IPL 2023 MATCH PREVIEW: GT v KKR

Gujarat Titans will go head-to-head against Kolkata Knight Riders in the 39th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 on Saturday, April 29 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Gujarat Titans have had a relatively easy run in the tournament so far, with a few bumps along the way. With five wins from seven games, they currently occupy the third spot on the points table with 10 points in their account.

After securing a thumping 55-run victory over the Mumbai Indians in their latest outing, thanks in part to standout performances from Shubman Gill, David Miller, and Abhinav Manohar, the defending champions will be eager to continue their winning streak in the upcoming game.

For Kolkata Knight Riders, it has been a rollercoaster ride in the tournament thus far, with three wins and five losses in their eight matches. They are currently placed seventh on the points table with six points.

They come into this match riding high on the back of a comprehensive 21-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in their most recent fixture, and they will be looking to continue their winning ways.

When these two sides last faced each other this season, it was the Knight Riders who came out on top by two wickets, thanks to Rinku Singh's incredible display of power-hitting, as he smashed five sixes in a row off Yash Dayal to seal an unlikely win for the two-time champions.

Heading into this game, Gujarat Titans will be looking to even the score against Kolkata Knight Riders with a win. They have a strong batting lineup and a formidable bowling attack, which could give them an edge. However, the Knight Riders have already displayed their potential, and cannot be underestimated.

Probable Playing XIs

Kolkata Knight Riders:

Jason Roy, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana (c), N Jagadeesan (wk), Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, David Wiese/Shardul Thakur, Lockie Ferguson, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy

Gujarat Titans:

Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya (c), Abhinav Manohar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Alzarri Joseph/Joshua Little, Noor Ahmad, Mohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami

Pitch Report

With a batting-friendly surface on offer at Eden Gardens, the team that boasts a powerful batting lineup is likely to thrive. Also, there’s no denying that the pitch here is likely to be a spinners' paradise. However, pacers may also find success in the early overs with the new ball. The team that bats first here has a proven track record of success, and it is likely that the team winning the toss will choose to follow suit and bat first.

Pitch Stats [IPL 2023]

Average 1st innings score: 222
Average 2nd innings score: 171
Matches won by the team batting 1st: 3
Matches won by the team batting 2nd: 0

Head-to-Head

These two teams have played each other twice in the tournament's history, with the score currently tied at 1-1. In the last season, Gujarat Titans defeated Kolkata Knight Riders, but in the first phase of the tournament, Kolkata Knight Riders exacted revenge and beat Gujarat Titans.

Form Update ( last 5 innings)

Fantasy Picks

Shubman Gill:

The Gujarat Titans opener has been in sensational touch this season, accumulating 284 runs in seven matches at an impressive average of 40.57 and a strike rate of 142.71, including a couple of well-crafted fifties. He has looked equally comfortable against pace and spin, and is expected to continue his fine form at Eden Gardens.

Nitish Rana:

The captain of Kolkata Knight Riders has been in tremendous form with the bat this season, amassing 229 runs in eight matches at an average of 28.62 and a strike rate of 153. He played a blistering knock of 48 off just 21 balls in the previous outing against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, and will be keen to continue his excellent run of form.

Varun Chakravarthy:

The star spinner has been in red-hot form with the ball for Kolkata Knight Riders this season, picking up 13 wickets in eight matches at an economy rate of 8.06. He was the star of the show in KKR's last game against RCB, picking up four wickets to help his team seal a comprehensive win.

Rashid Khan:

He has been in excellent form for Gujarat Titans, picking up 14 wickets in just seven matches at an economy rate of 8.07. He has been almost unplayable at times with his deceptive variations, the opposition batters will need to be at their best to counter him, especially at the surface which has a lot to offer to the spinners.

Fantasy XI