OC's IPL Match Prediction Today: IPL 2024 KKR vs PBKS, Who Will Win Today's Match?

Shreyas Iyer and Sam Curran will be leading their respective teams in IPL 2024 [AP Photos]

The Kolkata Knight Riders and the Punjab Kings will face-off in the 42nd match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024). This match will be played at the iconic Eden Gardens on April 26th at 7:30 PM IST. 

The two teams in this game have been on the opposite side of the spectrum in this tournament. While the Kolkata Knight Riders have been playing excellent cricket in the tournament and are looking to ensure their spot in the top two, the Punjab Kings have suffered from a lack of rhythm. The Kings, under the leadership of Sam Curran, will look to win this game and keep themselves relevant in the tournament. 

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How has the Eden Gardens pitch behaved?

The wicket at the Eden Gardens have been good for batting. 200 plus totals have looked easily achievable and we can expect another high-scoring and close game in this clash. Let us look at how the games have progressed in the different stages at this venue. 

KKR vs PBKS: Predicted Toss Result

The Eden Gardens have been a great wicket. In six out of eight innings played here in IPL 2024, 200-plus totals have been achieved. Recently Eden Gardens have been a great chasing venue and the captain winning the toss might look to field first.

 KKR vs PBKS: Predicted Score

Predicted first innings score: 200-215
Predicted second innings score: 205-22-

Predicted Result: The team chasing will have better chances of winning this game.

KKR vs PBKS: Player Battles

Sunil Narine vs Kagiso Rabada

Predicted Result - Sunil Narine has been the biggest trump card for the Knight Riders in IPL 2024. He has come out with an aggressive intent at the top and has given the team an advantage with his stroke plays. However, Punjab have a great answer for the West Indian all-rounder in Kagiso Rabada. The South African speedster has dismissed Narine twice in T20 cricket before and it could be expected he will emerge as the winner in the face in this game. 

Liam Livingstione vs Sunil Narine

Predicted Result - Liam Livingstone is one of the PBKS team's biggest strengths in the batting department. However, Livingstone has found no rhythm in this tournament. This might continue for him as Sunil Narine, who bowls in the middle-overs will be at the bowling crease, when Livingstone walks out to bat. The West Indian has dismissed Livingstone once in T20s but has not allowed him to get off the hook. 

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KKR vs PBKS: Weakness of the teams

Kolkata Knight Riders

Shreyas Iyer

With the bat in hand, the KKR skipper has been hot and cold this season. Shreyas Iyer seemed in a decent touch in the last game. However, the problem with him has been his strike rate. In games where the 200-mark is easily breached, Shreyas is batting with a strike rate of 126.66. His presence in the middle overs is slowing down the progression for the Knights, and at present, his batting looks like the biggest weaklink for KKR. 

Punjab Kings

Top Order batting

The PBKS top-order has found no form in this tournament. The batters at the top are failing to lay the foundation and are leaving too much for the middle-order and the lower middle-order. This has been one of the prime reasons for the incosistent show by the team in the tournament. 

KKR vs PBKS: Strengths of the teams

Kolkata Knight Riders

Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine has been the biggest strength of the KKR team in this tournament. The rediscovery of his batting skills has added depth and dynamism to the KKR side. Besides his batting, the forever consistency in his bowling has been an asset for KKR. 

Punjab Kings

Shashank Singh and Ashtosh Sharma

These two lower middle-order batters have carried the PBKS batting in IPL 2024. While the top-order has failed to show resilience under pressure, these two batters have fought it out and taken the team towards massive targets. Ahead of the match against KKR, these two batters are the biggest strength of the PBKS team.