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Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL Tips - Home team win is a value pick

By Siddhu Bharadwaj

22 Mar 2024

Siddhu Bharadwaj 22 Mar 2024

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Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL match predictions to be played in Kolkata on Saturday, March 23 at 7:30pm IST
Kolkata have won 6 of their last 8 IPL matches against Hyderabad
Sunrisers have lost 6 of their last 9 IPL matches against the Knight Riders at this venue

Can the Knight Riders start with a win? (Getty Images)

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL

After another disappointing season in 2023, the Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad start their IPL 2024 campaign with a lot of hopes. They meet at the iconic Eden Gardens Stadium on Saturday night, IST local time.

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL
Head to Head
Kolkata Knight Riders Form
Kolkata Knight Riders Team News
Sunrisers Hyderabad Form
Sunrisers Hyderabad Team News

There’s no doubt that both Kolkata and Hyderabad are angling for a new start. Hyderabad is desperate for Pat Cummins’ magic, but they may have to wait a bit longer. Kolkata are well-placed to continue their dominant recent run against Hyderabad. I am backing the Knight Riders to win here.

Kolkata Knight Riders hit the most 6s in 2 of their last 3 matches against Hyderabad (IPL)
Kolkata Knight Riders have won 6 of their last 8 matches against Hyderabad (IPL)
Sunrisers Hyderabad have lost 6 of their last 9 matches at this venue against Kolkata (IPL)
Rinku Singh hit 3 scores of 50 or more at this venue last season (IPL)

Head to Head

The Knight Riders and the Sunrisers have played in 25 matches so far, with Kolkata winning 16 and Hyderabad winning nine.

Last season in the IPL, the Sunrisers won at this venue by 23 runs before Kolkata returned the favour by five runs in Hyderabad.

Kolkata Knight Riders Form

The two-time champions, KKR, won their last title in 2014 and are looking for a reboot after finishing seventh with 12 points. They had six wins and eight losses.

Mitchell Starc has been bought in the auction at record prices, while Phil Salt was roped in as Jason Roy’s replacement. With captain Shreyas Iyer coming back from an injury, the hosts will hope for a good start to their tournament.

All eyes will be on the opening combination, as KKR has used 14 different opening combinations in the last two years. Venkatesh Iyer, Salt, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz will all vie for a slice of that opening pie.

Kolkata Knight Riders Team News

Iyer is back after missing the Ranji Trophy Final with a back spasm. Dushmantha Chameera will miss out, though, with the Lankan seamer having suffered a quadriceps injury recently.

Sunrisers Hyderabad Form

The Hyderabad franchise has never won the IPL title, but worryingly, they have finished outside the top-four slots for three years in a row. Last season, they were tenth with just eight points.

The biggest change in the visiting team is the arrival of Cummins as captain, while Travis Head also joins the squad. The likes of Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen add a bit more muscle, but a headache too, in terms of foreign player selection.

The Sunrisers were poor with their starts last season, both with the bat and the ball. That could be an immediate area of improvement for the visitors.

Sunrisers Hyderabad Team News

Wanindu Hasaranga is unavailable for the first match, which makes Cummins’ job of picking four overseas players slightly easier.

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL FAQs

Where can I watch the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL live stream?

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

What time does Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad start?

This Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL match is being played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata at 7:30pm IST on Saturday, March 23.

Verdict

Last season saw the Sunrisers stun the Knight Riders at this venue, but it is the hosts who continue to have an edge in Kolkata against the visiting Hyderabad teams. That may continue here, and I am putting my money on the home team.