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Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings Tips - Eden is Kolkata's den

By Siddhu Bharadwaj

25 Apr 2024

Siddhu Bharadwaj 25 Apr 2024

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Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings IPL match predictions to be played in Kolkata on Friday, April 26 at 7:30pm IST
Kolkata won 3 of their last 4 matches here
Punjab lost last 4 matches

Another home win on the cards for Kolkata? (Getty Images)

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings are racing against time as they search desperately for a win to stay alive in the IPL 2024 playoff race as they travel to face Kolkata Knight Riders. This match #42 at the Eden Gardens will be played out on Friday.

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings
Head to Head
Kolkata Knight Riders Form
Kolkata Knight Riders Team News
Punjab Kings Form
Punjab Kings Team News

Kolkata have done well to stay in the top-two spots for a long time, thanks to their impressive run at home. They could continue that against Punjab, and I am backing them in the win market.

Kolkata Knight Riders have won 7 of their last 10 matches against Punjab (IPL)
Kolkata Knight Riders have won 3 of their last 4 matches at this venue (IPL)
Punjab Kings have lost their last 4 matches (IPL)
Punjab Kings have lost 7 of their last 8 matches at this venue against Kolkata (IPL)

Head to Head

The sides have met 32 times so far, with the Knight Riders winning 21 and losing 11. The Kolkata side has also won seven of the last ten matches against Punjab.

Last season in the league, these sides shared the results. Punjab won in Mohali by seven runs (DLS Method), while Kolkata won a nail-biter at this venue by five wickets.

Kolkata Knight Riders Form

Kolkata are second in the standings with ten points from seven matches, winning five. They won their last match by one run against RCB.

It was a close match at this venue, despite Kolkata scoring 222 for 6, with Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt leading their batting show. Andre Russell took three wickets as Kolkata stayed ahead of the game for most parts and won by one run despite Mitchell Starc conceding three sixes in the final over.

Sunil Narine (286 runs) remains the leading batter for Kolkata, while three bowlers with nine wickets each are their leading bowlers.

Kolkata Knight Riders Team News

Kolkata played the same team for the last two matches, but questions remain over Mitchell Starc’s form, having conceded 11.48 runs per over this season.

Punjab Kings Form

Punjab Kings are second from bottom with four points from eight matches. They are on a four-game losing streak.

That includes a three-wicket loss last time out against the Gujarat Titans. They could only muster 142 while batting first, with only one batter scoring more than 30. The Titans stuttered in the chase, as Harshal Patel (3 for 15) made things interesting, but the score was too low to make an impact.

Batting remains their Achilles’ heel, as Punjab have no batters aggregating more than 195, which is the total of Shashank Singh. Bowlers have made up for that so far, with four bowlers taking at least ten wickets.

Punjab Kings Team News

Shikhar Dhawan’s fitness remains Punjab’s biggest concern, as they struggle with the right top-order composition.

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings FAQs

Where can I watch the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings live stream?

Our live streaming calendar shows you where to watch the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings live stream.

What time does Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings start?

This Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings match is being played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata at 7:30pm IST on Friday, April 26.

Verdict

Punjab are yet to settle into an XI that can consistently deliver results. Batters have to face most of the brunt, while Kolkata remain well-placed to finish in the top two. I am backing Kolkata to continue winning and come out on top in this match.