🏏IPL2022 Match 66: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants🏏

 Cricket is just a game, but it can only be won if you have a team which supports each other for a better match each time.

🏏IPL2022 Match 66: Kolkata Knight Riders  vs Lucknow Super Giants🏏

Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants will clash with each other in their upcoming game of IPL 2022 today.  The venue of the stadium is DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai.

With 6 victories and 7 defeats in 13 games, Kolkata Knight Riders  have 12 points in their pockets. They have a narrow chance of making it to the playoffs. 

On the other hand, Lucknow Super Giants have won 8 games and lost 5 out of 13. LSG has 16 points and has a great chance of making it to the playoffs. 

KKR and LSG will face each other for the second time in the tournament. In the earlier clash, LSG managed to outplay KKR by 75 runs. 

With Quinton de Kock’s 50 and Deepak Hooda’s 41, LSG slammed 176-7 in the 1st innings. Later, KKR was bowled out for just 101 with Russell hitting the most 49 runs.

Kolkata Knight Riders arrive in this game with a victory in the previous match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Posting 177-6 in the 1st innings with Andre Russell’s blistering 28-ball-49, KKR restricted SRH to just 123-8 in the match. 

 Lucknow Super Giants, sitting at the top of the points' table only last week, they have now been pushed to the third spot and, quite frustratingly, haven't yet managed to seal a playoff spot.

KKR, in contrast, sit in diametrically opposite quarters. 

Their moribund season has been sparked to life with back to back wins but a win over LSG wouldn't be enough for them. 

All they can do is make sure it's a big one and get their NRR (0.160) ahead of Delhi Capitals (0.255). 

That would make DC's game against Mumbai Indians a must-win game for them.

Kolkata Knight Riders: In their last game, fit-again Umesh Yadav came into the side while Sam Billings took the gloves from Sheldon Jackson, filling in the fourth overseas spot vacated by home-bound Pat Cummins. 

That combination clicked together but will be forced to change with a Grade-III hamstring injury to Ajinkya Rahane. 

It could mean a return for Baba Indrajith at the top of the order, or Jackson could be included as an opener in a left-field move.

Probable XI: Venkatesh Iyer, Baba Indrajith/Sheldon Jackson, Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer(c), Sam Billings(w), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Varun Chakaravarthy

 How KKR bowl in the PowerPlay could shape the game. In each of LSG's five defeats this IPL, both the openers have failed to cross 40; in each of their eight wins, at least one of them has managed to go past 40. On top of that, it's not a bad time to be bowling at KL Rahul too, the opener coming into the game with scores of 10 (most recent), 8 and 0 in his last three games.

Lucknow Super Giants: There's pressure on LSG's middle order to deliver. Rahul (469), Quinton de Kock (362) and Deepak Hooda (406) have scored 61% of the total runs for LSG. There is a case for bringing in Manish Pandey and Evin Lewis in place of Ayush Badoni and Marcus Stoinis respectively.

Probable XI: Quinton de Kock(w), KL Rahul(c), Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Ayush Badoni/Manish Pandey, Marcus Stoinis/Evin Lewis, Jason Holder, Mohsin Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Dushmantha Chameera, Avesh Khan

i am neutral....

for points goin with LSG

hope game will be interesting 

According to weather.com, the temperature of Mumbai city on May 18 (Wednesday) will be about 34° Celcius during the day and fall to 28° Celcius at night. The sky will be partly cloudy during the day but clear at night. The chances of rain are just 5% at night. The humidity will be around 64% during the day and rise to 80% at night.

DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai offers help to both bowlers and batters. The stadium has not hosted any international match so far and witnessed only IPL games. In the previous games at the stadium, some encounters have seen low-scoring but nail-biting battles. Bowlers will enjoy better assistance than batters at the stadium.  

 For captains to win the toss and bat first. 

With the pitches tiring out, the case is simple. KKR discovered it in their last couple of games, by accident or by design. Should LSG win the toss, the case to bat first for them is even more straightforward. 

They have the best record batting first this season and the worst record chasing amongst all teams barring MI and CSK. In fact, their last four defeats have come while chasing. 

Did you know?

KL Rahul has been dismissed for 10 or less for 12 times since the start of 2018 - six of those have come in this season alone and four of those in his last five innings

Shreyas Iyer has only 115 runs in his last 6 innings, at an average of 19.17 and a SR of 104.55

Sunil Narine has an ER of only 5.48 this season

LSG under KL Rahul has 16 points from 13 matches and even though a defeat might not hurt their play-off chances but that will certainly put them in a tight place. 

On the other hand, KKR led by Shreyas Iyer 12 points from 13 matches and a win is essential for them to maintain that slim chance to enter the play-offs. 

A defeat will close the road for KKR as far as the IPL 2022 play-offs is concerned. 

KKR will perforce have to make a change in the playing 11 as Ajinkya Rahane has been ruled out of the IPL 2022 with a hip injury, that might even jeopardise his chances to get picked for India's squad for the tour of England.

Pitch report:

With the pitches tiring out at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, batting first seems to be the best choice for captains after winning the toss. In fact, both KKR and LSG have been comfortable in defending targets this season.

Match Prediction:

Case 1:

• KKR wins the toss and bats first
• Powerplay score: 40-45
• KKR total: 155-165

Case 2:

• LSG wins the toss and bats first
• Powerplay score: 45-55
• LSG total: 160-170

Team batting first to win the contest.