Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will host Punjab Kings (PBKS) in match number 42 of IPL 2024 at Eden Gardens on 26th April. They have been a part of two high-scoring thrillers at this where they failed to defend 223 runs against Rajasthan Royals, and won by just 1 run while defending 222 runs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Now, standing at second position in the points table with five wins in seven games, the two-time champions KKR will be looking to get closer to playoffs with another win in the upcoming match.
Talking about PBKS, they are coming after losing four back-to-back matches at their home ground in Mullanpur that too by close margins. They give tough fight to the opponent throughout the match but fail to hold their nerves in the end and end up losing the game. Now, standing at ninth place with just two wins in eight matches, PBKS will be looking to finally get past the winning line and find their momentum back in IPL 2024. However, it won’t be an easy task for them to take on a power-packed KKR side at their home ground.
Let’s have a look at KKR vs PBKS, Head-to-Head, Pitch Report and Best Players for IPL 2024.
KKR vs PBKS Head-to-Head in IPL
Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings have faced each other 32 times in the IPL, with KKR having a dominant outing PBKS with 21 wins, while PBKS come out victorious on 11 occasions against KKR. Both teams first met at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium on 3rd May, 2008, where Punjab Kings (known as Kings XI Punjab at that time), defeated KKR by 9 runs. Batting first, PBKS posted 178 runs for the loss of 6 wickets with Shaun Marsh top scoring with 40 runs off 32 balls. In reply, David Hussey (71 off 46) and Wriddhiman Saha (59* off 32) put up a 104-run partnership for the sixth wicket after the top-order failure, but failed to take their team down the line. At last KKR could only score 169 runs losing six wickets felling short off just 9 runs from PBKS’ total.
Total Matches | KKR Won | PBKS | Tie | NR |
---|---|---|---|---|
32 | 21 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
KKR vs PBKS Head-to-Head at Eden Gardens
Talking about their Head-to-Head records at KKR’s home ground, they have hosted PBKS 12 times at Eden Gardens winning nine out of them. On the other hand. PBKS have won three against KKR in front of their home crowd. The last time both teams played against each other at this ground, KKR won a last-ball thriller against PBKS by 5 wickets. Batting first, PBKS skipper top scored with 57 runs off 47 balls hitting nine fours and a maximum. In the end, Shahrukh Khan (21* off 8) and Harpreet Brar (17* off 9) gave finishing touches as PBKS posted 179 for 7 after their 20 overs. In reply KKR skipper Nitish Rana also led from the front with 51 runs off 38 balls, along with Andre Russell’s quickfire 42 runs off 23 balls. The match went on down to the last overs and Rinku Singh (21* off 10) smashed a four on the last ball off the match by Arshdeep Singh as KKR pulled a thrilling chase against PBKS.
Total Matches | KKR Won | PBKS | Tie | NR |
---|---|---|---|---|
12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Eden Gardens Pitch Report
The surface of the Eden Gardens provides support for both batters and bowlers. The pitch has been prepared using black cotton soil that helps in maintaining good bounce which becomes paradise for the batters. However as the game progresses, the pitch slows down, which is favorable for the spinners. The surface of Eden Gardens has been more favorable for the batters this year, where the last two games have been high-scoring thrillers at this ground with both teams scoring around 220 runs in both matches.
Eden Gardens IPL Records
The Eden Gardens in Kolkata hosted a total of 90 matches in the history of the IPL, out of which, 37 matches have been won by a team batting first, while 53 times, teams have won by chasing. The ground hosted its first-ever IPL matches in the inaugural season as Kolkata Knight Riders took on Deccan Chargers on 20th April, 2008. After bowling out Chargers for a 110, KKR chased the winning total in 19 overs by losing 5 wickets with David Hussey receiving player of the match award for his all-round performance.
City | Kolkata | ||
Country | India | ||
First Match | 20/04/2008 | ||
Last T20 Match | 21/04/2024 | ||
Matches Played | 90 | ||
Matches Won Batting First | 37 (41.11%) | ||
Matches Won Batting Second | 53 (58.89%) | ||
Matches Won Winning Toss | 48 (53.33%) | ||
Matches Won Losing Toss | 42 (46.67%) | ||
Matches with No Result | 0 (0.00%) | ||
Highest Individual Innings | 112* | R M Patidar (Royal Challengers Bangalore) | 25/05/2022 v Lucknow Super Giants |
Best Bowling | 5/19 | S P Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders) | 15/04/2012 v Punjab Kings |
Highest Team Innings | 235/4 (Chennai Super Kings) | 23/04/2023 v Kolkata Knight Riders | |
Lowest Team Innings | 49 (Royal Challengers Bangalore) | 23/04/2017 v Kolkata Knight Riders | |
Highest Run Chase Achieved | 188/6 (Gujarat Lions) 18/4 (Mumbai Indians) | 21/04/2017 v Kolkata Knight Riders 13/04/2016 v Kolkata Knight Riders | |
Average Runs per Wicket | 27.62 | ||
Average Runs per Over | 8.40 | ||
Average Score Batting First | 161.88 |
Key Players from both teams
KKR-X Factors
For KKR, Phil Salt and Sunil Narine turned out to be a destructive opening duo this year. Along with them, skipper Shreyas Iyer can accelerate in the middle order with Rinku Singh and Andre Russell finishing the innings on a high. In the bowling line up, Suyash Sharma and Sunil Narine can look up the spin department, while right-arm pacer Harshit Rana can give big breakthroughs at clutch moments.
PBKS-X Factors
PBKS haven’t been getting much support from the top and middle order this year and they mostly dependent on lower order batters such as Shashank Singh and Ashotush Sharma who have played crucial roles for PBKS to get close to the opponent’s total on many occasions but didn’t get much support from the other end. Apart from that, Harshal Patel and Arshdeep Singh have been impressive with their bowling in the last couple of matches and will be looking to deliver match-winning spells in the upcoming match against KKR.