IPL 2018: 49th Match, Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals - Match Predictions

Vivo Indian Premier League (IPL) is brilliantly poised at the business end of the contest, where all teams have featured in 12 matches each.

While Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings already booked their berths into the playoffs, the last two spots still remain up for grabs.

Therefore, with everything on the line, Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders fight it out for the vacant places available along with Kings XI Punjab sharing the same number of points.

Also, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians, with their recent wins are making an entry through the backdoors.

This sets up an exciting final week of round-robin action with five teams competing for a couple of available places.

The first intriguing encounter of the business end of the tournament is between the Royals and the Knights.

A month back, the Royals were handed a humiliating seven-wicket defeat, and therefore, would be looking to avenge their loss at Jaipur on the turfs of Eden Gardens.

Also Read: IPL 2018: 49th Match, Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals – Weather Forecast

Team Combinations

Kolkata Knight Riders

Dinesh Karthik’s KKR side is freshly coming off an important win over Kings XI Punjab at the Holkar Stadium, Indore.

The Knights were firing at all cylinders with the bat, as one and all came in provided essential contributions.

However, their bowling has been found difficult to plunder even at the belter at Indore. Shivam Mavi might make a comeback into the side in place of Prasidh Krishna, however, it is unlikely that DK would want to make a change in the winning XI.

Predicted XI

Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), Piyush Chawla, Robin Uthappa. Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Chris Lynn, Kuldeep Yadav. Nitish Rana, Javon Searles, Prasidh Krishna, Shubman Gill.

Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals resurrected their campaign this season with the recent three-match winning streak, trumping heavyweights CSK and Mumbai Indians along with the struggling KXIP.

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However, one has a feeling the batting unit is entirely dependent on Jos Buttler who has registered four 50+ scores on the trot.

Predicted XI

Ajinkya Rahane (c), Dhawal Kulkarni, Stuart Binny. Jos Buttler (wk), Jaydev Unadkat, Ben Stokes, Sanju Samson, Krishnappa Gowtham, Shreyas Gopal, D Arcy Short, Jofra Archer.

Match Prediction

With the recent form displayed, it is expected that Royals would go on to continue with their winning momentum to upset Kolkata Knight Riders at home.

However, defeating the hosts at their own backyard is an entirely different proposition altogether.