The Kolkata Knight Riders will be aiming to bounce back as they return to action against RR in Guwahati. Despite not having the best of starts to the season, KKR had plenty of positives to pick out from the last game and they’ll be looking forward to maximising them in this upcoming game. With a home crowd like support in Guwahati, the Knight Riders will be gunning to take the field and pick up their first victory of the season.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Out of the 29 matches contested between these two sides, the scoreline stands tied at 14-14 with one no result in their last game. Both teams will be aiming to take the lead as both of them come into this contest with a loss in their previous match.

KEY MATCHUP

RR Batters against the lethal spin duo of Sunil Narine & Varun Chakaravarthy

KKR have two of the most dangerous bowlers when it comes to spin in the form of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy. This duo pocketed a total of 38 wickets in the previous season and were the key to scripting KKR’s tremendous title triumph. The RR batters will be vary of both as they can be lethal in powerplay as well as in the middle overs. As far as the KKR’s bowling is concerned, Narine and Varun hold the key of restraining the opposition to the lowest score possible.

Quotes

“We are not too worried. There are a lot of positives from the first game and lessons to be learned as well. Every team is batting and bowling well but the team that snatches those crucial moments at any given point of time is going to win” - Bharath Arun, KKR Bowling Coach

Stats to watch out for

1. Andre Russell is 70 runs away from 2500 runs for KKR

2. Rinku Singh 4 sixes away from 50 sixes in the IPL

3. Venkatesh Iyer is 1 wicket away from 50 wickets in T20s