In my ‘today IPL match prediction’, I consider the game between Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. Punjab Kings who finished sixth in IPL 2022 exploited the IPL auction to create a very strong team. Kolkata Knight Riders who have won the IPL on two past occasions finished one rung below in seventh place.
I favour Punjab Kings to exploit home conditions and win the game in front of home supporters.
However, the job will be easier said than done. KKR have strength in every department of the game. They have good opening batters and a strong middle order. They have an experienced pair of West Indians who can play finishers’ roles. Importantly, they have experience and variety in their bowling line up.
The sports enthusiast in me appreciates the keenness of both sides to make a mark in IPL 2023. The outcome of the upcoming match will have a bearing on the group rankings. This will be especially so in a season that will witness the return of the home-and-away format. Consequently, all the teams are well matched.
Match | Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders |
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Where | Inderjit Singh Bindra Stadium, Mohali |
When | 1 April 2023 |
Start Time | 19:30 IST |
Who will Win Today's IPL Match?
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Current Odds
PBKS vs KKR: Prediction & Tips
In this edition of my ‘today match prediction astrology,’ I make my Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders prediction.
My forecasts begin with a prediction as to the players that either side will play in their respective elevens. I point out the players that I expect will do well in the upcoming game. I go on to make my best toss prediction for the upcoming PBKS vs KKR match. I continue by naming the batsman likely to score the most runs in the game. Additionally, I name the bowler who will taste the most success in the form of wickets. I have devised my IPL predictions 2023 as assistance to cricket buffs. They can use my tips to place informed wagers at the best IPL betting sites.
PBKS Team Review
PBKS’s best eleven will have three explosive batters at the top of the order: Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, and Liam Livingstone. Bairstow will also keep wickets. Two domestic youngsters Shahrukh Khan and Jitesh Sharma will walk in at numbers four and five. Number six will be reserved for Sam Curran, the team’s prize catch at the IPL auction. Rishi Dhawan and Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, and Arshdeep Singh will complete the eleven. Curran will play the crucial finisher’s role that he has performed well in the past both for CSK and for England.
Below is their Recent Performance:
KKR Team Review
Venkatesh Iyer and N Jagadeeshan will open the KKR batting with Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana, and Andre Russell to follow in the next three slots. With Shakib Hasan, Lockie Ferguson, Narine, and Shardul Thakur occupying numbers six to nine, the batting line up is long. Umesh Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy complete the best eleven that KKR can field.
There is good variety in the bowling with six bowlers capable of bowling a full quota of overs if required. At least on paper, this team appears very balanced and strong in all departments. On the flip side, there are too many oldies, such as Russell, Shakib and Narine. Venkatesh Iyer was in fickle form in IPL 2022. If he can recover the form he displayed in IPL 2021, KKR could challenge the best team this season.
Below is their Recent Performance:
PBKS vs KKR Head-to-head
PBKS and KKR have met in 30 matches in the past. KKR have won 20 and lost 10 to establish a dominant h2h comparison versus PBKS.
PBKS vs KKR Last Meeting
PBKS and KKR last met on 1 April 2022 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. KKR won the toss and elected to field. The Punjab innings got off to a poor start when they lost Mayank Agarwal’s wicket in the very first over.
Rajapaksa joined Dhawan at the wicket to put together a 41-run stand. As it happened, that was the highest partnership of the innings. Punjab lost wickets at regular intervals to end up with a score of 137 after they were bowled out with 10 balls to spare. Rajapaksa top scored with 31 off only nine balls. For KKR, Umesh Yadav (4/23) was the most successful bowler.
KKR did not have the best start to their chase either. They lost four wickets while scoring 51 runs in the first seven overs. Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer, and Nitish Rana were all dismissed for relatively low scores. But that brought Andre Russell to the wicket, and he proceeded to hammer the Punjab bowlers to every corner of the ground.
In his innings of 70 off 31 balls, the West Indian allrounder hit as many as eight sixes. Russell’s partnership of 90 runs with Sam Billings got KKR across the line with more than five overs to spare. Rahul Chahar was Punjab’s most successful bowler taking 2/13.
Players to look out for
PBKS have a top-heavy batting order. They will depend heavily on their openers to give them great starts in the powerplay overs. Any franchise would want to have the duo of Rabada and Arshdeep in their bowling attack. Both pacemen are renowned for their prolific wicket-taking ability.
KKR have their share of match winners. Jagadeeshan – in tremendous form this domestic season – could be the X factor at the top of the order. Shreyas Iyer lends stability in the middle order, while Russell brings all round skills and experience to bear. In the bowling, Narine is as wily as ever. The great wicket taking ability of the likes of Shardul Thakur and Ferguson can never be ignored.
Toss prediction
It’s time now for my ‘today match toss prediction astrology.’ KKR won the toss in the only match between the sides in IPL 2022. This time around, I expect the PBKS skipper to win the toss.
Highest scorer
I predict that PBKS opener Dhawan will score more runs than any other batter in the upcoming IPL game.
Highest wicket taker
Arshdeep Singh has developed a penchant for taking wickets in the powerplay overs. I expect the paceman to continue that trend and emerge as the highest wicket taker in the game.
Highest sixes hitter
Russell has the ability to muscle the ball over the fence on the biggest grounds. I expect the West Indies allrounder to tot up the most sixes in the match against KKR.
Most economical bowler
I predict that KKR leg break googly bowler Sunil Narine will concede the fewest runs in a full quota of overs. Over the years, IPL batters have found Narine hard to score against.
Most catches
I predict that PBKS wicketkeeper Rajapaksa will take the most catches in his team’s match versus KKR. Given the wide choice of seamers at PBKS’s disposal, this prediction appears most logical.
Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders: Dream 11 Predictions
Finally, here is my ‘today IPL match dream 11 team:’
- Wicket keeper: Rajapaksa, Jagadeeshan
- Batsmen: Dhawan, N Rana, V Iyer
- All-rounders: Curran, Russell, Narine
- Bowlers: Rabada, Southee, Arshdeep
My Dream 11 team will be skippered by Russell, with Curran as his deputy.
(Disclaimer: I intend this list as a rough guideline. I will probably effect some changes after the IPL 2023 tournament begins.)