Upcoming Clash: Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings Aim for Strong Start
The much-awaited opening encounter of the IPL 2023 season is set to take place on Saturday between Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. Both teams have been plagued by injuries and the unavailability of foreign players, but they will still be looking to put their best foot forward.
Over the years, both franchises have struggled with inconsistency in team selection, leading to underwhelming performances. Last season, PBKS finished sixth, while KKR ended a rung below in the seventh spot. This season, both teams will have new skippers, with Shikhar Dhawan leading PBKS and Nitish Rana replacing injured Shreyas Iyer as KKR captain.
On paper, PBKS seems to have a slightly stronger squad than KKR, but they will miss key players, including Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, and Kagiso Rabada. Bairstow has been ruled out of the entire IPL due to a leg injury sustained while playing golf last September. In his absence, PBKS has brought in BBL’s player-of-the-tournament this season, Matthew Short, who is expected to open the batting alongside Dhawan. PBKS has a stacked squad of all-rounders, with Sam Curran being the most lethal among them. They will rely heavily on Dhawan and Short for consistency at the top, while Arshdeep Singh, Rishi Dhawan, Curran, and Rahul Chahar will be expected to do the job on the bowling front.
For KKR, injuries have also taken a toll, with regular skipper Shreyas almost ruled out of the tournament due to a back problem. The two Bangladeshis, Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das, will also miss the opening game due to national commitments. KKR’s strength lies in their all-rounders, including Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, David Weise, Vernkatesh Iyer, and Shakib Al Hasan. The team’s top-order remains unsettled, and it remains to be seen who will anchor the innings. KKR’s bowling attack will be led by Tim Southee and Umesh Yadav in the company of Shardul Thakur and Varun Chakravarthy.
Both teams have their strengths and weaknesses, but it will come down to who can perform better on the day. PBKS has never won an IPL title in the last 15 years, while KKR has won it twice before. This season, both teams will be looking to shed their tag of underachievers and put up a strong fight for the coveted trophy. The match starts at 3:30 pm IST.