Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders: Here's the likely playing XI from both teams
1 min read 01 Apr 2023, 12:46 PM ISTPBKS vs KKR match two likely playing XI: While PBKS finished sixth, two-time champions KKR ended a rung below in the seventh spot in the 10-team competition last year
PremiumAmid gloomy weather and chances of rain in Mohali, both Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders will look to start their IPL campaign on a winning note. Both Shikhar Dhawan and Nitish Rana will look to start by winning the first match of the season. These are the two franchises, which over the years have flattered to deceive. Inconsistency in team selections seemed to have also affected them badly.
While PBKS finished sixth, two-time champions KKR ended a rung below in the seventh spot in the 10-team competition last year.
Nitish Rana will lead KKR in the absence of regular skipper Shreyas Iyer, who is likely to be out of action for the entire league due to a recurring lower back injury, which could require surgery.
KKR will open their campaign against Punjab Kings here on Saturday.
"It's the first game, a lot of the things that we have planned can go against us or in our favour. I feel it's marathon of 14 matches is not less. The process is always important," Rana added
According to Hindustan Times, Punjab Kings likely field these players into its playing XI
PBKS Predicted XI vs KKR
Openers: Shikhar Dhawan, Mathew Short
Top and Middle Order: Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma
All-Rounders: Sikandar Raza, Sam Curran, Rishi Dhawan
Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Nathan Ellis
Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders may likely field these players into its playing XI
Openers: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mandeep Singh
Middle Order: Nitish Rana (c), Rinku Singh
All-Rounders: Andre Russel, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Venkatesh Iyer
Bowlers: Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy
Squads
(for 1st match)
Punjab Kings: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Arshdeep Singh, Baltej Singh, Raj Bawa, Rahul Chahar, Sam Curran, Rishi Dhawan, Nathan Ellis, Harpreet Brar, Harpreet Singh, Vidwath Kaverappa, Mohit Rathee, Prabhsimran Singh, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, M Shahrukh Khan, Jitesh Sharma, Shivam Singh, Matthew Short, Sikandar Raza, Atharva Taide,
Kolkata Knight Riders: Nitish Rana (c), Vaibhav Arora, Lockie Ferguson, Harshit Rana, Venkatesh Iyer, N Jagadeesan, Kulwant Khejroliya, Liton Das, Mandeep Singh, Sunil Narine, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Anukul Roy, Andre Russell, Shakib Al Hasan, Rinku Singh, Tim Southee, Suyash Sharma, Shardul Thakur, Varun Chakravarthy, David Wiese, Umesh Yadav.
*With agency inputs
