The chances of Kolkata Knight Riders qualifying for TATA IPL 2023 payoffs are dim. KKR currently stands at the 7th rank of the leaderboard with 12 points to their name. Assuming the side emerges victorious versus Lucknow Super Giants, they will have 2 more points to them. This may not suffice, for other teams still have a better chance with at least 15 points against them. Plus, Royal Challengers Bangalore has a better net run rate of +0.180.
KKR versus LSG holds significance to the extent that KKR finishes the tournament in a better position. KKR needs RCB to lose the match against Gujarat Titans by a huge margin to reach the playoffs. Again, that will not be enough as GT will have gained 2 points to register a total of 20 points to their names.
Struggles Of KKR
Riders will next face Giants on May 20, 2023, at 7:30 pm IST in their own backyard, which is Eden Gardens. Kolkata has suffered because of its inconsistent middle order. The event with Rajasthan Royals, for instance, saw them invest very little to set a big target. RR was able to restrict KKR to just 149 off 8 wickets throughout the innings.
Varun Chakaravarthy has been phenomenal, with 19 wickets to his name across 13 matches. He was a key factor against Punjab Kings to ensure a 5-wicket win, having 3 wickets at an economy of 6.50. The middle order of KKR will have to circumvent the inconsistency if they want to win against a team that is almost in the playoffs.
Playoff Scenarios for KKR
KKR winning the next match, will go up with 14 points. That will still be less than Gujarat Titans (at the top), followed by CSK. LSG will not be affected, and it will still have more points than them. It comes to RCB and GT, where one team will surely lose. RCB, for one, will be ranked at par with KKR. It could be ranked above depending on the final NRR.
Even a tie between RCB and GT will add 1 point each. The top four teams in TATA IPL 2023 at the moment are GT, CSK, LSG, and RCB. There is a possibility that these may be the final qualifying teams for the playoffs, depending on how the game for RCB and Mumbai Indians rolls out.
Analyzing LSG
Lucknow holds the title of favorite to win tomorrow’s game. As a matter of fact, some of the cricket betting sites have given them better odds of adding doubles over 15. There is a 53% chance that LSG will beat KKR. What really gives them this confidence is Ravi Bishnoi’s right-arm leg spin and a broader batting line-up.
Ravi has 14 wickets to his name in this IPL edition. He is complemented by Mark Wood’s right arm fast bowling spell. As for LSG batters, expect Kock to be at his destructive best along with all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran.
Road To Victory For KKR
Rinku Singh is a player who has been identified as a potential candidate for the Team India squad. This comes from his form of 407 runs scored across 13 matches at a strike rate of 143.31. Next is the skipper himself, just below him at 12th position for the Orange Cap at 143.11 with 405 runs.
Mental Battle For KKR
Winning the match will boost their morale, for starters. Next, it will help them to confirm the strategy and tuning among the players. Fans are supporting KKR to every extent possible. The game will be played in their hometown, and it could not have been a better opportunity to take the H2H tally to 2-1.
This is a crucial moment for players, expecting them to maintain composure without thinking about how their further qualifications play out. Finishing TATA IPL with a better rank is an achievement since the edition was pretty competitive.
Conclusion
KKR may not make it to the playoffs; however, a rank higher than 7th is still praiseworthy. Riders will next face Lucknow in a decider for the opponent on May 20, 2023, at Eden Gardens. KKR could push for the combination of Rinku Singh and Varun Chakaravarthy to turn the tides to their side. Match 68 of TATA IPL 2023 will be streamed at JioCinema at no charge. Tune in or visit the stadium directly to cheer the champions.
