under new skipper Shreyas Iyer.
The last encounter between these two teams on April 18 produced one of the most enthralling matches of the season with RR posting 217 on the board on the back of a Jos Buttler hundred. In pursuit, KKR looked good when Aaron Finch and Iyer were going all guns blazing, but eventually lost their track as an inspired Yuzvendra Chahal turned the game on its head with a hat-trick.
Before KKR look to turn the tide against RR, MyKolkata identifies the key battles that will separate the winners from the losers.
Umesh Yadav versus Jos Buttler
Jos Buttler has not had too many issues against Umesh Yadav in the past BCCI
KKR do not need a prior warning about what Buttler is capable of, considering the spellbinding century he struck against them earlier in the season. The holder of the Orange Cup has habitually converted his starts into big scores this term, which means that KKR need to get rid of the Englishman early. The man most likely to do so for Iyer and Co. is none other than Umesh Yadav, whose resurgent form has seen him pocket 14 wickets in the IPL so far. Umesh does not have a great record against Buttler, though, having conceded more than 100 runs to the RR opener without dismissing him even once in the IPL. But all that could change in a split second, and with Buttler looking to start cautiously, Umesh will be looking to seize the initiative and draw first blood for KKR.
Andre Russell versus Ravichandran Ashwin
Whenever they have squared off in the IPL, Ravichandran Ashwin has been able to outfox Andre Russell BCCI
In one of the most crucial moments in the reverse fixture, Ashwin disturbed Andre Russell’s stumps, sending the West Indian packing for a golden duck. Russell has usually struggled against Ashwin, with the Indian’s clever variations proving difficult for the KKR superstar to pick and dispatch. While the fate of this contest also relies on how set Russell is when Ashwin comes on to bowl, it is likely that the bowler will enjoy a psychological advantage against the batter regardless of the situation, not a privilege too many bowlers in the IPL can claim over Russell. With Chahal doing the heavy lifting in terms of wickets, Ashwin’s role for RR has been more defensive this year, something that might suit Russell in this head-to-head as he looks to overcome history and get one over Ashwin.
Sunil Narine versus Sanju Samson
Sunil Narine has dominated his duels against Samson, who has lost his wicket to Narine three times in the IPL BCCI
Considering his effortlessness against spin, it comes as a bit of a surprise that Samson has made heavy weather of scoring runs against Narine, managing to score just 55 off 69 deliveries, including three dismissals. The RR skipper played a blinder of a cameo in the last meeting between the two teams, although no damage was done to Narine, who finished with pristine figures of two for 21 in a game where both teams scored more than 200. On the Wankhede track, Narine is likely to get some spongy bounce, with the ball also skidding on faster under lights, factors that should make Samson wary of not falling prey to KKR’s ace for the fourth time.