May 2: Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals, 47th Match, Wankhede Stadium
Safe XI: Jos Buttler (c), Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer (vc), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Rana, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Umesh Yadav, Prasidh Krishna
Captain: Jos Buttler
With 566 runs in nine games at an average of 70.75, he is currently the highest run-getter in the series. He loves batting at the Wankhede Stadium where he has scored 471 runs in his last ten outings at an average of 58.88 and a strike rate of 162.98. In the reverse fixture earlier this season, he scored a 61-ball 103.
Vice-captain: Shreyas Iyer
Knight Riders’ new skipper is also their leading run-scorer in this season with 290 runs in nine games at an average of 36.25. He has been exceptional against pacers this season scoring 176 runs at an average of 58.66 and a strike rate of 145.45. His last three scores against Royals are 85, 43 and 53.
Hot Picks
Umesh Yadav: Umesh Yadav, another new addition in the Knight Riders’ squad is their leading wicket-taker this season with 14 scalps in nine games at an economy of 7.27. Nine of those 14 wickets have come at the Wankhede Stadium in just three games at a phenomenal average of 7.44 and a strike rate of 8.
Andre Russell: The Jamaican allrounder is back to his brilliant best this season as he is Knight Riders’ second-leading run-scorer with 227 runs at a strike rate of 175.96 as well as the second-leading wicket-taker with ten wickets at a strike rate of 9.4 in nine games. Since the last season, he has recorded scores of 54(22) and 70*(31) at the Wankhede Stadium
Differential Picks
R Ashwin: Ashwin the allrounder has been in terrific form, picking seven wickets in the last four games and recording scores of 21(9) and 17(9) in the last couple of games. He has taken the joint-second-most wickets against Knight Riders in IPL with 24 scalps in 23 games at an economy of 7.92.
Prasidh Krishna: The Royals pacer will be coming up against his former side. He has taken the most wickets for a Royals quick this season with 11 wickets in nine games. The last time he played at this venue, he bowled a wicket maiden in the 19th over while defending 222 against Delhi Capitals, finishing with figires of 4-1-22-3.
High-Risk XI: Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, Nitish Rana, Shimron Hetmyer, Aaron Finch, Andre Russell, R Ashwin, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav (c), Trent Boult (vc), Kuldeep Sen
Source: ESPN Crickinfo