Fantasy XI recommendations for the IPL 2022 game between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings
Apr 1: KKR v PBKS, 8th Match, Wankhede Stadium
Safe XI: Sam Billings, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shikhar Dhawan (capt), Shreyas Iyer, Mayank Agarwal, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh (vice-captain), Sandeep Sharma.
The Punjab opener started the season with a 29-ball 43 against RCB. He has been amongst the runs at the Wankhede Stadium, scoring 409 runs in his last ten IPL outings at an average of 40.90 and a strike rate of 138.64.
The left-arm seamer has been impressive in all phases of the game. Arshdeep was the joint sixth-highest wicket-taker last season, picking up 18 wickets in just 12 matches. Last season, he took 3 for 32 against KKR.
Hot picks
Shreyas Iyer: His phenomenal form in the recent past is yet to be reflected in this IPL, but things could change in this game. His last five scores against Punjab were 14, 39, 58*, 28 and 57, which would get him into the final team four out of the five times.
Mayank Agarwal: The swashbuckling opener will be keen to up his game even further, with the new role of captaincy. He has been amongst the runs against KKR, scoring 40, 31, 56, 36 and 58 in the recent games. The last time he played in Wankhede, he scored a 36-ball 69 against Delhi Capitals.
Differential picks
Bhanuka Rajapaksa: The Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter was in glorious touch in the last game, nullifying Wanindu Hasaranga, to score a 22-ball 43, including four sixes. He will be expected to do the same against the KKR spinners too.
Rahul Chahar: The legspinner bowled an exceptional spell of 4-0-22-1, for his new franchise, in a high-scoring affair in the opener. His best bowling figures of 4 for 27 in IPL came against KKR in 2021.
High Risk XI: Sam Billings, Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane (capt), Shahrukh Khan, Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Liam Livingstone, Raj Bawa, Umesh Yadav (vice-capt), Tim Southee, Rahul Chahar.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo