Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab 18th Match Cricket Betting Tips

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"Feels good to get two wins on the trot. Slowly things are going in a good direction," said Dinesh Karthik at the end of Kolkata Knight Riders' previous game against Rajasthan Royals.

There were a lot of questions asked of the new skipper during the first few games, especially after the gut wrenching final-over loss to Chennai Super Kings where the decision to bowl an underconfident R Vinay Kumar came under the scanner. There have also been calls suggesting the Under-19 wonder kid Shubman Gill is being wasted at No. Cricket Betting Tips 7. However, amid all of this, Karthik has managed to guide his team to two wins on the bounce. His expert use of the top-class spinners in the side, from limiting damage to opening the bowling from both ends in the powerplay, have all worked in the last few games. The persistence in opening the batting with Sunil Narine has worked wonders too. Free Cricket Betting Tips While the franchise's Indian batting mettle was thought to be dubious before the start of the tournament, Nitish Rana has emerged as a fine reader of the game, especially in the crucial middle overs. Karthik's fine form from that Nidahas Trophy final has spilled into the IPL too and the powerhouse in Andre Russell has come to party twice already. Old in the team yet proving to be gold. Robin Uthappa, too, has played a fine hand on as many as three occasions now.

So what's gone missing thus far for KKR? One is Chris Lynn, who is yet to come into his own. And in his own words, the rustiness born out of no cricket in the six weeks building up to the tournament hasn't helped his case. Add to it the brace he has worn on his injured right shoulder that has restricted the full swing of the bat too. The other concern has been the pace bowling despite their home conditions offering full support. Cricket Match Betting Tips Tom Curran has now kept Mitchell Johnson out of the eleven for two games in a row and is starting to get tad better than his first two games. Under-19 speedster Shivam Mavi has shown great hunger to bowl short and quick. But if one had to pick an area that's done the least for them, it is pace bowling. However like Karthik mentioned, he doesn't want to be too harsh on them already.

One major thorn in the eye of the hosts KKR, though, would be the ever-growing powers of Chris Gayle. And it's not that KKR haven't faced the wrath of the batting giant. When the franchise let go of the Jamaican in 2011, Royal Challengers Bangalore welcomed him wholeheartedly and turning up for his first game against his old team, he smashed a 55-ball 102 at the Eden Gardens. Right now, with a 33-ball 63 and a 63-ball 104, the 'Universe Boss' has made it clear that he's anything but over. Betting Tips Free KL Rahul's form has been a delight and Karun Nair too has been in good touch. Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman's exponential growth with his well controlled tweakers have already caught everyone's imagination and the googly to go through Virat Kohli's defenses is on everyone's Pinterest. Barinder Sran and Andrew Tye too bowled exceedingly well in the previous game. If the pacers can hold their own again, Kings XI Punjab will not fret too much over their bowling.

Credit for KXIP's early success goes to skipper Ravichandran Ashwin, too. The imaginative captain made the most intriguing call at the toss, by deciding to bat first, defying the ongoing trend of win-the-toss-and-bowl-first in the tournament. Session Betting Tips The decision stood vindicated thanks to Gayle's fireworks, and that would give more confidence to Ashwin who had made his intentions clear of doing out-of-the-box things right at the outset.

When: April 21 at 4:00pm IST

Where: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

What to expect: Only a few days back the Norwesters caused a lot of damage in Kolkata with heavy downpour and strong gusts of wind. Cricket Tips Free Thundershowers are forecast for almost every afternoon, and on Saturday, chances of rain are 40 per cent. Since it is an afternoon start, it's going to be extremely hot and humid till the sun goes down. Players, without a doubt, will be tested in the tough conditions.

Team News

Kolkata Knight Riders: Free Cricket Tips There's very little possibility that the team will undergo any changes. This particular eleven has delivered two wins and the think tank will want to continue with the winning combination.

Probable XI: Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Tom Curran, Piyush Chawla, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav

Kings XI Punjab: KXIP might not want to tinker too much with their eleven either. However, there's a case for Manoj Tiwary to come in place of an out-of-sorts Yuvraj Singh.

Probable XI: Lokesh Rahul (wk), Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, Aaron Finch, Yuvraj Singh/Manoj Tiwary, Ravichandran Ashwin (c), Andrew Tye, Barinder Sran, Mohit Sharma, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Head to Head of teams

KKR 14 - 7 KXIP

Team Record at Eden

KKR 7 - 2 KXIP

Interesting face-offs:

Narine vs KXIP: Narine has bagged 24 wickets in just 13 matches against KXIP in IPL - the most by any bowler against them. He averages 13.83 against KXIP combined with an ER of 6.38 and SR of 13.00.

Gayle vs KKR: 13 innings, 532 runs, an average of 48.36, strike-rate of 152.44, plus a hundred and three fifties. Cbtf Betting Tips Though against Narine, Gayle has managed to score only 40 runs off 45 balls while getting out to his fellow countryman twice.

Yuvraj vs KKR: In 18 innings against KKR, Yuvraj has never scored a fifty against them. (Avg 24.13, HS 44) However, his SR at the Eden is 164.94, which is his highest in any venue.

Approaching milestones

Robin Uthappa needs 66 more runs to become the second player after Gautam Gambhir (3035) to score 2000 runs for KKR.

Venue trends

KKR have beaten KXIP in the last five encounters at this venue since 2013.

Tournament numbers

KXIP has been the best team in the batting PP scoring at 10.29 per over. KKR are not far behind with a scoring rate of 9.47. KXIP are the only bowling side to concede less than eight (7.46) in the first six overs.

What they said:

If we just look at, barring Sunrisers (Hyderabad), it has been tough for seamers in IPL on really good wickets. Cbtf Cricket In the last couple of games, our seamers have been outstanding and I have been very impressed especially with young (Shivam) Mavi. He has been outstanding. Our seamers will get better and better. It's difficult to replace someone of the caliber of Mitchell Starc but I think the guys we do have, have got the attributes - Heath Streak, Kolkata Knight Riders' bowling coach.

I'm always determined. I always give it my all for whatever franchise I represent. I'm a 100 per cent. Like I said, it's a new franchise. A lot of people might say that Chris has a lot to prove - he didn't get selected or wasn't picked early in the auction. I think Virender Sehwag has saved IPL by picking me. This is a brilliant start - Chris Gayle said after his sixth IPL hundred.

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