IPL 2021, Match 18: Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders (RR vs KKR) – KKR Predicted Playing XI

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 18th match of the IPL 2021 at Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai) this Saturday (24th April) night, which will be their fifth match of this tournament.

KKR started this IPL 2021 with a 10-run win against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). But then Mumbai Indians (MI), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat them by 10 runs, 38 runs and 18 runs respectively.

IPL 2021, Match 18: Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders (RR vs KKR) – KKR Predicted Playing XI

Nitish Rana

Opener Nitish Rana scored two half-centuries in the first two games of the IPL 2021 (80 and 57 runs), but then he scored 18 and 9 runs in the next two games. While he is an in-form batsman, who also performed well in recent domestic cricket, the team management expects solid starts from him.

Shubman Gill

Youngster Shubman Gill has scored 15, 33, 21 and a duck in the first four matches of the IPL 2021. The KKR opener is searching for a way to find back his form while his strong start can help his team to build up a solid foundation for the team.

Rahul Tripathi

In their first game of the IPL 2021, Rahul Tripathi scored 53 off 29 balls. But then his scores were 5, 25 and 8 runs respectively. He has to perform consistently to prove himself for the KKR team.

Eoin Morgan (C)

Captain Eoin Morgan is struggling in the IPL 2021 in both aspects, in batting, and in the captaincy approach. While his team has suffered three straight defeats after winning their season opener, Morgan has scored 2, 7, 29 and 2 runs respectively.

Dinesh Karthik (wk)

Former KKR captain Dinesh Karthik has played a couple of good knocks in this early IPL 2021 as he scored a crucial game-changing 22 not out off just 9 balls in their season opener and another inspiring 40 runs off 24 balls in the last game. He is currently in good form with the bat.

Andre Russell

In their second match of this IPL 2021, Caribbean all-rounder Andre Russell stunned the defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) by taking a fifer (5/15) in his two overs. After scoring 5 and 9 runs in the first two games of this season, Russell scored 31 off 20 balls and an incredible 54 off 22 balls in the last two matches. While KKR were deeply struggling in their last game, Russell suddenly changed the game condition before he lost his wicket mistakenly. If he stayed in the crease in that game, KKR could achieve one of the best ever victories in IPL history.

Russell is currently the most wicket-taker for KKR in this early moment of the IPL 2021 with 7 wickets in four games although his tournament economy rate is 12.44.

Pat Cummins

Australian cricketer Pat Cummins has taken 4 wickets in four matches of this IPL 2021. But in the last game, Cummins almost stunned everyone with his outstanding batting that almost snatched the game away from CSK. If Cummins got some help from the other lower-order batsmen, KKR could manage their second victory of this season in an incredible way.

Harbhajan Singh

The spinners are really struggling at Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai). Though the experienced off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has been utilised limitedly in this IPL 2021, KKR can now use his huge experience at Wankhede Stadium, where he has picked up 49 IPL wickets – 2nd most IPL wickets at Wankhede Stadium (Lasith Malinga took 68 IPL wickets at this venue).

Lockie Ferguson

KKR can add New Zealand cricketer Lockie Ferguson in their playing XI for the upcoming match in this IPL 2021. His presence can be helpful for the other KKR pacers as they together can handle any strong batting line-up.

Varun Chakravarthy

The leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy has got 4 wickets in four matches of this IPL 2021 but he has the best economy rate (8.06) among the KKR bowlers in this IPL season. However, it is doubtful about his effectiveness at Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai) when most of the spinners are struggling in this IPL season.

Prasidh Krishna

Before this IPL 2021, Prasidh Krishna made his ODI debut for India and hugely impressed with the ball in hand. The right-arm pacer has taken 4 wickets in four matches of this ongoing IPL 14. He is now an important member of this KKR side.